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Tag: Makinde

  • Coronavirus: Makinde imposes curfew in Oyo, shuts markets

    Coronavirus: Makinde imposes curfew in Oyo, shuts markets

    Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has imposed a dusk to dawn curfew as part of stringent measures to halt the spread of coronavirus pandemic in the state.

    The governor has also ordered the closure of markets except those selling perishable food items as Oyo State now has three confirmed cases of the new coronavirus.

    “As a result of this, I have directed that the following additional measures be put in place: a dusk to dawn curfew (7 PM to 6 AM); no gatherings of more than ten people should be held anywhere in Oyo State,” Makinde said on Friday in a series of tweets.

    “From Sunday night, March 29, 2020, all markets will be closed except those selling perishable food items.”

    The Governor also suspended inter-state transportation, incoming and outgoing, except for vehicles carrying food items, medical, pharmaceutical and petroleum products.

    “This takes effect from Sunday night, March 29, 2020,” Makinde said. “All measures will be reviewed on a weekly basis.”

    According to the Governor, 84 other suspected cases have been identified in the state as contact tracing and collection of samples commence.

    “The state’s diagnostic centre set up in collaboration with the University College Hospital is now ready,” Makinde said. “The Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) certification is still pending but the Director-General of NCDC has made a pre-statement about the molecular laboratory in Oyo State.”

    He noted that the state’s “index case remains stable and is still under observation in the isolation unit at Agbami Chest Centre, Jericho.”

  • Oyo Governor, Makinde Fires Media Aide for posting fake news on social media

    Oyo Governor, Makinde Fires Media Aide for posting fake news on social media

    Barely 24 hours after he posted an untrue post on his Facebook page, Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has sacked one of his media aides, Mr Murtala Adigun.

    Until his removal, Mr Adigun, who is popularly known as Adigun Ibadan, served as the Special Assistant to the Governor on Digital Media.

    On Thursday, the former aide, a product of the prestigious University of Ibadan, posted pictures showing some fumigation equipment purchased by the Lagos State government as an achievement of his boss.

    He was highly criticised for lying about this after he captioned the images, “Oyo state Government in her readiness to combat the escalation of COVID-19 virus purchases disinfecting machines to be used across the State.”

    Apparently embarrassed by the backlashes that followed the social media, which many commenters described as #FakeNews, the Governor promptly took an action and relieved Mr Adigun of his position.

    On Friday, in a dismissal letter addressed to him, the Governor thanked Mr Adigun for his short stay on the job, having been appointed just over a month ago, precisely on February 7, 2020.

    The letter was signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Mrs Olubamiwo Adeosun, and was dated Friday, March 27, 2020.

    Mrs Adeosun stated in the letter that the governor had approved the termination of his appointment as Special Assistant (Digital Media) with immediate effect, wishing him success in future endeavours.

    After his dismissal, Mr Adigun blamed social media critics for the Governor’s action, saying on Twitter today that, “You called for it, you have gotten it. Thanks to everybody that contributed to my downfall.”

  • Makinde prohibits gathering of more than 30 persons over COVID-19

    Makinde prohibits gathering of more than 30 persons over COVID-19

    Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo state has declared the ban on social gatherings including religious services, weddings, parties, and burial ceremonies, saying such gatherings should be limited to 30 persons or less.

    He also directed nightclubs to remain closed. He said the new measures will be reviewed in two weeks.

    The Governor made the announcements during a late Monday night broadcast at the state owned broadcasting outfit, Broadcasting Corporation of Oyo State (BCOS), a repeat of which was done on Tuesday morning.

    Makinde said, he understands how this pandemic will affect the people socially, economically and spiritually, but that the measures are the sacrifices that must be made to preserve and protect the people.

    He also gave the efforts made so far in combating the pandemic while reassuring the people of the efforts been made to contain the spread.

    Makinde said in the broadcast, “My dear good people of Oyo State, on Saturday, 21st March 2020, the first case of the novel Coronavirus Disease was confirmed in Oyo State.

    “This new development calls for stepping up even further, the measures that our administration is taking to prevent, contain and control the spread of this illness.

    “This is the time to come together as a people to fight a common enemy, COVID-19, also known as Coronavirus.

    “Since the identification of the Ekiti case on the 18th of March, 2020, the Oyo State Government has ramped up its preparedness for any possible outbreak of the pandemic. We set up a COVID-19 Task Force which I am heading. We have activated the Disease Surveillance and Notification System Officers in the 33 Local Government Areas and the 35 Local Council Development Areas.

