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Tag: Oyo

  • Speaker Dogara mourns slain Oyo lawmaker, Sugar

    The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, has commiserated with the family of slain Oyo lawmaker, Olatoye Temitope, who was shot at a polling unit during Saturday’s elections in the state.

    Mr Olatoye, the lawmaker representing Lagelu/Akinyele federal constituency of the state, died following gunshot injuries he received.

    The deceased was shot in the eye by political thugs at a collation centre in Elesu, Lagelu Local Government Area and later confirmed dead by the University Teaching Hospital in Ibadan.

    In a message on his Twitter handle @YakubDogara on Saturday night, Mr Dogora described the killing as shocking, primitive and wicked.

    “I received with shock, the sad and distressing news of the assassination of my brother and colleague, Hon. Olatoye Temitope Sugar, in Oyo State today. The murder of Hon Sugar in election violence today is primitive, wicked, inhumane, barbaric and highly condemnable,” Mr Dogora said.

  • Oyo, Osun announce activities lined up for late Ogunjobi’s burial

    Oyo, Osun announce activities lined up for late Ogunjobi’s burial

    An estimated 1,863 Nigerians who came to Russia last year for the FIFA World Cup are still on the loose in the country, more than two months after their Fan IDs expired.

    Dozens of them, who were young women have been forced into prostitution by the traffickers who brought them into the country under the guise of being football fans.

    Blessing Obuson, a teenager from Edo state was one of them.

    According to a Reuters report, she thought Russia’s soccer World Cup would be an opportunity to find a job and flew into Moscow from Nigeria last June on a fan ID. Instead, she found herself forced to work as a prostitute.

    Fan IDs allowed visa-free entry to World Cup supporters with match tickets, but did not confer the right to work. Despite that, Obuson, 19, said she had hoped to work as a shop assistant to provide for her two-year-old daughter and younger siblings back in Nigeria.

    Instead, she said she was locked in a flat on the outskirts of Moscow and forced into sex work along with 11 other Nigerian women who were supervised by a madam, also from Nigeria.

    “I cried really hard. But what choice did I have?” Obuson said after being freed by anti-slavery activists.

    She said her madam had confiscated her passport and told her she’d only get it back once she’d worked off a fictional debt of $50,000.

    Obuson told her story to a rare English-speaking client who got anti-slavery activists involved.

    Two Nigerians were later arrested and charged with human trafficking after striking a deal to sell Obuson for two million rubles (around $30,000) to a police officer posing as a client, according to her lawyer, statements from prosecutors, and evidence presented at court hearings in the case attended by Reuters journalists. The case is still under investigation.

    Obuson’s case is not isolated. Reuters met eight Nigerian women aged between 16 and 22 brought into Russia on fan IDs and forced into sex work. All said they had endured violence.

    “They don’t give you food for days, they slap you, they beat you, they spit in your face… It’s like a cage,” said one 21-year old woman, who declined to be named.

    In September, a Nigerian woman was killed by a man who refused to pay for sex, police said. The Nigerian embassy later identified her as 22-year old Alifat Momoh who had come to Russia from Nigeria with a fan ID.

    Kenny Kehindo, who works with several Moscow NGOs to help sex trafficking victims, estimates that more than 2,000 Nigerian women were brought in on fan IDs.

    “Fan ID is a very good thing, but in the hands of the human traffickers it’s just an instrument,” he said, calling for more cooperation between the authorities and anti-trafficking NGOs during major sporting events, including the 2022 Qatar World Cup where a fan ID system is also being considered.

    Anti-slavery group Alternativa said its helpline had fielded calls from Nigerian women held in St Petersburg and other World Cup host cities.

    While a prosecution has been launched in Obuson’s case, police have been unable to act against suspected traffickers in other cases due to a lack of evidence.

    “A lot of girls are still out there,” said Obuson.

    Last year, President Muhammadu Buhari ordered the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to bring back home the 230 stranded Nigerians in Russia after the World Cup.

    A nursing mother and 154 out of the 230 were brought home

    The stranded ‘football fans’ including a nursing mother in her mid thirties came through Ethiopian Airline flight number ET-ALP that arrived Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport Abuja at about 9.12 p.m on July 2018.

