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Tag: ondo

  • Gov. Akeredolu imposes 24 hour curfew on Ondo community

    Gov. Akeredolu imposes 24 hour curfew on Ondo community

    Gov. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State has imposed a 24-hour curfew on Ikare-Akoko, headquarters of Akoko Northeast Local Government Area, following a fracas during a New Year carnival.

    Pandemonium broke out in the town on Tuesday when a New Year carnival organised by the youths was disrupted by sporadic gun shots that rent the air.

    Reports from Ikare said that revelers at the event and residents in the area took to their heels scampering for safety.

    According to sources, the disruption of the carnival by suspected gunmen might not be unconnected with the supremacy battle between the Owa-Ale and the Olukare of Ikare, the two traditional rulers in the town.

    In August 2022, the state government had elevated the Owa-Ale to the status of a first class traditional ruler, making the town to have two first class obas.

    The announcement of the curfew is contained in a statement signed and made available to newsmen on Thursday in Akure by Mr Richard Olatunde, the Chief Press Secretary to the governor.

    The statement said that the decision to impose the curfew was made at the State Security Council meeting headed by the governor on Thursday.

    “This follows the escalated violent clash in the town since Tuesday, which has continued unabated, in spite of the meeting held between government and the Olukare of Ikare, Oba Akadiri Momoh and Owa Ale of Iyometa, Oba Adeleke Adegbite, to control their subjects.

    “Security agencies have been directed to ensure strict compliance with the order, just as investigations are already on to unravel the real cause(s) of the violent clash.

    “For emphasis, Ikare Akoko has been closed down for any unathourised human movement and activity until further notice,” the statement said.(c

  • Police IG gives N24m to police widows in Ondo

    Police IG gives N24m to police widows in Ondo

    The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Usman Baba, has doled out more than N24million to the widows of late policemen in the Ondo State Police Command.

    This is contained in a statement made available to newsmen on Wednesday by the command’s spokesperson, SP Funmilayo Omisanya.

    According to the statement, the gesture is meant to make the widows smile during the yuletide season.

    “The IGP gifted the family of the deceased officers the sum of N24, 482,781.05 to help ease their financial burden.

    “The Commissioner of Police, CP Oyeyemi Oyediran, who presented the cheques to the beneficiaries on behalf of the IGP charged them to be prudent with the money.

    “The families in turn appreciated the unflinching support received from the IGP and the command at large,” the statement said.

  • Ondo govt commences implementation of child protection law

    Ondo govt commences implementation of child protection law

    The Ondo State Government has commenced the implementation of a child protection law in a bid to protect the rights of children in the state.

    To this end, the Ondo State Agency Against Gender-Based Violence has formed a partnership with an international agency, the Westminster Foundation for Democracy to validate the child protection policy draft and had concluded plans to embark on sensitization of the people on the new policy.

    Speaking at the programme on Thursday, in Akure, the Ondo State capital, the Country Representative of WFD, Mr. Adebowale Olorunmola, explained that the policy was put in place to protect children under 18 years against violence at school, at home and on the streets.

    According to him, the sustenance of the law relied much on the support and participation of all stakeholders including parents, teachers, public institutions, security agencies and the citizenry.

    He said, “The essence of the validation is to ensure nothing is left missing and that nothing that was not agreed on is added.

    “There is a consensus reached that the document is necessary for the protection of our children in schools and that schools are made conducive and welcoming for the children. Not only in schools but other places where children encounter hardship to ensure they are protected, safe and not violated.

    “There is a need for awareness to be created and no single institution can do this. All stakeholders must ensure this is done including the fourth estate of the realm.”

    In her remark, the wife of the state governor, Mrs. Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu, called on parents, teachers and non-teaching staff in schools to ensure a conducive and welcoming environment for pupils.

    Represented by the Executive Secretary of OSAAGBV, Barrister Bolanle Afolabi, the Ondo first lady said government agencies couldn’t do it alone, but all stakeholders must play their individual roles.

    Afolabi, who spoke with journalists after the event, said her agency in collaboration with all necessary stakeholders, including traditional rulers, would soon begin sensitization and education of the people about the contents of the policy across the 18 local government areas of the state.

    “As an agency, we will monitor all the schools to ensure that all individualized policies are duly implemented in all schools in Ondo State.

    “We are also to collect data of all abuses that might have occurred in schools and to ensure justice is done.

    The right of students in schools must be protected, ” she submitted.

  • Step down in the interest of the party, PDP senatorial candidate tells Ayu

    Step down in the interest of the party, PDP senatorial candidate tells Ayu

    Mr. Ifedayo Adedipe, Ondo Central Senatorial candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), has admonished the national chairman of the party, Iyorchia Ayu, to relinquish his position in the interest of the party.

    Gov. Nyesom Wike of Rivers and four other governors have been calling for Ayu’s resignation as the national chairman to pave the way for inclusiveness in the party’s administration.