    “We are collaborating with the College of Medicine to set up two Diagnostic Centres at the University College Hospital, Ibadan which will begin operations by the end of the week. Both are awaiting the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control’s validation. We are also awaiting reagents for testing which have been ordered.

    “We have also set up an additional isolation centre by redesignating the Maternal and Health Centre at Olodo as the Oyo State Infectious Disease Centre with a capacity for over 100 cases. Rehabilitation of the isolation centre is ongoing.

    “As a result of the newly designated isolation centre at Olodo, we have now reduced the previous five isolation centres to three. They are:

    “Ten-bed isolation centre at Jericho Chest Hospital, Ibadan

    “Four-bed isolation centre at University College Hospital, Ibadan

    “Four-bed isolation centre at LAUTECH Teaching Hospital, Ogbomoso

    “We have purchased and are presently refitting two dedicated ambulances for conveying critical cases to the isolation centres, while emergency personal protective gears have been provided for health workers with more already ordered.

    “Also, the Emergency Operation Centre (EOC) has been set up and is now operational with an Incidence Manager, Dr. Taiwo Ladipo of the Ministry of Health. In addition, a five-member committee of experts has been approved to act as sub-committee for the EOC. We have provided numbers to call in case of emergencies.

    “I have already directed that all public and private schools in Oyo State should be closed until after Easter. The ongoing workers’ verification exercise has been suspended. The Free Health Mission has also been suspended.

    “All returning expatriate staffers in the state are presently in isolation and are being monitored.

    “However, with the confirmation of the first case and a clear understanding of how this disease can be transmitted, it cannot remain business as usual. We have postponed the Nigerian Mining and Geosciences Summit, indefinitely. We have also postponed the Agribusiness Summit, indefinitely.

    “Therefore, I am obligated to place a ban on gatherings such as religious services, weddings, parties, burial ceremonies and so on, gatherings should be limited to 30 persons or less. Nightclubs will have to remain closed. These measures will be reviewed in two weeks.

    “I want to make it clear that I understand how this pandemic will affect us socially, economically and spiritually, but these are the sacrifices we need to make to preserve and protect our loved ones.

    “Remember, some people among us can be asymptomatic. They can be carriers of the virus without showing any physical symptoms. This is why proper hygienic practices, social distancing and staying at home are very important.

    “In times of anxiety, people want to come together physically and draw strength from the presence of others, but the advice on how to contain this virus is that we should do the exact opposite.

    “This disease, this virus is disrupting our lives in ways that we never imagined any disease would. But we can conquer it. We have seen the number of new cases drop in other places around the world and we have to copy all they did, as far as our local circumstances can permit, to keep the numbers here in manageable proportions.

    “Again, I enjoin everyone to work with us and do everything in their power to practice social distancing. With commitment and the grace of God we shall conquer this.”

     

  • Coronavirus: Atiku clears air on son attending Makinde’s PDP rally, Abuja night club

    Coronavirus: Atiku clears air on son attending Makinde’s PDP rally, Abuja night club

    Former Vice President of Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar, has reacted to reports that his son refused to isolate himself upon return.

    Atiku had on Sunday revealed that his son tested positive for the deadly disease.

    He said he has been moved to Gwagwalada specialist hospital.

    But reports on Monday emerged that Atiku’s son attended a popular club in Abuja, as well as the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP’s rally that was held in Ibadan.

    But reacting Atiku in a statement by his Media Adviser, Paul Ibe debunked the reports.

    Describing the reports as a ‘false narrative,’ Atiku said his son returned to the country on 17th March via Switzerland from some business engagements in France and Switzerland and isolated himself when he returned to Abuja.

    He urged Nigerians to disregard the ‘perfidious information that his son accessed open location.

    The statement reads, “The clinical case attended a private meeting of six (6) persons same day in Lagos, stayed in his private house for the night and took an Aero 5.20pm flight to Abuja on the 18th.

    “The case did not travel with his family or any other but travelled alone by Emirates Airline.
    The case wore face mask as a precautionary measure since his arrival in Nigeria.

    “The case did not show symptoms of infection and voluntarily placed a call to NCDC on arrival in Abuja late on the 18th to inform them he had returned from COVID-19 prone country and desired to be tested.

    “On the 19th, NCDC took his blood sample which result came positive on the 20th. He subsequently went into self-isolation to protect his family within his own house.

