THE NATION THURSDAY JANUARY 3, 2013
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NEWS YCE urges Boko Haram on dialogue From Bisi Oladele, Ibadan
HE Yoruba Council of Elders (YCE) has urged the Boko Haram sect and its sponsors to dialogue with the Federal Government. The group, in its New Year message, said the activities of the sect in the last three years have brought hardship on Nigerians. The statement was signed by the YCE’s National Treasurer, Dr. Dejo Raimi, on behalf of its President, Gen. Adeyinka Adebayo (rtd.). The group said: “In over three years of open rebellion against the state, Boko Haram has not achieved anything positive. Their activities have left behind sorrow, tears and blood, as many promising young men, women and elders have been sent to their untimely graves. “We want them to know that nothing shall be achieved by their mindless bloodletting. In all of human history, great wars that were fought were equally concluded, not on the battle field, but at the conference room. We urge the Boko-Haram sect to jettison violence and allow peace to reign in our country.”
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300 policemen for Oyo command
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HE Oyo State Police Command yesterday said it was expecting 300 newly-recruited officers this month. Speaking with reporters in Ibadan, the state capital, Police spokesman Mr. Ayodele Lanade said: “Criminals keep changing the way they operate and the police cannot afford to relax. In view of this, we are expecting about 300 newly-recruited officers, who will complete their training this month. This will boost our manpower.” Lanade said last year was challenging as regards crime fighting, but the command lived up to expectation. He said: “Everybody is a living witness that 2012,
compared with previous years in Oyo State, was a success in terms of security. The strategy of Commissioner of Police Joseph Mbu in changing the Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) and making their telephone numbers available for distress calls paid off. All the DPOs were put on their toes and they conscientiously ensured security in their divisions.” Lanade said the command would perform better this year. He said: “If you drive around the state, you will see that our Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs) are strategically stationed and this contributed to why the Yuletide was cool and calm in Oyo State.”
Oyo Speaker assures of growth
•Amosun (middle) and the celebrator’s son, Femi (left), assisting Akiyode to cut his birthday cake... yesterday.
Amosun celebrates centenarian
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GUN State Governor Ibikunle Amosun yesterday congratulated the Balogun of Egba Muslims, Alhaji Yoonus Akanbi Akiyode, on his 100th birthday. Congratulating the centenarian at his (Akiyode’s) home in Abeokuta, the state
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Mimiko advises workers on service
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NDO State Governor Olusegun Mimiko yesterday urged workers to be more committed to service delivery. Mimiko spoke at the Governor’s Office in Akure, the state capital, during a prayer session marking the first working day of the year. Deputy Governor Alli Olanusi, top government officials and civil servants were at the session. Mimiko thanked the workforce for supporting his administration and urged them to continue to do so. The Pastor-in-charge of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Ondo Province 1, Pastor Ri-
From Damisi Ojo, Akure
chard Adeboye, in his sermon, entitled “Divine Connection”, proclaimed peace for the state and urged residents to be determined and courageous.
manifests in your active participation in leading Islamic organisations, both in Ogun and Nigeria as a whole. You also excelled in the world of banking. I wish you good health and many more years of service to God and humanity.” Akiyode thanked the gov-
ernor Amosun for his presence and the “development projects of his administration”. The Chief Imam of Egbaland, Alhaji Liadi Orunsolu, said: “God is the giver of strength and long life; this is evident in the celebrant’s 100th year on earth.”
Aregbesola: 2013 is year of freedom
From Tayo Johnson, Ibadan
YO State House of Assembly Speaker Mrs. Monsurat Sunmonu has said the Assembly would work with the Executive to speed up development. Mrs. Sunmonu spoke at Okeho, headquarters of Kajola Local Government, during an empowerment programme organised by the member representing Kajola State Consistency, Mr. Abiodun Adegoke. She said the Governor Abiola Ajimobi administration would leave no stone unturned to make life more comfortable for the people. The speaker said the empowerment programme was proof that members of the Seventh Assembly were out to protect the interest of the electorate. Adegoke said the programme was a way of appreciating his constituents And thanked the governor Abiola for his support. The Onjo of Okeho, Oba Rafiu Osuolale, said the projects of the Ajimobi administration have beautified the state. He urged the governor to site a satellite campus of the State Technical University in Okeho, adding that the town cannot boast of any tertiary institution.
