Infrastructure

Akure-Imafon Road Reconstruction Takes Off

By Web News 338

By Isaac Afolabi

Ondo State Governor, Mr Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has launched the reconstruction of the Akure-Imafon Road, reaffirming his administration’s commitment to infrastructure renewal and quality service delivery.

Speaking at the flag-off ceremony at the Imafon/Igbatoro junction in Akure, the governor said the project meets a long-standing demand of residents and fulfills one of his campaign promises.

He assured the public that his government would complete all ongoing and inherited projects, including the Ijoka Dual Carriageway, where construction is expected to resume soon.

He appealed for continued patience and cooperation.

Commissioner for Infrastructure, Lands and Housing, Mr Ayorinde Olawoye, praised the governor for placing infrastructure at the centre of his development agenda.

The Olumafon of Imafon, Oba Aliu Adegbehingbe, described the reconstruction as a symbol of hope and progress for the community.

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Politics

Aiyedatiwa Dissolves Cabinet, Exempts 2 Commissioners

By Web News 370

By Isaac Afolabi

Ondo State governor, Mr Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has approved the dissolution of the State Executive Council, with immediate effect. 

A statement by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Prince Ebenezer Adeniyan, however, says two commissioners were exempted.

They are the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Dr Kayode Ajulo and the Commissioner for Finance, Mrs Omowunmi Isaac. 

All the affected cabinet members are to hand over all government properties in their care to the accounting officers of their respective ministries.

Governor Aiyedatiwa thanked the cabinet members for their service and contributions to the development of Ondo State under his administration and wished them well in their future endeavours.

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Lifestyle

Makinde Commiserates with Ondo Govt. over SSG’s Death

By Web News 360

By Iyabo Adebisi

Oyo State governor, Engineer ‘Seyi Makinde has expressed his condolences to Ondo State Governor, Mr Lucky Aiyedatiwa, on the demise of the Secretary to Ondo State Government, Mr Tayo Oluwatuyi.

Governor Makinde in a statement described the death of Mr Oluwatuyi as painful and shocking.

The governor, who also condoled with Ondo State Government, the family of the late SSG as well as the people of the state, prayed that God would grant them the fortitude to bear the loss.

Makinde said, “I commiserate with Ondo State governor, Mr Lucky Aiyedatiwa, on the unfortunate death of the Secretary to the State Government, Mr Tayo Oluwatuyi.

“I equally express my condolences to the state government, the family of the deceased as well as the people of Ondo State on the demise of Mr Oluwatuyi.
“This death is shocking and painful, but we can only submit to the will of God, who gives and takes life.

“I encourage Governor Aiyedatiwa and the family of Mr Oluwatuyi to be strong and courageous. It is my prayer that God will grant them the fortitude to bear the loss.”

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Governance

Ondo Govt Disburses N30m Loan to Widows of Fallen Heroes

By Web News 334

By Isaac Afolabi

Ondo State Governor, Mr Lucky Aiyedatiwa has distributed the sum of N30 million naira micro-credit revolving interest-free loans to sixty-six widows of the departed heroes in the state.

Governor Aiyedatiwa presented cheques to the beneficiaries of the loan at the final parade, laying of wreaths and empowerment for the 2024 Armed Forces and Remembrance Day celebration held at Government cenotaph, Alagbaka Akure.

The governor emphasized the cultural significance of the event describing it as the highest form of respect for fallen heroes who sacrificed their lives both domestically and internationally.

Governor Aiyedatiwa further advocated the need for financial and material support to the Legionnaires for the welfare of widows and dependants of fallen heroes. 

He commended the success of the emblem appeal fund, raising three million naira and acknowledged contributions from various individuals, groups, and institutions.

The Governor announced an expanded role for State Chairmen of Nigeria Legion, now doubling as Commandants of the Nigerian Legion Corps and Commissionaires, focusing on security-related activities.