    “Meantime his son has since tested negative while his wife’s result is being awaited. The two persons are currently in self-isolation.

    “We urge members of the public to disregard the perfidious information that the case accessed open location. He was not at Play Lounge nor any other club in Abuja as being mischievously bandied about.

    “The case neither attended the Friday Jumu’a prayers nor any social gathering until his evacuation to Gwagwalada Specialist Hospital on the 20th where he is being treated and managed.

    “We thank Nigerians for their prayers and support through this difficult time. Once again, it needs to be restated that the risk and danger of #COVID19 is real.”

  • Makinde apologises for holding PDP rally amidst coronavirus scare

    Makinde apologises for holding PDP rally amidst coronavirus scare

    Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, on Thursday, apologised for allowing a Peoples Democratic Party ‘mega rally’ in the state even in the face of an emerging threat and fast spreading coronavirus disease in Nigeria.

    No fewer than a thousand persons were present at the PDP rally, which had other governors of the party in attendance including Governor Duoye Diri of Bayelsa State.

    Many Nigerians have described the party’s action as ‘irresponsible’, ‘insensitive’ and ‘disappointing’.

    Makinde, who has been under sarcastic criticisms since the rally held Wednesday in Ibadan, the state capital, said he regretted his action which “should not have happened”.

    The governor said, “I have received your complaints about the rally that was held yesterday, and I feel obligated to state in clear terms that we acted based on the information we had at that time. In retrospect, it should not have happened and I take responsibility for that lapse in judgement.

    “We do not currently have any confirmed case of coronavirus in Oyo State; (yet,) we still all need to be more proactive.”

    Makinde added that the state government would set up the Oyo State COVID-19 Task Force led by himself and it would hold its first meeting on Friday, March 20, 2020.

    “Immediately after the meeting, I will hold a press conference and update you on all decisions reached and so far, implemented,” he added.

    As of Friday morning, Nigeria has 12 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and a few suspected cases, according to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control.

    TheNewsGuru recalls that social distancing has been recommended by the World Health Organisation to prevent community transmission of the virus that has infected over 200,000 lives globally with over 8,000 attendant deaths.

     

  • Just in: Gov Makinde, aides wear Amotekun-inspired outfits as he signs bill [Photos]

    Just in: Gov Makinde, aides wear Amotekun-inspired outfits as he signs bill [Photos]

    Oyo State governor, Seyi Makinde and some of his aides on Tuesday, wore a leopard-print as he (Makinde) signs the Oyo State Security Network Agency Bill 2020 for the establishment of Amotekun Corps into law.

    Recall that the Oyo House of Assembly had on March 3, passed the bill to the governor for assent after organising a public hearing and after scaling third reading, The PUNCH reports.

    The Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Adebo Ogundoyin, had earlier indicated that the signing of the bill would be speedy since it bothers on common interest.

    The signing of the bill into law held at the Executive Council Chamber, Governor’s Office, Oyo State Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan.

    Other members of Makinde’s cabinet present at the occasion include deputy Governor, Rauf Olaniyan; Chief of Staff, Chief Bisi Ilaka; Head of Service, Ololade Agboola; Secretary to the State Government, Olubamwo Adeosun; and the state Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Oyewo Oyewole.

    See photos:

  • Insecurity: High hopes as Makinde signs Amotekun Bill Tuesday

    Insecurity: High hopes as Makinde signs Amotekun Bill Tuesday

    Barring last minute changes, Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde will tomorrow sign into law the bill backing the establishment of the Oyo State Security Network Agency codenamed Amotekun Corps.

    The bill was passed with fanfare by the House of Assembly last Tuesday, as lawmakers and members of staff wore fabrics with leopard design to the plenary. It was the sole discussion for the day. The bill passed third reading and was passed by a unanimous decision.

    According to a report by The Nation, the Office of the Governor of Oyo State has started making preparations for the ceremonial signing of Amotekun bill into law by Governor Makinde tomorrow.

    The governor has played a pivotal role in the establishment of the regional security outfit due to the central location and importance of Oyo State to the Southwest.

    For instance, the security summit, which gave birth to the idea of Amotekun, was held in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital. The outfit was jointly launched on the premises of Makinde’s office on January 9 before the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami (SAN), declared the regional security outfit illegal.

    Operation Amotekun was originally conceived as a regional security outfit by the governors of Oyo, Osun, Ogun, Ekiti, Ondo and Lagos states.

    The governors agreed to give it a legal backing by the legislature of each state to overcome its illegality in the face of the Nigerian constitution.

