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The sleepy town of Ikun Akoko erupts in shouts of joy and smiles as Special Adviser to Hon. Ade Adeogun on Students Affairs, Comr. Tajudeen Ajayi(OSAMA) empowered people of Ikun Akoko Ward 09 by distributing clothes to the people for Christmas and New Year celebration.

In an event held in Ikun yesterday 22nd of December, 2019 at the Ikun Civic Centre, women and youths benefitted from this largesse. Speaking to www.sunshinereporters.com after the event, Hon. Ajayi expressed his joy seeing his people happy. “My boss, our own beautiful brand, Hon. Ade Adeogun always tell us not to see our appointment as a means to amass wealth but as a call to service. Ikun Akoko people stood by us during the electioneering period and should reap from the seed sowed. This is just the beginning of good things happening to our people. In my own little way, I decided to give clothes to women of my ward irrespective of their political alignment.”

Responding on behalf of all beneficiaries, Mrs. Alade, the Women Leader of APC in the Ward said “Seeing is believing & Hon. Ajayi Tajudeen (OSAMA) S.A on students affairs to Hon. Ade Adeogun, has again proved beyond every reasonable doubt that leadership is a serious business and responsibility by giving back to the people. His politics of inclusiveness, benevolent heart & philanthropy remains the best. He believe in reaching out,he share unconditionally even to people he doesn’t know. Thank you Osama for this kind gesture & Thanks to Hon. Ade Adeogun for chosen Osama to serve.”

The Palace of Deji of Akure, Oba Aladetoyinbo Ogunlade Aladelusi has debunked every insinuation that the monarch was complicit in the abduction of a one year old baby boy, Gold, from Sotitobire Church, Akure. The abduction of the baby has caused riffles which has led to the destruction and burning down of the Church edifice. In a statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the Monarch, Michael Adeyeye, the Monarch only intervened when the issue was brought before him and has since handed off the case which is in the hands of law enforcement agencies now. 


The statement reads:

The Sotitobire saga and the missing child.

The attention of the Palace has been drawn to the ugly incident of Wednesday, 18th December, 2019 in Akure which resulted in arson and alleged killing of three Persons.

The mob action, according to reports, was precipitated by a false news story to the effect that the remains of a one year old boy alleged to have been kidnapped in the premises of Sotitobire has been exhumed from the Church.

Ordinarily, the Palace would have refrained from commenting about the incident and allow law enforcement agents to do their job, but for the rumour that trailed the mob action which has necessitated this statement to clear the air on allegation of complicity by the Palace in this unfortunate incident.

It is on record that the parents of the missing child had protested to the Deji’s Palace on Tuesday 12th November, 2019 seeking the intervention of the Monarch.

Undoubtedly, the Deji quickly intervened and constantly followed up on the case to ensure that Justice is served by inviting the General Overseer of the Church, the Parents of the Child and the teachers at the children section. The Deji equally urge the security agencies to carry out a through and discreet investigation in order to unravel the mystery surrounding  the disappearance of the child and bring perpetrators to book.

 It is therefore unreasonable, illogical and a total falsehood to allege the Monarch of Complicity and attempt to pervert the course of justice. This is a blatant lie from the pit of hell and an attempt to denigrate the revered stool of the Deji.

It is laughable and barbaric that some faceless individuals also claim that His Majesty received a huge sum of money to push for the release of the cleric and also compromise the investigators. This remains a figment of the imagination of whoever is behind the rumor. We challenge anyone with such evidence to provide it.

We deeply frown at any attempt to bring the revered institution into disrepute by these rumor mongers for any reasons. We urge the good people of Akure kingdom and the general public to disregard such satanic rumor from these faceless and wicked individuals.

The Kabiyesi will not in any way be part of any attempt to prevent the law from taking its due course. As a man who believes in justice and equity, he will not be involved in any shady dealings under any guise. It is therefore wrong for anyone to drag the Deji into such matter which is criminal in nature with the intent of disrupting investigation. This is malicious with no iota of truth.

His Majesty is ever ready to support any move that will to help to find the missing child, unravel the mystery and bring any person or group of person involved to book.

The Palace wish to enjoin the Security agencies to expedite action on their investigation in the search of the child, as our confidence is unshaken in their ability to do justice without fear or favour.

We urge our people to refrain from making unsubstantiated allegations that could jeopardize the ongoing Investigation but only lead to unnecessary incitement.

We are confident that evil cannot triumph over good and our heartfelt sympathy and prayer is with the family of the missing child.

Adeyeye Michael
Chief Press Secretary to the Deji of Akure

Governor Seyi Makinde has been declared the winner of March 9th governorship election in Oyo State by Supreme Court.

