Gas Explosion: EKSG Orders Removal, Seizure of Abandoned Tanker at Accident Scene.

Gas Explosion: EKSG Orders Removal, Seizure of Abandoned Tanker at Accident Scene.

To avoid explosion that could cause colossal loss of lives and property, the Ekiti State Government, has ordered immediate removal and confiscation of a Gas Tanker abandoned at an accident scene at Igede Ekiti, Irepodun/Ifelodun Local Government area of the State.

The Government, also directed the security agencies to ascertain the owner of the articulated vehicle conveying the gas-laden tank that was abandoned since Friday along Igede-Iyin Road, which poses serious danger to the people.

Handing down the order during a visit to the accident site on Monday, the Deputy Governor, Chief (Mrs) Monisade Afuye, said Governor Biodun Oyebanji was deeply worried by the abandonment of the tank in the residential area for days without prompt action taken to evacuate it.

Afuye, in a statement by her Special Assistant on Media, Victor Ogunje, said the Governor’s expectation was that the owners ought to have evacuated the inflammable substance from the accident portion few hours after the accident, but lamented that such action was not contemplated

The Deputy Governor said the State Government had deployed fire fighters to the portion to be on guard and avert any any untoward situation.

She said the removal and confiscation became the best option to prevent unwarranted loss of precious lives of the people, since the owners could not be ascertained as of the time of the visit .

The Deputy Governor directed the Chairman of the Council, Hon. Babatola Ogundana to get another articulated truck and work with other experts and remove the inflammable substance from its present scene with immediate effect.

She said; “We thank God that no explosion accompanied the accident despite that this substance is highly inflammable. But it was bad for the owners to have left it here for days without thinking of the implications of his action.

“The Governor was worried and that informed his action that fire fighting truck should be stationed at the scene of the accident, because as the tank gets hotter, the possibility of it exploding is very high and that could be dangerous to our people and their property.

“The safety of our people is of priority to this administration and we won’t take chances with this. The Chairman should work with experts and remove the tank from here within the next few hours, that was the instruction of Mr. Governor”.

Mrs Afuye commended the Council boss for promptly informing the police and the Department of State Services about the incident, saying the agencies will investigate and unravel the identities of the owners.

In his response, the Council Chairman, Hon Ogundana and the lawmaker representing Irepodun/Ifelodun Constituency 1 in the House of Assembly, Hon Femi Akindele, said the landlords and motorists, had been gripped with fear, since the accident occured last Friday.

Akindele said the truck had the accident while trying to ascend the hilly portion of Igede-Iyin road, and that he said accounted for why it fell along the roadside.

“We are all worried here. Even the residents and leaders of Igede are worried . They were not really happy about why the owners abandoned this dangerous and inflammable substance here for days. To us, this is insensitive and callous.

“We thank the Government of Ekiti State for taking this prompt action. This I believe will help in averting serious crisis here. Lives of the people should be very precious to any government and that is exactly what Governor Biodun Oyebanji has demonstrated here.

“We are assuring him that all the stakeholders will work together to carry out his instruction for the sake of all of us”.

HISTORY MAKER: FLORA NKIRU NWAPA.

HISTORY MAKER: FLORA NKIRU NWAPA. 

Join us today as we look at another African that made History: Flora Nkiru Nwapa.

Flora Nkiru Nwapa was Nigeria’s first female novelist and the first female novelist in all of black Africa to be published internationally, in the English language. She was also Africa’s first female to publish a novel. She’s regarded as the Mother of Modern African Literature. She was born on 13th January, 1931, in Ugwuta, Imo State. She was the 1st daughter out of six children.

 Flora was born into two prominent Nigerian families—Nwapa Nduka and the Onumonu Uzaru. Her parents were an early influence, especially her mother, Martha Onyenma Nwapa who was one of the most prominent women in Oguta. Martha was the first woman to obtain the “customary standard six examinations” from St. Monica’s, a missionary school in the town. A studious woman, she went on to teach schools in Oguta & encouraged all her children to develop a love for reading. Flora’s father, Christopher Ijoma Nwapa, was an important land owner & managing director of one of Britain’s largest exporting companies; his primary business was the foreign sale of palm oil, a major commodity used by the British.

