Ekiti Community rejects suspension of kingmakers, wants action reversed

The Agunsoye Ruling House of Imesi Ekiti community, in Gbonyin Local government area of Ekiti State, has rejected the suspension of kingmakers and replacement with warrant chiefs.

The state government had sacked the existing four kingmakers and replaced with warrant chiefs to perform the role of kingmakers in the process of filling the vacant stool of the Onimesi of Imesi-Ekiti.

The stool of Onimesi became vacant following the demise of oba Oladimeji Adeyeye in December 2018.

The ruling house expressed anger over the decision to appoint warrant chiefs against the traditional practice, describing it as an act of illegality and flagrant desecration of tradition.

It added that the ill-motivated action was a decoy by governments officials with vested interest to impose one Mr. Festus Olatunde as the new Onimesi of Imesi-Ekiti.

A statement in Ado Ekiti , on Wednesday by the Head of the ruling house, Prince Adu Fasunlade, said the brazen removal of the Kingmakers at a time three suits were pending in courts over the royal tussle contravened the rule of law.

Fasunlade appealed to the state House of Assembly to annul any action taken by the ‘politically’ appointed warrant chiefs, probe into the deployment of soldiers in the town and call political gladiators working to impose an unqualified person as Onimesi to order.

“The only reason why the kingmakers have not acted was that there are two lawsuits against them in different courts of competent jurisdictions in Ekiti State restraining them from any further actions on the Onimesi royal stool selection process until the determination of the existing suits.

“Therefore, it will become ludicrous and disrespectful to the rule of law, if the Kingmakers have acted otherwise. Inactivity of the Kingmakers was a respect for the rule of Law of the land.

“The suits; The Agunsoye Ruling House Vs. Imesi Kingmakers with Suit No. HOM/64/2019 and The Agunsoye Ruling House Vs. Ekiti State Government & Others with Suit No. HOM/121/2019 are still pending in courts . Therefore we do not expect any lawful body to act on issues that are before the courts of law”.

Fasunlade added that the ruling house had on May 13, 2020, filed the third suit at the State High Court, Omuo Ekiti divison against Olatunde from Idosere quarters of Imesi Ekiti to stop parading himself as a prince of Agunsoye Ruling House.

“However, to the total dismay and embarrassment of Imesi Ekiti community, five truck loads of Police men and two truckloads of soldiers were brought to Imesi on Thursday, May 14 in a gestapo style and show of force to intimidate our members .

” We are also appealing to the state government not to allow the political ambition of one individual in Imesi Ekiti our town to cause chaos and throw the Community Imesi into darkness. It is therefore imperative for us all to always remember that power is transient and as such, it should be used with lots of wisdom and humility”.

Fasunlade stated that the members of the ruling house remain resolute and owe that unwavering belief that only the courts have overriding powers to adjudicate on any contentious issue of this nature.

Man commits suicide in Lagos

An unidentified middle-aged man was in the early hours of Saturday found hanging from a tree on Catholic Mission Road, opposite the Court of Appeal in Lagos Island.

The man, clad in Ankara native attire, was found hanging on a rope which looked like a braided long scarf, tied to a fruit tree

Our correspondent who was at the scene of the suspected suicide, reports that the episode drew the attention of a mammoth crowd, who stood in groups chatting and wondering what could have pushed the man to hang himself.

Policemen at the scene of the incident confirmed the happening, but told NAN that they were not allowed to comment on the issue yet until proper investigation was carried out.

They said they would not loosen the noose around the man’s neck or search his pockets for identification purposes until doctors arrived to confirm him officially dead.

Some of the people, who had gathered at the scene, busied themselves taking pictures, but no one could identify the man hanging from the tree.

Mr Ige Adedoja, a resident of the area, who was at the scene of the incident, said that traditional rites needed to be performed before anyone could loosen the noose from the man’s neck.

He said that he met many people at the scene and that no-one but doctors could confirm the actual time of death.

The man was still hanging from the tree as at 9am, when this report was filed.

Kaduna residents wash streets shortly after Gov. El-Rufai’s visit

Angry residents of Birnin Gwari LGA in Kaduna State reportedly washed their roads with soap and water shortly after Governor Nasir El-Rufai paid them a visit.

It was gathered that the angry residents also burnt APC flags and brooms as sign of rejection. This was said to have happened on Wednesday January 9th, 2019.

