TheNewsGuru

Tag: ondo

  • ‘Attack on Osun commissioner in Ondo barbaric’ says Aregbesola

    The Osun State government yesterday said the attack on its Commissioner for Regional Integration, Bola Ilori, in Akure, the Ondo State capital, at the All Progressives Congress (APC) restructuring summit is barbaric, reprehensible and an assault on the sovereignty of the state.

    Ilori was part of the delegation that presented Osun State’s position at the forum last Thursday.

    A statement by Governor Rauf Aregbesola’s Media Adviser, Sola Fasure, said hoodlums’ attack on Ilori was said to be political motivated and sponsored by a top-ranking Ondo State Executive Council (Exco) member.

    The statement noted that the attack was indirectly meted out to Osun State, which Ilori represented at the programme.

    It said: “The statement credited to Yemi Olowolabi that ‘what happened is sad but it is avoidable. It is apparent the Osun delegates came prepared with thugs, charms, ammunition and cudgels to an event, which was supposed to be an all-APC event’ was highly undiplomatic and not expected from a commissioner of that status.

    “This state of affairs was far from the truth as Olowolabi made people to believe. The Osun delegate simply went armed with their intellect to marshal the position of the state.

    “Why would a delegate ?go with dangerous objects to a conference on restructuring when Ondo and Osun are not at war or in confrontation over any issue?

    “Ilori represented the government and people of Osun State. Therefore, he deserved to be accorded the courtesy and respect due to the state. He deserved to be protected by the Government of Ondo as well as security agencies at the venue of the conference.

    “All these safety measures were not in place. Rather, Ilori was exposed? to attack by some top government official, who reportedly had an axe to grind with him over election matters in the state.

    “The attack on Ilori is barbaric and reprehensible, to say the least. It is no doubt an attack on the people and Government of Osun, which Ilori represented at the meeting. We condemn this affront on the people and Government of Osun, which the attack on our delegate signposted.”

  • Mimiko to Speak at Chatham House Event on Health

    Olusegun Mimiko, the immediate past Governor of Ondo State, will this Friday speak at the Chatham House Conference in London on “Primary Health Care Policy, Universal Health Coverage and Health
    Security in Nigeria: Optimising Global Opportunities and Partnership for Success.”

    Mimiko, whose tenure as governor of Ondo State witnessed massive reduction in infant and maternal mortality through the ‘Abiye Safe Motherhood’ programme, is to speak on “Improving Access to Health Services for All’ from his Ondo experience.

    It will be recalled that the former governor has since the expiration of his second term been involved in sharing his experience with major players in Universal Health Care at local and international fora.

    He has had speaking engagements at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies, CSIS in Washington, the Chatham House, London and the Scientific Conference of the Association of Feto-Maternal Specialists of Nigeria, AFEMSON, in Lagos among many others.

    Mimiko will be joining high-level policymakers and government officials from Nigeria and global health partners and stakeholders from across the globe at the one-day event organized by the Chatham House Public Health Africa Policy Forum in conjunction with the Public Health Foundation of Nigeria and FPH UK.

    Apart from speaking at the event, Mimiko will also be on hand to “discuss the current policy landscape and offer viable solutions and also build collaborative partnerships in order to harness successful improvements in the Nigerian healthcare sector,” with other invited participants.

  • Just in: Gunmen kidnap couple, five others in Ondo on wedding day

    Just in: Gunmen kidnap couple, five others in Ondo on wedding day

    Some unknown gunmen on Sunday kidnapped a man identified as Moses Yakubu, his fiancee and five friends and family members in Akunnu Akoko, Akoko North-East Local Government Area of Ondo State.

    It was gathered that the couple and members of their families, whose identity were unknown at the time of this report, were abducted on their way to Akure, the Ondo State capital, for their wedding ceremony.

    Yakubu and his fiancée were to hold their engagement ceremony in Akure on Sunday but the event could not hold following the incident.

  • Akeredolu outlaws govt sponsorship of pilgrims in Ondo

    Akeredolu outlaws govt sponsorship of pilgrims in Ondo

    ONDO State Governor Rotimi Akeredolu has announced the outright stoppage of sponsoring of intending pilgrims to Mecca and Israel by the state government.

    According to him; “It’s time to stop using pilgrimages for business trips.’’

    Akeredolu speaking while playing host to the Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Christian Pilgrims Commission, Reverend Uja Tor Uja attributed the stoppage to paucity of funds.