Our correspondent reports that Governor Aiyedatiwa called for peaceful elections in the upcoming year, urging all stakeholders to conduct themselves honourably to ensure the state’s peace and progress.

Earlier, the State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Dr Adebunmi Osadahun affirmed that the loan was given to the beneficiaries based on the recommendations of the Legion and the Widows Council.

Also Speaking, the Chairman Nigerian Legion, Ondo State Council, Retired Col. Olu Apata lauded the State Government’s efforts at prioritizing the welfare of its members.

Widows of the fallen heroes, including Adegbehingbe Victoria, Janet Sunday commended the State government for the loan promising to refund it promptly.

During the event, a minute silent was called in honour of late Governor Oluwarotimi  Akeredolu whom Governor Ayedatiwa described as a political hero and advocate for regional security.

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Governance

Aiyedatiwa Freezes Ondo LGs’ Accounts Till Further Notice

By Web News 288

Ondo State Acting Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has frozen the accounts of the 18 Local Government Areas, LGAs and 33 Local Council Development Areas, LCDAs.

Reports also state that the acting governor told the newly created LCDA not to open new accounts.

A letter to the local councils reads: “Distinguished HOLGAs, Your Excellency the Acting Governor of Ondo State had directed that all spending/ expenditure from local government account should be suspended. No signing of cheques, no change of signatories, no withdrawal of any sort until further directive”.

“Please adhere strictly to instruction and be guided.”

One of the caretaker chairmen told Vanguard in confidence that the development was worrisome.

“Yes, he has blocked the accounts of the local governments. We don’t know why he’s doing that now,” the official said.

Meanwhile, the acting governor has also said that his Deputy Chief of Staff, Olusegun Omojuwa, will be responsible for the preparation and signing of his official engagements for the time being.

A letter signed by Omojuwa and addressed to members of the State Executive Council and top government functionaries reads, “The Acting Governor of Ondo State, Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, has directed me to inform all members of the State Executive Council and Top Government Functionaries that the Deputy Chief of Staff to the Governor would be responsible for the preparation and signing of his official engagements for the time being”.

“The Chief of Protocol would take charge of this responsibility as soon as Mr. Governor resumes from his medical vacation.”

Vanguard/Maxwell Oyekunle

Politics

Court Stops Impeachment of Aiyedatiwa

By Web News 383

A Federal High Court, Abuja, on Tuesday, restrained the Ondo State House of Assembly from impeaching the Deputy Governor, Mr Lucky Aiyedatiwa, over alleged gross misconduct.

Justice Emeka Nwite, made the ruling shortly after Aiyedatiwa’s counsel, Kayode Adewusi, moved the ex-parte motion.

The judge also restrained Governor Rotimi Akeredolu from nominating a new deputy governor and forwarding same to the lawmakers for approval pending the hearing and determination of the substantive matter.

Justice Nwite held that after listening to Adewusi, he was of the view that the interest of justice would be met by granting the application.

“Therefore, the application of the applicant succeeds,” he said.

The embattled deputy governor had, in a motion on notice marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1294/2023, sued the Inspector-General of Police and the Department of State Services.

Others are Akeredoku, Speaker of the House of Assembly, Chief Judge of Ondo State, and the House of Assembly as 1st to 6th respondents respectively.

In the application dated and filed by Mr Adelanke Akinrata on September 21, Aiyedatiwa sought four reliefs.

The judge further made an order of interim injunction restraining Akeredolu, his servants, or privies from harassing, intimidating, embarrassing, and preventing Aiyedatiwa from carrying out the functions of his office as deputy governor of Ondo state.

Justice Nwite, who granted all the reliefs adjourned the matter until October 9 for a hearing.

Aiyedatiwa had, also in another suit marked: AK/348/2023 asked the High Court in Akure to stop the state’s house of assembly from proceeding with the impeachment proceedings against him pending the hearing and determination of the suit filed in the court on Monday.

