The Oyo judiciary on Monday in Ibadan kicked off activities to mark the commencement of the 2023/2024 legal year, with the Chief Justice, Iyabo Yerima, saying that judges in the state are well taken care of.
The new Legal Year began with a church service at the Cathedral of St. James, Oke-Bola, in Ibadan.
Ms Yerima, commended Governor Seyi Makinde for “his positive step and role in repositioning the state judiciary.”
Ms Yerima said, “Judges are being well taken care of in Oyo state. That is why we tend to be more productive. However, it is not that we were not productive before. It was because we didn’t have enough judges.”
She disclosed that the situation would improve by appointing eight more judges.”
Since we are, in this respect, expecting a positive reply from the National Judicial Council (NJC), which is coming for inspection in a week or two, having many more judges will fasten the dispensation of justice,” Ms Yerima said.
She pointed out that there has been a great improvement in justice delivery based on reports about the past legal year.
“The number of cases disposed of is very many. We recorded a high level of disposal of cases for the legal year. It means we are working, in spite of the fact that since February, the majority of us were posted out on election petition matters in Taraba, Nasarawa and Sokoto states,” Ms Yerima said.
The Bishop of the Ibadan Diocese of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Joseph Akinfenwa, admonished judges and lawyers against delaying justice.
“It is imperative that when you delay justice, you have denied it. So, whether backlog or no backlog, you need to follow the example of what is being done concerning the international passport matter,” stated Mr Akinfenwa.
He added, “If judges can do this and remove the delay so that the aggrieved persons will not just walk out on the court or judges because of the delay of justice, things will be better.”
Governor Seyi Makinde says he has broken the glass ceiling preventing youngsters in the state from attaining whatever heights they desire with his reelection. He promised not to discriminate against his opponents during electioneering.
According to him, campaigns and elections are over. “The task ahead is to continue the good work and take our people from poverty to prosperity. We will not discriminate against those who did not support us,” the Oyo governor stated.
“This will be a government for the people of Oyo state and the progress of Oyo state.” Mr Makinde said this on Tuesday in his address during a reelection victory celebration at Ilaji Hotels and Sports Resort, Akanran, in Ibadan.
Billionaire businessman Dotun Sanusi organised the celebration at the mini stadium of the resort.
The governor said certain circumstances and achievements aided his reelection.
Mr Makinde assured the people that his administration would not discriminate based on religion, ethnicity and political affiliations in distributing democratic dividends to them.
The governor thanked Sanusi for organising the mega party and appreciated other critical stakeholders that ensured his electoral victory in 31 of the 33 local government areas.
Mr Makinde said the electorate’s political education level was high, and the people did not allow godfathers to dictate to them.
The Oyo governor said they were building a state where everyone would have opportunities, irrespective of the son of whom they are. He said young ones could now attain whatever position they desired.
“I want our youngsters to take notice of this. There is no more glass ceiling in Oyo state. Seyi Makinde has broken all glass ceilings. I have broken the glass ceiling for the youngsters in the state. Our young ones can now attain whatever position they desire,” he said.
Governor Seyi Makinde of PDP has been declared the winner of the Oyo state governorship election.
The Independent National Electoral Commission INEC declared him the winner this afternoon, March 19.
According to the results released, Makinde polled a total of 563,756 votes to beat his closest rival, Teslim Folarin of the All Progressives Congress (APC) who polled 256,685 votes, while Adebayo Adelabu of the Accord Party secured 38,357 votes.
Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo has said he was glad to sacrifice his political career for the emergence of Bola Tinubu as president-elect of the country.
Mr Makinde added that he was not bothered, even, if he had to sacrifice his career for the country to be restructured for fairness and equity.
“I am glad to be part of those who have made efforts to redraw the electoral map of Nigeria.
“If I have to choose between my political career and doing what is right, just and equitable, I will choose to forgo my political career,” he said on Sunday during an interview on a radio station in Ibadan, the Oyo state capital.
Mr Makinde, who would be contesting for a second term in office this weekend, had supported Mr Tinubu for the presidency at the last minute.
Mr Tinubu, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), was declared winner of the February 25 poll after defeating his main challengers, Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP).
