OGBOMOSO INFO

By Femi Ojo Some days ago, I was discussing Oyo North Senatorial District politics with a dear brother, who always gives me objective analysis of how Ogbomoso politicians stand in 2023 general elections. I told him that Oyo North Senatorial contest is one that will be most interesting with the current development in the politics of that axis. It’s no news that there is a renewed agitation by Oke-Ogun axis for equity and fairness and Hon. Shina Peller is one of the vanguards for this. He recently, cross-carpeted to Accord Party( one of the political parties gaining political currency in Oyo State with retinue of aggrieved politicians; majority of whom were formerly APC members). Shina Peller’s grouse was that the primary election that produced Baf Buhari was manipulated and was against the democratic tendencies which APC claimed it championed. No long story, Shina Peller has been welcomed to Accord. I ordered further and told my friend, besides that, within his home(Ogbomoso) there is a...

  Wale Akorede A veteran actor, Wale Akorede popularly known as Okunnu, has lamented the state of the nation. The Ogbomoso-born actor, who started acting in 1984, lampooned Nigerian leaders over the nation’s state in an early Monday morning Instagram post. Okunnu not only rained generational curses on Nigerian leaders who have contributed to the worsening state of the nation, but he also asked several open-ended questions. In a video shared on his Instagram page, Okunnu wondered when Nigerians would start enjoying a good life. A post shared by Wale Akorede Okunnu (@okunnu_1) The actor expressed his anger and frustration, saying, ”Nigeria is alarming. Whether a man, woman, child, an elderly person who has a hand in making the nation what it is today, their lives will also be affected from generation to generation.” “All those who contributed to making Nigeria as bad as it is today, their lives will also be bad from generation to generation. The veteran actor, best known for his comi...

    The National Population Commission (NPC) in Oyo State, has started training field personnel for the trial census in the state. According to a statement released by the Public Affairs Officer of NPC, Mrs. Priscillia Sawe, the training is in continuation of preparations for the conduct of the 2023 Population and Housing Census in the state. She said: “The National Population Commission has commenced State Level Training Workshop for field personnel to be engaged for the trial census from Monday, June 27 to Friday, July 8. “The 12-day training, which is taking place at the ITD Coding Room, NPC State Office in Ibadan, is to equip field functionaries with the required skills to effectively and efficiently deliver of the exercise. “Facilitators, supervisors and enumerators drawn mainly from communities within the selected areas have been carefully selected for the trial census through an online recruitment process”, she stated. The NPC spokesperson said the trial census would be...

                Justice Olukayode Ariwoola Oyo State Governor, ‘Seyi Makinde, has congratulated Honourable Justice Olukayode Ariwoola on his elevation and swearing-in as the Acting Chief Justice of Nigeria by President Muhammadu Buhari. Governor Makinde described Iseyin-born Ariwoola’s elevation as Acting CJN as a deserving development and reward for diligence, patriotism and service to the nation. A statement by the Special Assistant (Print Media) to the governor, Moses Alao, quoted Governor Makinde as saying that he has no doubt that the jurist would restore the glory of Apex Court and the judiciary. “I congratulate a noble son of Oyo State, His Lordship, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, on his elevation and swearing-in as Chief Justice of Nigeria, in acting capacity. “This elevation comes as a deserving development, a well-deserved promotion that comes after decades of hard work, diligence, patriotism and forthrightness in the judiciary. “I have no ...

                    CP Adebowale Williams The Oyo state newly appointed police commissioner, CP Adebowale Williams, has provided some crucial security advice in an effort to enhance and maintain the safety of Oyo residents’ lives and property. According to a statement by the force PPRO in the state; Adewale Osifeso, the commissioner stated that; “To guarantee you’re safe, remember that everyone has a role to play in security and that law enforcement personnel are not the only ones.” The comptroller listed the following security rips as key to forestall crimes’ 01. Avoid “TELL IT ALL” Car stickers, especially if it says a lot about your workplace, its location and other contacts. 02. Ensure to have a valid means of Identification at all times. 03. Avoid brandishing your priced possessions such as phones, jewelries, monies in public, you don’t know who is watching. 04. Make it an habit of shredding bank notifications generated from Point o...