Punch / Titilayo Kupoliyi

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Politics

Akeredolu Sacks Deputy Governor’s Media Team

By Web News 367

Barely one week after Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, returned from an overseas medical trip, crisis has started rocking the State cabinet. Details of the crisis could not be ascertained as of press time but sources close to the matter said the issues bothered on whether the Deputy Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, was loyal to his principal or not.

The matter is said to be fuelling disaffection between Akeredolu and the Deputy Governor.

However, the governor has fired the deputy’s media aides, who were accused of stocking crisis between Akeredolu and Aiyedatiwa.

Consequently, all the media aides attached to the office of the Ondo State Deputy Governor were fired on Tuesday.

This was contained in a statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Richard Olatunde, on Tuesday.

According to the statement, the affected aides include Press Secretary to the Governor, Kenneth Odusola; Special Assistant to Governor (New Media) Okunniga Oladipupo; and Special Assistant to the Governor (Photography), Abayomi Samson Adefolalu.

The statement read “All media aides appointed by the Ondo State Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, CON, and seconded to the office of the deputy governor, have been relieved of their appointments with immediate effect.

“They are to submit all government properties in their possession to the Acting Permanent Secretary, Office of the Deputy Governor.

“Similarly, the press crew attached to the office of the deputy governor has been disbanded. Consequently, all members of the press crew are to report back to their various ministries and stations.

“Equally, the Ministry of Information and Orientation is directed to provide adequate coverage for the activities of the deputy’s governor office henceforth.”

However, it was gathered that the sacked media aides of the deputy governor were involved in some disloyal acts against the governor.

A reliable source in the government revealed that the aides were sacked as a result of insubordination and flagrant disregard for appropriate authority.

The source said, “One of the sacked aides openly abused the governor on his WhatsApp status and the screenshot is with the governor’s people.

 “These faceless individuals who have been hiding their identities because what they are putting out are pure fabrications, are being sponsored by those who are threatened by the profile of the deputy governor, his relationship with his boss and the goodwill he enjoys with the people.

“Many stakeholders have commended the deputy governor for the way he handled State affairs while he was Acting Governor, despite all his detractors did to provoke him into taking drastic actions. He avoided their booby traps and they tripped on their own banana peels.”

The statement also declared that the deputy governor was in constant touch with his principal on official State matters and there was no gap between them.

“Now that Mr. Governor is back and has started working, the deputy governor remains calm and committed to the duties of his office and unruffled by the lies of desperate politicians and their agents. The deputy governor remains loyal to his principal and no amount of fabricated lies will change that,” the statement submitted

Punch/Oluwayemisi Owonikoko

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Politics

Cooperation between executive and legislature critical to top performance – Akeredolu

By Web News 495

Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu says the executive arm of government will perform creditably with the cooperation of the legislative arm.

Governor Akeredolu made the assertion at the inauguration of the renovated parliamentary chamber of the Ondo State House of Assembly, ODHA, in Akure the Ondo State capital.

Represented by the Deputy Governor, Mr Lucky Aiyedatiwa, the governor said governance had nothing to do with the struggle for supremacy but with collaboration to bring dividends of democracy to the people.

Mr Akeredolu noted that providing a conducive environment was paramount to legislative activities hence the reason his administration made it a priority.

In an address, the ODHA speaker, Mr Bamidele Oleyelogun thanked his colleagues for their perseverance during the period in which the parliamentary chamber was undergoing repairs and pledged the continued support of the lawmakers to the present administration.

In a goodwill message, the Deji of Akure, Oba Aladetoyinbo Aladelusi gave kudos to the governor for upholding the security of lives and property of residents which birthed the state security corps known as “Amotekun”.

Augustina Okinedo

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Crime

Nursing Mother, 5 Others Nabbed for Kidnapping in Ondo

By Web News 689

Operatives of the Department of State Services, DSS, have paraded a nursing mother among a six-man syndicate that specialises in kidnapping toddlers in Ondo State.