At an early age, Flora attended the C.M.S. Central School Ugwuta, Imo state and the Archdeacon Crowther Memorial Girls School, PortHarcourt, RiversState. In 1950, she took post secondary courses at Queens College, Lagos. After completing her studies, Nwapa taught briefly at Priscilla Memorial Grammar School in Oguta, a school founded by her uncle, Chief Richard Nzimiro, the first mayor of Port Harcourt, and her illustrious aunt Mary Nzimiro. Nwapa was soon in pursuit of another diploma at Edinburgh University in Scotland. She received her Diploma in Education in 1958 and then traveled Europe, observing the various cultures.

 From 1953 to 1957, Nwapa studied English, History and Geography from the University of Ibadan. While she was there, she became the president of the Queen’s Hall. And in 1956, she met with the Queen of England, Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Philip during their official visit to Nigeria. In 1958, Nwapa graduated with a Diploma in Education from the University of Edinburgh. She returned from Scotland to Calabar and became an Education Officer. Later, she taught Geography and English in Queen’s School Enugu in 1959. She also became Assistant Registrar of the University of Lagos, from 1962 to 1967.

 Flora was married to Chief Gogo Nwakuche and had 3 children, 2 girls and a boy. She was the Minister of Health and Social Welfare of East Central State, from 1970 to 1971, shortly after the Nigerian civil war. In this position, she found a home for some 2,000 war orphans. She was also commissioner for Land, Census and Urban Development from 1971 to 1974.

Flora made entrance into the literary career with the novel Efuru. It is based on an old folktale about a woman chosen by the goddess of the sea to be her worshipper. Efuru was published in 1966. The first English novel to be written by a Nigerian woman.

 Flora Nkiru Nwapa, Nigeria’s foremost novelist, was given a national honour OON (Officer of the Order of the Niger), by President Shehu Usman Shagari in 1983. She was a member of Africa’s Writers Series. In 1992, she was member of Commonwealth Prize Committee. On 16th October, 1993, she died of Pneumonia in University Teaching Hospital Enugu. She was buried in her home town, Ugwuta in Imo State. She was given the highest chieftaincy title in her community in Ugwuta, known as ‘Ogbuefi’. She encouraged other African women to go beyond being just housewives, but becoming more.

 Over the course of 27 years, Nwapa wrote six novels, nine Children’s books, six plays, two collection of short stories, a book of poems and countless essays. Her last novel, The Lake Goddess, was posthumously published in 1995. Ugwuta or Oguta is not just home to Flora Nwapa, but is also the home of Dr. Alban (Alban Uzoma Nwapa), his cousin, Charlie Boy (Charles Chukwuemeka Oputa) and Senator Arthur Nzeribe.

We have come to the end of this History lesson. 

Gone but not forgotten!

What do you know about Òkè-Ọde?Oke-Ode is a big town in kwara state, Nigeria

What do you know about Òkè-Ọde?
Oke-Ode is a big town in kwara state, Nigeria.

Òkè-Ọde indigenes are responsible reliable, trusted, honest, truthful, hardworking and peaceful. The people living  there lives comfortable and in happiness. Hence the reason why many people relocated from their town to Òkè-Ọde town. The earlier Òkè-Ọde were called Òkè-ilé, during their forefathers lifetime, they move from one Place to another which means they move from oke-ile village to oke-ode town.

Since then they started building houses in oke-ode and is well developed, even people's outside the oke-ode come to visit the town while some stayed in the town and sell their market most especially on their market days.

Their market is an urban market, because people comes from osun state, kogi state, Ogun state and all the neighboring towns around Kwara State usually comes to the market in order to trade their market simply because market is moving well in oke-ode township.

So all this made oke-ode more unique and powerful among the rest. You too can come and visit oke-ode for better understanding whether you're a civil servant or trader, you will see that by the special grace of god, you will make your profit, because that is why people "rush in" to the town that is , everything is going smoothly the citizens of oke-ode now travels all over the world and many of them lives outside of Nigeria.

Fuel Scarcity and Hike in Pump Price: A Passionate Call from Concerned Nigerians.

Fuel Scarcity and Hike in Pump Price: A Passionate Call from Concerned Nigerians.

....Omoluabi Team Alliance Socio- cultural and Political Group writes, urged Federal Government to be considerable in their decisions making.

.....appealed to Nigerians to be careful of deceivers during this election period.

