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THE NATION WEDNESDAY APRIL 17, 2013
NEWS FUNMILAYO OLAYINKA (1960-2013)
Osun inaugurates 50 waste disposal trucks
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HE Osun State Government yesterday inaugurated 50 waste disposal trucks under its environmental sanitation initiative tagged, O’Clean Plus. To sensitise the public on the importance of proper waste disposal, the trucks were driven round major roads in Osogbo, the state capital, and later to the Centre for Black Culture and International Understanding, the venue of the inauguration. The O’Clean Plus scheme is aimed at maintaining a clean and healthy environment in the state. Governor Rauf Aregbsola said the successes recorded with the scheme between 2011 and now informed its re-invigoration. He said: “Between 2011 and now, incidents of malaria and other diseases have reduced drastically. Our assessment has helped us to measure whether our various projects and their implementation are meeting the set targets and if they have made the desired impact. “These have given us the opportunity to determine whether to stop the projects, rework them, keep them on course or take them to the next stage. We have reached that point with O’Clean and we have decided to scale it up to O’Clean-Plus. Our development plan is all-encompassing. Part of its health and environment component is the O’Clean. Personal cleanliness and cleanliness of one’s surroundings cut across the environment and health sec-
From Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo
tors. “In fact, they bring into sharp focus the close and inseparable relationship between health and the environment. Any consideration of human health that does not view man in the light of his environment cannot be an adequate perspective on healthy living.” Aregbesola said when he assumed office, his administration was confronted with the enormous challenge of waste disposal, as the people were used to dumping refuse indiscriminately. The governor said: “This to us posed immediate danger to the well-being of our people and the environment. We moved quickly to declare a 90-day state-of-emergency in environmental sanitation and we subsequently came up with the O’Clean programme.” Wife of the Lagos State Governor, Dame Abimbola Fashola, represented by Mrs. O. Olusoga, urged residents to take care of the environment to forestall epidemics. House of Assembly Speaker Najeem Salaam said the governor is “performing” and urged him not to be distracted by the criticisms of disgruntled politicians. Also at the event were the Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole; his Chief of Staff Mr. Patrick Obahiagbon; Senator Oluremi Tinubu; a representative of Osun State Deputy Governor; and Aregbesola’s wife, Sherifat.
Former Kwara State Governors Sha’aba Lafiaji (left) and Bukola Saraki (middle) during their condolence visit to Fayemi...on Monday.
The Executive Director of the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF), Alhaji Tayo Shitu (left) and Okauru (middle) during their visit to Fayemi...yesterday.
PDP gets Southwest reconciliation committee From Tayo Johnson, Ibadan
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HE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has inaugurated a six-man committee to reconcile aggrieved members in Southwest. The members are Alhaji Yekini Adeojo, Mr. Olusola Oludipe, Chief Francis Fadaunsi, Otunba Banji Obasanmi, Dr. Abayomi Finnih, Mr. Lanre Orimoloye, Chief Mobolaji Osomo, Mr. Olawumi Osinfoluke-Euba, Amb. Toye Olofintuyi, Mr. Deji Doherty, Chief Adegbenro and Alhaji Rasak Adekola.
The Managing Director, Centrespread FCB, Kola Ayanwale (left) and Senator Ganiu Solomon (Lagos West) during a condolence visit to the late Olayinka’s husband (middle) in Lagos...at the weekend.
Ajimobi in Texas to sign MoU on Oyo Varsity
Fayemi: my deputy was critical to Ekiti’s security
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HE Oyo State Government will today sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Texas State University, United States (US), on a partnership with the Technical University, Ibadan. Governpr Abiola Ajimobi will sign the MoU in Texas and tour the Texas State University campus. Texas State University, according to the MoU, would train students of the Oyo State Technical University in Texas for two years. Tomorrow, Ajimobi will meet with the Chamber of Commerce in Houston. On Friday, he will meet with the Secretary of the State of Texas in Austin, the state capital. Those on the governor’s entourage include the Chairman, Implementation Committee of the Technical University and former Head of Service of the Federation, Prof. Oladapo Afolabi; Commissioner for Education Mrs. Tokunbo Fayokun; her Finance counterpart Zaccheus Adelabu and two members of the House of Assembly, including the Chairman of the House Committee on Education, Mr. Segun Ajanaku. The governor is expected back on Sunday.
Ondo ACN mourns chairman’s wife From Damisi Ojo, Akure
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HE Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in Ondo State yesterday condoled with its Chairman, Chief Sola Adesoji, on the death of his wife, Mrs. Victoria Adesoji. She died on Sunday at Ile Oluji. She was 74. In a statement by its spokesman, Mr. Rotimi Agbede, ACN said: “The deceased was a pillar of support to her husband, no wonder the couple made a great success of their marriage.” The party urged the family to take solace in the deceased’s achievements.
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KITI State Governor Kayode Fayemi yesterday said his late Deputy Governor, Mrs. Funmilayo Olayinka, played an active role in ensuring security. He said she had a good relationship with security agencies. Fayemi spoke at the Government House in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, when the Assistant Inspector-General (AIG) of Police, Zone 8, Mr. Chris Dega, and representatives of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), led by its Director-General, Mr. Asishana Okauru, visited him. The governor said he was very lucky to have had a deputy like the late Mrs. Olayinka, who was “very passionate about the transformation of the state”. He said though the late Mrs. Olayinka was not a professional politician, she came into politics with a commitment that was unparalleled. Fayemi said her loyalty was doubtless, adding that she gave no room for distraction. He said though his late
Olayinka to be buried in Ado-Ekiti
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HE remains of the late Ekiti State Deputy Governor, Mrs. Funmilayo Olayinka, will be buried in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, on April 26. The late Mrs. Olayinka is an indigene of AdoEkiti. The deputy governor died of cancer on April 6 at St. Nicholas Hospital, Lagos. She was 52. The Commissioner for Information and Civic Orientation, Mr. Tayo Ekundayo, told reporters yesterday that the week-long funeral activities will begin on Monday with a service of songs at De-Haven in Lagos. The commissioner said the decision to bury Mrs. Olayinka in Ado-Ekiti was “reached after a series of meetings with various stakeholders From Sulaiman Salawudeen, Ado-Ekiti
deputy’s life was short, it was eventful and full of service to the people. Fayemi said the government would provide patrol vehicles and communication gadgets for the Ekiti Police Command to tighten security. He lamented the shortage of policemen in the state and urged the police leadership to post more men to Ekiti.
From Sulaiman Salawudeen, Ado-Ekiti
in the matter”. He said the stakeholders include the Ewi of Ado-Ekiti, Oba Adeyemo Adejugbe; the Ewiin-Council and the deceased’s family. Activities lined up for the funeral include a parliamentary session, an executive session, a candle-light procession, a service of songs, a commendation service and a vigil, among others. Ekundayo said: “There is a committee in place to organise her funeral. It will decide where the deputy governor’s remains would be interred in the state capital.”
The governor said: “The big issue I have always raised is the way and manner officers and men transferred to Ekiti manage to get themselves out of the state, leading to a shortage of the men. “If you look at your record, you will notice that Ekiti is fewer men and officers than it should have.” He said though the police are doing well in the state, the shortage has created some gaps which need to be filled.
Fayemi said security agencies so need to pay adequate attention to Ekiti State, since it is the gateway from the North to the Southwest. Others who visited the governor are the Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University, OyeEkiti, Prof. Isaac Asuzu; the institution’s Registrar, Mr. Daniel Adeyem and the Council of Traditional Rulers in Oye Local Government, led by the Oloye of Oye-Ekiti, Oba Ademola Ademolaju.