Birnin Gwari LGA is badly affected by activities of bandits and kidnappers.

BCN, Google partner for free Abuja Wi-Fi

In a move to foster internet connection in Nigeria, Backbone Connectivity Network, in partnership with Google, has launched a free, high-speed and public Wi-Fi hotspot in Abuja.

The station launch was kickoff of Google’s intention to rollout free internet service in Northern Nigeria.

It was launched in three strategic parts of the FCT, including Wuse Market, Enab Plaza and Banex Plaza.

BCN owns and operates a network of over 2,000 km of fibre optic broadband cable having the largest broadband infrastructure in Abuja serving telecommunication operator’s (Telcos), Network Broadband Carriers, Internet Service Providers (ISP’s), business enterprises and retail households.

Its CEO Ibrahim Dikko emphasised the societal impact of the BCN-Google partnership to bring free Wi Fi to consumers.

He recalled how some young wheelbarrow pushers in Wuse market were excited to learn about free access to the internet on their devices.

He stated that BCN is working with Google to activate more sites in Abuja and the Northern Region in 2019.

According to him: “We strive to bridge access gaps by providing the requisite infrastructure, one that can yield the quality of service the customer desires and one that enhances Digital Inclusion.”

BCN was also selected by the Kaduna State government to build fiber metropolitan broadband communications networks in the three key economic zones of Kaduna, Zaria and Kafanchan respectively, including Northern Nigeria’s first Tier III Data and Co-location Center in Kaduna town.

Lufthansa Group appoints new GM Sales

Lufthansa Group has appointed Mrs. Adenike Macaulay General Manager Sales Nigeria & Equatorial Guinea.

She will be responsible for all the commercial and sales activities of the Lufthansa Group Airlines in Nigeria and Equatorial Guinea, being the first female and Nigerian to take this position.

Macaulay started her career at Lufthansa in 2009 as a business analyst for West Africa responsible for regional results analysis, market and ad-hoc reporting, competitor monitoring and sales planning.

In 2010, she took over leadership of the team as Regional Marketing Manager, directing marketing activities as well as business analysis, pricing and sales support across seven regions in West & Central Africa.

Five years later, Mrs. Macaulay assumed the position of Senior Manager, Customer, Products and Marketing for Sub-Sahara Africa, directing customer relations, product management and marketing activities across Sub-Sahara Africa.

In 2017, her position transitioned into Head Sales, Products and Programs, where she was responsible for the development and optimization of sales products, B2B incentive programs, sales promotions and sales service processes, across the Sub-Sahara Africa region.

She said: “I look forward to a co-operative relationship with our trade partners and continuing the good work of my predecessor in serving our esteemed passengers.”

In her new appointment, Mrs. Macaulay will be based in Lagos, succeeding Mr. Robin Sohdi, who held the position since January 2016.

Osinbajo presides over FEC

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo yesterday presided over brief Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting, which lasted about one hour thirty minutes.

The brief FEC started about 10.03am when the Vice president arrived at the Council Chamber, Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The opening Christian prayer was said by the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Okechukwu Enelemah. The Muslim prayer was offered by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mohammed Bello.

At the end of the meeting, the ministers and other cabinet members immediately proceeded to the National Assembly to accompany President Muhammadu Buhari for the presentation of the 2019 Appropriation Bill.

Before proceeding to the National Assembly, the Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed, said there would be no post-FEC media briefing.

Members force Yobe Speaker to resign

The Speaker Yobe State House of Assembly, Hon. Adamu Dala Dogo has dramatically relinquished his position as the Speaker of the State Assembly.

The Deputy Speaker of the House, Dr. Garba Kurmi who presided over the proceedings on Wednesday  read a letter sent in by Hon. Dala Dogo, informing that “Hon. Dogo resigned on personal reasons”.

A new Speaker, Hon. Zaana Ali Machina was unanimously elected.

The Nation however gathered that the Dogo’s resignation was to prevent his impeachment at plenary today.

A source disclosed that  Governor. Gaidam since Tuesday tried to intervene in the crisis bu the members refused to succumb to the Governors entreaties.

Maize farmers want FG to provide farming implements

Maize Growers, Processors and Marketers Association of Nigeria, Oyo state chapter has called on the Federal Government to make farming implements available for its members for optimal productivity.