  • Oyo governorship poll: Tinubu initiates alliance talks with Alao-Akala to boast APC’s chances

    In a smart move to avert losing control of Oyo State, the national leader of the ruling All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, and a former Governor of the state, Adebayo Alao-Akala, have met over possible partnership ahead of the governorship election in the state on March 9.

    Alao-Akala, who is running for governor on the platform of the Action Democratic Party, confirmed the development on Wednesday.

    “It is true. Both of us have been meeting and we will continue to meet. I will call you in 24 hours to let you know the state of things,” he said.

    Top sources close to the two politicians said that Tinubu initiated the meeting after the Peoples Democratic Party Presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, won the presidential election in the state.

    A PDP candidate, Dr Kola Balogun defeated Governor Abiola Ajimobi’s who contested the Oyo-South senatorial election.

    A source close to Tinubu said Ajimobi’s defeat showed that the people of Oyo State could vote against the APC candidate, Adebayo Adelabu.

    The source said, “Tinubu and Alao-Akala met on Tuesday. Tinubu asked Alao-Akala, who has many supporters in Ogbomoso, to collapse his structure into that of Adelabu. We know that if Alao-Akala was in our camp, there was no way Atiku would have had such a good outing in Oyo State, especially Ogbomoso.

    “The PDP governorship candidate, Seyi Makinde, is popular and he is also an Ibadan guy like Adelabu, which means that they will both split the votes in Ibadan. The APC will need to forge an alliance with elements in Ogbomoso to get an advantage.”

    When asked why the APC did not forge an alliance with Alao-Akala before now, the source said they would have done so but Governor Ajimobi told them that there was no need to worry.

    He added, “We knew that the people were not too happy with the governor as far back as June 2018 when the PDP candidate, Adebo Ogundoyin, won Ibarapa-East Constituency by-election which was held to fill the vacant position created by the death of former speaker of the House of Assembly, Michael Adeyemo.

    “We knew that Alao-Akala and Ajimobi had met last year before Alao-Akala joined the ADP. He had made some demands but Ajimobi did not play the politics right. Also, Ajimobi’s decision to convert some chiefs to full monarchs was unpopular among many people.”

     

  • Atiku defeats Buhari in Oyo, as Ajimobi loses senatorial bid to PDP candidate

    The presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Abubakar Atiku, has recorded a narrow victory over the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, President Muhammadu Buhari in Oyo State.

    In the results from the 33 local governments in the state as declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Atiku polled 366,720 votes to beat Buhari who garnered 365,230 votes. He won with 1,490 votes.

    Atiku won in 19 local governments while Buhari won in 14.

    Below are the results from each of the 33 local governments in the state.

