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Ondo Govt, NURTW Divided Over Committee On Park Management

By
Ayodele Oni
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Akeredolu and Jacob Adebo

By Ayodele Oni

Ondo State Government has been accused of taking sides in the crisis rocking the State chapter of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, (NURTW), by banning activities of the union in the State.

Following the unending crisis within the union, government had sacked the executive led by Jacob Adebo and suspended collection of any form of levy by NURTW.

However, the same government which sacked the executive announced the setting up of a committee, headed by the sacked chairman to oversee parks in the state.

Governor Rotimi Akeredolu represented by his Deputy and Acting Governor of Ondo State, Hon Lucky Aiyedatiwa has inaugurated the State Motor Parks Management Committee.

He used the occasion to call on the leadership of NURTW in the State to resolve its leadership crisis.

The Jacob Adebo Idajo led 21-man committee has Evangelist Festus Obasoto as Vice Chairman, with Bayode Gbenga as Secretary.

Special Adviser on Union Matters and Special Duties, Mr. Dare Aragbaye

Aiyedatiwa disclosed that, Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu SAN-led government was not insensitive to the genuine concerns about stable peace in the motor parks across the State, hence the establishment of the newly created State Motor Parks Management Committee.

“We are here to witness the inuaguration of the newly established State Motor Parks Management Committee which shall be saddled with the responsibility of overseeing the activities of all commercial vehicle operators in all our motor parks across the State.

“This is with specific reference to the parks hitherto managed by the leadership of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) whose activities have since been suspended by the State Government.

The Acting Governor, lamented that the lingering crisis in the State branch of NURTW which has created leadership vacum necessitated government intervention by setting up this committee.

“As a responsible and responsive administration, we could not have folded our arms and allow the ugly trend to persist with its attendant threat to the peace and stability of our beloved State.

“We are therefore left with no option than to set up this management committee which shall take over the running of the affected parks across the 18 LGAs of this State.

“To underscore our neutrality in matters concerning the State Branch of NURTW, the Management Committee we are inuagurating here today, is composed of members of the different factional groups who are willing and prepared to work together with members of the opposing camps.”

In a swift reaction, Members of NURTW in the state protested the suspension of the activities of the union.

In the letter of protest by the union’s counsel, Akinyemi Omoware and made available to newsmen, noted that NURTW is not a mere registered association of a group of people that can be suspended at the whim and caprices of any person in government or persons holding political powers.

The union members threatened that “should any member of the Committee accost and or attempt to forcefully take over the affairs of our client, same would be met with equal resistance.

“It is a Union created by Trade Union Act, a federal enactment and therefore with statutory flavour.”

The union described the park management committee as illegal stressing that, “We are therefore calling your office to abate every wrongful exercise of political powers to truncate legitimate yarning for justice and rule of law.

“It is needless to state that the conduct of your Excellency in totally disregarding the judicial process is by overt and necessary implication calling for the rule of might and brigandage traditionally known with NURTW.

“As a civilized people, we have advised our clients against self-help, confrontation and the use of might; which is the direct consequence of your Excellency’s action.

“It is therefore requested of your esteemed office to restrain your Committee members from causing strife, chaos, commotion and taking steps that can lead to break down of peace, law and order in Ondo State.

“Should your office do otherwise, we shall call on the general public to hold your office, as the Acting Governor of Ondo State responsible for the untoward consequence of these atrocious actions.

“Going by the above backdrop, it is incumbent on your office, as a constitutional government, to restrain the Committee to wait for the Court determination of the pending suit to preserve the sanctity of the Court and the Constitution your Excellency sworn to uphold.

“We do hope that your Excellency, being a product of democracy, will toe the line of peace, democracy and justice in allowing the Court to do its work rather than taking steps that is subjudice and consequently portray the Court as a weak and irrelevant institution.”

