Politics

Southwest PDP Agrees on Selecting Leaders through Consensus

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Iyabo Adebisi

Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) Southwest zone has unanimously agreed to select its leaders in the zone through consensus to foster peace and unity in the party. 

The Deputy National Chairman (South) of the party, and a former Deputy Governor of Oyo State, Ambassador Taofeek Arapaja, stated this while briefing newsmen on the outcome of the Southwest PDP zonal executive meeting held at the Government House, Agodi, Ibadan.

Ambassador Arapaja noted that leaders of the party in the Southwest, Governor ‘Seyi Makinde of Oyo State and his counterpart from Osun State, Governor Ademola Adeleke, have discussed and resolved to retain the positions held by states hoping that Lagos and Ogun states would agree to the terms. 

He added that the decision is a strategic move to promote unity and cohesion within the party and avoid the divisions and conflicts that often accompany competitive elections.

The PDP Deputy National Chairman (South) further stated that the agreement was not imposed on the party members as they all pledged their support so as to play a positive role at the national level.

The meeting, which was hosted by Governor ‘Seyi Makinde, had in attendance former governors, both serving and former deputy governors, wives of former governors, party leaders and stakeholders.

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Agriculture

Harvest Rainwater for Dry Season Farming, Don Enjoins S/West Govs

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By Lanre Omotoso

Governors of the Southwest states have been enjoined to create more dams to harvest rainwater that will be useful for irrigation farming during dry season.

A lecturer in the Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension, Federal University, Oye Ekiti, Professor  Raphael Omolehin gave the advice on the need to safeguard rainwater that may lead to flooding.

Professor Omolehin emphasized that governments in the Northern parts of the country created artificial lakes, which farmers utilized during dry season to grow food crops.

The Agricultural economist, who stressed that the River Basin Commissions in the Southwest did not have noticeable dams for dry season farming, urged them to learn from their Northern counterparts, who ensured that their farmers grow 80 percent of cereals needed by breweries in the Southwest.

He noted that instead of allowing rain to constitute flooding, the one channelled to artificial lakes could be useful for agricultural, domestic and hydro-electrical purposes.

While stressing that the Southwest is endowed with thick forests, Professor Omolehin added that governors in the region could create artificial lake, bulldoze those forest and cluster farmers around them for all year round farming.

He stressed that pepper, tomatoes, cucumber, maize and rice attract diseases during rainy season, but yield bountiful during dry season, saying irrigation would make most crops to be cheaper and affordable.

The Agricultural economist noted that most farmers in the Southwest practised subsistence farming, calling on Governors of the region to purchase irrigation equipments, subsidize fertilizer and agro chemicals for their farmers to be able to produce surplus food so as to reduce hunger. 

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Politics

“South should produce next president” – Cleric

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The Chief Imam of Ogbomoso, Imam Toliah Ayilara has thrown his weight behind the call for zoning presidency to the southern part of the country ahead of the 2023 general election.

The cleric stated this in an interaction with Radio Nigeria.

The cleric who noted that power had remained in a region for too long said it was better to shift it to the southern part of the country to make others feel like a part of the country 

“Justice is Islam and Islam is justice, I will not but support the presidency of southwestern agenda. A region has served for eight years, if we insist that the presidency should remain in the north, the other geo-political zones will feel neglected and marginalised. In order to make sure nobody feels neglected I appeal to the who is who and those at the corridors of power to make sure they relinquish the power to have a balance in the polity” Imam Ayilara said. 

      Also, speaking ahead of the much anticipated 2023 general election, Imam Ayilara while noting that the election would be decisive in the fate of the nation implored the electorate to ensure that people of high integrity were elected. 

The Ogbomoso chief Imam reeled out qualities to be expected in any would-be president including integrity, sincerity, and overwhelming human feeling. 

“The 2023 election is fast approaching and we must play our part to make sure that we have a peaceful election so that people of high integrity will emerge and sit in the corridors of power.

“If you want to vote, don’t just cast your vote for those people that will not assist us. The number one thing to look for is integrity, someone who has the feeling of a human being in him and how can you know that? That can be known through his track record, if it’s someone who is corrupt or inhumane or who has previously demonstrated thuggery attributes, we should do away with them. Let’s look out for integrity, sincerity, fear of God and for someone that is very brave and courageous enough to face the challenges in this country. Also, we should cast our votes without fear or favour “he maintained .

While speaking on the roles of religious leaders to check moral decadence and set a template for uprightness, Imam Ayilara urged clerics to always stand firm with the truth and never get oppressed by any situation.

 “It is our duty as leaders in Islam to speak the truth to the world. We are to give instruction to people and instruct them to do what God wants. We, therefore, appeal to stakeholders that they should allow us to preach to the people the way of God. As the 2023 elections approach, we are to sensitise people on what to do and what not to do. As cleric, we have to stand by what God wants and desist from what God prohibits.” He added.