    1. AFIJIO – Returning Officer: Prof. Isaac Adetona
    APC – 6,874
    PDP – 8,325

    2. Saki East -Returning Officer -Prof. Kolawole Falade
    APC – 5,730
    PDP – 5,883

    3. Kajola LG – Returning Officer – Prof. Olaniyi Babayemi
    APC – 11,665
    PDP – 12,282

    4. Ibarapa North LG – Prof Abiodun Sanusi
    APC – 6,587
    PDP – 9,070

    5. Ibarapa East – Prof. Gbolagade Jonathan
    APC – 7,964
    PDP – 10,346

    6. Itesiwaju LG – Prof. Ismail Azeez
    APC: 6, 193
    PDP: 7, 010

    7. Iwajowa LG – Dr Bamidele Dahunsi APC: 6, 528 PDP: 7, 477

    8. Ibadan Northwest LG – Prof. Temitayo Ewemoje
    APC: 11, 126
    PDP: 14, 550

    9. Irepo LG – Prof. Adebayo Amos Omoloye

    APC: 11, 688
    PDP: 4, 244

    10. Olorunsogo LG – Prof. Nelson Fashina
    APC: 5,447
    PDP: 5,922

    11. Egbeda LG – Prof. Olajide Fashola
    APC: 17, 295
    PDP: 15, 065

    12. Oluyole LG- Prof. Olukayode Ogunsanwo
    APC: 12, 522
    PDP: 10, 932

    13. Saki West LG – Dr Soji Awoyemi
    APC: 21, 136
    PDP: 10, 452

    14. Atisbo LG – Prof. Abiodun Bamidele
    APC: 8, 550
    PDP: 8, 128

    15. Iseyin LG – Prof
    APC: 19, 714
    PDP: 11, 781

    16. Ona Ara LG – Prof. David Aremu
    APC: 8, 711
    PDP: 9, 747

    17. Orelope LG – Prof. John Oyinlola Oladeji
    APC: 9, 897
    PDP: 4,089

    18. Ibarapa Central LG – Prof. Julius Akinyemi Fapaide
    APC: 8, 410
    PDP: 7,443

    19. Surulere LG – Prof. Rahman Akinoso
    APC: 9,038
    PDP: 10, 604

    20. Ido LG – Dr. Adefemi A
    APC: 10,762
    PDP: 9,715

    21. Ibadan North LG – Dr Tijani Musa
    APC: 23, 210
    PDP: 24,887

    22. Ogo Oluwa LG
    APC: 5,756
    PDP: 7,915

    23. Akinyele LG
    APC: 13, 695
    PDP: 14, 433

    24. OriireLG
    APC: 9, 693
    PDP: 12, 425

    25. Oyo East LG
    APC: 11, 276
    PDP: 8, 289

    26. Lagelu LG
    APC: 11,482
    PDP: 10510

    27. Oyo West LG
    APC: 11, 535
    PDP: 7, 203

    28. Atiba LG
    Collation Officer:
    APC: 13, 116
    PDP: 7, 983

    29. Ibadan Southwest LG
    APC: 22, 546
    PDP: 20, 233

    30. Ibadan North East LG
    APC: 12, 049
    PDP: 21, 165

    31. Ogbomosho North LG
    APC: 6,008
    PDP: 18,678

    32. Ibadan South East LG – Dr Adedeji Olufemi
    APC: 14, 937
    PDP: 13,844

    33. Ogbomosho South LG – Prof Olutokunbo Oyesola
    APC: 4,090
    PDP: 16, 090
    TOTAL

    APC – 365,230

    PDP – 366,720

    Meanwhile, Governor Abiola Ajimobi of the All Progressives Congress (APC) also lost his senatorial ambition to the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He pulled a total of 92, 218 losing to Dr. Kola Balogun who scored a total of 105, 720.

  • 2019 polls: Saturday, day of reckoning for opposition – Ajimobi

    2019 polls: Saturday, day of reckoning for opposition – Ajimobi

    Gov. Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State has described Saturday as a day of reckoning for the main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party.

    He said this on Tuesday while addressing a stakeholders’ forum at the Western House in Ibadan.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Ajimobi is the Oyo South Senatorial District candidate of the All Progressives Congress.

    NAN reports that the postponed Presidential and National Assembly elections would now hold on Feb. 23.

    Ajimobi urged APC leaders and supporters to remain steadfast and faithful to the course of the party by coming out en masse to vote for President Muhammadu Buhari to consolidate on the gains of the past four years.

    The governor warned against complacency, adding that the “ desperation of the opposition to upset the applecart was unimaginable.’’

    Ajimobi, who attended the APC NEC meeting in Abuja on Monday, said the national leadership of the party had given the state executive committees marching orders to reenergise the party’s campaigns.

    He said that the APC was at peace with itself at the national and state levels judging by the huge turnout at its campaign rallies.

    “ The opposition has adopted all manners of subterfuge and empty rhetoric to mislead the people into supporting them without success.

    “ Our people have refused to buy into their deceits, hence their desperation and provocative statements.

    “I want to appeal to you not to let off your guard for a moment until victory is assured in all the elections.

    “We should not be complacent because the opposition is throwing everything into this election as if the world will end when, mark my word I did not say if, they lose.

    “ This Saturday is a day of reckoning for the PDP for its 16 years of misrule.

    “After ruining our economy and creating many loopholes and leakages that has pauperised the people and enriched their friends, they are now desperate to stage a comeback,” he said.

    Ajimobi said the APC had in the last four years invested in the people at the national level and eight years at our state level, adding abandoned infrastructure and projects had been revived with many at different stages of completion.

    “Saturday is around the corner. All APC leaders and members should go back to their various units and wards to solicit the continued support of the good people of Nigeria. That is the mandate from our meeting on Monday in Abuja.

    “Be proud to be part of history by playing your part in the impending victory of Buhari and all APC candidates in the coming elections.

    “I, once again, also urge you to vote for me on Saturday to represent Oyo South in the Senate,” he said.

    The governor said that he had laboured hard in the past eight years to build a new Oyo State which he said had become a pride of the citizens and the toast of investors and visitors.