A member of the PDP, Mr Makinde worked against Mr Abubakar, the party’s presidential candidate, in the February 25 presidential election.
Mr Makinde was one of the G-5 governors which included; Nyesom Wike (Rivers), Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia), Samuel Ortom (Benue), Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu), who failed to declare open support for Mr Abubakar.
Before the election, the aggrieved governors resolved not to work for Mr Abubakar’s presidential bid unless the PDP national chairman, Iyorchia Ayu, a northerner, was replaced by a southerner for geo-political balancing of power.
After weeks of actively plotting against Mr Abubakar through his alignment with Mr Wike and other members of the so-called G-5, Mr Makinde suddenly sent out a statement on the eve of the election that said voters should back members of the PDP, but without mentioning the party’s presidential flagbearer.
“So, if you still have any undecided voters on your list, this is the time to call them up and help them decide to vote for the PDP from top to bottom in Oyo State,” Mr Makinde said.
Party loyalists, however, dismissed his appeal as insincere, with many of them now saying they would work against his second term from within the party as a payback for his alleged betrayal that contributed to Mr Abubakar’s shortcomings at the February 25 presidential election.
The Oyo State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board has fixed N2.6 million as an initial deposit for 2023 Holy pilgrimage to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
The board chairman, Sayed Malik, made this known at the Hajj Camp, Olodo, in Ibadan, on Saturday.
Mr Malik specifically said the amount was fixed pending the announcement of the actual fare by the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON).
He said the 150 intending pilgrims, who could not perform the 2022 exercise due to limited seats allocated to the state, would be given priority.
Mr Malik enjoined all intending pilgrims with the state Pilgrim Welfare Board for the 2023 exercise to start paying the stated amount into any of the designated bank accounts of the board.
While informing board members about the critical issues and other important matters relating to the 2023 Hajj operation discussed during the first pre-Hajj visit to Saudi Arabia, Malik said NAHCON had allocated 1441 seats to the state for the 2023 Hajj.
NAHCON, along with states’ chairmen and secretaries of Muslim Pilgrim’s Welfare Board across the country, recently arrived from Makkah, where they embarked on a pre-Hajj discussion with the Saudi Authority.
Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo has suspended his campaign activities until further notice over unending fuel and new naira notes crisis in the state.
Mr Makinde, whose campaign trail had visited parts of the state, announced the suspension at the flag off of the Omi-Adio-Ido Road on Friday.
The suspension was contained in a statement by Wasiu Olatubosun, the Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism.
Mr Makinde said the suspension was in solidarity with the people over the harrowing experiences in recent time over the unending fuel and currency scarcity.
The governor, who was in Ido to continue his campaign, directed all campaign activities be suspended, noting that the people’s suffering was too much.
He said that the decision was taken because he was elected to protect the interests and wellbeing of citizens of the state.
Mr Makinde, who flagged off the Omi-Adio-Ido Road, also directed leaders of the party in the state to suspend further political activities.
“Makinde’s love for his people necessitated this unprecedented move, at this time.
“We urge all residents and citizens of the state to remain calm as we navigate through this difficult period together,” the governor was quoted as saying.
Landlords and residents in Ifelagba community, in the Ido Local Government Area of Oyo State, have been living in fear after suspected armed robbers notified them of their plan to attack the community.
It was gathered that the armed robbers notified residents in the community of the impending attack through letters that were pasted on the wall of buildings in the community last Saturday.
The robbers, in the letter written in Yoruba language, said they were ready to overpower the vigilantes that had made robbery operations difficult for them in the community.
The letter read in part,
“We are coming to collect our rights and money in your houses. We will use all our power and strength to fight the vigilantes because of all their wicked acts and how they have stopped us all these years. We are armed robbers and we will show you who we are at the end of this month when we invade your community. Be prepared.”
One of the residents, Tayo Oresanya, said the situation had deprived them of sleeping peacefully at night, adding that they still felt unsafe despite the presence of policemen patrolling the community.
Oresanya said,
“We sleep with one eye closed because we don’t know when these people will attack us. For armed robbers to get the boldness to tell us when they want to attack shows that they have really prepared for us. We have security operatives patrolling the community, but we still don’t feel safe, we have left everything in God’s hand.”