        Imam Ayilara implored all politicians to remain calm and promote peace before, during and after the 2023 general elections.

Adedayo Adelowo

Economy

FG Empowers PWDs in South-West

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In a bid to address economic challenges among persons with disabilities, the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development has organized a 3-day capacity building and empowerment workshop on income-generating activities.

The workshop, held in Ibadan for the Southwest zone, was designed to train persons with disabilities on various vocational skills.

Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Hajiya Sadiya Umar-Farouq said the workshop was part of the ministry’s efforts at combating the challenges confronting the advancement of persons with disabilities for sustainable national development.

Represented by Director, Special Needs Department of the ministry, Mrs Nkechi Onwukwe, the Minister noted that elimination of all forms of discrimination and violence against persons with disabilities, as well as, empowering them economically would go a long way in unbundling their full potential.

“I want to assure you that the federal government remains committed to doing her bit in shaping the country to become more inclusive through disability sensitive policies and programming. I, therefore, call on all and sundry to support the efforts of governments at all levels in achieving the desired goal of a country devoid of all forms of discrimination against PWDs”

“I also want to assure you that the federal government will continue to be sensitive to the needs of PWDs and support the realization of their potentials to enable them to live a fulfilled life”

The facilitator of the workshop, Mr Kolawole Taiwo said the participants would be trained on vocational skills including fish farming, mobile phone repairs and soap making.

Mr Taiwo added that after the workshop, the participants would be given 100,000 naira each as a start-up grant.

Two of the participants, Funsho Olajide and Olayinka Ileyemi commended the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development for the workshop, expressing optimism that the training would give them the opportunity of having a solid means of livelihood.

Radio Nigeria gathered that 30 participants, drawn from states in the southwest attended the workshop.

Oluwakayode Banjo

News

‘We Still Collect 300 Naira As Monthly Pension’- Nigeria Union Of Pensioners, SouthWest Zone

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Nigeria Union of Pensioners, South West, says some of their members are still being paid three hundred nairas as monthly pensions. 

The Pensioners made this known at the meeting of the southwest zone of the union held at Ibadan, the Oyo state capital. 

Reading the communique of the meeting, the Oyo state secretary of the Union, Mr Olusegun Abatan, said despite pleas to the state governments to review upward monthly pensions of their retirees, the state governments have been neglecting them

Mr Abatan who is also the southwest Public Relations officer of Nigeria Union of Pensioners said the union had given the state governments in the southwest till the end of the month to implement the adjusted consequential pensions.

He added that the union would decide on the next line of action if their demands were not meant.

The southwest meeting of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners had in attendance its national President, Chief Godwin Abumisi and other national executives. 

Olaolu Fawole 

Agriculture

Southwest Has What It Takes For Massive Rice Production – Stakeholders

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The ban on the importation of rice by the federal government is opening up ways for large scale production of rice in Ondo State.

In an attempt worth describing as Back To Land, the Ondo State government and stakeholders in rice cultivation are beginning to explore mass rice production.

Correspondent Oye Agunbiade in this report examines this efforts and the future of rice cultivation in the state.

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Oye Agunbiade

Politics

Southwest is pivotal to political development of Nigeria – Gov. Wike

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Rivers State Governor, Nyesome Wike says the Southwest is pivotal to the political development of Nigeria, believing that peace would return to the PDP in the region.

Governor Wike stated this while speaking with journalists at the Agodi Government House, Ibadan after a rescheduled meeting with some Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leaders in the Southwest.


2: Form left, River State Governor, Nyesom Wike; Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde; former Governor of Osun State, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola and former Governor of Ekiti State, Segun Oni during the PDP South/West Leaders meeting held at Governor Lodge, Agodi, Ibadan. PHOTO: Oyo State Government.

The governor also said he was in Ibadan to inspect some projects executed by Governor Seyi Makinde in the state.

Governor Wike said there was the need for all within the party to exercise patience and tolerance.  

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He, however, commended Governor Seyi Makinde for his bold leadership style in Oyo State, noting that he had performed appreciably.

Also speaking, Governor Makinde said he would continue to pursue peace in the Southwest in the region .

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Dignitaries at the meeting included former Governor of Osun State, Olagunsoye Oyinlola, former Governor Of Ekiti State, Segun Oni, governorship candidate of the PDP in Ondo State, Eyitayo Jegede, SAN, Senator Biodun Olujimi while the former Governor of Ekiti state, Ayodele Fayose was absent at the meeting.

Iyabo Adebisi

Economy

Protests Across Southwest Over Hike in Petrol, Electricity Tariff

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Nigerian tertiary students in Osun, Oyo and Ondo States have protested the recent hike in electricity tariff and petrol price in the country.