    He pledged to attract more developments to the state if reelected as senator, urging
    stakeholders to go back to their communities and reenergise the APC campaign till midnight on Thursday.

    “Apart from ensuring pervading peace across the state, our infrastructural revolution has given every community in the state a sense of belonging and a fair share of the dividends of democracy,’’ he said.

  • Available PVCs exceed total registered voters in Oyo

    Indications emerged on Friday that the number of Permanent Voter Cards, PVCs, in Oyo State is 28,539 higher than the number of registered voters.

    While the aggregate of available PVCs is 2,962,646, the number of registered voters stands at 2,934,107.

    This was revealed from data obtained from the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) office in Ibadan, the state capital.

    It had it that 2,176,352 of the voters’ card had been collected.

    However, INEC’s Head of Publicity in the state, Olayiwola Awolowo, explained the causes of the discrepancy in the figures.

    Awolowo explained that some of the owners of the uncollected PVCs are dead, while others had transferred their details to their new locations.

    Awolowo said, “The total number of uncollected PVCs is 786,294 while 2 176,352 PVCs have been collected.

    “The total number of registered voters is 2,934,107. The difference in the figures of the PVCs and registered voters is because some owners of the uncollected PVCs are dead while some have been transferred.

    “All the sensitive materials have been distributed to the INEC offices across the state. As for the sensitive materials, they are still with the CBN. We will call party agents and journalists to witness the distribution of the materials as soon as we are ready.”

    Awolowo stated further that all INEC offices in the state had been secured against attacks by security agents, adding that the commission was fully prepared for the Saturday presidential and National Assembly elections.

    He said 946 card readers were available as backup for those that might malfunction during the exercise, adding that 1,607 new polling units had been created across the state to ease the process.

  • Two dead, several injured at APC campaign rally in Oyo

    Two dead, several injured at APC campaign rally in Oyo

    No fewer than two people died in a bloody clash between suspected political hoodlums at an All Progressives’ Congress (APC) campaign rally in Igboora area of Oyo State.

    The incident occurred immediately after the rally held at the old motor park in Igboora on Saturday evening.

    The campaign train, led by Gov. Abiola Ajimobi, had commenced with a road show from Lanlate through Igboora, Idere, Ayete, Tapa and Igangan before the ralies at Igboora, Eruwa and Omi-Adio.

    It was a peaceful rally which saw the governor and the party’s governorship candidate, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, acknowledging cheers from supporters who had thronged the streets to show solidarity for the party.

    Trouble, however, started immediately after the rally in Igboora as suspected political hoodlums engaged in a bloody clash which left one dead.

    NAN reports that another innocent resident, identified to be a younger brother to an APC leader in the community, was hit by a stray bullet and eventually gave up the ghost.

    Eyewitnesses told NAN that some suspected hoodlums had accosted the APC governorship candidate to demand for money but were blocked by another group of hoodlums.

    This, witnesses said, resulted in heated arguments which later led to the free for all.

    The incident had since resulted in counter allegations and reactions from political parties and residents.

    While the APC accused opposition parties of being behind the mayhem, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) asked APC to look inwards for the perpetrators.

    “Guns were freely displayed by thugs alleged to have been arranged and sponsored by the PDP and some other parties to carry out the dastardly act.

    “The mayhem eventually cost two lives. One of which is a younger brother to the leader of our party, Alhaji Olayide Abas. We hereby charge security agencies to investigate and unravel the killers of the deceased.

    “It is important to note that the PDP has continually incited the people to cause trouble, having realised that the game is over. The PDP is among the parties that masterminded the mayhem,” APC Communication team said in a statement.

    Some opposition party members, who spoke to NAN, described the incident as very pathetic, saying the APC should investigate themselves on the mayhem.

    They said that several other opposition parties in the state had visited the community to campaign without violence or bloodshed.

    Also, some residents of the community frowned at the sorrowful incident, describing it as a return of thuggery and brigandage to the state.

    They told NAN that the people of the community were not desperate people and have always lived peacefully with each other, irrespective of political affiliations.

    Spokesman for Oyo State Police Command, SP Adekunle Ajisebutu, did not respond to calls and text messages at the time of filing this report.

  • Gang up against APC will fail – Ajimobi

    Gov. Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State says the gang up by opposition parties to dislodge the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state is an exercise in futility.

