Politics

By Isaac Afolabi

Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa has again appealed to members of the All Progressives Congress, APC in Ondo state to reunite, put all differences aside for victory ahead of the November gubernatorial election.

Governor Aiyedatiwa stated this during a stakeholders meeting with members in Akure.

Governor Aiyedatiwa said the misunderstandings within the party had been resolved but consultation was still going on to further strengthen the party.

The Governor while saluting the maturity among members informed participants that none of the aspirants in the primary election had defected showing that the party was one and supreme.

Speaking with journalists , one of the former aspirants who contested the primary election, Professor Dayo Faduyile expressed support for the APC in Ondo state winning the November election and called on other erstwhile aspirants to rally round Governor Aiyedatiwa.

Earlier, Chairman APC in Ondo State , Mr Ade Adetimehin urged members to support the party candidate for victory adding that reconciliation committee set up to settle grievances among party members had been working to achieve a united family.

Those who attended the stakeholders meeting included governorship aspirants Mr Morayo Lebi, Senator Jide Ipinsagba, former Minister of State for Transport , Mr Ademola Adegoroye, Deputy Governor, Dr Olayide Adelami among others.

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News

By Isaac Afolabi

A white paper to tackle various security challenges in Ondo and Ekiti states has been presented to Ondo State governor , Mr Lucky Aiyedatiwa .

The Assistant Inspector General of Police ,  AIG Zone 17 , Mr Ashabi Abiodun  presented the document at the governor’s office in Akure.

AIG Abiodun explained that the  paper titled “A Proposal for Counter Operations Against Security Challenges in Ekiti and Ondo States”, contains security details that would assist Ondo and Ekiti states in the quest to be more peaceful.

Receiving Ondo State copy of the documents , Governor  Aiyedatiwa  appreciated the role  of the police in keeping the peace and pledged that the two governors would brainstorm on speedy implementation of the paper for maximum  security of the citizens.

Present on the occasion were Deputy Governor Olayide Adelami, Senior Special Assistant to the governor on Security, Alhaji Jimoh Dojumo , top Police officers including Police  Commissioners ,Mr Abayomi Oladipo of Ondo State and  Mr Akinwale Adeniran of Ekiti state.

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Governance

The Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has named Kayode Ajulo, SAN, and five others as commissioner-nominees.

The names of the nominees have therefore been sent to the House of Assembly for screening and confirmation.

The Governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Ebenezer Adeniyan, made this known in a statement made available to journalists on Friday.

The governor had earlier picked a former Deputy Clerk of the National Assembly, Mr Olaide Adelami, as the deputy governor of the state.

This came a few hours after the governor sacked all the commissioners and special advisers on Wednesday.

The statement on nominees read, “The nominees are Mrs. Omowumi Isaac, Mr. Olukayode A. Ajulo, SAN, Razaq Obe, Pastor Emmanuel Igbasan, Akinwumi Sowore and Mr. Oseni Oyeniyi.”

The statement added that the governor has also appointed the following individuals as Special Advisers: Olugbenga Omole -Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Mrs. Olamide Falana-Special Adviser on Gender Affairs, and Mr. Alabi Johnson, Special Adviser on Energy.

Aiyedatiwa succeded late governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, who died of prostate cancer at the age of 67 in Germany in December 2023.

Punch / Titilayo Kupoliyi

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Governance

By Isaac Afo

As part of efforts of the Ondo State Government to settle the backlog of gratuity of state retirees, Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has approved the sum of 1.2b naira to fully offset gratuity of 2014 set of state retirees.

Distribution of cheques to beneficiaries will be launched by the governor at an event to be held at the Cocoa Conference Hall of the Governor’s Office, Alagbaka, Akure on Thursday 11th January, 2024 at 3pm.

Report says all 2013 set of state retirees’ gratuity had been cleared last year while 2011 and a fractional part of 2012 set of the local government retirees were also cleared.

This is apart from about N320m monthly, totaling about N2.7b yearly, that government has set aside for the settlement of all other categories of the pensioners’ benefits.

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Governance

By Iyabo Adebisi

The newly sworn-in Governor of Ondo State, Lucky Aiyedatiwa has visited the family of the late Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

Speaking with journalists after the visit,Governor Aiyedatiwa said the late governor had always been a courageous person who has governed Ondo State in the last six or seven years with great courage and so many legacies.

The Governor described his late principal as a sincere, courageous, selfless and patriotic leader who fought for his people, championed development and touched many lives.

Governor Aiyedatiwa reiterated that the demise of his late boss is a great loss to Ondo State, tthe Southwest region and Nigeria at large, stressing that Akeredolu’s struggle for a peaceful, fair and just society is one that can never be forgotten in a hurry.