A community leader, who refused to mention his name for security reasons, said five out of the six gates leading to the community had been locked to keep residents in the community safe.
He said, “Since we received the letter, the police have been patrolling the area. The letter was pasted in strategic houses. It shows that they are people living with us.
“We cannot disclose all the security measures we are putting in place to ensure we save the lives and property of our people. But I can tell you that we are on top of the matter.”
A security expert, Wale Olatunji, said the police must carry out a discreet investigation to ascertain those living within the community that may be part of the robbery gang.
He said,
“The police must be discreet in their investigation and plan on how they want to secure the community so that they don’t end up giving information to one of the robbers.”
Contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Adewale Osifeso, promised to get back to our correspondent for a reaction.He had yet to do so as of the time this report was filed.
The Oyo Mesi Traditional Council has announced that 65 contestants will proceed to the next selection process for the Alaafin stool after being cleared. Regent and Basorun of Oyo, Chief Yussuf Ayoola disclosed this on Sunday September 18.
The Basorun was quoted saying in a statement released by the Director of Media and Publicity to the Alaafin of Oyo, Bode Durojaiye, that the remaining process would no longer be restricted to the 10 contestants earlier shortlisted.
They will now proceed for Ifa consultation and whoever emerges among the aspirants will be the candidate and the next Alaafin of Oyo.
The statement read;
“All contestants who appeared for the interview are qualified for the next level, which is Ifa consultation, after the meeting of members of the Oyo Mesi.
“Whoever emerges among the aspirants will be the candidate and the next Alaafin of Oyo.
“There is no rift among members of the Oyo Mesi contrary to insinuations and misinformation milling around. We are as united as ever.
Misunderstanding can happen at any given point in time. It is natural. What is important is the amicable resolution so as not to let the misunderstanding degenerate into violence.
“None of the Oyo Mesi members has a favoured aspirant as all the contestants are equal before us. For the umpteenth time, we are conscientious, not money conscious and greedy.”
Men of the Oyo Security Network codenamed Amotekun Corps have arrested two suspects allegedly found in possession of human skulls in Oyo town.
The two suspects, Ganiyu Maruf, an indigene of Laguna family in Oyo town, and Alfa Basiru Bashit of Abu Compound, Oyo; were almost lynched by residents of Ori-awo Yidi.
Upon interrogation, Maruf, a bricklayer said one Dauda ‘Baba Ato’, a carpenter had supplied them with the skulls. He claimed the man had initially refused him because he had earlier been arrested by SARS but later asked him to pay the sum of N50,000 for the skulls.
Maruf said not long after Dauda supplied them the skulls, he was arrested again by operatives of SARS, but was later released weeks later after confessing his crimes.
According to his confession, he had escaped to the village but returned about two months later when he heard Baba Ato had been released.
However, Baba Ato reportedly died the night of his release.
The suspect recounted how that they hid the skulls around the area while he kept watch over it for it not to be stolen about five days ago.
Unknown to him, residents of Ori-Awo area where he resides, had been watching him patrolling the spot where he buried the skulls.
The alerted residents reportedly attacked Maruf and his accomplice while they were on their way to Yida.
On his part, Bashit confessed contributing N15,000 to the money to get the skulls from Baba Ato, who is related to Maruf’s family.
When asked who was going to perform the money rituals for them, Maruf said he has the knowledge of rituals from his maternal grandfather and was going to try doing it for himself first.
Governor Seyi Makinde has demanded the resignation of Iyorchia Ayu, national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Punch reported that he made the demand on Wednesday September 14, during PDP south-west stakeholders meeting in Ibadan, the capital of Oyo state.
Makinde said;
“Our party wants to rescue Nigeria and our candidate is a unifier. He wants to restructure Nigeria.
“Eight years of the All Progressives Congress have left us sharply divided. The issue is we must practice what we preach. If we want to unify Nigeria, we must unify the PDP first.
“If we want to restructure Nigeria, we must have the willingness to bring inclusivity to the PDP. Do we have the capacity? The answer is a resounding yes.