The protest is organised by the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) Zone D.

The students gathered in their hundreds at the different states capital.

In Osogbo, hundreds of protesters converged at Freedom Park, in the Osun State capital.

The students came out with placards showing different inscriptions condemning the hike.

Speaking with PREMIUM TIMES, the students association’s spokesperson, Kazeem Israel, said the increment on the price of petrol and in electricity tariff is anti-people.

“No doubt, this government has worsened all the crises it inherited from the last administration. In fact, the Buhari government is a clear example that we the students must go back to our revolutionary days as we cannot continue to lament,” he said.

“Today, education underfunding has become a norm, healthcare under the pandemic is undergoing cuts officially from government at all levels while the rich run to private hospitals and dash abroad through chartered flights leaving the plebeains to self-medicate.”

Mr Israel said President Buhari should reverse petrol price to N97 and stop the deregulation of the oil sector.

He should “stop the devaluation of the naira now, increase budgetary allocation to education to 35%, return to the old stamp duty price, give 500% increment to healthcare budget to reflect the pandemic era, pay N100,000 Cost of Study Allowance (COSA) to all students and stop the Anti-Social Media Bill Now.”

Speaking further at the protest ground, he told our correspondent that no dialogue with the government would be accommodated.

Electricity distribution companies (DisCos) across the country this month implemented a new electricity tariff regime.

The is as a result of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) directive that DisCos to maintain a N4 tariff for all customers consuming less than 50kWh of energy per month.

The government has also increased the price of petrol with a litre now sold at N162.

Nigerians on social media have called on various opposition leaders to stage protest again the development.

Mr Buhari on Monday reiterated that there was no going back on subsidy removal.

Culled from Premium Times

Economy

COVID-19: Humanitarian Disaster Ministry Gives Palliatives to Southwest

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Federal Ministry of humanitarian, Disasters Management and Social Development, has donated six thousand bags of Rice to Oyo, Osun, Ondo and Ekiti states as part of Covid-19 economic stimulus package.

The donation was as a result of a directive by President Muhammadu Buhari to the Nigeria Customs Service to release 150 truckload of rice seized from smugglers.

Presenting the rice consignments to the representatives of the affected states in Ibadan, the Comptroller of Customs for Oyo/Osun Area Command, Helen Ngozi, said Customs was releasing three truckloads of rice each to the affected states as parts of palliatives to cushion the effect of Covid-19.

The Oyo State Co-ordinator of State Operation Co-coordinating Unit (SOCU), Youth Empowerment and Social Support Operation (YESSO), Mrs Olaide Lasisi who coordinated the distribution of the Rice Consignment ensure that they were in good condition and fit for human consumption.

The Executive Adviser to the governor Seyi Makinde on Agribusiness, Dr. Debo Akande appreciated the Federal Government and promised that the State would ensure the palliatives reach the most vulnerable in the society.

Also speaking, The Ekiti state Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Dr Bode Olaonipekun gave an assurance that the State has put in a place a standard that would ensure that those really in need are reached directly.

Ekiti states collected 1,800 Bags of rice each, while Ondo State received 600 Bags.

Nafiu Busari

Security

Operation Amotekun: The Pros and Cons

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Security agencies are created by the federal government to protect and defend the public against domestic threats.

They are also established to uphold and enforce the criminal laws of Nigeria and to provide criminal justice services to both federal and state law enforcement agencies. 

Despite the level of their efficiency, criminality still persists.

This perhaps could have prompted the establishment of different self-help security outfits among which is the “Operation Amotekun” by the Southwest Governors.

In this report, Rasheedah Makinde takes a look at the pros and cons of “Operation Amotekun”, which has generated reactions and counter-reactions.

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Rasheedah Makinde

Security

Insecurity: Community Policing is the Way Forward – IGP

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Inspector General of Police, IGP, Mr. Mohammed Adamu has reiterated the force efforts at reducing criminality through community policing.

Mr. Adamu stated this in Ibadan at the Southwest Geo-Political Zone Security Summit held in Ibadan.

The IGP who is the convener of the summit, stressed that the police had succeeded in using community policing to stabilise the public security, noting that fleets of patrol vans had been acquired and would be deployed across highways and cities in the country.

Contributing, Lagos State governor who spoke through the Deputy Governor, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat and his counterpart from Ogun state, Mr. Dapo Abiodun in a message from deputy governor, Mrs. Noimot Salako-Oyedele called for the deployment of massive technology to tackle insecurity.

Earlier, in a welcome address, Oyo state governor, Engineer Seyi Makinde noted that South-West governors were committed to safety and security in the region and Nigeria at large.

Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Soliu Adetunji who spoke through High Chief Lekan Balogun expressed the determination of traditional rulers to partner security agencies and to achieve a crime free society.

Iyabo Adebisi