    Adedipe, who made the call while speaking with NAN on Sunday in Akure, said the crisis rocking the party was not a personal matter between Wike and the party’s presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.

    The PDP senatorial candidate said that it had become imperative for the national chairman to make sacrifice by yielding to the call for inclusiveness and carrying them on board.

    According to him, what the governors are asking for is that the presidential candidate and the party’s national chairman should not come from the same region.

    Adedipe, who said he had sympathy for Wike for being the rock and pillar of the party between 2015 and now, regretted that the PDP “is still talking of unifying the party at this crucial time instead of talking of how to win the election”.

    He said If the chairman wants to help his party, he should be ready to make sacrifices and look at what the party stands to lose if these governors are not on board.

    He pointed out that “it is better to make the supreme sacrifice so that the crisis will not damage the party”.

    “The crisis is not personal, the aggrieved governors are looking for inclusiveness, and don’t anybody deceive you that they cannot do nothing.

    “It will be counter productive and unhealthy for them to leave because we can not afford another eight years of APC under any guise.

    “Ironically, the PDP has more governors in the south than in the north. So, if I were the chairman, I will not wait till after winning the election before I resign in the interest of the party.

    “If Ayu can willingly relinquish his position in the interest of the party, he will automatically become a hero just as Aminu Tambuwa was termed as hero during the night of the party’s convention.

    “Ayu should become a hero by leaving now,” he said.

    The senatorial candidate, therefore, called on the electorates to resolve and vote for PDP in the senatorial, presidential, and other elective positions in the forthcoming general election.

    He promised to be accessible to his constituents and represent them well if elected into the upper chamber of the National Assembly in the 2023 general election.

    The PDP senatorial candidate, who explained that he delved into politics to give back to the society, said “there is a limit to what an individual can do to help the society”.

    He lamented that the society lacked quality leaders with political will to improve the standard of living of the poor masses.

    “You will agree with me that no individuals, no matter how rich they are, can do what a well run government can do for the masses,” he said.

    According to him, there is no amount of wealth individual persons can possess to be able to fix roads, build bridges, hospitals, and stadia, among others, for the benefit of the society without government interventions.

    Adedipe said that it was high time society began to have people with ideas, people with altruistic reasons to be in government.

    He said the national assembly, which was designed for lawmaking and others, needed well informed legislators on board.

    “If I am elected into the national assembly, I will be a very good people’s senator, lobby on their behalf, work for them and I will always be available and accessible.

    “And if I do not represent them well, they can report me to my family because I am from the illustrious Elemo Family in Akure. I have a duty to hold the banner of the family without any stain.

    “And having reached the pinnacle of my carrier as a legal practitioner (SAN), I believe it’s high time I gave back to the society.

    “My duty is not to only the people of Akure but also to people of Ondo East, Ondo West, Ifedore, Idanre, Akure South and Akure North Local Government areas.

    Adedipe expressed confidence that the landmark achievements of the previous administration of the PDP, in both the state and county at large, would speak for it as a political party, given the reality on ground.

    He said that the people were yearning for the return of PDP in the state.

    According to him, every election is a referendum on the party in office and the ruling party is not a party to vote for in the state.

    “I am sure the people will make a wise choice.

    “Although, the APC may be in control of the state at the moment, during election we will know who the people prefer. But I can tell you that PDP is the people’s choice in Ondo State.

    “On election day, the electorates will come out massively because their votes are what will liberate them from the shackle of oppression that the APC had put us into,” he said.

  • Nigerian politician, Hon. Olanrewaju dies of ‘magun’ after s3x romp

    Nigerian politician, Hon. Olanrewaju dies of ‘magun’ after s3x romp

    A former political appointee in Ondo West local government area simply identified as Honourable Olanrewaju has died in a hotel after s3x romp with his lover.

    The incident happened at Step Down Hotel.

    Witnesses said they suspected the lady was spiritually laced with ‘magun’ and resulted to a thunderbolt.

    Olanrewaju, 49, was said to have contested for a councillorship position.

    The incident occurred at 9pm on Wednesday.

    Sources said his lover raised the alarm after realising that the man collapsed after taking his bath.

    It was the manager of the hotel that reportedly called in officers from Enu-Owa police station.

    The corpse was deposited at the morgue of the University Of Medical Sciences Teaching Hospital.

    Ondo Police spokesman, SP Fumilayo Odunlami, confirmed the incident and said it was a suspected case of sudden and unnatural death.

  • FG declares support for Ondo Deep Sea Port

    FG declares support for Ondo Deep Sea Port

    Minister of Transportation, Mu’azu Sambo, said the Federal Government would soon officially declare the proposed Ondo Sea Port facility as a Deep Sea Port, to herald the commencement of other processes at the facility.