Stop The Killings In the SouthEast

By
The Source
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By Osita Chidoka

“I am of the considered view that IPOB should focus its gaze on the leadership in Igboland, force accountability and elect people capable of using the zone’s resources to build a liveable homeland that embodies the concept of Biafra as a prosperous refuge for Igbo people”

Days ago, two officers of the Federal Road Safety Corps were brutally murdered in the ongoing macabre orgy of violence by the strangely named Unknown Gunmen. Their offence? Lawful discharge of their statutory duty. The FRSC officers do not bear arms, and as such, it is cowardly to shoot unarmed citizens no matter the subject of the agitation. The killings, kidnapping and enthronement of fear in the southeast must end.

I have written articles about revamping our security architecture, reached out to leaders in the zone and engaged privately with security agencies and youth leaders to help douse the tension. The results are not as encouraging as I hoped. Yet I am still hopeful.

During my talk at The Platform in 2021, I warned against the so-called Unknown gunmen phenomenon, noting that “you can start it, but you can’t stop it”. That warning was against any form of violent insurrection.

I have consistently defended the right of IPOB to agitate for anything, including secession, provided it is peaceful and within the legitimate right of any Nigerian to associate and promote any agenda freely.

No group in Igboland since NCNC and NPP had mobilised Igbos like IPOB has done. They tapped into a deep well of discontent in the land and used the tactics of the growing nativist nationalism sweeping around the world to gain a following. They created the “they vs us” and, with the thoughtless mismanagement of our national diversity by the government of the day,  found a fertile ground. That their message resonated with the people is a reflection of the deep sense of hopelessness in the region.

I was of the opinion and still believe, that the Nigerian State partly causes the anger in Igboland through sheer incompetence and a post-civil war mentality of containing the Igbos. The more significant source of the anger, however, is the poor and unaccountable leadership in Igboland.

I am of the considered view that IPOB should focus its gaze on the leadership in Igboland, force accountability and elect people capable of using the zone’s resources to build a liveable homeland that embodies the concept of Biafra as a prosperous refuge for Igbo people.

An example I love to give is that the tallest building in Enugu today is the ACB Bank headquarters, built by the Eastern regional government in the late 50s. Sixty years after, with Enugu state receiving more money than Eastern Region in real dollars, the environment has not enabled a building reflecting the hopes and aspirations of the Igbo people. Yet, Ernest Azudialo, an Igbo businessman, built the Nestoil towers in Victoria Island Lagos.

Why are Igbo states hostile to private capital? Why is governance in Igboland not reflective of the triple values of uche, uchu and egwuchukwu that embody Igbo virtues? The problem is not only the marginalisation by the Nigerian state. It is primarily the failure of local governance from Local to State governments across the East.

The resort to forming a Security Network ostensibly to ward off armed herders, who destroy and pillage communities, marked the beginning of a new dimension in the mobilisation that has now been hijacked. It has created opportunities for criminal activities, which is killing the Southeast.

Criminal elements and misguided youths have plunged Igboland into a cycle of violence that, if not checked, will be difficult to contain and lead to the decline of the already poorly governed region.

The world has seen hitherto progressive states decline to almost a Hobbesian state of nature where life is “nasty, brutish, and short.”  Afghanistan was once a progressive state.  Harare, following Mugabe’s wrong priorities, shot itself in the head.  After the collapse of the U.S. car industry, the city of Detroit showed that failure could happen even in a developed country.  At home, the once beautiful city of Maiduguri is now a metaphor for devastation.  The Southeast is on the path.

The killings have to stop. Genuine agitators should step forward and disown the criminality going on. The Federal Government should fast-track Nnamdi Kanu’s trial or promote a negotiated settlement that will demobilise armed groups and return IPOB to the path of peaceful agitation.

There are still many groups promoting the Confederate philosophy in the US after over 100 years of the war of secession. The onus is on the federal government to make the union attractive by building that middle ground of national inclusion.

The amnesty offer by Gov Chukwuma Soludo and the Church Leaders is an opportunity. The gunmen should take it. Igboland cannot afford the double jeopardy of poor governance and descent to anarchy. We will be the losers. We can’t bite off our noses to spite our faces.  Only ‘Onye Ala’ will burn his yam barn and exclaim with glee that he has dealt with his enemies.  Those who are the cynosure of all eyes should not play with ash.