In a court judgement in the Oyo State Governorship election appeal between Seyi Makinde Vs Adebayo Adelabu, delivered by Justice Ukaego Mary Peter-Odili CFR who presided over the Oyo State Election Appeal at the Supreme Court in Abuja.

The Court allows appeal, while the majority judgement of the Court of Appeal are set aside which implies that Makinde is the governor.

This judgment has put a final rest to the power tussle between the PDP and APC in Oyo State.

The demise of Mrs. Muyinat Mimiko has been described as a glorious home call of an irreplaceable matriarch by the member representing Akure Federal Constituency, Hon. Adedayo Omolafe.

In a press statement personally signed by him, he said “I wish to commiserate with the former Governor of Ondo State, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko and the entire family on the passage of their matriarch, Mrs. Muniyat Mimiko. The death of Mama is indeed a great loss not just to the Mimiko family but the entire Sunshine state.”

“We can all attest to the fact that Mama lived a fulfilled and exemplary of a true and caring mother which is worthy of emulation. She will  be greatly missed for her motherly role, timely advise, support and consistent prayer for the Mimikos and Ondo state at large. Mama has left an indelible mark and indeed lived for mankind.”

Omolafe also said “There is no gainsaying that  God has blessed Ondo State through the fruits of her womb. I pray that the Almighty God will grant the family a great fortitude to bear this loss.”

Former General Secretary, NUPENG, Deputy President, NLC and Zenith Labour Party, ZLP, stalwart and former member of House of Representatives, Hon. Dr. Joseph Iranola Akinlaja, has been honoured with the University of Medical Sciences, UNIMED, HEROS Awards as a sign of appreciation for his magnitudious contributions to the development of the University and unalloyed community development consciousness.

The former lawmaker was honoured at the maiden edition of the award alongside numerous eminent personalities from all walks of life to mark the first convocation ceremony of the University.

Hon. Joseph Akinlaja was the member representing Ondo East and West Constituency I at the green chamber of the National Assembly between 2011 to 2019. He was known within his Honorable colleagues for his matured, nationalistic, constructive and developmental contributions to proceeding on the floor of the house, and as a man who projects his rich cultural heritage of Ondo Kingdom which is evident in his unique and trademark mode of dressing.

The UNIMED Hero award was borne out of the University’s appreciative gesture to honour deserving members of the public who have immensely contributed to the development of the citadel of higher learning, inaugurated four years ago by the administration of the former governor of Ondo state, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko .

Hon. Akinlaja’s stellar performance in the education sector,  robust contributions to the development of human capital development, in and outside office, are some of the reasons the UNIMED, first medical university in sub-saharan Africa, considered him to have deserved the prestigious award.

During his time in office as Honorable member of the National Assembly, Akinlaja, was able to facilitate for UNIMED, a 150million Naira constituency project worth a building to the faculty of Clinical Sciences, besides his monthly voluntary donation of a hundred thousand Naira as one of the  members of a constituted developmental group called Friends of UNIMED, for the year 2015.

As a community conscious man, some human capital and community intervention development projects embarked upon by Hon Akinlaja as a rep member include but not limited to payment of WAEC and NECO fees for indigent but brilliant students, free summer lesson for various secondary school students in Ondo East and West Local Government Area, procurement of power transformer for more than 10 communities and settlements, installation of boreholes in different communities, distribution of over 20,000 free exercise books to pupils in Ondo East/West L.G.A, building and renovation of block of classrooms for some primary and secondary schools, among others.

Other developmental interventions facilitated by Hon. Akinlaja  include employment opportunities for able professional job seekers, training and procurement of equipments for various artisans and youths, and provision of interest-free loan to cooperative bodies and market women.

Other dignitaries honoured at the event include the incumbent governor of Ondo state, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, wife, Arabirin Betty Ayanwu Akeredolu, immediately past governor of Ondo state, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko CON, Osemawe of Ondo, His Royal Majesty Oba Dr. Victor Adesimbo Kiladejo and Osemawe in Council,  Deji of Akure, His Royal Majesty Oba Aladelusi Aladetoyionbo, His Royal Majesty Oba Akadiri Momoh, the Olukare of Ikare, Prof. Abubakar A. Rasheed, Vice Chancellor, University of  Benin, Dr. T. A B. Sanusi, Registrar, Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria among others.

The leadership of National Association of Nigerian Students(NANS), Ondo State axis has declared the Special Adviser to Governor Akeredolu of Ondo State on Students Affairs, Mr. Banji Adewunmi, as persona non grata and banned him from visiting any higher institution in the State. In a statement issued by the State Chairman of NANS, Comrade Akinteye Babatunde, the Union held the SA was complicated in the attack on the Student Union President of the Federal University of Technology, Akure(FUTA) at the Zonal convention of NANS held at Lagos State College of Health Technology, Yaba, Lagos.