“The message from the south-west PDP is that the south-west is asking that the national working committee (NWC) of the PDP should be restructured.
“We are asking the national chairman to step down so that the south will be fully included. That is the message.”
The police in Oyo state has arrested some members of a notorious armed robbery syndicate who have been terrorizing members of the public in Oyo town.
The robbers were arrested on July 23 after they invaded the shop of one Abass Taiwo where he operates Mobile Banking Services and other business activities.
The notorious hoodlums who were armed to the teeth attacked Abass Taiwo, dispossessing him of huge proceeds from his Point of Sale ‘’POS’’ Machine, ten different mobile phones belonging his customers and some other valuable items at gunpoint.
However, the victim immediately raised alarm while the hoodlums were fleeing from the scene of crime, which caught the attention of the valiant operatives of the state police command’s monitoring unit who were on an intelligence-led patrol in the area. One of the robbers who later identified himself as Ibrahim Olusola was apprehended.
Upon interrogation, the suspect confessed to the crime and series of similar criminal activities he had masterminded with his fleeing syndicate members.
He equally gave useful information which later led to the identification, tracking and eventual arrest of his criminal gang members from their various hideouts while the syndicate kingpin, Opeyemi Segun Aka Omo Jesu was arrested in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
The other suspects arrested include Ismaila Afeez 32, Ibrahim Isiaka 25, Tijani Habeeb 23, Wasiu Salawu aka Body, Opeyemi Segun aka Omo Jesu 32 and Ibrahim Balogun 23.
Confirming their arrest to newsmen, the spokesperson of the state police command, SP Adewale Oyifeso, said One double barrel locally made gun, one live Cartridge, and a Mazda Bus which they drove to the scene of the crime were recovered from the suspects.
He added that the suspects have since confessed to the atrocious crime including armed robbery operation on June 4 at Idi-Gedu area along Oyo/Iseyin road Oyo in which six traders including three women who were travelling from Iwo town in Osun State to Okeho area of Oyo State in a commercial Mazda bus were intercepted and attacked.
He said the six traders and the commercial bus driver were bundled in one Toyota Corolla Car and moved to a desolate location inside a thick forest, where they were dispossessed of huge sums of money eight cell phones and equally carted away the one hundred and eighty ‘’180’’ kegs of palm oil valued at Three million six hundred thousand naira (N3, 600, 000. 00) only loaded in the Mazda Bus.
Oyifeso added that an investigation is still ongoing and the suspects would be charged to court upon its completion. SUSPECT(S):
Oyo State governor Seyi Makinde, has said he pays N30,500 as minimum wage for over 101,000 workers on its payroll.
This was disclosed on Wednesday by Comrade Bayo Titilola-Sodo, a former State Chairman of the Nigerian Labour Congress and Special Adviser on Labour Matters to the governor.
Addressing newsmen at the State Secretariat of the Correspondents’ chapel, Mokola, Ibadan, the SA described Makinde as the most Workers’ friendly when compared with previous administrations in the state.
He further hinted that the state government had paid over N13billion as gratuities for retired workers in the state.
He said; “As a worker-friendly Governor, Engr Makinde pays minimum wage for the workers in the state. I have never seen a government which arranged the issue of minimum wage without any noise.
“Oyo State is second to Lagos State in the payment of the minimum wage. We pay workers N30,500 for our workers. But for COVID-19 which affected the economic fortunes of the state, it would have been more than that.
“He has also increased vehicle and housing loans which now stand between N750,000 and N3m depending on the cadre of the worker.
The number of workers in the state is about 101,000 and we have 33 local government areas. The state has over 600 secondary schools.
“Governor Makinde has paid N13b as gratuities for pensioners in the state. The IGR in the state has improved with the state making over N2.5b on the average.
Speaking as a well experienced labour leader on the ongoing brouhaha between Kaduna state governor Nasir El-Rufai and workers in the state, he said the governor should tread softly on the issue adding that he would stand by the workers.
“I will always stand by the workers. You can’t run a whole State like a private enterprise. You can’t just wake up to say you sacked workers like that. There is a process you must follow. There is no way he can win against the workers.”
To make it easier for pregnant workers, he noted that the state had increased maternity leave from three months to six months.