    Ajimobi said this while addressing supporters at an APC rally in Ibadan on Monday.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that APC campaign train led by the governor and his wife, Florence, held at Bodija Market and in Yemetu area of Ibadan.

    Ajimobi was reacting to a statement credited to an opposition governorship candidate who had boasted of a coalition to dislodge the APC in the state.

    The governor said such a gang up against the party in the past by opposition parties had failed, maintaining that the new plan would also suffer the same fate.

    “Some opposition parties are boasting that we will not return. They have boasted like this before and we beat them.

    “We know them to be political interlopers. They go from one party to another,” he said.

    Ajimobi, who is also the APC senatorial candidate for Oyo South, urged the people to vote all the party’s candidates in the forthcoming general elections.

    He said that he had in the last eight years worked hard to turn around the fortunes of the state from the dilapidated structure inherited from his predecessors.

    “When we assumed office in 2011, we met a dilapidated structure, but today, we have in the last eight years built befitting structures that the people are proud of,” he said.

    The governor said that the APC governorship candidate, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, towered high above others in pedigree and record of achievements.

    “Those that have been so hungry before getting to office will only get there and amass wealth and show nothing but greed,’’ he said.

    Mrs Ajimobi, on her part, called on women and the youths to vote massively for APC candidates in the state, including President Muhammadu Buhari.

    She also urged them not to leave their voting centres until the results were collated to ensure their votes counted.

    Chief Akin Oke, the APC Chairman in the state, expressed confidence on the party’s victory in the general elections.

    He described the coalition claim by opposition figures in the state as an empty threat.

    “Many of them have had the opportunity of ruling this state before and they failed the masses.

    “ The APC met the state in a mess and Gov. Ajimobi cleaned it up,” he said.

    Adelabu, in his remarks, promised to build on Ajimobi’s achievements and do more where necessary.

  • N4.7bn fraud: Trial of ex-Gov Ladoja ends, court reserves judgement

    A Federal High Court Lagos on Monday, reserved judgment in the criminal case against a former Governor of Oyo State, Rashidi Ladoja, and one of his aides, Waheed Akanbi, charged with N4.7 billion fraud.

    Justice Mohammed Idris reserved his judgment after counsel representing parties had adopted their final addresses before the court.

    Ladoja was charged by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) with converting N4.7billion from the State’s treasury to his personal use.

    He was re-arraigned along with Akanbi, his former Commissioner for Finance on 11 counts charge of money laundering and unlawful conversion of public funds.

    They had pleaded not guilty to the charges, and were granted bails.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that evidences in the trial closed on Nov. 17, after Ladoja had given his evidence before the court.

    The court had then adjourned for adoption of final addresses.

    Adopting his address on Monday, the prosecutor, Mr Oluwafemi Olabisi urged the court to hold that the prosecution had been able to establish its case against the accused based on evidences adduced.

    He argued that the crux of the prosecution’s case centred on money received as proceeds of crime.

    According to him, offences of this nature do not give room for acknowledgment of monies taken from government coffers.

    He added that the court was enjoined to look at circumstantial evidences in arriving at its decision.

    Olabisi urged the court to discountenance evidences adduced by defence witnesses, and hold that the prosecution had been able to establish its case against the accused.

    On his part, defense counsel, Mr Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika urged the court to discharge and acquit the accused on the grounds that the prosecution had a weak case incapable of securing any conviction.

    “If there is no foundation, the super structure cannot stand,” he said.

    Olumide-Fusika argued that no prosecution witness was able to link the accused with the alleged offences, adding that the prosecution was only concerned with securing conviction at all cost.

    Besides, defense argued that the statement used by the prosecutor in his written address that “the second defendant in the very least, did conspire to commit the offence” was incapable of establishing his guilt.

    He urged the court to be sensitive to evidences adduced as PW2 who testified as having engaged in the sale of the Oyo State shares was never charged.

    In all, he urged the court to discharge and acquit the accused as there was no shred of evidences against them, adding that the evidences by prosecution witnesses, even supports the innocence of the accused.

    After listening to the submissions of counsel, Justice Idris commended them for seeing the trial to conclusion.

    He informed parties that his judgment would be reserved, and that hearing notices would be sent to counsel in a short while.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that after the close of prosecution’s case, the accused had opted to file a no case submission before the court, contending that the prosecution failed to establish a case against them.