When a country fails to plan, such a country then should be prepared to fail. It has become the case of national embarrassment on us all as Nigerians can no longer afford to buy fuel at cheaper prices and most times a worst embarrassment when we don't even have assess to same fuel whose raw materials are abundantly available in our country.  It becomes expedient to call government and other stakeholders in the oil and gas industry to explain to Nigerians on why this situation of hike in pump price is yet to be reduced and   why the products have become a scarce commodity. Indepent oil marketers should  be considerable and shun the idea of making excessive profits at the expense of the good welfare of  Nigerians should be discouraged. Security agencies and relevant  task forces should be deployed to enforce and monitor the sales of petrol in all filling stations across the length and breadth of Nigeria.

 It is a pathetic story for a country that have refused to spend the the financial gains from sales of crude to the international market for over several decades but could not own state-of -the art  refineries that will be a pride of Nigeria and even West African sub- region. We cannot continue to window- dress our problems and challenges as a country or pretend like all is well. We must challenge leaders, we must put our leaders on their toes, we must ask questions from those we gave our mandates to in recent times, they have sworn to an oath to provide good leadership and make our collective welfares a sole responsibility as elected political office holders. Inadequate planning,wastage of national resources and sabotage by some concerned investors and stakeholders at the top- enchelon of the oil and gas sector is undoubtedly the root of this challenges we are presently facing collectively as a country. The question is why will a single Nigerian have the financial muscle to put up a refinery adjudged presently to have been the largest in West Africa and a whole county incapacitated to put up at least two of same facilities of at least same standard even if the country can not do better.  

Nigerians have been very tolerant enough, resilient, patient and law abiding. It will be very wrong to continue to take Nigerians for granted in decision makings   

President Buhari and his economic team should do all within their powers to handover a Nigeria where the pump price of fuel and other by-products consumed by Nigerians will be available at very affordable prices and available for all to buy round the clock.

Omoluabi Team Alliance Socio- cultural group advise Nigerians to put on their thinking caps as election time approaches. Leaders who understands the nitty gritty of fixing national economy to benefit all should be  elected in the 2023 general election. The group will soon make public its: most preferred Presidential candidate as preparations are ongoing to provide directions to Nigerians as we make this collectie decisions  to vote credible leaders that will bring great relief to us all. 

E-SIGNED:

Omoluabi Jayeola A.O 

National Convener & Leader

Akinfolarin Alex

National General Secretary 

Comr. Olamide Akinwumi J. 

Media Publicity Secretary

Ekiti First Lady, Monarch, Task Stakeholders on Teenage Pregnancy, School Dropout.

Ekiti First Lady, Monarch, Task Stakeholders on Teenage Pregnancy, School Dropout.

...as LCDA chair inaugurates project, empowerment programme.

Ekiti State First Lady, Dr. Olayemi Oyebanji and the Ogoga of Ikere Ekiti, Oba Adejimi Adu, have called on relevant stakeholders in Education, including parents, community leaders and teenagers, to join hands with the government to reduce teenage pregnancy and spate of dropout of young people within school age.

They spoke in Ikere Ekiti on Friday during an empowerment programme and commissioning of eight units of lock-up shops  initiated by the Chairperson, Ikere West Local Council Development Area, Mrs. Toyin Afolabi. Items distributed to members of the community include; gas stoves, standing fans, pop corn making machine and farm tools. 

 

Dr. Oyebanji pleaded with parents to always enroll their children in schools, pointing out that education is the bedrock of any developed society.

She added that quality education would remain a vital tool that would open doors for younger ones and subsequently make them great future leaders.

While commissioning the projects, the First Lady congratulated Hon. Afolabi for the landmark achievements and encourage political office holders and people seeking political offices to imbibe the culture of giving back to the society.

Afolabi on her part said the state government is passionate about the development of all sectors most especially education and would continue to embark on laudable projects that would stimulate economic growth.

In his remark, Oba Adu called on political leaders not to forget their primary assignment of embarking on developmental projects.

He also charged parents to train their children by giving them sound education so that they would be able to occupy enviable positions in the future.

He added that more was still needed to be done to reduce teenage pregnancy and dropout among children that were of school age.

Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Mrs. Osomade Oluwatoyin, Ibrahim Raheem, and Rotimi Ogunyemi thanked the Local Council Development Area and the state government for empowering them and initiating various projects to accelerate economic development.

Oyebanji assures commitment to effective administration of justice.

Oyebanji assures commitment to effective administration of justice.