    He noted that paucity of funds and need for prudent management of the state resources necessitated the outright stoppage.

    The governor added that it has become a government policy not to be involved in sponsoring pilgrims.

    According to him the state Christian Welfare Board would soon be constituted to encourage churches and wealthy individuals to sponsor intending pilgrims.

  • Akeredolu assigns portfolios to new commissioners in Ondo [Full List]

    Akeredolu assigns portfolios to new commissioners in Ondo [Full List]

    Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State has assigned portfolios to the newly sworn in commissioners.

    The governor disclosed the development while meeting with the 18 commissioners and 10 Special Advisers.

    See table below for names and portfolios of the new commissioners

  • Gunmen kidnap four commuters in Ondo

    Gunmen kidnap four commuters in Ondo

    Unknown gunmen Monday reportedly abducted four commuters travelling in a commercial bus along Owo-Ikare road in Ondo State.

    The victims were said to have taken off from Ikare, headquarters of Akoko Northeast heading to Akure,the state capital when they were said to have been seized at Ose-Oba axis of the road.

    It was learnt that one of the passengers said to be a Pastor,who confronted the gun men was shot on the head.

    Sources said it was the same spot where the Oluyani of Iyani-Akoko,Oba Sunday Daodu was kidnapped few months ago with his second-in-command.

    They were released from captivity after spending almost two weeks with the kidnappers where they celebrated the last Easter period with their captors inside the bush.

    Reacting to the incident, the Oloba of Oba-Akoko, Ona Nurudeen Adegoroye called for more police men and another military checkpoint between the dangerous spot within Owo and Oba-Akoko.

    One of the passengers who witnessed the incident, Mrs Janet Adeyemi, wife of the Information Officer, Akoko Northeast local government said the gunmen demanded N1m each from the victims.

    The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) Femi Johnson, a Superintendent of Police (SP) confirmed the report.

    According to him, investigation has begun while Police men were combing the whole area,assuring that the culprits would be apprended soon.

    It would be recalled that on this same spot, a catholic priest and former Regent of Akungba-Akoko,Princess Toyin Omosowon among others were kidnapped at different times.

     

  • Police Inspector kills colleague, jumps into well in Ondo

    Tragedy struck at a town in Kajola, Odigbo Local Government Area of Ondo State as a police officer, identified as Abraham Arowogun, shot dead a colleague then jumped into a deep well in the police station.

    The incident which occurred on Tuesday was said to have baffled his colleagues who were taken unawares by the behaviour of the dead Officer.

    Witnesses said it was a mystery to other police officers at the divisional police station as well as the people of the community.

    A police source said Arowogun never suffered from any mental breakdown.

    According to the source, the deceased, who was an inspector before his death shothis senior colleagues, Timothy Aruehi dead then plunged into the well.

    Arowogun shot Aruehi, who was a Divisional Crime Officer, following a disagreement that ensued between them on the issue of money, it was learnt.

    The source explained, “There was an issue that happened between the two officers. Arowogun was investigating a case and the DCO, Aruehi, discovered that a sum of N150,000 was involved in the case he (Arowogun) was investigating and that Arowogun actually converted that money to his private purse.

    “The DCO called him and asked him questions. Why he did what he did? In the course of interrogating him, he just went out angrily and brought out a gun and shot Timothy dead.”
    The police source added that after killing the DCO, other officers in the station at the time fled for safety.

    “After doing that, he knew that what he did was unprofessional and unpardonable in the police force, he just left the scene jumped into a well at the back of the station,” the source stated.

    The corpses of the two policemen were said to have been deposited at the mortuary in the Ondo State General Hospital, Ore.When contacted, the Public Relations Officer of the command, Femi Joseph, confirmed the incident and said the command had commenced an investigation on the matter.

    Contacted by newsmen, the Public Relations Officer of the command, Femi Joseph, has confirmed the incident and said the command had commenced an investigation on the matter.

  • 2019: Ondo, Cross River, Taraba, 11 others get new RECs

    2019: Ondo, Cross River, Taraba, 11 others get new RECs

    In preparation for the 2019 general elections,the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has approved the posting of 14 newly sworn-in Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) to states, according to a statement by its Secretary, Mrs. Augusta Ogakwu.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo had last week approved the appointment and deployment of the new RECs to different states of the Federation.