Mr Israel Oluwagbemileke, the Chairman of the Association made the call in an interview with our reporters on Monday in Ibadan.

He said that the farmers needed farm implements such as tractors, seed planter, and harvester machine among others to enable them produce large quantity of maize.

He said that the lives of farmers and their household had not improved as expected because they could not transform farming into business due to lack of government’s support.

The chairman noted that the farmers maize production during the late harvesting season this year was not much difference from that of the previous year due to poor funding of the agricultural sector.

“Last year, we realized 4.6 metric tonnes per hectare while this year we realized 5.2 metric tonnes per hectare, the difference is small, we could have produced more if we had all equipment and funds needed.

“We have little improvement this year because we planted improved seed some of which are drought resistance and grew faster, also we had more rains this year than the previous year,” he said.

Oluwagbemileke appealed to government to make available grants and free interest loans to farmers to boost the production of maize and other crops in the country, saying this would also make farming attractive and lucrative.

“Let the government give grants to farmers, although they have been doing that but it gets to the wrong hands, let them ensure that the grant gets directly to the right farmers.

“The government should also provide little or no interest loan for farmers.

“Also let all farm equipment be subsidized by the government, if these challenges are addressed, I believe there will be increase in food production in the country.

“Our farmers are ready to produce food that will be enough for the country and even for export if we are adequately supported,” he said.

Oluwagbemileke however advised the farmers to always plant improved seeds with good agronomic practices while praying to God for increase.

He said that the farmers-herders crisis posed serious challenge to the farmers, adding that it had grossly affected production level and called on government to provide lasting solution to the clashes in the country.

NEMA receives 193 Nigerians from Libya

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has received another batch of 193 stranded Nigerians from Libya.

Mr Segun Afolayan, Acting Zonal Coordinator, NEMA, South West Zone, confirmed the development to the newsmen on Friday in Lagos.

Afolayan said the Nigerians arrived at the Cargo Wing of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos at 8.32 pm on Thursday aboard a chartered Nouvel Air aircraft with registration number UZ 189.

He said the returnees were assisted back home by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) under its Assisted Voluntary Return Programme.

Afolayan the returnees comprised 81 female adults, one female child and 14 female infants.

He said they also included 87 male adults, five male children and five male infants.

Afolayan urged Nigerians to stop stigmatizing returnees who went outside the country in search of greener pastures.

“It is a right for everyone to live free and comfortable lives but the process or the means of seeking the fulfillment of the rights are the ones in contention.

“Many of these innocent victims are not aware of the dangers on the means and the routes of the journey. They fall easily to the deceitful and deceptive promises of  better life outside the country.

“Nigerians need to accept the challenges of the menace of irregular migration as evil and inhuman and all hands must be on deck to save our innocent youths from embarking on such perilous journeys henceforth,” he said.

Afolayan advised the returnees to remain positive and undaunted by their unfortunate experiences in the volatile North African country, adding that they should be focused on how to improve their lives in Nigeria.

According to him, the Federal Government, IOM and the European Union have been providing opportunities for the returnees through various skills acquisition programmes.

Afolayan, therefore, appealed to the private sector to assist the government in the reintegration of the returnees to make them more productive

SARS operative’s bullet did not ‘penetrate’ because i’m fortified, vigilante tells reform panel

A 50-year-old vigilante, Agbodemu Ishola, on Wednesday told the Presidential Panel on Special Anti-robbery Squad (SARS) Reform that some members of SARS directly shot at him.
The complainant made the allegation at a public hearing on alleged human rights violation by SARS.
He, however, said that the bullet did not penetrate his body because he was ‘fortified’ by his father.
The weeklong public hearing began at the Ikeja High Court on Tuesday.
It is chaired by the Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Mr Tony Ojukwu.
The complainant, who resides at No. 1 Jones St., Apapa Road, Ebute Meta in Lagos, also accused SARS of unlawful arrests and detention, extortion as well as cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment.
“On March 3, 2017, at 5.00 p. m., I heard a gunshot and saw people running helter skelter. I saw men with guns on mufti, they came with a van without number plate.
“I got out and saw that the men had raided some of the residents. I tried to approach them with my Vigilance Identity Card but was shot by the men.
“The gunshot did not penetrate into my body because I was fortified by my father.
“I am a native of Osun, no gun shot can penetrate into my body, ” he told the panel.
The complainant said that the SARS members removed their mufti when they were about to leave.
”And I saw SARS logo on them,” he said.
He added that said he was unlawfully detained and tortured by SARS, and is currently receiving medical attention at Lagos State Teaching Hospital.
The defence counsel, Mr S. Idachaba, objected to the claims of the complainant, saying that there was no case of gunshot in the medical report presented by him.
After 15 minutes break, the chairman of the panel ruled that the case be put on hold in order to give room for more evidence.
The public hearing will continue on Thursday.
The panel include Mr Tijani Muhammed (Representative of Police Service Commission), David Shagba (Public Complaints Commission), Rtd Hashimu Argungu, Mrs Iyabode Ogunseye (Nigeria Bar Association), Chino Obiagwu (SAN – (Civil Society), Abdulraham Yakubu (NHRC) and Prof. Mauazu Abubakar, (University of Maiduguri).
The panel has received 36 complaints in South West Zone in the public hearing on alleged human rights violation by SARS.

