TheNewsGuru

Tag: Oyetola

  • Osun: Oyetola presents 13 Jeeps to High Court Judges

    Gov. Adeboyega Oyetola of Osun on Friday presented 13 Toyota Jeeps to the State High Court Judges as part of efforts to enhance the welfare of judicial officers in the state.

    The governor, while inaugurating the vehicles at Government House, Osogbo, promised to ensure vibrant and smooth judicial activities in the State.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN ) reports that the keys of the Toyota Jeeps were handed over to the judges.

    Oyetola said: “The state government would continue to play its roles with the judiciary in ensuring that their activities are carried out smoothly.

    “We will go round the courts to rehabilitate and rebuild some of the dilapidated buildings.

    “The 13 brand new Toyota Jeeps are for our judges purposely for the progress of judicial activities in Osun.”

    In his remarks, the Chief Judge of Osun, Justice Adepele Ojo, commended the governor for fulfilling his promises to the judiciary with the believe that such gesture would continue.

    She, therefore, said that the vehicles would be used for judicial activities in the State.

    Justice A.B. Abdulkareem, who delivered the vote of thanks on behalf of the beneficiaries, commended the governor for fulfilling his promises.

  • COVID-19 lockdown: Outcry in Osun over government’s distribution of spoilt palliative rice

    The Osun State Government has commenced an investigation into some adulterated bags of rice shared to residents as palliatives to cushion the effects of lockdown in the state.

    There was an outcry in some parts of the state, following the distribution of 6020 bags of rice shared by the state government on Wednesday, as residents were complaining bitterly about the quality of the rice shared.

    The Commissioner of Information and Civic Orientation, Mrs. Funke Egbemode, in a statement yesterday said, “the government had received complaints that some of the distributed bags of rice may not have met the expected quality.”

    She expressed dissatisfaction over the complaints received by the government from the citizens that some bags of rice share were adulterated.

    Her word, “the State government was pained by the development and had immediately begun an investigation to establish the source of the affected bags.

    “Governor Adegboyega Oyetola is particularly pained by this development, considering the fact that it has never compromised quality in its provision of economic stimulus for the people of Osun in spite of its limited resources.

    “We are a responsible and responsive government that places a premium on the well-being of its people and would not do anything to jeopardize its citizens’ health. Upon receipt of the complaints, the State Government has immediately begun investigations to establish the source of the few bags that appear not to have met the quality expected.”

    She noted that all the 6020 bags of rice were purchased in the state and the government has invited all suppliers to unravel the source of the problem.

  • Osun: Oyetola reverses Aregbesola’s education policies

    The Osun State Government has reversed former Governor Rauf Aregbesola’s contentious education policies by reversing the extant 4-5-3-4 policy to the 6-3-3-4 system.

    The government also set aside the single uniform regime which was in operation during Aregbesola’s tenure.

    But the government retained ‘Opon Imo,’ otherwise known as ‘Tablet of Knowledge.’

    This was announced at a joint press conference by Commissioners for Information and Civic Orientation, and Education, Mrs. Funke Egbemode and Mr. Olayinka Oladoyin Folorunsho respectively, on behalf of the Government after the State Executive Council meeting, held on Monday 2nd March 2020.

    Egbemode said the decision was reached after an exhaustive deliberation on the report of the Education Panel set up by the Governor to review some of the extant education practices and policies.

    She said that the Council unanimously agreed on the ten issues raised in the report and accepted the recommendations.

    “The Council approved the recommendations to revert to the 6-3-34 structure in keeping with the provision of National Policy on Education as this will entail adequate physical and instructional facilities at all levels; adequate provision in quantity and quality of well-motivated teachers at all levels”, Egbemode reported.

    She further stated that “the Council agreed that the state government will do well to allow every school return to its old established and recognised public uniform.

    “The Council observed that the Omoluabi Education Services Limited is not performing the duties, roles and obligations expected and it was approved that the operation of Omoluabi Education Services Limited be wound up since it has not been fulfilling the mandates for which it was established.

    “It was also agreed that Early Childhood Care Development Education (ECCDE) in line with the practice in the 35 other states in Nigeria be restored,” Mrs. Egbemode added.