My heartfelt condolences go to the families of those who lost their lives in this senseless orgy of violence. I call on the armed agitators to lay down their arms and seek the path of peace. Now is the time.

 Chidoka, a former Minister for Aviation, was also the Corp Marshall of the Federal Road Safety

John Ogbonnaya Amadi Replaces Late DIG Egbunike As DIG, Assigned To Research & Planning

By
The Source
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John Ogbonnaya Amadi

 “CP Moronkeji Adesina takes charge in Ekiti State”

The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba, psc(+), NPM, fdc, has recommended the posting of Assistant Inspector-General of Police, AIG John Ogbonaya Amadi, mni, as Ag. DIG Department of Research and Planning, Force Headquarters, Abuja, and DIG representing South-East Geo-political zone.

Amadi is a replacement for DIG Joseph Egbunike who died, suddenly, recently.  Until his death, Egbunike was in charge of the Force Criminal Investigation Department, FCID. Amadi’s name will be sent to the Police Service Commission for confirmation.

The IGP has equally ordered the posting of CP Moronkeji Olusegun Adesina, psc, as Commissioner of Police in charge of Ekiti State Police Command.

According to a release by the Force  Ag. Spokesperson, CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, the new Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Research and Planning, Ag. DIG John Ogbonaya Amadi, who hails from Ebonyi State, is a versatile police officer, with a Bachelor’s degree in Education (Biology) and a Master’s Degree in Education both from the prestigious University of Lagos. He has attended several professional courses both in Nigeria, and abroad. Some of these include the Advance Detective Course, Police Staff College, Jos, and the National Security Course, Police Academy, Cairo, Egypt.  

Amadi, who is a member of the National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), has held many Command positions including as Commissioner of Police at the Railway Police Command, Western Ports Authority, Lagos, and Airport Command, Lagos; Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Maritime, Lagos. Until his recent posting, he was a Directing Staff at the NIPSS, Kuru, Jos.

CP Moronkeji Olusegun Adesina, who takes over the duties and responsibilities of the office of Commissioner of Police, Ekiti State Police Command, holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Philosophy from the Ogun State University/now Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ogun State, and a Bachelor of Laws Degree from the University of Calabar, Cross River State. He is a bonafide member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) Virginia, USA. Prior to his posting as CP Ekiti, he was the CP General Investigations, Force Criminal Investigations Department, Abuja.

The Inspector-General of Police has charged the senior officers to put their best foot forward in ensuring top notch delivery of policing services to members of the public.

The postings/redeployments are with immediate effect.

Buhari Worst President Nigeria Ever Had- PDP Governors

By
The Source
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The Governors’ Forum of the Peoples Democratic Party, has described President Muhammadu Buhari and his Government as the worst Nigeria has ever had.

The Forum was reacting to a statement by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu where Shehu accused PDP Governors of influencing ethnic and religious tensions  in Nigeria.

The Governors had, in earlier statement after a meeting in Abia State, strongly lamented the state of the Nigerian nation. But responding in a statement signed by the Director General of the Forum, Hon. CID Maduabum, the Forum wondered how its “pointing out the deteriorating state of affairs in Nigeria inflame ethnic and religious tensions.”

The Forum, instead alleged that: “The Buhari Presidency, by all objective accounts, is the worst in Nigeria’s history in managing our diversity. Under APC’s seven years rule, Nigerians no longer trust one another, ethnic and religious differences are not properly managed. All our fault lines are exposed and exacerbated.”

It expressed shock that Shehu praised the military’s success under the APC Government as compared to that of the PDP. “That someone in today’s Nigeria can be this tone-deaf to the cheapening of life in Nigeria under the watch of the APC, is to say the least unfortunate”, it said.

Following is the PDP Governors Forum’s response to the Presidency’s reaction to its communique from their last meeting in hosted by the Governor of Abia State.

PDP GOVERNORS’ FORUM REBUTS GARBA SHEHU’S INFANTILE RESPONSE TO PDP GOVERNORS’ FACT FILLED COMMUNIQUE

We are moved to respond to the infantile, ignorant, pedestrian, low quality, confused and rambling response of Garba Shehu, spokesman of the so-called Presidency, an amorphous entity, to the fact-filled patriotic, well thought out chronicle of the dire living conditions of Nigerians by the PDP Governors in their communiqué of March 23, 2022, for the need to set the records straight.