    The state assemblies and attorneys general of the six states worked together to generate the law backing the outfit. Although it was created on state-by-state basis, the outfit will still operate as a regional organisation, wearing the same uniform, using the same operational guidelines, having joint training for personnel and working together across borders to prevent crimes or track down criminals.

  • 2023: Makinde, Ibori others move to unite Lagos PDP, warn APC of impending loss

    2023: Makinde, Ibori others move to unite Lagos PDP, warn APC of impending loss

    Prominent Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftains met in Lagos on Thurtsday for return of peace to the state chapter of the party.

    Emerging from the closed-door parley, Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde said the party’s leaders met to resolve some issues, and made some progresses in their assignment.

    The meeting, which was held on Lugard Street in Ikoyi with former Deputy National Chairman of PDP, Bode George, was also attended by former Delta State Governor James Ibori, former Lagos State Deputy Governor Kofoworola Buknor-Akerele, Dr. Remi Akitoye, Dr. Adegbola Dominic, among others.

    Makinde said the party would work towards attaining peace in Lagos PDP, adding that the state was crucial to the party.

    The governor expressed satisfaction with the outcome of its parley, saying it amounted to putting the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) on notice of the surprises awaiting it in 2023.

    He added that reconciliation talks were in progress to bring in all factions of the party to forget their grouse.

    “We were able to resolve some issues. It is pertinent to say the party has made some progress,” Makinde said.

    “You don’t jump the gun. It is one step after the other; it is one step at a time. Why we’ve come here is to make our party work better. The PDP in Lagos State is sacrosanct. It is like we are putting APC on notice that they need to be informed of what is coming to them in Lagos State.”

    George expressed satisfaction with what the party accomplished at the meeting.

    The PDP chieftain said the party resolved to forget animosity, despite the differences among its stakeholders.

    According to him, the party chieftains spoke brilliantly and proffered solutions to the challenges they were facing in the state.

    He noted that the PDP leadership would need the kind of wisdom applied to the two women claiming ownership of same baby to resolve the matters on the ground.

    “We have the solution that we have all agreed on. Unless you want to deceive yourself, there will always be issues. But it will take the grace of the Almighty for you to be able to resolve whatever differences we have. And we spoke brilliantly; they spoke and we proffered solutions. We would come out and accept so that we can work together,” he said.

     

  • Oyo: Ajimobi drags Makinde, Attorney General, others to court

    Oyo: Ajimobi drags Makinde, Attorney General, others to court

    Former Oyo Governor Senator Abiola Ajimobi has dragged his successor, Governor Seyi Makinde to court over the revocation of his landed property at Agodi Government Reservation Area (GRA), Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

    Ajimobi also sued the State Attorney General, the Commissioner for Lands, Housing and Urban Development and the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development.

    The former governor filed four suits numbered; I/183/2020, I/184/2020, I/185/2020 and I/186/2020 at the State’s High Court and also claiming the sum of N15million from the defendants being the cost of the action, including the expenses incurred to file each of the cases, and his attorney’s professional fees.

    The Oyo State Registrar of Deeds was also listed as a witness to be subpoenaed by Ajimobi during the trial.

    In the document before the court, Senator Ajimobi is contesting the basis of the notice which was sent by the state government on the 31st of January, 2020 and received by one Ms. Blessing on the 6th of February, 2020 via a Red Star Express Courier Service.

    The letter entitled, “ NOTICE OF INTENTION TO REVOKE INTEREST ON PORTION OF STATE LAND AT AGODI GOVERNMENT RESERVATION AREA, IBADAN, was sent by the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development allegedly on the instruction of Governor Makinde, who was listed as the first defendant in the case.

    In the claims, Senator Abiola Ajimobi is seeking;

    · An order of perpetual injunction, stopping the state government from revoking the property with a Certificate of Right of Occupancy dated 6th February 2019 and registered as No. 56 at Page 56 in Volume 3771 of the Lands Registry Office;

    · An order of injunction against the defendants, their servants, agents and privies, to stop the listed persons from restraining any developmental work, or causing disturbance on the said property, describing the revocation as “unconstitutional, illegal, null and void and one not borne of good intention.”

    According to the documents filed by the legal counsel of the former governor, the property to be revoked is no longer existent in name as it was merged with another property by the claimant with the “landed property comprised in the Deed of Gift, dated March 17th, 2015 between the former governor and Alhaji Abdul-Azeez Arisekola Alao, the late Aare Musulumi of Yorubaland. It is registered as No. 17 at Page 17 in Volume 3714 of the Deeds Registry Office, Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.”