    Other decisions reached were the reversal of schools to their former status, whereby only single sex identified with those school names should be admitted while students already affected by the name change should be issued letter of attestation by the ministry of education and male students who are currently in SS1 and SS2 in schools established for female learners only should be relocated immediately and vice-versa.

    It was stated that the Council also approved the reversal of ‘High School’ to the old nomenclature ‘Grammar School’.

    Similarly, the Council also approved the need for government to strengthen the technical and vocational education/training by upgrading structure and facilities of government Technical Colleges for effective service delivery, while Opon-Imo otherwise known as tablet of knowledge will be retained and restructured to serve the purpose it was meant for.

    Moderating the briefing, the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Adegboyega Oyetola, Mr Ismail Omipidan, noted that the speculations about the policy being a jab at the former administration was not correct, stating that the new policies are the government’s response to the yearnings of the people which the governor holds sacred.

  • 2020: Osun Gov. Oyetola, aides attacked during cross over night

    From reports reaching TheNEwsGuru (TNG), Osun State Governor, Adegboyega Oyetola and some his aides were reportedly stoned during the 2020 cross over ceremony organised by the state government.

    According to reports, yet to be identified hoodlums thwarted the cross over programme after pelting stones at Oyetola and his entourage, which included his wife, Kafayat Oyetola, and Chief of Staff to the governor, Dr. Charles Akinola Osun State chairman of APC, Gboyega Famoodun; Secretary to the State Government, Wole Oyebamiji; and Commissioner for Special Duties and Regional Integration, Lekan Badmus.

    The incident which reportedly occurred at the Nelson Mandela Freedom Park, ended abruptly about 1:00 am.

    Meanwhile, the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Ismail Omipidan, while reacting to the report said the governor was not attacked.

    Omipidan, “It was not an attack on the governor and members of his cabinet. During festivities, there is always exuberance by youths. Two groups were fighting outside where we were holding our programme.

    “If it were to be an attack, I am sure by now, we would have heard that the governor’s security men shot two or three people in an attempt to rescue their principal.

    “So, it was just some miscreants who were fighting outside where we were holding our crossover. Immediately after we left the venue, we still went to Ansar-ud-Deen, Sabo, where a prayer was being held to usher in the new year.”

  • Osun: Lawan charges Oyetola to be magnanimous in victory

    The President of the Senate, Dr Ahmad Lawan on Friday congratulated the Gov. Gboyega Oyetola of Osun over his victory at the Supreme Court, urging him to be magnanimous in victory.
    Lawan, in a statement by his Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mohammed Isa described the judgement as victory to democracy, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the people of Osun.
    He urged Oyetola to put behind him past events during the electioneering and its aftermath litigation, and concentrate on tackling the challenges facing the state.
    He urged him to run an all-inclusive government where everybody in the state would be carried along.
    Lawan said: “Your victory is a great joy and achievement for our party.
    “We are delighted that after a long legal battle, Osun state can finally settle down for good governance.
    “My advice to you as you champion the course of governance in the state is to see every indigene of the state as equal partner and stakeholder in driving the wheel of progress.
    “Let your reign be exceptional by being magnanimous and focused.”
    Lawan also called on the people to give maximum support and cooperation to the governor for the interest and progress of the state.
    “Now that the legal battle is over, let us come together and embrace one another in the general interest of the State,” he said.
    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Gov. Oyetola was declared winner of the Osun governorship legal tussle at the Supreme Court which sat in Abuja on Friday.

  • JUST IN: Adeleke congratulates Oyetola, says ambition to govern Osun not do-or-die

    JUST IN: Adeleke congratulates Oyetola, says ambition to govern Osun not do-or-die

    The candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the 2018 Osun State governorship election, Senator Ademola Adeleke on Friday stated that he has taken the judgement of the Supreme Court concerning the governorship election in the state in good faith.
    He appreciated the leaders and members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as well as the people of Osun for supporting him all through the legal battle.
    While congratulating Gboyega Oyetola on his victory, Adeleke affirmed that his ambition to be governor of Osun was never a do-or-die affair.
    In a statement issued after the ruling, Adeleke said the Supreme Court remains the highest in the land.
    He said “As a democrat and law-abiding citizen, I accept the ruling no matter my misgivings.
    “I wish Governor Oyetola well in the governance of Osun State.”
    “In all circumstances, we must thank God Almighty. We gallantly fought a good fight in pursuance of a democratic cause.
    “The ideals we fought for lives on.
    “Our ambition was never a do-or-die affair.
    “We aspired to serve and deliver democratic dividends to the people of Osun state.
    “Our ambition was altruistic.
    “We wish Governor Oyetola the best in the governance of the state.”

