THE NATION WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 1, 2012
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NEWS N600m for Ekiti emergency service overhaul •Workers’ exam holds today • Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola (SAN) (middle) welcoming the Consul-General, Embassy of the Republic of Korea, Mr Pilcheen Park, to the inauguration of Samsung Engineering Academy in Lagos...yesterday. With them are Managing Director, Samsung Electronics (West Africa), Mr Nicholas Shin (second left) and Lagos State Commissioner for Education, Mrs Olayinka Oladunjoye.
10 groups join forces for Akeredolu’s victory
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EN Yoruba groups in the North and Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), have teamed up for the victory of Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) candidate in the October 20 election in Ondo State, Mr. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN). The groups are: the Yoruba Awareness Forum (YAF), Ikale Political Network (IPN), Ile-Oluji Solidarity Forum (ISF), Idanre Youths for Positive Change (IYPC). Others are: the Coalition of Oka-Akoko Progressives (COAP), Ondo State Students for Good Governance (OSSGG), Ekimogun Political Alliance (EPA), Association of Concerned Transport Workers of Ondo State (ACTWOS) and Ilaje Progressive Association (IPA). Addressing reporters yes-
From Damisi Ojo, Akure
terday in Akure, the state capital, the Secretary-General of Yoruba Alliance for Aketi (YAA), Mr. Olusegun Folorunsho, said the groups have resolved to work together to ensure that Akeredolu becomes the governor. Other officers of the group are: Chief Babasola Familusi (President); Gbenga Ogundare (Coordinator); Adewole Meroyi (Vice-President); Chief Arowolo Adesanya (Treasurer) and Bidemi Akorede (Publicity Secretary), among others. The group hailed ACN National Leader Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, for his political strength, particularly in Yorubaland. It noted that Tinubu’s political prowess is akin to that of late sage, Chief Obafemi
Awolowo. The group praised Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola, who is also the Grand Patron of the Alliance for Aketi, for his contribution to the growth of ACN in Ondo State. Its president, Chief Babasola Familusi, noted that Akeredolu was chosen because of his commitment to progressive ideas. He described ACN as a party of Yoruba at home and in the Diaspora. Familusi said the party’s achievements in Lagos, Edo, Ekiti, Osun and Oyo states must be replicated in Ondo State, the only oil producing state in the Southwest. The group’s president criticised Chief Olu Falae, whose son is a member of the ruling Labour Party (LP) administration in Ondo State, for comparing Governor Olusegun Mimiko with the late
Awolowo. He said: “What is the rationale behind the comparison, when it is on record that Awolowo kept religiously to his words that he would not challenge the 1983 election at the tribunal? “This is unlike Mimiko, who earlier said a single term was enough for a governor in the state, but now seeks a second term.” The group’s Secretary-General, Segun Folurunso, who is the publisher of Abuja Nationwide Express, berated Dr. Olu Agunloye for defecting to the LP. He said: “Agunloye’s action is inconsequential though with a moral burden…” Folorunso said the group would begin massive consultations to convince the residents on the need to vote for Akeredolu to become the next governor.
Ondo ex-militants ask Navy to vacate base
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ORMER militants in Ondo State have given the Nigerian Navy two weeks to vacate their base in Igbokoda, Ilaje Local Government Area, following the alleged killing of six of their members last Sunday by the Navy. They spoke through their leaders, Dele Olaoluwa and Victor Semore, who are relatives of the deceased, Afro Medoye and Sina Ogono (aka Rambo). The former militants described the action of the Navy as barbaric and inhuman. They urged President
•Condemn killing of members Goodluck Jonathan to order the transfer of Naval officers in the area. Olaoluwa said: “We hereby give all naval officers operating in Igbokoda two weeks to vacate the area, or there will be a crisis.” Six former militants were allegedly shot dead by naval officers attached to the area when they wanted to enter the naval operational base, where an empowerment programme, organised by a House of Representatives member, Raphael
‘We hereby give all naval officers operating in Igbokoda two weeks to vacate the area, or there will be a crisis’ Nomiye, was to take place. It was learnt that an argument ensued between the
former militants and some naval officers, who opened fire. But police spokesman Adeniran Aremu said there is no need for the former militants to take the action. He said the command would resolve the face-off. Aremu said: “We have embarked on a process to solve the problem. We have begun community policing. Besides, we have made consultations with community leaders, traditional rulers and other stakeholders to ensure that the problem is resolved once and for all.”