The Fulani leader, Iskilu Wakili, who was arrested by members of the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC) in Kajola, Ibarapa area of Oyo state on Sunday, has denied being involved in criminality.
Wakili
Speaking at the State Criminal Investigation Department, Iyaganku, Ibadan, Wakili challenged his accusers to come out in the open with their claims.
He said he has never been involved in crime since he has been staying in Oyo for over 20 years.
Wakili said he was at home on Sunday when he heard women among his household shouting that some armed men were approaching his house.
“Two days after my return from hospital (in Cotonou, Republic of Benin), I was lying down because I was ill and suddenly some women came and started shouting that armed OPC men had come looking for me.
“I asked them to flee but I could not run because I was sick. Two men later came and picked me from where I was lying down, they threw me in their vehicle naked. I fainted many times before they drove me to the police station in Igboora. From there we were taken to SCID, Ibadan.
“I am not a criminal, my children are not criminals. I don’t know anything about kidnapping or any crime. I have many cows and I know they stray into farms at times but I don’t have criminal records anywhere and this can be investigated. After they took me away from my home, a woman, Tande, was killed.”
Wakili also narrated how he paid ransom before his children who were abducted last year were released.
He said: “Sometime last year, two of my children were kidnapped and I paid millions of naira as ransom before they were released. I am not a kidnapper.
Five Killed, Houses Burnt As Hoodlums Clash With Amotekun In Ibadan.
On Thursday night, over 200 houses were razed while hoodlums killed a young man in the area.
Five youths who were keeping vigil in the Labiran area of Ibadan were shot dead during a clash between the operatives of the Oyo State Security network, codenamed Amotekun, and hoodlums on Friday evening, SaharaReporters has gathered.
Labiran has been troubled by some hoodlums in the last few days, necessitating youths to keep vigil to avert robbery.
On Thursday night, over 200 houses were razed while hoodlums killed a young man in the area.
One of the youths in the area, who simply identified himself as Wale, said following the burning and looting of properties in the area, elders in the community invited youth to stay awake to avert a recurrence.
“It is true; they killed four of our friends. Their families have taken them for burial this morning. Our fathers invited us to keep vigil. When we heard that those miscreants were coming, one of our brothers invited the operatives of Amotekun to help us.
“On arrival, they started shooting sporadically while hoodlums were also shooting. As a result, Monsuru, Ridwan and two other people were killed.
“They have taken their corpses for burial. Those hoodlums later came back to our area around 5 am. As we speak, they are burning houses again. Smoke is everywhere. Many have fled our area now. We need help,” he said.
Some cars at the junction leading to the station’s street were damaged. After that, the mob was repelled by Police personnel strategically positioned to prevent the station from being attacked.
Some hoodlums, numbering 30 have attacked a police station at Mapo area of Ibadan, Oyo State, where they set free two suspects from custody.
Confirming the incident, the Commissioner of Police, Ngozi Onadeko, in a statement through the Public Relations Officer of the Command, CSP Olugbenga Fadeyi, said: “‘Packaging’ led some thugs numbering about 30 to attack and mob the Police team, and forcefully took the two miscreants away.
“The Commissioner of Police, Oyo State Command, wishes to inform the general public on the incident that occurred earlier today, January 28, at about 11:45 at Odo-Osun Area of Mapo.
“Police personnel from Mapo Divisional Police Headquarters were deployed to effect the arrest of two notorious miscreants, who have been deeply involved in the crisis rocking Shogoye/Akobi areas of Mapo lately.
“On January 25, at about 6am, an elderly woman in a white cap, known as Modupe Daramola, aged 60, of a Celestial Church in Akobi area, was hit with pellets from a locally-made gun fired by one of the hoodlums during the clashes and she died, while some others sustained varying degrees of injuries.
“Sequel to the arrest of the two notorious miscreants who were handcuffed, one ‘Packaging’ led some thugs numbering about 30 to attack and mobbed the Police team, and forcefully took the two miscreants from them.
“To escape from being lynched, police personnel fired a shot into the air. At about 12:20 pm, one Akeem in the company of some angry miscreants invaded the police station to report that his younger brother was shot and the miscreants attempted to attack Mapo Police Station.