SARS

Fayemi laments poor management of Ikogosi Warm Springs Resorts

Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi has decried the poor state of the Ikogosi Warm Spring Resorts, owing to deliberate abandonment of the facility by the immediate past administration.

Fayemi who visited the resort on Monday, as he commenced a week-long tour of project sites and infrastructure across the state, said the dilapidated state he met the resort could have been averted if government had shown a little consideration for tourism development and continuity of projects that have direct impact on the people.

Speaking with journalists after inspecting the Resort, Governor Fayemi expressed displeasure at the management of the tourist centre in the last four years despite the huge investment which his administration committed to the revival of the resort in 2013.

He said the immediate past administration did not care about the tourism centre which could have improved the revenue base of the State.

“You knew the state this place was at when I left in 2014 and the patronage it enjoyed from all and sundry from across the country. What I have met this morning is our heritage in ruin, it is our commonwealth in destruction, and it is unfortunate that we had a government that cared less whether this tourist attraction is left like this.

“This is not just an attraction; it is also a revenue earner for the state. The little I have seen, all this could have been avoided if this place had been properly managed. This was a first class place before we left, now everywhere is in shambles. Entities like this should not be left in the hands of government to manage”, Fayemi said.

The General Manager of the Resort, Mr. Gbenga Adewale, while conducting Fayemi round the tourist centre, cited government neglect for the situation.

Adewale informed the community has been without power supply for the past four years, adding that the Resort did not get any intervention fund from the immediate past administration for its running hence the dilapidated state of the facilities.

He disclosed that more than 20 rooms and the conference hall are currently inhabitable owing to different issues.

Fayemi who noted that the resort now hardly enjoys patronage because of its state of dilapidation assured that his administration would ensure that Ikogosi warm spring resort returns to its pride of place as a first class tourist attraction in Nigeria.

The governor equally disclosed that efforts were in top gear to resuscitate Gossy Water Bottling Company which is now off market. He stated this after inspecting facilities at the water bottling company located within the community.

He said: “Ekiti State may not be a very rich state, but the little money we have must be put to more profitable use. We shall ensure that this resort return to its position as a destination of choice for tourism. Efforts are also in top gear to resuscitate Spring Water Bottling Company.

“Aside making life more pleasurable for our people, these two entities also generate revenue for the state and also provide employment for our people. So, we must do something and fast too, to ensure we put them back to life”, the governor added.

The tour of project sites also saw Fayemi visit Ekiti State Technical College, Ado Ekiti which is currently being renovated in partnership with the World Bank.

Other project sites and infrastructure visited by the Governor include: the Ikogosi-Erijiyan road; Igbara Odo Water works; Igbara Odo- Ikere road; Ilawe –Ikere road; Public Works Department Ado Ekiti; Ureje Dam in Ado Ekiti and the Oba Adejuyigbe Hospital in Ado-Ekiti.

Others are: Agric Olope market, Federal Housing Estate; Fountain Hotel, State Teaching Hospital Ado Ekiti, Gully erosion at Crownbiz- Ilokun road, Jimoh Aliu road, Ekiti Parapo Pavilion and Adunni Olayinka Civic Centre.

L-R: Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi; former Vice Chancellor, Federal University, Otuoke, Prof Bolaji Aluko; and Director, Public Works office, Ado-Ekiti, Mrs Victoria Ajite; during the Governor’s tour of facilities at the office, in Ado-Ekiti.