  1. Garba Shehu described the communiqué as a fantasy, delusional and fictional. He even derided Nigerian armed forces as “phantom soldiers”. Perhaps he was dazed by the sheer assemblage of facts, figures and evidence on the existential threat Nigeria is facing as a result of the APC misrule, with respect to the economy, security, stealing of Nigeria’s crude, etc. as contained in the communiqué.

It was John Adams who said that “facts are stubborn things; and whatever may be our wishes, our inclinations, or the dictates of our passion, they cannot alter the state of facts and evidence.”

The communiqué merely stated the facts.

President Muhammadu Buhari
President Muhammadu Buhari
  1. The PDP Governors communiqué made a comparative sketch of Nigeria of 2015 under PDP and Nigeria of 2022 under APC. The communiqué reeled out the fact that in almost all sectors, things have gotten worse by over 1000%. This is reflected in prices of basic foodstuffs, unemployment rate, electricity prices, kerosene, diesel, fuel, aviation fuel and air ticket prices which have all gone through the roof. It reeled out figures on poverty, inflation, exchange rate, debt accumulation and corruption.

Indeed, all aspects of life in Nigeria are being systematically destroyed by the APC administration. Life has become short, brutish and valueless in Buhari’s Nigeria as insecurity ravages the land. But this is not the problem of Garba shehu, who is enveloped in the Presidential Villa, totally oblivious of the suffering and agony Nigerians are facing.

  1. The most disturbing aspect of misrule of the APC as chronicled in the communiqué is the petroleum sector.

The stealing of Nigeria’s crude oil and the connivance of NNPC in shortchanging other tiers of government, namely, States and Local Governments is simply mind bogging, if not outright criminal. Nigeria now produces 1.1million barrels of crude oil per day. It has capacity to produce 2.5million per day. It cannot even meet its OPEC quota of 1.8million per day. NNPC is a law unto itself. Nobody can call them to order to desist from the part of lawlessness and unconstitutional acts it has chosen to dwell in. Of course, President Buhari is the Minister of Petroleum Resources. Under his watch, the Nigeria’s Oil and Gas Sector is deteriorating. In an accountable government, he should have resigned his position as Minister of Petroleum, as a result of the cataclysmic failures in the sector.

  1. It is even shocking that Garba Shehu admits that funds from NNPC are now directly used to fund social and health programmes, road construction etc, in an unconstitutional overreach. NNPC can spend the Federal Government’s share of the Federation Account as it pleases. It cannot spend money belonging to other tiers of government without their approval. NNPC cheats States and Local Governments. NNPC recklessly squanders money belonging to other tiers of government and has the audacity and impudence to pay Zero amount of money into the Federation Account.
  2. Garba Shehu conveniently ignored the facts in the PDP Governors Communique that exposed the deduction of N788billion for NNPC’s own chosen projects without recourse to the Federation Account; the deduction of N8.3billion monthly for rehabilitation of refineries in Nigeria that do not work; the scandal called petroleum subsidy that gulps trillions of naira yearly without accountability and value for money. Between 2012 and 2021, N7.6T has been withheld by NNPC from the Federal Account. Yet, Garba Shehu kept mum on these scandalous disclosures.

What did Garba Shehu say about 18 Federation Revenue Agencies that have refused to remit funds to the Federation Account in breach of the Constitution? Nothing! What an impunity? What a robbery? What a reckless and whimsical approach to governance!

The presumption is that we can talk as much as we want, since power resides in the Presidency, we can do nothing. But there will be a day for accounting. There will be a day of reckoning. When that day comes, arrogance of power will not avail the perpetrator of these serial acts of theft of Nigeria’s patrimony.

  1. Garba Shehu accused PDP Governors of influencing ethnic and religious tensions. How does pointing out the deteriorating state of affairs in Nigeria inflame ethnic and religious tensions?