Ekiti teachers on rural posting may get special allowance EACHERS posted to rural areas in Ekiti State may get a special allowance, the chairman of the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Prof. Modupe Adelabu, has said. He told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) yesterday that the government’s resolve to pay special allow-
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ance to rural teachers was borne out of the need to appreciate the peculiarities associated with rural setting. She noted that though public service posting is a routine exercise, there is need to compensate teachers posted to rural areas because of the effect on dependants. Prof Adelabu said con-
trary to the impression in some quarters, the state government is teacher-friendly and ready to uplift the profession. She said 1,953 primary school teachers have been promoted, promising that others due for promotion would be accommodated in the next phase. The academic said the
government has designed a programme in which dilapidated structures in the state’s public schools would be rehabilitated in the next seven weeks. She urged teaching and non-teaching staff in public schools to embrace the education policies of government by shunning indolence and being dedicated to duty.
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HE Ekiti State Government has approved N600 million to revamp the state emergency services. The Commissioner for Special Duties, Dr. Wole Olugboji, said the money would be spent on fire service equipment, medical emergency and allied equipment, the refurbishing of fire stations and training of personnel. Addressing reporters yesterday in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, Olugboji said Ekiti State could only boast two functioning fire service stations. The commissioner added that the state does not have standard ambulances. He said: “This means the state will be incapacitated in responding to emergencies as quickly and competently as should be expected. “The government will overhaul emergency services in the 16 local governments, including medical emergencies, which will involve a whole lot of changes. “The changes will include bringing the fire station in Ado-Ekiti and Ikere-Ekiti to acceptable standards and building additional five or
By Sulaiman Salawudeen, Ado-Ekiti
six across strategic zones of the state. “Part of the efforts to bring that crucial state department to standard is the planned Bill on the Establishment of Ekiti State Safety Commission and the first ever Safety and Security Summit to be held later in the year. “It is also planned that the efforts on investment in the emergency services department will be consistent so that by the end of 2014, all the 16 local governments will have fully functional fire services stations.” A written examination for candidates intending to join the state emergency services will hold today at Ikere-Ekiti College of Education. Olugboji said the examination would hold at the premises of the college, adding that it is a written examination. He said: “A hundred and fifty intellectually sound and physically competent individuals will be recruited through the process, which would enhance the planned overhaul of the emergency services department.”
Ex-Ondo LP senatorial aspirant, 1,000 others defect to ACN From Damisi Ojo, Akure
SENATORIAL aspirant of the ruling Labour Party (LP) in the 2011 National Assembly election in Ondo Central, Alhaji Gboyega Akindeko, yesterday defected to the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN). The party also received a popular politician in Idanre, Joseph Afolabi, and over 1,000 former LP members into its fold. Alhaji Akindeko, the son of a former minister in the defunct Western Region, Chief Akindeko, said he quit the LP because the Olusegun Mimiko administration did not impact on Idanre. He said the governor has reneged on his electoral promises, which made the people in the area to vote for him in the 2007 governorship poll. Akindeko alleged that Mimiko manipulated LP senatorial primary against him because the governor felt threatened by his popularity. The politician said although the Chief of Staff to the governor, Dr. Kola Ademujimi; the senator representing Ondo Central, Ayo Akinyelure, as well as the Commissioner for Information, hail from Idanre, the town has not witnessed any meaningful development since the LP government has been in power. He alleged that Ademujimi mortgaged the development of the town for his personal interest, adding that this is why the town is lagging behind in infrastructural development. The defectors promised to work for the victory of the ACN in their wards. The party’s chairman in Idanre Local Government, Chief Ade Alalabiaye, received the defectors. His state counterpart on Contact and Mobilisation, Mr. Ade Adetimehin, assured the defectors of equal treatment. They said ACN does not discriminate between new and old members.
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Amosun calls for prayers GUN State Governor Ibikunle Amosun has urged Muslim clerics and other religious leaders to continue to pray for peace in the state and the success of his administration. The governor spoke at the Government House in Abeokuta, the state capital, when he hosted the League of Imams and Alfas in the state to an Iftar (the breaking of fast) meeting. He assured that his administration’s development projects “are a foretaste of what to expect in the future across the state”. Amosun congratulated Muslims for witnessing another Ramadan. The governor thanked the clerics and other religious leaders for their prayers. A statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Communication, Mrs Funmi Wakama, said Amosun promised that his administration would fulfil its promises to the residents.
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