Oyo state Commissioner of Police, Ngozi Onadeko
“Some cars at the junction leading to the station’s street were damaged. After that, the mob was repelled by Police personnel strategically positioned to prevent the station from being attacked.
“Not too long after, at about 1:50 pm, the corpse of one Badmus Rasheed, 20, was brought to the police station by a mob that was earlier repealed from attacking the station.
“The Commissioner of Police wishes to appeal to parents/guardians in the two areas to warn their wards to desist from acts capable of causing the breakdown of law and order as the massive deployment of police personnel and that of sister-security agencies have been emplaced to forestall further crises.”
Recall that there was violence at Igangan on Friday when a popular Yoruba freedom fighter, Sunday Adeyemo, well known as Sunday Igboho, alongside his followers, stormed the Fulani settlement in the ancient town to eject Seriki Fulani, Salihu Abdukadir, and herdsmen accused of perpetrating crimes ranging from kidnappings, killings, rape to invasion of farmlands with their cattle.
Two Fulani leaders, the Seriki Fulani of Igbo Ora, Alhaji Idris Abubakar, and the Seriki Fulani of Eruwa, Alhaji Sule Mohammed, have solicited for forgiveness, assuring the people of Oyo State that they would facilitate peaceful coexistence in Ibarapaland.
The community leaders spoke during a visit of the state government delegation to the town on Sunday.
At the meeting, residents of Igangan in the Ibarapa area of Oyo State recounted their ordeals in the hands of Fulani herdsmen.
The community also presented to the delegation, pictures and other evidence of ransoms paid to the herdsmen. They accused the Seriki Fulani of complicity in the negotiation of ransoms.
During the meeting, those who paid ransoms to the bandits presented pictorial evidence to back up their claims.
The traditional ruler of Igangan, the Asigangan of Igangan, Oba Abdulazeez Adeoye, whose cousin was kidnapped, tendered the evidence of the ransom he paid to secure his release.
Residents also stormed the venue of the meeting with photographs of those who were killed and those who suffered attacks in the hands of criminal herdsmen.
Oba Adeoye confirmed to Punch that victims and their families came to the meeting with photographs to back up their claims.
He said, “Our people brought photos. I also showed the evidence of ransom paid for one of my children.”
The PUNCH gathered that despite that Seriki Fulani in Igangan had fled; there were still some Fulani living in the midst of the people in the town unmolested.
Some youths were also bearing placards, with inscriptions, which condemned the atrocities perpetrated by herdsmen in the community.
The Commissioner of Police, who led senior police officers, including Deputy Commissioners of Police and Mobile Police Commanders on a tour of Igangan, Tede and Ago Are communities, urged the residents to toe the path of peace.
She expressed the police’s readiness to carry out a thorough investigation to ensure justice for victims of kidnappings, rape and other crimes committed in the areas.
But Fulani leaders, who attended the meeting, begged for forgiveness, saying the Fulani were ready for peaceful coexistence with their hosts.
The Secretary of Igangan Development Advocates, Lawal Akeem, said the people were tired of the antics of the Seriki Fulani of Igangan, whom he accused of complicity in different kidnap cases.
He also said that the community had been forced to pay about N50 million in ransoms for different kidnapping cases while also accusing Fulani herders of regularly vandalising farms and raping women of the community.
A youth in the town, Taiwo Adeagbo, said that no fewer than 15 women had been raped in recent weeks.
A member of the state House of Assembly, Peter Ojedokun, also told the delegation that the peace in Ibarapaland had been stirred by the Fulani herders with the incessant attacks on community members, kidnappings and other crimes.
The Caretaker Chairman of Ibarapa North-West Local Council Development Area, Okediji Olusegun, corroborated the allegations levelled against the Seriki Fulani of Igangan, saying that the Seriki had been fingered in the series of security challenges in the area many times.
Makinde says he hopes to get as many COVID-19 vaccines as possible for Oyo residents.
Oyo governor, Seyi Makinde, says he’s opening discussions with COVID-19 vaccine manufacturers to get a sufficient supply for residents of the state.