The Buhari Presidency by all objective accounts is the worst in Nigerias history in managing our diversity. Under APC’s 7 years rule, Nigerians no longer trust one another, ethnic and religious differences are not properly managed. All our fault lines are exposed and exacerbated.

  1. Garba Shehu had the temerity to praise the military success under Buhari as compared to the PDP. That someone in today’s Nigeria can be this tone-deaf to the cheapening of life in Nigeria under the watch of the APC is to say the least, unfortunate.

The recent events in Kaduna has brought trauma and shame to Nigeria.

  1. It is even more surprising that Garba Shehu mentioned the value of the Naira. What can we say, there is no strategy, no concerted effort to stabilise the value of the Naira. How can there be a plan when the CBN Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, is openly running for the office of President, spending billions in television and newspaper advertisement and other costly engagements. This is being done under the nose of Mr President. There can be no better evidence of government adrift, unconcerned and rudderless. Without care about how the economy runs. The sheer arrogance of being in such a sensitive office and running for President is quite outstounding.
  2. The PDP Governors sounded alarm on the problems facing the country. The Government should wake up from its deep slumber. In any case there is hope in the horizon as PDP is poised to RESCUE AND REBUILD Nigeria after 2023.

EFCC Releases Cubana Chief Priest

By
The Source
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Cubana Chief Priest

By Charles Igbo

Pascal Okechukwu,  celebrity Barman, popular as Cubana Chief Priest, has been released by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

Okechukwu, a Senior Special Assistant to the Governor of lmo State on Social Media, was arrested by the EFCC at the Domestic wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, where he was to board a flight to Owerri, over the weekend.

He was picked up on allegations bordering on money laundering and tax fraud.

In 2021, his bosom friend and fellow socialite, billionaire Obi Cubana, was also picked up by the EFCC on same allegations. He was released after spending a couple of days at the Agency’s facility.

It is not known under which conditions Okechukwu was released. But this magazine gathered that he was released Monday night on administrative bail after meeting all conditions.

Uzodinma Assures Nollywood Of Support Ahead 2022 BON Awards

By
The Source
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Hope Uzodimma

Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State  has assured Nollywood Stars that the Government will do its best to support and encourage them as they prepare for their forthcoming Best of Nollywood (BON) Awards scheduled for Owerri, the Imo State capital in December 2022.

He gave the assurance on Monday, April 4, 2022 when the Executives of BON Award paid a courtesy call on him at the New Executive Council Chamber Government House Owerri.

The Governor thanked them for choosing Imo State for this year’s event, noting that it was heart warming to note that a poll of Imo indigenes are in the Nollywood Industry.

“So Government will continue to support them to achieve their primary objectives.”

Earlier in his speech, the leader of the delegation, Oluwaseun Oloketuyi who is the Executive Producer of Best of Nollywood Award had informed the Governor of their forthcoming Media Award in December this year and the choice of Owerri as venue.

He said they came to present the hosting right letter to the Governor and to appreciate him for the good work he is doing in the State.

He noted that “Best of Nollywood Award is a travelling award that will take you to different places of the federation which normally takes place every December.”

Oloketuyi noted that this is BON award 14th year and the second time they are coming to South East, noting that they have been to several states of the federation like Ogun, Kano, Kogi, Abia, Rivers and others for the Award programme.

He said they decided to come to Imo State because “the history and story of Nollywood will not be complete without mention of Imo State because there are lots of Imo indigenes who have done well in the industry.”

Answering questions from journalists, he explained that Imo will benefit in so many ways as the event will boost the state’s economy and promote it’s tourism potentials.

“School children will be educated on how to push forward in their careers. We will encourage those who are interested in acting. They must not go to school before making an attempt. It will open a lot of doors for Imolites.”

Uzodimma Lauds Buhari Over Federal College of Education Technical Isu, Ebonyi State

By
The Source
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Hope Uzodinma

Governor of Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodimma has lauded President Muhammadu Buhari’s Special Education Policy that saw the South East benefiting from the establishment of the Federal College of Education Technical at Isu in Ebonyi State in 2019.