While confirming the ugly incident of the attack on the FUTASU President, Akinteye said, “It is with a saddened heart I give detailed information on the attack of one of my Senators  FUTASU President, Com. Abraham(Father AB). As the JCC Chairman, it is my responsibility to ensure the safety of all my Senators,students,stakeholders and executives and as such I have it as responsibility to feed you back facts of what happened. I take full responsibility of all that happened to Team Ondo in Lagos state and I’ll ensure that justice prevails.”

On the connection of the SA, Banji Adewunmi to the shooting, the Chairman stated further “Hon. Banji is nothing but a threat to student unionism because of his acts.SA on this day misplaced his priority by intruding into NANS ZONE D election. He began to preach a candidate over the other. He had meeting with me and some Ondo senators(SuG Presidents) where he mandated them to vote for a particular candidate. He went as far as slapping a senator which is nothing but harassment and intimidation which Nigerian students frown at.”

“When we got to convention ground and it was time for Team Ondo to be accredited. Com Ayodimeji Gbenga Blackey, Assistant Publicity Secretary of All Progressives Congress(APC), South West Youth Leader of APC, Kolade Paff and the newly appointed SA to the Governor of Ondo State on Youth Mobilisation, Adebiyi Mayowa and Adewunmi were physically present at the spot. I led my Senators and students that went with us. The issue started when AAUA was to be accredited , I nominated a representative which Comr Blackey went against. While the argument was on, I nominated myself to represent AAUA, he went against it again. At this point to make peace, I withdrew my senators and we told the officials we will be right back, after lots of appeal with the senators we decided on who to represent AAUA and Federal Polytechnic, Ile Oluji, which the two coordinator aspirants agreed to.”

“For the second time, we stepped forward to be accredited, and the same scenario reoccured as Comr. Blackey insisted that no one will represent AAUA. At this point, all the Senators became annoyed and this lead to argument between them and Blackey. Father AB, FUTASU President, then told Com Blackey he has no right to be on convention ground as it has nothing to do with politics and allow the senators decide who represent AAUA. As the argument was getting stronger and confrontational, some set of sponsored hoodlums by SA Banji Adewunmi were sent to attack Father AB which led to his sustaining several gun shot wounds and matchete cuts. It is with a saddened heart I give detailed information on the attack of one of my Senators FUTASU President Com Abraham(Father AB).

“This act of the SA is inhumane. To worsen it,after Father AB had been rushed to the hospital, the SA having heard he was shot, did not deem it fit to ask after him or know his health status but he went directly to see one of those hoodlums that attacked him and also snapped with the guy.”

“It is on this note we passed Vote of No Confidence on  the  SA and from henceforth HE should stay off all campuses in Ondo State. If he try otherwise students will not hesitate to decend on him. This remain our stand until the emergency senate meeting of all senators in Ondo State on Wednesday, where further actions against this injustice will be decided”

Sunshinereporters can confirm that the President of FUTA SU Abraham Esedere is responding to treatment at the Federal Medical Center, Ebute Metta, Lagos.

As part of his effort to create wealth/jobs and boost Ondo local economy, Oba Dr. Adesimbo Ademefun Kiladejo Jilo 111, CFR, the Osemawe and Paramount Ruler of Ondo Kingdom met with young entrepreneurs of Ondo extraction, captains of industries, financial experts, academics, PR/Marketing gurus, politicians, boardroom gurus, bloggers, creative writers, ICT experts, Ondos in diaspora,  leadership of Ondo Ekimogun Youth Congress, Community Watch, opinion moulders etc to chart a new pathway to sustainable economic development of Ondo community.

The event which took place on Friday, 6th December, 2019 at the Osemawe Multipurpose Hall within the palace attracted young and vibrant entrepreneurs of Ondo attraction from all walks of life. In his address, Oba Kiladejo appreciated the readiness of Ondo people at  home and diaspora to develop the community. He said he cannot be more happy to see young Ondo entrepreneurs come together to deliberate on better to move the community forward

The monarch said the palace has held many of such meetings in the past with various groups and professional bodies in the community but not with the young entrepreneurs resident in the community. He said the interest of the of the palace at this time is is geared towards sustainable security, youth and economic development.

Oba Kiladejo said the economic development of the community rest on how innovative its young and active citizens can be in this 21st century. He urged them to patronize made in Ondo products and be good ambassadors at all spheres of life. He also promised the inclusion of talented young people in the planning and celebration of annual Ekimogun Day. Ekimogun Business Group was proposed by the Osemawe to come up with a working document on Ondo Economic Development.

So many participants took turns to express their minds. But Com. Olubodun Tayo Marcus , the Executive Director, Centre for Sustainable Grassroots Development noted that Ondo Kingdom is blessed with a lot of tourism and hospitality business potentials that must be tapped into. He also opined that Ondo as a community and people must explore the economic viability of their numerous festivals, events and tourist attraction sites it has. He urged that the sector should be considered as a key factor to the economic development of Ondo Kingdom.