  Oyo State Governor, ‘Seyi Makinde, on Thursday, declared that his administration will continue to maintain the religious harmony and peaceful co-existence in the state despite the religious diversity in the state. The governor, while receiving the members of Nigeria Inter- religious Council (NIREC), led by the Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, and the President, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), His Eminence, Rev. Dr. Supo Ayokunle, at the Executive Council Chambers, Governor’s Office, Secretariat, Ibadan, said that Oyo State has remained peaceful, despite its diversity.   He appreciated NIREC for taking their quarterly meeting to the State in honour of the President of CAN, Rev. Ayokunle. A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, quoted the governor as saying that the meeting was coming at the right time, particularly as the general election is knocking on the door. He said: “What you stand for is what Nig...

  The Oyo State House of Assembly Thursday approved the request of the State Government to access additional N2bn loan facility from the Fidelity Bank Plc at a concessional interest rate of 12percent p.a and a repayment period of 12months. The facility is required to provide and finance counterpart fund for Donor Assisted Projects across the State. The Speaker, Hon Adebo Ogundoyin had sequel to the approval read a letter from the Executive Council requesting the nod of the State lawmakers to access the additional N2bn loan facility. Hon Ogundoyin noted that it was imperative and expedient for the Oyo State Government to fulfil its own part of the project agreement so as to ensure speedy completion of the projects. The letter read in part ” In a bid to further compliment the State Government’s efforts on the provision of critical and iconic infrastructure and very laudable projects across Oyo State , the Executive Council is seeking the approval of the State House of Assembly to acc...

           Mr. Adebowale Williams  Mr. Adebowale Williams has assumed duty as the 44th commissioner of police in Oyo state. Williams took over from Mrs Ngozi Onadeko who was recently promoted as assistant inspector General of Police in charge of police armament. Mr Williams was Area Commander Kontagora, Niger State, an active member of the IGP Special Investigation Unit, Staff Officer Federal Operations, Director Professional Studies Police Staff College Jos and CP FCID Annex, Gombe. He hails from Akure North LGA, Ondo State and was enlisted into the Nigeria Police Force on 18th of May 1992. He holds a B.sc in Political Science, M.sc in Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution and an LLB in Law. As a thoroughbred professional he has record 30 years stellar working experience spanning across administration, intelligence, operations and Public Relations. He commenced his job in the Nigeria Police Force after his Commissioning in 1993 at Enugu State Police C...

  Against the backdrop of public outcry, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has agreed to extend the ongoing Continuous Voters’ Registration (CVR) exercise by 60 days. Earlier, the House of Representatives had last Wednesday urged INEC to extend the deadline for the continuous voter registration by an extra 60 days from June 30, 2022, to enable more Nigerians to register. The Commission on Tuesday, assured Nigerians that the commission will comply with the court order to extend the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration to June 30. The exercise, which was meant to end in June 2022 was greeted by calls to extend the CVR exercise. Generally, there has been an increase in the number of people flooding various voters’ registration centres across the country. The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja had stopped the electoral body from ending the exercise until all eligible voters had been registered. But, on Wednesday, the Chairman of the House of Representatives Committ...

                Rev Dr Ijaola Adelokoji The Director of Publications of Nigerian Baptist Convention, Rev Dr Adelokoji Ijaola is dead. He died on Saturday at the age of 50, after a brief illness. The President of Nigerian Baptist Convention, Rev Dr Isreal Akanji, while announcing the demise of the clergy man said “The Nigerian Baptist Convention is deeply saddened to inform the entire Baptist family, within and outside the country of the sudden, shocking and most unexpected passing away to glory of our brother, friend, colleague and God’s general, the indefatigable Director of Publication, Rev Dr Adelokoji Ijaola, which occurred on Saturday, June 18, 2022, after a brief illness. The enormous services of this illustrious and industrious servant of God have in no small way contributed to the growth of the Nigerian Baptist Convention. “Surely, Adelokoji will be missed by us all and only our Almighty God, who is our origin and destination shall comfort...

  INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu The Federal High Court in Abuja has stopped the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from ending voter registration on June 30, 2022. Justice Mobolaji Olajuwon (Court 10) on Monday granted an order of interim injunction following the hearing of an argument on motion exparte by Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project. SERAP and 185 concerned Nigerians had early this month filed the lawsuit against INEC asking the court to “declare unconstitutional, illegal, and incompatible with international standards the failure of the electoral body to extend the deadline for voter registration to allow eligible Nigerians to exercise their rights.” In the suit, SERAP had asked the court for “an order restraining INEC, its agents, privies, assigns, or any other person(s) claiming through it from discontinuing the continuous voters’ registration exercise from the 30th June 2022 or any other date pending the hearing and determination of ...