    According to Ajimobi, the land in dispute was donated to him by Alhaji Alao, and was acquired by him by the virtue of Statutory Right of Occupancy dated February 10th, 2009 and registered as No. 35 at Page 35 in Volume 3556 of the Lands Registry Office, Ibadan. The donor was said to have enjoyed undisturbed possession of the land before donating it to the claimant.

    It was also merged with the property registered as No. 16 at Page 16 in Volume 3714 of the Lands Registry Office, Ibadan, and was fenced round for the development of guest chalets, church, mosque, recreation areas and the country home of the former Governor.

    According to the documents, Senator Abiola Ajimobi has not breached any of the covenant running on the land.

    In the lawsuit, the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development and Commissioner for Lands, Housing and Urban Development were accused of forcibly entering, trespassing and breaking into Ajimobi’s landed property on the 17th of October 2019.

    The main gate of the property was allegedly destroyed, the doors of all the rooms in the property were smashed, and several valuable building materials in the property were also allegedly destroyed. All these, according to the lawsuit were perpetuated by officials of the ministry, armed Policemen and suspected political thugs of the Oyo State Governor.

    In what was described as an act of trespassing, the former Governor has since lodged a complaint with the Police, and the individuals involved are being investigated. The Police had also interrogated the Commissioner for Lands, who is the 3rd defendant, and his cohorts, and according to the lawsuit, was accompanied to Abuja by an official from the office of the Attorney General.

    The Commissioner and his cohorts have since been on bail but are still reporting in Abuja for investigations surrounding their alleged involvement in the trespass.

    Ajimobi also accused Makinde of boasting in different places and on several fora that he would revoke every property belonging to his predecessor anywhere in the state if he does not discontinue the charges against the Commissioner.

    The 4th defendant – the Attorney General was also accused of failing to advise the Governor, the Ministry and the Commissioner in the course of their revocation of the property.

    The lawsuit was filed on Wednesday, 12th of February at the High Court of Justice of Oyo State in the Ibadan Judicial Division, by a former Attorney General of the State, Mutalubi Ojo Adebayo Esq. of the Adebayo & Gbadamosi, Legal Practitioners

  • Makinde seeks out-of-court settlement with sacked chairmen

    Makinde seeks out-of-court settlement with sacked chairmen

    Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde has opted for an out-of-court settlement.

    The governor had instituted a case against the 68 chairmen of the 33 local governments and 35 local council development areas (LCDAs), all of the All Progressive Congress (APC) he sacked on May 29, 2019, upon his swearing in.

    The sacked chairmen were elected on May 12, 2018 in an election the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) boycotted on the grounds that there was a court injunction against the conduct of the poll that was not vacated before the election was conducted. But the APC claimed that the injunction was vacated two days to the election.

    The PDP claimed further that the law that set up Oyo State Independent Electoral Commission (OYSIEC) that conducted the council poll did not give the power to the commission to conduct election into the LCDAs, which the party said, has rendered the election illegal.

    But the sacked chairmen relied on the pronouncement of the Supreme Court and a letter written to the governor by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN) and forcefully resumed in the 33 local governments and 35 local council development areas after Makinde appointed caretaker chairmen for the council areas last December.

    The government obtained an injunction from the Oyo State High Court last week, which restrained the council chairmen, Inspector-General of Police, Attorney-General and Minister of Justice among others from further action on the matter.

    Read Also: Oyinlola remains a strong pillar we want in PDP, says Makinde
    At the resumed hearing on the matter before Justice Mashud Abass yesterday, counsel to the state government, Dr. Akin Onigbinde (SAN), told the court that the state government had decided to adopt out-of-court settlement for the sake of peace and would come back to the court if the strategy failed.

    Counsel to the defendants, Niyi Akintola (SAN) and Kunle Sobaloju, said their clients would not accept any impediment against smooth dispensation of justice.

    They said that it would be necessary that all cases on the suspension of the council chairmen be dispensed with before the out-of-court settlement idea could work.

    Justice Mashud Abass hailed the counsel for their disposition and cautioned all parties to ensure that peace reigned in Oyo State.

    He said the judiciary will remain neutral in the matter and ensure that justice prevails.

    The court adjourned the case till February 12 for the parties to report on the level of progress on the out-of-court settlement or the continuation of the case.