  • Osun guber: Buhari congratulates Oyetola on Supreme Court victory

    Osun guber: Buhari congratulates Oyetola on Supreme Court victory

    President Muhammadu Buhari has congratulated most warmly Governor Gboyega Oyetola of Osun State on the Supreme Court ruling on Friday, which affirmed his victory in the State Governorship election of September 2018.
    The President, in a statement by the Special Adviser on Media and publicity, Femi Adesina, said “The decision of the apex court lays to rest the tussle over the governorship of Osun State and removes all encumbrances on the path of the governor from fully delivering dividends of democracy to the good people of the State.”
    He commended the government and people of Osun in allowing the rule of law to run its entire course, urging them as well as security agencies to sustain the peace.
    He called on the victorious governor and the ruling All Progressives Congress party to be magnanimous in victory and make concrete moves towards inclusive governance as may be necessary.
    President Buhari also expressed the Federal Government’s continued willingness to partner with the State Government for the betterment of the people going forward.

  • Atiku reacts to Supreme Court judgment affirming Oyetola's election as Osun gov

    Atiku reacts to Supreme Court judgment affirming Oyetola's election as Osun gov

    Former Vice President and presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2019 general elections, Atiku Abubakar has consoled Ademola Adeleke of the PDP, following his loss at the Supreme Court’ ruling of the Osun State Governorship Election.
    The apex court in a split judgment on Friday agreed substantially with the Court of Appeal which ruled that a majority judgment delivered at the tribunal was a nullity, thereby validating Gboyega Oyetola as the governor of the State.
    Reacting to the judgment, Atiku who is also challenging President Muhammadu Buhari’s victory in court in a series of tweets said Supreme Court which ruled has the judicial finality, so the legal case is over.
    “Those who think this is the end of the road for Senator Adeleke and the PDP in Osun, are greatly mistaken. This is not the end. Not even the beginning of the end. No. Today marks the continued ascendancy of Senator Adeleke and his party in the hearts and minds of his people.”
    He added: ‘I join with people of goodwill all over Nigeria to say to Senator Ademola Adeleke, and the people of the great state of Osun, that we stand with them in good times and in difficult days.
    “The Supreme Court has ruled and because of its judicial finality, the legal case is over.
    “However, the love, acceptance and endorsement that the people of Osun bestowed on both Senator Adeleke and the @OfficialPDPNig is not over and cannot be overlooked.”

  • BREAKING: Supreme Court affirms Oyetola winner of Osun governorship election

    The Supreme Court has dismissed the appeal by candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the last governorship election in Osun State, Senator Ademola Adeleke.
    The Supreme Court, in a majority decision of five-to-two, read by Justice Olabode Rodes-Vivour, held that the failure of a member of the election tribunal, Justice Peter Obiora to sit on February 6, 2019 rendered the entire proceedings and the judgment given by the tribunal a nullity.
    The court upheld the majority judgment of the Court of Appeal, which upheld the victory Adegboyega Oyetola of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the Governor of Osun State.
    Details shortly.