The Director of DSS in Ondo State, Mr Jonathan Kure, while parading the suspects at the agency’s headquarters, said the syndicate had been terrorising the state by the kidnapping of toddlers between the ages of two and four years.

Mr Kure said a manhunt was launched with the support of the Ondo State government to track down a syndicate full of young men and a nursing mother.

He noted that the nursing mother was a member of the kidnap syndicate, also helped keep weapons for the syndicate and was a wife to one of the arrested kidnappers.

The Ondo State DSS Director said further investigation would continue and that the suspects would soon be charged to court.

Mr Kure noted that the operation was carried out in synergy with the men of the Nigerian Army and appreciated the collaboration amongst the security agencies in Ondo State.

Meanwhile, the Deputy Governor of Ondo State, Mr Lucky Aiyedatiwa while speaking with newsmen at the DSS office assured indigenes and residents of the state of adequate security of their lives and property.

Mr Aiyedatiwa urged landlords to always do proper profiling of their tenants and know the kind of work they do.

Olufisoye Adenitan

Transportation

NURTW Crisis: Ondo Inaugurates Motor Parks Management Committee

By Web News 921

Ondo State Deputy Governor, Mr Lucky Aiyedatiwa has inaugurated the State Motor Parks Management Committee calling on the leadership of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW, in the state to resolve its leadership crisis.

The inauguration which took place at Cocoa Conference Hall, Governor’s Office Alagbaka, Akure, had in attendance key government officials led by the Secretary to the State Government, SSG, Princess Oladunni Odu.

Mr Aiyedatiwa said the Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu-led government was not insensitive to the genuine concerns over ensuring a peaceful atmosphere in motor parks across the state, hence the establishment of the newly created State Motor Parks Management Committee.

He said the 21-man committee led by Jacob Adebo Idajo has Evangelist Festus Obasoto as Vice Chairman, with Bayode Gbenga as Secretary was saddled with the responsibility of overseeing the activities of all commercial vehicle operators in all the motor parks across the state.

The Deputy Governor lamented that the lingering crisis in the Ondo State Branch of NURTW which had created a leadership vacuum necessitated government intervention, and led to the setting up of the committee.

He further disclosed that the committee members were a product of widespread consultations and extensive deliberations hence the need for them to justify the confidence reposed in them.

Olufisoye Adenitan

Economy

Ondo @ 46: Akeredolu Honours Founding Fathers, Pledges Economic Boost

By Web News 1077

Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State says his administration will continue to provide good governance for the people and also explore all avenues to boost its economy.

Governor Akeredolu stated this while honouring some surviving founding fathers of the state in Akure.

The Elderstatesmen include Chief Reuben Fashoranti, Afenifere Chieftain, Bashorun Seinde Arogbofa, Pa Olu Adeyemi who was represented by his son, Mr Olu Adeyemi, R.A Olusa and J.A. Olukoju.

Speaking at the event which took place at the cocoa conference hall, the governor praised the selfless contributions of the past military and civilian leaders who struggled for the creation of Ondo State on the 3rd of February 1976.

Responding on behalf of other living heroes, Pa Fashoranti and Chief Arogbofa thanked the Governor for the honour done them and for appreciating their contributions to the creation and development of the state while still alive.

Pa Fashoranti and Bashorun Arogbofa commended the Governor for implementing the programme of the founding fathers of the state which he said included, provision of security for the people, industrialization of the state,  respect for the rule of law and fair distribution of the state’s common heritage.

The colourful occasion was witnessed by the deputy governor, Mr Lucky Aiyedatiwa,  Head of Service, Mr John Adeyemo, Commissioner for information and Orientation, Mr Donald Ojogo and other members of the state executive council.

Nigeria was created on 3 February 1976 from the former Western State. It originally included what is now Ekiti State, which was split off in 1996. Akure is the state capital.

Isaac Afolabi