Finally, a five(5) man committee was constituted namely: Barrister Henry Akingbesote, Com. Olusola Akinbinu, Mr. Dave’s Akinbote, Mrs. Bukola Akinkuolie and Com. Olubodun Tayo Marcus to draft the communiqué as a blueprint for the actualization of plans deliberated in the meeting

The program is targeted at providing indigent students commencing exams with food stuffs and other necessities to ease their preparations for the exams. The MHR was represented at the event by his Special Assistant on Digital Media, Bolaji Daramola.

His representative while speaking with news men at the event noted that “This is the first of its kind in Ondo kingdom where a leader is taking students as core priority. We were once a student at one point or the other in our lifetime, the rigors and hardship that accompanies being a student cannot be overstated.

The MHR, Biola Makinde, knows this and aims to mitigate this by throwing in assistance to the welfare of the students in his constituency.”

He added that the student community can be rest assured that Hon. Abiola Makinde and his wife Dr. Rhoda Makinde are interested in developing the youths by engaging them in various meaningful enterprises and projects.

A few weeks ago, the high, the low, the mighty and the peasants converged in Midas Resort Centre, Owo for the traditional wedding of Teni Akeredolu and her husband. Teni is the daughter of Governor Rotimi Akeredolu. Apart from the fact that the traditional wedding was turned into a purely political rally with attendance not restricted to only members of the All Progressives Congress(APC), which Akeredolu is a member of. There was controversy over the actual amount spent to organize the party with some claiming it was well over #100m. Not long after, the father of the bride, Governor Akeredolu, went AWOL and resurfaced in Abuja with question marks all over his health status. After spending over 50 days away from his primary place of assignment, Akeredolu touched down in Akure to a large party thrown for him straight from the Airport and then later on in Owo, his home town. Again, controversy trailed how much was expended on the welcome party and the need for it. Just two days ago, pictures started filtering in from a beach on the bank of the Indian Ocean in Mauritius, of the white wedding of Teni and her hubby with over 150 people from Ondo State and beyond. Again, Ondo State people are asking how much of their tax is spent on the joyful journey to Mauritius.

It is a known fact to all who have observed that Rotimi Akeredolu is in love with parties. However, his choice of Mauritius is not only hypocritical but also testify to the fact that Akeredolu has no love for the development of Ondo State. Get this straight; that the first family went abroad to give out their daughter is nothing new in this part of the world. It has happened before and this won’t be the last. My grouse is that Mauritius offers nothing new that can’t be gotten from Ondo State. One would wonder if the self professed love Akeredolu has for Ondo State has any effect on the choice of Mauritius as the venue for the overseas wedding trip. The story of Mauritius is a spectacular one. Since independence from Britain in 1968, Mauritius has developed from a low income, agriculture based economy to an upper middle-income diversified economy, based on tourism, textiles, sugar and financial services. In recent years, information and communication technology, seafood, hospitality and property development, healthcare, renewable energy, and education have emerged as important sectors attracting substantial investment from both local and foreign investors. It may interest you to know that Mauritius has no exploitable fossil fuel and so have to rely on petroleum to meet most of its energy requirements. Do you know Mauritius has one of the largest exclusive economic zones in the world like our very own Olokola Free Trade Zone?

The refusal of Nigeria’s political class to learn from their numerous  adventures out of the country is one of the banes of our development. Ondo State and Mauritius has everything in common except good leadership. While our political leaders have refused to develop our natural beauty, they seek what’s in abundance here outside. Araromi Beach in Ilaje local government is better and has more potentials than the Long Beach in Mauritius. The refusal of Akeredolu, his predecessors to develop Araromi has ensured the neglect of the longest beach/coast line in Africa. Hence the reason to waste tax payers money to get something we have in abundance here in far away Mauritius. Ask yourself, would the President of Mauritius travel to Araromi to give his daughter out in marriage?

As stated earlier, as long as we refuse to develop our tourism industry, we will continue to tolerate our political leaders going on adventures out of the country. Akeredolu failed to make a statement by not using Araromi Beach for his daughter’s wedding. If the Governor had used Araromi, it would have greatly impacted on the tourism industry of Ondo State. People would have thronged to Araromi to see what is spectacular about the aesthetically crafted beach. With that singular act, he would have informed us all that he genuinely love the state and would do anything to advance it’s development. Now, I can form my opinion that Akeredolu love for Ondo is just lust for our money.  Like he destroyed our health sector potentials as bequeathed to him, he won’t advance our tourism industry. May the day break?

Wándé T. Àjàyí writes from Ilutitun in Okitipupa Local Government of Ondo State