Nigeria hopes to kick off its vaccination campaign against the novel disease by the end of January 2021 with the supply of 100,000 Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine to be focused on frontline workers.
According to the sharing formula published by the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Oyo State will receive 1,848 doses of the vaccine.
Seyi Makinde
Makinde said during a media briefing on Wednesday, January 13 that the number allocated to Oyo by the Federal Government is grossly inadequate for the state’s need, prompting him to explore other methods. I have been advised that Astrazeneca vaccine is more suitable for Oyo State due to storage instructions.
“So we are opening discussions directly with the manufacturers to see how we can get as many as possible for our people,” he said.
Oyo is the fifth worst affected by COVID-19 in Nigeria where nearly 104,000 cases have been detected since last February.
A second wave of the virus kicked off in December 2020 with a sharp rise in the number of daily cases recorded nationwide.
Makinde said on Wednesday that the second wave in Oyo is not a thing because the curve was never flattened in the state to begin with.
“Rather, we had more people becoming complacent and acting as if the pandemic was over,” he said.
The governor called on residents to not let their guard down and continue to adhere strictly to COVID-19 safety protocols.
No fewer than seven people have allegedly been killed in a fresh clash between officials of the Oyo State Security Network Agency also known as Operation Amotekun, and some herdsmen at Okebi village, Aiyete area in the Ibarapa North Local Government Area of the state.
Sources told PREMIUM TIMES that some Amotekun operatives in the early hours of Saturday visited Okebi village in search of suspected kidnappers in the axis.
A source in the community who pleaded anonymity because of fear of being attacked by Amotekun operatives said the killings has since put the community in disarray.
“Amotekun stormed the community today and they drove into villages in search of suspected herdsmen. The clash already caused the death of seven people,” the source said.
Another source told this newspaper that “it was a clash between Amotekun operatives and Fulani herdsmen that led to the deaths. Some people also sustained severe injuries”.
When contacted by PREMIUM TIMES, the Commandant of Amotekun in Oyo State, Olayinka Olayanju, did not respond to calls and text messages.
Meanwhile, sources within Amotekun in the state confirmed to PREMIUM TIMES that the incident truly occurred and efforts are in place by Amotekun commandant to hold a press conference on the said matter.
“The matter truly happened but we have not been authorised to speak with the press. You know that Amotekun has been in the news for negative things recently and we need to address this as soon as possible,” one of our sources among the Amotekun operatives said.
The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Olugbenga Fadeyi, did not respond to this newspaper calls and text messages as of the time of filing this report.
The Oyo State government has announced the cancellation of staggered attendance of classes by students of public and private schools in the state.
This is as it directed all public and private schools (Nursery, Primary, Secondary and Technical Colleges) in the state to resume normal classes, from Monday, January 11, 2021.
A circular with ref. no. EDU.1070/vol.V/T1/24, signed by state Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Barrister Olasunkanmi Olaleye, dated 24th December 2020, conveyed this directive.
Oyo State Governor, Engr Seyi Makinde.
The latest circular particularly directed the management of schools to ensure the usage of all available infrastructure in the school to ensure required distancing.
It will be recalled that, as a measure to curtail the spread of COVID-19 in schools, the state government had effective September 21 ordered that schools open in order of morning and afternoon session.
The order was that pupils from primary 1, primary 3 and students in classes JSS1 to JSS3 will resume for morning shift from 8 am to 11 am while those in primary 4 to primary 6 and their counterparts in SSS1, SSS2 and SSS3 will resume afternoon shift from the hours of 12noon and 3 pm.
The latest circular had as recipients the Teaching Service Commission (TESCOM), State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Board of Technical and Vocational Education (BOTAVED), Zonal Inspectors of Education, Local Inspectors of Education, Principals and Headteachers of Public and Private Schools.
The circular titled, Cancellation of Staggered Classes, read in parts,
“I wish to remind all stakeholders of the staggered attendance of classes during the first term and that the second term 2020/2021 academic session will commence from Monday 11th January 2021″. “Consequent upon the above, all public and private schools (Nursery, Primary, Secondary and Technical Colleges) in the state are to resume normal classes”.