..…As Wole Olanipekun gifts High Court Complex to Ekiti judiciary.

Ekiti State Governor, Mr Biodun Oyebanji has assured the the judiciary that his administration will continue to ensure effective administration of justice through improvement of the condition of the courts and welfare of judicial officers in the state.

The Governor, Who stated this at the official commissioning of the ultra-modern High Court Complex donated to the State Government by a former President of the Nigeria Bar Association ( NBA), Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), affirmed that his administration understands the importance of law and order to the progress and development of the state and hence would ensure its sanctity.

He confirmed that his government had partnered with the judiciary on diverse issues to improve the business environment by being one of the first states to create a Small Claims Court for the settlement of commercial matters, which had provided comfort to lenders, and improve medium enterprises.

Governor  Oyebanji also restated his unflinching commitment to the judicial system of the state as he revealed that his administration was working on two bills which included the Ekiti State Wealth Fund Bill aimed to ensure the State establishes a proper savings culture, and the Ekiti State Startup Bill to ensure the State creates an enabling environment for startups to complement the Ekiti Knowledge Zone project.

He commended the state’s judicial officers for maintaining high standard of professionalism that makes the judicial system one of the most progressive and innovative in the country as well as the judges most courageous and erudite despite the obvious inadequacies in the system. 

While maintaining that his administration would continue to uphold the rule of law, fundamental human rights and the independence of the judiciary, the Governor hoped that with more resources available to the State, the current financial autonomy of the Judiciary will bring about the envisaged rapid transformation of the Justice sector in the State. 

He also used the opportunity to reminding the gathering which included Ekiti State Chief Judge, Justice John Adeyeye; Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Dayo Apata, Senators representing Ekiti North, Olubunmi Adetunmbi and Biodun Olujimi; former Senator Babafemi Ojudu; former Deputy Governors Surv. Abiodun Aluko; Prof. Eleka; traditional rulers and distinguished members of the bar and the bench that the task of developing Ekiti cannot be solely that of the Government alone urging individuals to pick on something of interest in our different communities and make a significant impact in the lives of the people.

The Governor called on good spirited Ekiti indigenes to emulate the good gestures of the donor saying “As a people who are in need of urgent development, Chief Olanipekun has given us a legacy to copy. I want to therefore, call on all Ekiti indigenes all over the world to emulate this act of generous giving back. If we all look back at our family houses, our communities, our primary and secondary schools, our worship places and other places that once contributed to whom we are, and give back, we will have a better Ekiti of our dream.

“I have known Chief Wole Olanipekun for quite a while. In Ekiti State, aside Aare Afe Babalola, I am yet to find a man who finds satisfaction in giving back to his place of birth as he does. His signature act of kindness can be found in every aspect of his life in Ikere-Ekiti. I am aware of his immense role to the transformation of the then College of Education, Ikere-Ekiti to Bamidele Olumilua University of Science and Technology. His doggedness and commitment to see the University succeed led to his appointment as the first Chancellor of the University after a similar appointment in the University of Ibadan where Chief left an enduring legacy.

“Finally, I want to once again thank Chief Olanipekun and his wife for this edifice and to congratulate the Ekiti State Judiciary on this brand new court complex. I hope that the building will be well maintained to encourage Chief to do more. May all who will work and seek justice here do so with the same spirit of generosity of the donor and may God continue to bless him.”

Earlier,  Chief Olanipekun noted that he decided to continue to give to humanity because he believes that anything that he achieved in life was made possible by the grace of God adding that life should be about about giving and impacting humanity.

The former NBA President, who noted that the Court complex complied with global best practices with grandiose and state of the art facilities that would encourage optimal performance for Judges and Lawyers appealed to government and all men of goodwill to improve the courts of law by improving their facilities all over the state.

He used the opportunity to affirm the danger in the provision of section 65 of Electoral Act which empowers the Chief Returning Officer to review and rescind his decision saying the Returning Officer is not a court of judicial power or tribunal that could be vested with such powers.

Also speaking at the event, the founder and the Chancellor of Afe Babalola University, Aare Afe Babalola commended Chief Olanipekun for his philanthropic spirit which had made him give back quite a good number of projects to the society as a expressed his appreciation to the donor for naming the Library of the court after him.

Ekiti Speaker Restates Govt's Commitment To Vulnerable Citizens' Welfare.

Ekiti Speaker Restates Govt's Commitment To Vulnerable Citizens' Welfare.