    But in its ruling, the court had dismissed the no case submission, and held that based on a preponderance of evidences as put forward by prosecution, there was no doubt that the accused had some explanations to make.

    NAN reports that in the charge, the accused were alleged to have conspired to siphon and launder N4.7 billion from the coffers of Oyo State government.

    The EFCC also accused them of converting N1.9 billion belonging to the state for their personal use through the account of a company known as Heritage Apartments Ltd.

    The anti-graft agency claimed that the accused retained the money sometime in 2007, in spite of their knowledge that it was proceeds from a criminal activity.

    Ladoja was accused of removing 600,000 pounds from the state coffers in 2007 and sent to his daughter, Bimpe in London.

    In addition, the ex-governor was accused of converting N42 million belonging to the state for his personal use and subsequently used same to purchase an armoured Land Cruiser.

    The EFCC added that Ladoja converted N728 million and N77 million at different times in 2007 for his personal use and transferred same to Bistrum Investments for the purchase of a property in Ibadan.

    The offences contravenes the provisions of Sections 14, 16, 17 (a) and 18 (1) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2004, according to the EFCC.

    NAN

  • Few months to leaving office, Ajimobi begs Oyo for ‘forgiveness’

    Few months to leaving office, Ajimobi begs Oyo for ‘forgiveness’

    Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo state has begged the political class and the people of the state for forgiveness for any errors he might have made during his two term tenure as governor.

    Recall that the governor’s second term tenure ends on May 29, 2019.

    Ajimobi made the plea on Sunday during two different events to commemorate and celebrate his 69th birthday.

    He spoke at a grand reception organised by the apex umbrella body of all Ibadan socio-cultural groups, the Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes, at the International Conference Centre, University of Ibadan, and the inauguration of a multi-million naira central mosque he built.

    At the CCII event, the governor said, “Oyo State is a state that is loved and blessed by God and we all must work for its uplift.

    “We must not mock each other or work against anybody for selfish reason. I don’t want the downfall of anybody. What do I stand to gain if someone else’s fall?

    “Unlike those before me, I have never written any petition against anybody. If you steal what belongs to the people, if God did not reward you for your evil deeds, your children will pay for it.

    “I want to beg all of us to please continue this tradition of celebrating one another. It is not because I am leaving office, but because our state must be developed.”

    At the dedication of the mosque, named, ‘Ishaq Abiola Ajimobi Central Mosque,’ located beside the All Progressives Congress state secretariat, Oke-Ado, Ibadan, the governor was also installed and decorated as the Basorun Musulumi of Oyo State.

    The mosque was inaugurated by the Sultan of Sokoto and President-General, Nigeria Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar.

    The Sultan stated that the building of a mosque was a significant thing, adding that there was no better thing the governor could have dedicated than the mosque.

    The monarch also called on the governor not to relent in what he described as “his good works.”

    In his address, popular Islamic cleric and preacher, Sheikh Muyideen Ajani-Bello, commended the governor for fulfilling his covenant with God.

    He said the dedicated mosque belonged to God and the people, adding that it should not be seen as a family property.

    Ajani-Bello said, “Please, don’t see this as the last you will do for your people and God. You must have offended people as the governor, I implore you to seek forgiveness from them.”

    The event was attended by Alhaji Sakariyau Babalola, NSCIA Deputy President-General; Alhaji Daud Akinola, the Aare Musulumi of Yorubaland; and Prof. Daud Noibi, Secretary-General, Muslim Ummah of South Western Nigeria (MUSWEN).

    However, Ajimobi was turbaned as the new Bashorun Musulumi of Oyo State by the Chief Imam of Ibadanland, Sheikh AbdulGaniy Abubakri and was blessed by the NSCIA president-general.

    In his address at the reception, the President-General of CCII, Chief Yemi Soladoye, said without the commitment and dedication of all the former governors in the state, Ibadan would not have attained its pace-setter status in Nigeria.

    The reception was attended by the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Adetunji; Eleruwa of Eruwa, Oba Samuel Adegbola; Oba Lekan Balogun; Governors Arakunrin Rotimi Akeredolu (Ondo state), Gboyega Oyetola (Osun) who was represented by his deputy, Mr Benedict Alabi, and captain of industries, as well as political leaders.