The Governor expressed the gratitude to the President when he received the Provost of the College and his Principal Officers who paid a courtesy visit on him at Government House, Owerri on Monday.

Governor Uzodimma said “the College of Education is a very good boost not only to educational potentials in the South East region but will go a long way in closing the gap in tertiary institution admissions, address the problem of unemployment in the region and stimulate the economy because of other activities that will be generated from the operations of the Institution.”

He appealed to those from the region to support the smooth take-off and sustenance of the institution as government, whether  Federal or State, cannot fund education alone.

He canvassed the need for Corporate bodies and individuals to rally round the Principal Officers of the school for the smooth take-off.

Governor Uzodimma assured that his government will seek further discussions with the College’s authorities on possible specific areas of support by the  Imo State government for a smooth take-off while enjoining the team to work hard to achieve success.

“Count on us and the State as partners,” he said, expressing confidence in the capacity of the Provost to stay afloat even in the face of turbulence that may herald the commencement of the institution.

In an address he presented to the Governor,  the Provost of the Federal College of Education Technical Isu, Ebonyi State, Professor Okey Reuben Okechukwu said they were on a campaign that would take them round the five States of the South East, to solicit cooperation and assistance as the institution formally takes off October this year as one of the six newly established Federal Colleges of Education by President Buhari in September, 2019 for the six geopolitical zones.

Prof. Okechukwu recalled the several mandates and tasks assigned to them that include drawing up academic programmes, laying the timetable in line with national tertiary education calendar and sourcing students for admission accordingly.

He acknowledged the magnanimity of Mr. President in approving one billion Naira (N1billion) as take-off grant to be sourced from the Tetfund Intervention Fund, saying the College was optimistic the money will be released in record time to enable the authorities implement her programmes.

He specifically thanked Governor Uzodimma for his efforts while in the Senate and other patriotic South East leaders who fought for the College to come to the South East region and for them to be appointed as Principal Officers of the College.

He informed the Governor of the assistance the College has already received from Ebonyi, the host State, to include land allocation, temporary site, some school blocks for administrative take-off among others.

For commencement of full academic programmes the Provost enumerated myriad of challenges to include hostel accommodation, micro teaching laboratory, workshops and technical laboratories, ICT centre, transportation and others.

On what Imo State hopes to gain from the institution as one of the States of the South East, the Provost said they include employment, project development and students admission at the College which will be on pro-rata basis.

Four Schools, he said, had been approved for initial take-off by the National Council for Colleges of Education.

They include: School of Education and General Studies; School of Secondary Education Technical; School Of Secondary Education Sciences; and School of Education Vocational.

The Provost was accompanied on the visit by the Registrar of the College,  Dr. Linus Nnamani, and the Bursar,  Mr Offor Nwode Ojeh.

Ooni Visits LSHA, Calls For Promotion Of Yoruba Language, Cultural Heritage

By
Akinwale Kasali
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Ooni and Obasa

By Akinwale Kasali

For the sustenance of indigenous language and promotion of cultural heritages, revered Monarch, Ooni of Ife, His Imperial Majesty (HIM) Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogúnwusi, Ojaja II, has advocated for Yoruba language to be spoken in Lagos households.

He said this was necessary so that our children won’t forget their roots and for Yoruba language not to go into extinction.

Clad in his traditional royal apparel, Oba Ogunwusi, arrived the Lagos State House of Assembly complex to pay a courtesy visit to the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa.

The Monarch is said to have been a long time friend to the Speaker.

It would be recalled that In 2016, he commended the House of Assembly for its laudable steps towards promoting and preserving the rich cultural heritage of the Yorubas.

Also In 2017, when he led some chiefs on a visit to the House, Oba Ogunwusi urged other State Houses of Assembly in the Southwest to emulate the Lagos State House of Assembly in the promotion of Yoruba Language.

Speaking during the visit, he said, “I am very happy to be here and see the Lagos State House of Assembly, using Yoruba language to conduct its activities. I, therefore, enjoin all other Houses of Assembly in Yoruba Land to take a cue from this House.

“People in other countries honour and cherish Yoruba language, but sadly here at home, we seem not to cherish what is ours.