Aiyedatiwa said: We are here as government under my leadership on behalf of the good people of Ondo State to pay a condolence visit to the immediate and extended family of our former Governor, Arakurin Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu ,san, who passed on yesterday”.

‘’We are here as the government of Ondo State, of which I am the leader, to pay a condolence visit to the family of Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu. He had always been our leader, a courageous one for that matter. One who has governed Ondo State in the last six or seven years with great courage and so many legacies he left behind. He is an exemplary leader. A leader that believed in fairness and equity.

‘’A Senior Advocate of Nigeria who spoke on national issues so that proper decisions can be made. He was known for that as an activist. Today, he is no more. We have to pay him back that respect by coming to the family to condole with them.

‘’We pray that God will grant the family the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss and to able to emulate some of sterling qualities he was known for so that we can keep some of the legacies he left behind’’

Responding on behalf of the Akeredolu Family, the younger brother of the deceased, Pastor Kola Akeredolu, thanked the delegation led by Governor Aiyedatiwa for the thoughtful visit.

Prayers were offered for the Akeredolu Family while Governor Aiyedatiwa led others to the signing of the condolence register.

Politics

The Ondo State Deputy Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has tendered an unreserved apology to the state governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, over the embarrassment that the ongoing political crisis must have caused in the state.

Aiyedatiwa, who said the crisis was being caused or fueled by some political contenders in the state, reiterated that he remained loyal to the governor and his administration.

The deputy governor stated this while speaking with journalists in his office in Akure, the state capital.

He said, “I am deeply saddened by the embarrassment and discomfort that Mr. Governor has faced due to the barrage of negative news in the state as a result of the events of the last few months. I tender my sincere apology to Mr. Governor on this as our leader in the state.”

Punch / Titilayo Kupoliyi

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Lifestyle

By Olorunferanmi Odofin

The International Cultural and Event Centre, The Dome, in Akure was on Thursday filled to capacity as political associates, erudite scholars, traditional rulers, families and friends of late former governor of Ondo State, Dr Olusegun Agagu gathered for his tenth memorial Colloquium.

Addressing the gathering, the Acting Governor, Lucky Ayedatiwa described Late Dr Agagu as a great leader who wrote his name in gold in the history of Ondo State.

Mr Aiyedatiwa represented by the Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr Olayato Aribo explained that the late governor executed several laudable projects apart from making public the State’s monthly income while in office.

Also speaking, the former Deputy Governor during Agagu’s tenure, Otunba Omolade Oluwateru and former governor of Ekiti State, Olusegun Oni, who was also the Chairman at the occasion, said Late Agagu was a leader with zero tolerance for abandoned projects and corruption.

Some of those who worked with the late former governor, including the current chairman of SUBEB In Ondo State, Mr Victor Olabimtan and a former Ondo State House of Assembly Speaker, Dr Bakita Bello maintained that the Late Agagu governed with a high sense of responsibility and also gave back to humanity.

Appreciating the organisers, his son, Feyi Agagu expressed gratitude for the show of love to the family after the demise of their father.

 Late Dr Olusegun Kokumo Agagu was a minister of aviation as well as power and steel before becoming a governor in 2003.

He died on the 13th of September 2013 at the age of 65.

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Politics

The Ondo State Election Petition Tribunal, saddled with the task of handling the complaints emanating from the October 2020 governorship poll in the state, has dismissed a petition filled by the PDP and its candidate, Eyitayo Jegede against the reelection of Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu SAN of the APC.

The petition was struck out for want of Jurisdiction and lack of merit.

Delivering the judgement virtually, the Chairman of the tribunal, Justice Umar Abubakar, held that issues raised therein in this petition are settled issue of internal affairs and Management of a political party which the Tribunal has no Jurisdiction.

The tribunal ruled that Oluwarotimi Akeredolu and his Deputy Lucky Aiyedatiwa were duly nominated and sponsored by the APC in line with section 177 of the constitution and section 31 of the electoral Act.

Justice Abubakar said the electoral laws did not specify who to submit the names of candidates. The chairman doing so is just for administrative convenience.

Justice Abubakar noted that no extra cost will be put on any parties in the petition as parties would be made to bear their costs.

The Chairman of the Tribunal added that copies of the judgment would be made available to concerned parties.

The virtual judgment monitored by Radio Nigeria was also witnessed by the State Governor, Mr Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, his deputy, Lucky Ayedatiwa, the petitioner, Mr. Eyitayo Jegede, State Commissioner of Police and DSS headquarters in Abuja among others.

Adegbite/Abudu