“However, you are to use all available infrastructure in the school suitable for temporary classrooms to ensure required distancing as well as continue to strictly observe other conditions stated in the guidelines for resumption due to COVID-19.”
Governor Seyi Makinde has promised not to sack Osun indigenes working in the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso.
He also said there should be no discrimination of any sort following the new ownership status of the institution.
Governor declared that the state now has the opportunity to restore the lost glory of the university.
The governor also maintained that the real work to reposition the university and take it back to the glorious days when it was adjudged the best state-run university has now begun.
A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr Taiwo Adisa, indicated that the governor stated these while speaking on Ibadan-based Fresh FM’s Political Circuit, on Saturday.
The statement added that Governor Makinde appreciated his Osun State counterpart, Governor Gboyega Oyetola, for his cooperation all through the discussions.
He also stated that with the amicable ending of the joint ownership, a situation that has bogged down the university for years, he was ready to reposition the institution in line with his campaign promise.
He added that Oyo State under his watch will readily reposition the school for excellence, noting that his administration’s drive to industrialise the state will get the much-needed boost with an effectively run technology university like LAUTECH.
He said: “So, we give God all the glory. Now, the real work starts because we have to ensure that the university is properly funded so that it will be contributing to the economy of Ogbomoso in particular and Oyo State in general.
“If we are saying we want to industrialise the state and We have a university of technology adding value in Ogbomoso, the industrialisation effort can proceed very quickly.”
The governor further maintained that Oyo State is ready to fully shoulder the financial responsibilities of LAUTECH, as it has been doing since the beginning of the year 2020.
He said that the state government has appropriated enough funds to the institution in the 2021 budget, adding that his administration will continue to discharge its responsibilities on the institution.
According to him, his administration is renowned for putting its money where its mouth is.
He added: “The arrangement that we met when we came in May 2019, was that Oyo State usually will fund the University from January to June and then Osun state will fund it from July to December.
“We had to intervene a couple of times last year, and between May and December, we had to intervene to get the university running.
“I, already, indicated that we wanted to take it over and because of that, Osun felt why should they be putting their money and negotiation was still on?
“So, for this year 2020, Oyo State has been funding LAUTECH alone. After our January to June, from July, we have been funding LAUTECH alone basically and we appropriated enough money in the 2021 budget to continue doing that.
“So, we anticipated that we were going to get to this position and we are putting our money where our mouth is.”
Makinde, who described Oyetola as a statesman, equally said there is no victor nor vanquished in the arrangement that has seen the National Universities Commission (NUC) transfer LAUTECH ownership solely to Oyo State.
He added that the situation is a win-win for both states, even as he urged staff of the university never to discriminate against members of the workforce who are of Osun State extraction, saying: “Now, there is no Oyo Forum or Osun Forum anymore, it is LAUTECH Forum and it should be focused on the output and growth of the university.”
The governor added that the winners in the latest development are students of the institution and its stakeholders who can now have a stable environment that is conducive for learning and research, stating that he would visit Ogbomoso soon to meet with the stakeholders.
“Well, the only victor now are the students and the stakeholders of the university because they can now get a stable university environment that is conducive for learning and research.
“So, they can go ahead and do it but between Governor Oyetola and I, there is no victor, no vanquished. We just want our children to be able to go to school and also contribute their own quota to the development of the state and our country.
“It is a win-win for everybody; for the students, lecturers and stakeholders. Now, the major issue has been removed. So, they do not have any reason not to excel anymore.
“I will also use this opportunity to thank my brother, Governor of Osun State, for his cooperation and for being a statesman.
“When we were campaigning, I remember that my opponent then said that higher education should not be something you won’t pay for and that it should be commercialised.
“It was a major point of disagreement between us then and we maintained – and we are still of the view to date – that higher education should be affordable.
“So, when we came in on May 29, 2019, we found out that LAUTECH students, instead of spending 4 or 5 years for a programme, they had spent almost double of that and it was not the students’ fault but because of some people who benefit from a bad system.
“I appealed to my brother [Governor Oyetola] and told him that we need to resolve this problem. Let us keep our egos aside. University is from the name universal; I told him that we need to let the institution live up to its name.
“He saw reasons with me and we were able to come together and resolve it.”
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