....Assembly donates cash to physically challenged, orphanage, others.

The Speaker of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Olubunmi Adelugba, has restated the commitment of the state government to the welfare of the vulnerable citizens to improve their self worth and give them a sense of belonging.

Rt. Hon. Adelugba stated this when she led other principal officers of the Assembly on visits to special schools for the physically challenged and other centres for the care of vulnerable citizens where they made cash donations for the welfare of the inmates there.

According to a statement by the Special Adviser (Media) to the Speaker, Odunayo Ogunmola, the centres visited by the delegation included School for the Blind, Ikere Ekiti; Sexual Assault Referral Centre, Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado Ekiti; Erelu Adebayo Children's Home, Iyin Ekiti and School for the Mentally Retarded, Ido Ekiti.

The Speaker said both the executive and legislative arms of the government would continue to accord priority to the welfare of vulnerable citizens in the state since they are integral parts of the society who should be supported to contribute meaningfully to humanity.

She explained that the visit of the lawmakers to the centres was to send a message that the inmates are not forgotten and that everything necessary must be done to assist them to make them comfortable and not feel neglected or abandoned.

According to her, the Assembly leadership used the period of the recess of the House to identify with the vulnerable citizens in their places of abode to motivate them and their caregivers and to donate cash gifts to alleviate some of the problems they are encountering.

Rt. Hon. Adelugba added that the gesture of the lawmakers was also in tandem with the directive given by Governor Biodun Oyebanji during his last birthday in which he called on well meaning individuals, groups and organisations to donate financial and material gifts to institutions housing vulnerable citizens.

Addressing students of the School for the Blind, Ikere, the Speaker encouraged them to believe in themselves and have faith that they could become great in life as the situations they found themselves are not enough to kill their dream urging them to draw inspiration from others who defied challenges like physical disability to become prominent and successful in life.

She said: "If you can learn very well, you can be sure that you will achieve what other people that are doing well are achieving and even do better than them. People who are physically challenged always out their minds in whatever they do because of their condition and you will discover that their determination always make them to excel.

"You are going to move from here and go to the university and be able to do greater things in life. We are here to let you know that you are not forgotten, you are in the mind of the state government and you are also in the mind of Mr. Governor, a man who has demonstrated his love for you by his gestures.

"The Governor on his last birthday asked individuals who are his friends to visit this school and other centres to make donations. I am sure some other people had visited here to make donations as instructed by Mr. Governor.

"I want to apologize that we are coming a bit late, it is because the House went on a recess and we are still on recess but we believe that what must be done, must be done and that is why you are seeing only the principal officers of the House here and there is no point delaying further.

"I want you to know the fact that the Governor loves you and the House of Assembly loves you as well. I believe that the cash we are donating today will go a long way in alleviating some of the challenges you are facing."

Speaking while making donation there, the Speaker expressed satisfaction with the establishment of the Sexual Assault Referral Centre, also known as the Moremi Clinic at the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, noting that the state was lucky to have such a facility.

She said: "We are here to extend hands of fellowship to you. It is good that this is happening in Ekiti because not many states have this kind of facility and we are using this opportunity to celebrate the Governor's birthday."

"The last time we were at the Adunni Olayinka Wellness and Diagnostic Centre, the authorities said that was the first time honourable members would submit themselves for medical check-up there and I hope many people will take advantage of the facilities here."

The Speaker and members of the delegation saluted the officials working in the facilities visited commending them for their commitment and dedication to duty and also for making their working places the neat and conducive for performance of their duties.

The Principal of the School for the Blind, Mrs. Felicia Amogbonjaye; her counterpart in the School for the Physically Challenged and Mentally Retarded, Mrs. Olayide Adu; the Coordinator of the Sexual Assault Referral Centre, Mrs. Rita Ilevbare and the managers of the Erelu Adebayo Orphanage all expressed gratitude to the Ekiti Assembly for the humanitarian gesture.

Other Assembly principal officers on the visit were the Deputy Speaker, Rt. Hon. Hakeem Jamiu; the Chief Whip, Hon. Adeoye Aribasoye; Leader of Business, Hon. Johnson Bode-Adeoye; Chairman, House Committee on Finance and Appropriation, Hon. Lateef Akanle and the lawmaker representing Ise/Orun Constituency, Hon. Ayodeji  Ajayi.