“I, therefore, urge the Lagos State House of Assembly to do all within its power to persuade other State Assemblies in Yoruba speaking areas, to see the sense in conducting their House businesses in Yoruba, as this is one of the surest way to promote our language and cultural heritage,” the revered traditional ruler said during that visit.

Meanwhile, the House, on Monday, passed a bill to establish a training institute for law enforcement officers in the State.

The ‘Bill for the Establishment of Lagos State Training Institute, to provide for the training of law enforcement officers,’ was read for the third time and subsequently passed at a sitting presided over by Speaker Obasa.

Obasa, thereafter, directed the Clerk of the House, Mr. Olalekan Onafeko, to send a clean copy of the Bill to the State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, for assent.

Ondo: DSS Bursts Kidnap Gang

By
Ayodele Oni
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DSS Parades Kidnappers

By Ayodele Oni

Operatives of the of State Service (DSS) on Monday paraded a nursing mother among a six-man syndicate that specialised in the kidnapping of toddlers in Ondo State.

The Director of DSS in Ondo State, Mr Jonathan Kure, while parading the suspects at his headquarters, said that the syndicate had been terrorising the State by kidnapping toddlers between the ages of two and four years.

Kure said following the directive of President Muhammadu Buhari and the support of its Director-General and  Ondo State Government it launched a trackdown of  the syndicate full of young men and a nursing mother.

He noted that the nursing mother was a member of the kidnap syndicate, and also helped to keep weapons  for the syndicate and was a wife to one of the arrested kidnappers.

The Director, noted that he could confirm from intelligence report that they were the only syndicate  that specialised in kidnapping of toddlers, but would not rest on its oars to ensure parents could sleep with their two eyes closed.

Kure said further investigation would continue and they would soon be charged to court.

The Director noted that the operation was carried out in synergy with the men of the Nigerian Army and appreciated the collaboration amongst the security agencies in Ondo State.

” They have tormented so many families, especially within Akure, following the directive of President Buhari and support of our DG, we were able to launch a crackdown.

“What you can see there are young me, what is even more touching is that one of their members is a nursing mother and wife of one of the kidnappers, she also plays a dual role of being the armoury of the group,” he said

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that some of the items paraded along with the suspects included; laptops, cash, locally made guns and cash.

The Acting Governor  of Ondo State, Mr Lucky Aiyedatiwa at the DSS office assured indigenes and  residents of the state of adequate security of their lives and property.

Aiyedatiwa urged landlords to always do proper profiling of their tenants and know the kind of work they do.

“Security is everybody’s business, if you notice anyone that is living above his means, let security check the person out,” he said.

Area Boys, Hausa Motorcyclists Clash At Ipaja, One Killed

By
Akinwale Kasali
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0
Iyana Ipaja Motorcylists Fight

By Akinwale Kasali

There was pandemonium at Gate Bus stop, Ipaja, Mosan Okunola, Local Council Development Area of Lagos State as Area Boys and Motorcyclists, mostly the Hausa, engaged in a free for all fight, leading to the death of one person.

The said Area Boys are said to be ticketers and touts working for the Mosan Okunola LCDA.

According to eyewitnesses, the Motorcyclists had turned the estate to their park, causing traffic, as there is always congestion in the area, halting vehicular movement.

This, the area boys tried addressing which led to a fight as the Motorcyclists weren’t ready to adhere to the instructions given that they should leave the estate.

The Hausa Motorcyclists were said to have regrouped and unleashed mayhem on the Area Boys with dangerous weapons leading to the death of ene person.

The killer of dead person said to be known as Ola Federal,was apprehended.

It  took the intervention of men of the Nigeria Police from Area P and Area M Police Divisional Headquarters to restore normalcy.

In a statement by the Police, it said, “Our officers responded to the violent fights that broke out in Baruwa/Gate area of Ipaja today.

Calm has been restored to the area. One person was confirmed dead.

“The killer and other suspects have been arrested while intensive patrols of the area is  going on.

“Lagosians are urged to go about their lawful duties, especially in the axis as their safety and security is being made top priority”.

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