                      Tinubu, Atiku, and Obi By Festus Adedayo   Separating the Nigerian from politics and religion is almost like trying to forcefully pull off a strand of hair from the person’s body. It is akin to making efforts to yank Siamese twins apart. The Yoruba social worldview also offers an explanation of this difficulty. At a bandstand gig for Alhaji Danjuma, a Kano-born wealthy entrepreneur in the 1970s, who was owner of the defunct Agege Cinema and known in the Lagos social circuit as Yaro Maikudi, the late Apala music exponent, Ayinla Omowura, explained why he showered panegyrics on fans who decorated his forehead with crisp naira notes. For Ayinla, spenders who forcefully retrieve themselves from this adhesive wedge relationship between money and its spender deserve appreciation. “Irun’mu l’owo o, ko sai han s’anybody pe ko ma se fa tu, eni na mi l’owo, ma s’aponle won,” he had explained. Politics and relig...

                          Engr. Rauf Olaniyan The Oyo State House of Assembly, on Wednesday, began the process of impeaching the deputy governor of the state, Engr. Rauf Olaniyan. This followed the reading of a 5-point petition and notice of allegation against the deputy governor at Wednesday’s plenary presided over by the Speaker of the Assembly, Honourable Adebo Ogundoyin. Allegations raised against the deputy governor are gross misconduct, abuse of abuse, financial recklessness, abandonment of office/official duty, insubordination and other offences. The petition addressed to the Speaker of the Assembly was signed by 24 lawmakers. The Speaker subsequently directed the Clerk of the House, Mrs Yetunde Awe to write the deputy governor mandating him to respond to the allegations within seven days. The process of impeachment is a sequel to the recent defection of the state deputy governor from the Peoples Democratic Party (P...

  The Anglican Bishop Rt Rev Aderogba Adeyinka of Jebba Anglican Diocese, Kwara State, his wife and a driver who were abducted on Sunday have regained their freedom. The Oyo State Police Public Relations Officer, Adewale Osifeso, confirmed this in a statement on Tuesday. “The Massive deployment of Police personnel for the operation to rescue the victims and the domination of the entire area by the Police Tactical teams pressurized the abductors into freeing the victims,” the statement read, adding that the victims were released unhurt at about 18:20 pm on Tuesday. The Bishop, his wife and the driver were abducted on Sunday along the new Oyo/Ogbomoso Expressway in Oyo State. Following the abduction, Osifeso said preliminary investigations revealed that before the incident, the victims’ vehicle had developed what seemed like a mechanical fault while traveling from Yewa in Ogun State to Jebba in Kwara. Subsequently, the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations of the Comm...

  The rate of electricity supply in Ogbomoso is averagely good. This is commendable. Consequently, encomium ought to be rained on the management of Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) to ginger their good works; to encourage them and to foster further improvement, though electricity supply is not that good in some areas. However, for about four months now, the residents of Paafa area, Aroje road, Ogbomoso, Oyo State, have been suffering from the pang of no electricity supply. Investigations revealed that one cable has been stolen from the transformer supplying power for the area. What triggered me to write this is the lackadaisical attitude of the IBEDC officials towards it. They are not sensitivite to the plight of the customers, at all. This is unimaginable. The importance of electricity in the socio-economic development of the Ogbomoso, the land of the valiant, can’t, at all, be underestimated. There workshops of welders, barbers, fashion designers, among other resid...

  The government of Oyo State has declared a three-day mourning period in honour of the victims of terrorist attack at the St. Francis Catholic Church, Owo, Ondo State. The decision, according to a statement by the Secretary to the State Government, Mrs. Olubamiwo Adeosun, was in compliance with the communique issued at the end of a virtual meeting of the Governors of the South-West States held on June 10, 2022. According to the statement, the state governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde, has approved that flags fly at half mast from Monday June 13, 2022 to Wednesday, June 15, in honour of the slain victims of the Owo Catholic Church attack. The statement read in part: “The government of Oyo State hereby announces a three-day mourning period in honour of the victims of the Owo Catholic Church massacre. “Flags are to be flown at half mast between Monday June 13 and Wednesday June 15 at all public buildings and offices.” The statement further quoted the communique signed by Governors Rotimi Ak...