  • Osun Guber: Supreme Court decides Oyetola, Adeleke’s fate today

    The Supreme Court will today deliver judgment in the appeals brought before it by the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2018 governorship election in Osun State, Senator Ademola Adeleke, challenging the judgement of the Court of Appeal, Abuja, which affirmed the election of Adegboyega Oyetola of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the governor of the state.
    Adeleke’s four appeals, marked: SC/553/2019; SC/554/2019; SC/555/2019 and SC/556/2019 are challenging the May 9, 2019 judgments of the Appeal Court, which held that Oyetola was validly elected as governor of Osun State.
    The appellate court had also set aside the majority judgment of the Osun State Election Petition Tribunal which had allowed Adeleke’s petition and declared him the winner of the election.
    Adeleke had, in his appeals prayed the apex court to set aside the ruling of the appeal court and uphold the decision of the Tribunal, which declared him as the validly elected governor of Osun State.
    Osun State Election Governorship Election Petition Tribunal had ruled that Senator Adeleke was the rightful winner of the 2018 governorship election, having satisfied the constitutional requirements of majority votes and spread across the local government areas of the state.
    The tribunal also nullified the rerun election of September 27, 2018.
    The Appeal Court had reversed the ruling, nullifying the decisions of the tribunal and reinstating Oyetola as the winner of the said election.
    At the last sitting on the matter, the court took submissions from Adeleke’s counsel, Dr. Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN) and Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN) for the 1st respondent (Oyetola) in respect of appeal marked: SC/553/2019.
    The court said its judgment in the main appeal – SC/553/2019 – will be applied to two other similar one, filed by Adeleke against the Court of Appeal’s decision in relation to the appeals filed by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the APC, marked: SC/554/2019 and SC/555/2019.
    The court also took arguments from Ikpeazu (for the appellant), Yusuf Ali (SAN) for INEC; Bode Olanipekun (SAN) for Oyetola and Olumide Olujinmi, for APC in relation to the fourth appeal, marked: SC/556/2019.
    In their arguments, counsel to the respondents – INEC, Oyetola and the APC faulted Adeleke’s appeals and prayed the court to dismiss them for lacking in merit and uphold the judgments as given on May 9, 2019 by the Court of Appeal in Abuja, which affirmed Oyetola of the APC as the winner of the governorship election held in September 2018.
    In relation to the first set of appeals – SC/553/2019; SC554/2019 and SC/555/2019, Ikpeazu urged the court to set aside the judgments of the Court of Appeal and restore the majority judgment given in his client’s favour by the election tribunal.
    In a counter-argument, Wole Olanipekun, Ali and Olunijmi faulted the competence of the appeals and urged the court to dismiss them for lacking in merit and to uphold the May 9 judgments given in favour of the respondents by the Court of Appeal.
    In arguing the fourth appeal: SC/556/2019, Ikpeazu urged the court to set aside the two concurrent judgments of the election tribunal and the Court of Appeal, in which both courts rejected Adeleke’s request to void the supplementary election held after INEC declared the Osun governorship election inconclusive.
    Ikpeazu said his client’s contention was that INEC lacked the powers to have canceled elections in some pooling units and order a rerun, arguing that the supplementary election was unnecessary because Adeleke had won the election and met the constitutional requirement to be declared a winner.
    Ikpeazu prayed the court to set aside the Paragraph 44 of the INEC’s Guideline, on which basis the supplementary election was held, on the grounds that it conflicted with the constitution.
    Olanipekun’s son, Bode Olanipekun (SAN) argued the fourth appeal for Oyetola and urged the court to disregard Ikpeazu’s contention that the supplementary election was unnecessary and said that Paragraph 44 of INEC Guidelines was not in conflict with the constitution.
    Olanipekun, who noted that Section 178(4) of the Constitution provides that the entire state is the constituency for a governorship election and added that “where elections have not held in the entire state, the appellant cannot contend that he won the election, as against the 2nd respondent (Oyetola), who won the election as conducted across the whole of the state.”
    Counsels to INEC and the APC argued in a similar vein, with Ali (for INEC) arguing that Ikpeazu’s submission on reliefs 8and 9 of his client (Adeleke’s) petition, overlooked the fact that election tribunal is special tribunal with limited jurisdiction to determine whether somebody was properly returned in an election.
    “The quarrel of the appellant is against a concurrent finding of two lowers courts. There are no compelling reasons to make this court interfere with the concurrent findings of the two lower courts,” Ali said.
    Olujinmi urged the court to be guided by its earlier decision in the case of Faleke v. INEC 2016 8 NWLR, part 1543 pg 61, in which this court affirmed the limited scope of the jurisdiction of the election tribunal.
    He noted that even though Adeleke and his party, the PDP are aware of this court’s decision in that case (Faleke case), but have failed to approach the court for departure on its position on that issue.