    Sambo, in a statement by his Director of Press and Public Relations, Mr Eric Ojiekwe, gave the indication when he received Gov. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu of Ondo on Wednesday.

    The minister commended the steps taken so far by the state government to prepare for the Federal Government’s declaration on the port.

    After listening to a technical presentation by the Consultants to the Ondo State Government, Sambo said the Federal Government would not hesitate to make the Ondo Port Declaration, pursuant to Section 30 of the Ports Act.

    He added that this would be done after all the prerequisites established by the extant laws were met.

    “We want to see this port come to life before the end of this administration; having another deep sea port will do a lot of good to the blue economy policy of the Federal Government,” Sambo stated .

    On flurry of sea ports, Sambo said it was a positive thing, as presence of the atlantic ocean, the Rivers Niger and Benue, positions Nigeria to harness, explore and export its rich minerals to other countries.

    According to the minister, there are only two deep sea ports in Nigeria, while all others are river ports, including Apapa and Tin-Can ports.

    He said that the development of a Deep Sea Port in Ondo was a welcome development to the country at large.

    Earlier, Gov. Akeredolu said the visit was to acquaint the Transport Ministry with the state’s vision of developing a deep seaport in Ilaje, Ondo, in accordance with Federal Government’s module of Public Private Partnership.

    Akeredolu said the port would bring enormous socio-economic benefits to the Federal Government, the state and the host communities.

    He added that Dubai Port and China Habour were among the many international partners that signalled their interest in developing the port.

    Also, The Minister of State for Transportation, Ademola Adegoroye, said the Ondo State Government had made a compelling case for the port.

    According to Adegoroye, the minister is a seasoned technocrat, having ventured across board of the Nigerian Ports Authority and the National Inland Waterways and knows the importance of the Port Ondo project.

    He, therefore, assured the Ondo governor that the Transport Ministry would attach priority to the project.
    He said the ministry would like to see the Port come to life before the end of the tenure of office.

  • Akeredolu dares Presidency, says I’m buying arms to protect Ondo people

    Akeredolu dares Presidency, says I’m buying arms to protect Ondo people

     

    Disturbed by the response of the media aide to President Muhamadu Buhari, Shehu Garba on why would Katsina security outfit bear arms, Governor of Ondo state, Rotimi Akeredolu has replied declaring that he is buying arms to protect Ondo people.

    The Ondo governor queried the reasons adduced by Garba Shehu in his Press statement for the continued refusal to approve of the use of sophisticated weapons by state security outfits can no longer be plausible in the face of increasing security challenges being faced by the people.

    The assertion of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity on the use of automatic weapons by State Security outfits betrays the current realities across the country.

    His attempt to justify the use of AK47 by the Vigilantes of Katsina State for training stands logic on its head.

    The report by the TVC News that went viral showed the Kastina State Vigilante training with AK47. This is the same weapon whose approval has vehemently been refused for the use of Amotekun Corps and other State Security Outfits.

    The questions Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, asks are:
    i. Where did the guns come from?
    ii. Who approved their use?
    iii. Were the guns returned to the armoury after use?
    iv. The AK47, as seen from the TVC news report, was about usage. If not, what purpose does training with the guns serve?

    It is rather suspicious that Garba Shehu elected himself as the spokesperson for the Kastina State government. Whereas, the Katsina State has not come out openly to deny the statement of Governor Akeredolu on the use of AK47 by Vigilantes of Katsina State during training.

    Governor Akeredolu has reiterated that State Security outfits backed by law whether in Western Nigeria, Katsina, Borno, Benue or any Northern State must have access to the same sophisticated weapons that the criminals have. It is time to face down these enemies of the people.

    “It is illogical to continue to fight hardened marauders who bear sophisticated weaponry to kidnap and maim our people with bare hands. We cannot fight armed enemies of the people with our bare hands.

    “It is our firm belief that the government has a fundamental duty to protect the people. It is a task that must be accomplished without excuse.

    “Governor Akeredolu is determined to spare no efforts in protecting the people. He has vowed to explore every available legal and constitutional means to secure the state and its people.

    “The Southern Nigeria Governors Forum has called for the establishment of a State Police.

    “The 19 Northern State Governors and Northern Traditional Rulers Council have also supported the call for State Police.

    “The call by the sub-national should be heeded and change effected where necessary.

    “Every Governor was sworn to an oath to protect the state and the people. The sub-national must be allowed to put in place security forces as a counter-balancing force to face these marauders who have unchecked access to sophisticated weapons.

    “It is high time we tackled these conflict entrepreneurs and restore the confidence of the people. We can not do the same thing time and again and expect different results.

    Governor Akeredolu is irrevocably committed to the security of the people, particularly his state. He will continue to speak up in defence of the people. He is very much committed to the realization of a constitutional amendment to reflect the current realities.