Oyo Police Command has confirmed the abduction of the Bishop of Jebba Diocese (Anglican Communion) Kwara State, Rt. Rev Aderogba Adeyinka Oluwaseun, his wife, Oreofe, and driver. They were abducted on Sunday around 8:30 pm at an isolated area along New Oyo/Ogbomoso Expressway. Oyo Police spokesperson, SP Adewale Osifeso, said the report of the abduction was lodged by Rev Adekunle Adeluwa at the Atiba Divisional Police headquarters, Oyo. Osifeso however said the Command has initiated an intensive manhunt for their abductors.  The Police spokesperson in a statement said preliminary investigations revealed that the victim’s vehicle developed what seemed a mechanical fault while traveling from Yewa, Ogun State to Jebba, Kwara State en route to an isolated area along New Oyo/Ogbomoso Expressway. It was gathered the suspected abductors could have taken advantage of the issue with the vehicle to carry out the nefarious activity. A source hinted the abductors have demanded a ransom of N50m...

  By Festus Adedayo After last week’s national convention of the All Progressives Congress (APC), President Muhammadu Buhari wrote, profusely thanking the governor of Kebbi state, Abubakar Bagudu, for his yeoman role in the convention’s success. Buhari’s letter commended Bagudu for the “extraordinary role” he played in ensuring the successful conduct of the convention. Bagudu is the chairman of the Progressives Governors’ Forum and in this role, conducted the recent national convention that ensured the victory of a man who was the “son” and protégé of the winner of the June 12, 1993 election annulled by General Ibrahim Babangida and whose pallbearer was General Sani Abacha. This man, who later became the Kebbi state governor, was reported to be Abacha’s bagman, serially enfolded into the narrative of the siphon of billions of dollars from Nigeria in the 1990s. In his book, ‘Arrows of God’, Chinua Achebe said that we often stand in the compound of a coward to point at the ruins wher...

  The Executive Governor of Oyo State, Engr. Seyi Makinde  has announced Bayo Lawal as his running mate ahead of the 2023 elections. Makinde made this announcement on Tuesday. The governor reportedly made the announcement during a meeting with some Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leaders from the Oke Ogun zone. Some of the PDP leaders who were at the meeting according to sources are former PDP Chairman in the state, Kunmi Mustapha, his successor, Dayo Ogungbenro and Senator Hosea Agboola. This announcement comes a day after the deputy governor of the state, Rauf Olaniyan joined the All Progressives Congress.

          Gov. Akeredolu and his wife, Betty Oyo State Governor, ‘Seyi Makinde, has described the attack on worshippers at St. Francis Catholic Church, Owo, Ondo State, which left scores dead, as barbaric and condemnable. The governor expressed condolences to the governor of Ondo State and chairman of the South-West Governors’ Forum as well as the families of the victims. A statement by the Special Assistant (Print Media), Moses Alao, indicated that governor, called on security agencies to bring the perpetrators of the heinous crime to book. He said: “My deepest condolences to my brother, His Excellency Rotimi Akeredolu, the people of Owo, families of the victims and Ondo State on the dastardly attack on worshippers at St Francis Catholic Church, Owo today. “May the souls of the victims rest in peace. “This unprovoked and barbaric attack is condemnable in its entirety. I urge the security agencies to ensure that the perpetrators are found and brought to book.”

  By Festus Adedayo  The war of the First Republic had reached a feverish height. Those it consumed were wheeled to the sepulchre by the day. Blood of political party faithful painted the sky crimson. According to Femi Kehinde, a former member of the house of representatives and biographer of the last premier of the Western Region, Chief Samuel Ladoke Akintola, in the book, ‘S.L. Akintola In The Eyes of History’, (2017), Akintola knew that his standing up to the octopodal political machine in the Action Group was akin to suicide. Death bestrode the firmament like an ominous cloud. The premier could see it. He however felt that he had long crossed the Rubicon to bother about death as a karmic comeuppance of his action. In the words of the biographer, as the twilight of his life approached, with a fusillade of missiles from both parties spurting out scary, gold-coloured fire, Akintola’s hands became shaky, so much that he couldn’t append his signature to documents on a straight ...

                          Engr. Rauf Olaniyan The Deputy Governor of Oyo State, Engineer Rauf Olaniyan has resigned his membership in the People’s Democratic Party, PDP. He announced his defection from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in his private office, Ojoo, Ibadan on Sunday in a chat with journalists. Olaniyan noted that he will be joining the All Progressives Congress, APC in Oyo State. He added that despite his defection, he remains the Deputy Governor of the state as his defection does not affect the relationship between him and the Governor.