capital, Amosun described the former member of the State Muslim Pilgrims Board and the Advisory Council on the state’s Prerogative of Mercy as a diligent man, whose “achievements remain evergreen”. He said: “Your commitment to the service of God
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HE Osun State Government yesterday held special prayers to mark the first working day of the year. Many Islamic, Christian and traditional religion clerics participated in the prayer session at the parking lots of the State Secretariat in Osogbo, the state capital. Governor Rauf Aregbesola said 2013 will be a year of “total freedom” for residents. He said: “Our major desire in 2013 as a government is to fulfil the desires of the founding fathers of the state. Osun will be free from hunger, poverty and underdevelopment this year. “We have paid over N600 million as compensation to owners of demolished structures in the state. We assure those yet to receive their compensation that they would get it soon.” The governor said his administration has revived re-
•Assembly hails governor From Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo
ligious studies in public primary and secondary schools. He said the free computer tablet, tagged “Opon Imo”, which the government would present to secondary school pupils, has an application on Ifa studies. Aregbesola prayed for peace and development and urged the people to support his administration and the country with prayers. He said Nigeria needs prayers to overcome its security challenges. Aregbesola said he aims to make Osun the envy of other states. Clerics, who offered special prayers for the peace and growth of the state, include the President General, League of Imams and Alfas in the Southwest, Alhaji Mustapha Ajisafe; Chair-
man of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Evangelist Abraham Aladeseye and frontline Ifa priest, Chief Ifayemi Elebuibon. Deputy Governor Mrs. Titi Laoye-Tomori; Secretary to the State Government (SSG) Alhaji Moshood Adeoti; the Head of Service, Mr. Olayinka Owoeye; the Acting Chief Judge, Mrs. Gloria Olagoke; Acting Chairman of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in the state Elder Adebiyi Adelowo; commissioners and some traditional rulers were at the service. The Bishop of the Methodist Church, Osogbo Diocese, Rev. John Bamigboye, in his sermon, urged the government to continue to implement people-oriented programmes. Also yesterday, the House of Assembly hailed the governor on projects and
programmes that were executed last year. The 26-member Assembly, in a statement by Deputy Speaker Akintunde Adegboye, saluted the governor’s “developmental drive” in the previous year. On behalf of Speaker Najeem Salaam, who is in the United States (US) on official engagement, Adegboye thanked the people for their sacrifices. He said: “We wish the governor and people of Osun a happy and prosperous year. We pray for more development, good health and long life for residents and all Nigerians. “We thank the people for allowing peace to prevail since the inception of the Aregbesola administration, because without their support, the enviable achievements recorded last year would not have been possible.” Adegboye said the Assembly has started work on the 2013 Appropriation Bill.
‘Oshiomhole has made business-friendly policies’
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GROUP, the Coalition for Good Governance and Economic Justice in Africa, yesterday hailed Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole for creating business-friendly policies. It said the plan by a Chinese company to site a car assembly plant in Edo in the first quarter of this year
would boost the state’s economy. Speaking with reporters in Lagos, the group’s Executive Director, Alhaji Dada Akpeji, said Oshiomhole is following the path of advanced countries, “who do not inaugurate projects, but enunciate people-oriented policies that would improve the economy”.
Akpeji said: “Only well thought-out government policies can take us out of the woods. That is the panacea for economic greatness and would grow our gross domestic product. Government has no business inaugurating petty projects that cannot stand the test of time. “We hail Oshiomhole for attracting investors to the
state. We heard businessman Alhaji Aliko Dangote is planning to site a fertiliser plant in Edo. “These efforts by Oshiomhole will reposition the state as a commercial hub in Nigeria. Naturally, Edo is the exit point to the six geo-political zones, whose economic activities would certainly quadruple
by the time these investors begin operations. “We heard the Edo State government is planing to register existing investors in the state, so that when the foreign investors arrive, they those on ground would have some roles to play in the larger picture. This is commendable and the governor should be encouraged.”