    According to the statement obtained by TheNewsGuru.com on Friday, Prof. James Apam from Benue was posted to Kogi, while Dr. Nentawe Yilwatda from Plateau was posted to Benue.

    It said that Halilu Pai from FCT was posted to Plateau, Umar Ibrahim (Taraba) to Gombe; Ahmad Makama (Bauchi) to Taraba; Ibrahim Abdullahi (Adamawa) to Bauchi; and Prof. Godwill Obioma (Abia) to Ebonyi.

    Dr. Nwachukwu Orji of Ebonyi was posted to Anambra; Dr Iloh Chuks (Enugu) to Abia; Emeka Joseph (Imo) to Enugu State and Francis Ezeonu (Anambra) to Imo.

    The commission also approved the posting of Obo Effanga (Cross River) to Edo; Dr. Briyi Frankland (Bayelsa) to Cross River; and Agboke Olaleke (Ogun) to Ondo.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the posting was released immediately after the new RECs took their oaths of office at the INEC headquarters, Abuja.

    INEC Chairman Mahmood Yakubu had earlier told the officials that none of them would be posted to his or her state of origin, and urged them to be prepared to serve in any part of the country.

    He advised them to adhere strictly to the provisions of the constitution, electoral act and other legal frameworks in the discharge of their duties.

     

  • Kidnappers murder abducted Ondo APC chieftain, Olumide Odimayo

    Suspected kidnappers have allegedly killed a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State, Hon.Olumide Odimayo who was abducted last Thursday.

    Odimayo was kidnapped by unknown gunmen at his country home in Igbotu, Ese Odo local government.

    Local vigilante found the remains of the APC chieftain at Ogolo River between Sabomi and Igbotu, Ese Odo local government.

    The death of Odimayo has reportedly hit the state government on a bad side as the deceased was said to be related to the State Governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN whose mother hails from Igbotu.

    As at the time of filing this report, the Deputy Governor of the state, Hon. Agboola Ajayi has left his office in Akure, for Igbotu to commiserate with his people over the death of Odimayo.

    A top Source within the government said, “I can authoritatively revealed that Hon. Odimayo has been killed by his abductors.

    “We also believe that he was killed as a revenge for one of the kidnappers who was killed and his dead body was displayed on Social Media.

    “The state government made frantic effort to ensure he was rescued sound and alive, but the kidnappers must have killed him to cover their identity and run away because of the level of manhunt against them.

    “What is worrisome is that, the kidnappers killed Odimayo, they didn’t allow him to get the reward for the work we did together during the campaigns.

    “He would have become a Commissioner, as everyone knows the role he played during the campaigns. This is sad, ” the source revealed.

  • Ondo assembly passes N170.8 bn 2017 budget

    Ondo assembly passes N170.8 bn 2017 budget

    The Ondo State House of Assembly on Monday passed the N170.8 billion 2017 appropriation bill.

    The Chairman of the House Committee on Finance and Appropriation, Sunday Olajide, had presented the report of the committee to the House at plenary.

    Olajide said that the bill had undergone proper scrutiny by members while public sittings were held for all Ministries, Departments and Agencies.

    He also said the assembly refrained from granting indiscriminate requests by MDAs because of paucity of funds.

    He noted that the committee only redistributed funds to some critical areas, with a marginal increase of N1.12 billion recorded.

    “Hence, the overall budgetary provision will now be N170,846,580,000,” he said.

    Olajide highlighted the observation of the committee that the 2017 expenditure was carefully projected and set at sustainable level with due consideration for the present economic realities.

    He said the committee, however, recommended that all MDAs should, ensure that the provisions in the budget were applied to the needs stated therein while the Board of Internal Revenue should make efforts to block all identified leakages.

    The state government, he added, should take all the steps necessary to propel all income generating MDAs to embark on internally generated revenue drive in line with extant laws with a view to attaining their revenue target.

    The Speaker of the House, David Oleyelogun, thanked all members of the committee for their efforts.

    He also commended other members of the House for their cooperation and diligence while working on the appropriation bill.

    NAN reports that the budget increased by N1.12 billion when compared with the N169,720,580 billion earlier presented by Gov. Rotimi Akeredolu on June 5.

    The budget put the recurrent expenditure at N95.15 billion, capital expenditure at N59.18 billion, debt service at N8.12 billion and statutory transfer at N8.37 billion.

    NAN also reports that the House had unanimously approved the budget after members deliberated on the report of the committee.