    #

  • LGA in Ondo bans ‘Okada’ over insecurity

    LGA in Ondo bans ‘Okada’ over insecurity

    The Okitipupa Local Government Area of Ondo State has banned the operation of commercial motorcycles in the area from 6:00 pm to 6:00 a m.

    Mr Akinrinwa Igbekele, Chairman, Okitipupa LGA told NAN on Monday in Okitipupa, that the decision was to tighten security in the area.

    He said that it was a proactive measure to address the challenges of kidnapping, robbery, and other vices in the state.

    Igbekele said a monitoring team had been deployed to arrest and impound any motorcycle that violated the law.

    “We have witnessed insecurity in other areas in the state, although we have not witnessed such here, but that does not mean we should fold our hands and watch.

    “We banned Okada from 6:00 p.m to 6:00 a.m. as a proactive measure to arrest any insecurity and other vices here,” Igbekele said

    He, however, said that the council was collaborating with all security agencies to respond promptly to any security breach.

  • Police arrest 2 serial kidnappers in Ondo

    Police arrest 2 serial kidnappers in Ondo

    Police in Ondo State says they have arrested two 35-year-old serial kidnappers, Olaoye Oluwatosin and Taiwo Olamide.

    The suspects allegedly kidnapped three persons in Ofosu, Idanre Local Government Area of Ondo State between 2021 and 2022.

    Police spokesperson, SP Funmilayo Odunlami, paraded the duo before newsmen on Tuesday in Akure.

    Odunlami said they kidnapped one Mrs. Folasade Akinloye from her shop at Ofosu on Aug. 28, 2022, at 10:40 p.m. using an ash colour Toyota Camry with registration number AKD 797 AP.

    During the investigation, it was discovered that the suspects were also responsible for the kidnap one Mrs. Folasade Akinselure on July 13, 2021, and that of Ms. Stella Stephen on March 9, 2022.

    “They confessed to committing the crime. The victims were rescued unhurt.

    “Police also recovered the Toyota Camry car and two cutlasses the suspects used in committing the crime from them,’’ Odunlami said.

    She assured that the suspects would be arraigned after further investigation.

    Odunlami also told newsmen that the police arrested one Adesina Shittu of Aule in Akure for theft and for faking his own kidnap.

    She explained that a complainant reported to the police that he gave a Bajaj tricycle valued N1.6 million to Shittu for use as a commercial vehicle.

    Shittu was supposed to be delivering N4,000 to the complainant on daily basis.

    “Three days later, Shittu called the complainant and claimed that he was kidnapped, and that the complainant should assist him to pay the ransom to secure his release.

    “During investigation, forensic analysis showed that the suspect was in Badagry, Lagos State and not at Igoba in Akure where he claimed he was being held hostage,’’ she said.

    Odunlami said Shittu was arrested with the tricycle and taken back to Akure.

    Shittu would also be arraigned soon, the police spokesperson assured.

  • Akeredolu’s mum, Queen Elizabeth share same righteousness, honour – Jimoh Ibrahim

    Akeredolu’s mum, Queen Elizabeth share same righteousness, honour – Jimoh Ibrahim

    Dr. Jimoh Ibrahim, APC candidate for Ondo South Senatorial District in the forthcoming 2023 general elections, has condoled with Gov. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State, on the death of his mother.

    Mrs Grace Akeredolu, aged 90 years, died in the early hours of Thursday in Ibadan.

    This is contained in Ibrahim’s condolence message on Friday in Okitipupa to Akeredolu and Prince Charles of Wales (the king apparent of England) over the passage of their mothers.

    Ibrahim described the transition of Akeredolu’s mother and Queen Elizabeth II of England, as an exit of the righteous in honour.

    Ibrahim, a business mogul who recently bagged a Doctor of Business Administration degree from Judges Business School, University of Cambridge, United Kingdom, said there were great similarities in the death of the nonagenarians.

    “The Queen came to the throne in 1952 and witnessed enormous social change. Likewise, our mother, Mrs Akeredolu died peacefully in her sleep early on Thursday morning at the age of 90 years.

    “Both of them lived an enviable life and were known as true apostles of Christ Jesus, propagating the gospel.

    “Mama Akeredolu lived a godly life. She was a leading example to up and coming mothers and a unique disciplinarian during her hay days.

    “She was a caring-mother which actually radiated till date in the lives of her children.

    “We are happy that Mama Akeredolu lived till a ripe age due to the grace she received from God Almighty but in spite of this, we will still miss her.

    ” May the souls of the Queen and Matriarch of the Akeredolu dynasty rest in peace.

    “I enjoin the king apparent of England and the grand-children and great grand-children of the Queen to take solace in the good life she lived.

    “I also condole with our governor and his siblings as well as the grand-children and great grand-children to rejoice in the Lord because Mama lived to witness them rise to the peak of their individual careers,” Ibrahim said.