100 days in office: I’ll use Awo’s political philosophy drive development in Ekiti – Oyebanji.

100 days in office: I’ll use Awo’s political philosophy drive development in Ekiti – Oyebanji.

…..To prioritize people’s welfare State power project ready for commissioning by May.

Ekiti State Governor, Mr Biodun Oyebanji has said he would use the philosophy of the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo as Premier of the old Western region drive development in the state, focusing more on the welfare of the people above any other considerations.

Oyebanji also said his administration would undertake a radical review of academic curriculum in the state to expose students to cognate knowledge that would make them relevant in the 21st century economy.

Governor Oyebanji, who stated this on Friday during a Stakeholders’ Engagement session, where he gave account of his stewardship to the people in commemoration of his 100 days in office, said his government is committing huge resources to the promotion  of Small and Medium Scale Enterprises, resolve power outage, propel  road infrastructure, tourism and education, to buoy the economy and bring prosperity to the populace.

The event, which was themed ‘Keeping Ekiti Working Towards Shared Prosperity’ was attended by the Deputy Governor, Chief (Mrs) Monisade Afuye; Wife of the Governor, Dr Olayemi Oyebanji, Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Olubunmi Adelugba, Secretary to the State Government, Dr Habibat Adubiaro; Head of Service, Barr. Bamidele Agbede, members of the National Assembly; members of the House of Assembly, members of the State Executive Council, labour union leaders; market women, Artisans and other stakeholders of the state.

While expressing his appreciation to the public servants in the state, the Governor restated his commitment to them by assuring them that he would continue to pay their salaries and deductions without any hitch, adding that when they were paid, the resources will go round the market women and artisans thereby building a strong local economy in the state.

Reeling out the giant strides he was making in the health sector, Oyebanji posited that copious and spirited efforts are being devised to tame the migration of doctors  from the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital and other health facilities overseas.

He said: "We don't have oil in Ekiti,  but we have intellectual resources that we can deploy to develop our state. We have provided T- SCAN at EKSUTH and installing 12 others in our health facilities.

"We are making efforts to ensure that some of our doctors and other medical professionals  that are leaving Ekiti in droves stop and work here. We have agreed to some of their terms and demands". 

Mr Oyebanji said he does not have excuse not to be able to drive Ekiti towards the desired development and prosperity as he was part of the vanguard for the creation of Ekiti at a tender age of 26 years stated that he understand the nuances of government due to his long years of experience in governance especially during Otunba Niyi Adebayo and Dr Kayode Fayemi administrations in the state.

He added that his administration has achieved a lot in the rehabilitation of Ado Ekiti and Ikole Ekiti township roads assuring that other local government would follow suit to ensure the state attract development through national and international investors to the state.

In his effort to boost the economy of the state, the Governor also confirmed that the Independent Power Project of the state in Ado Ekiti would be commissioned by May this year to power for the street lights, government offices, hospitals which may later upscale from the initial 1Mw to 5Mw in the nearest future.

He also added that the Ilupeju and Ijesa Isu power substations would soon be completed in collaboration with the Federal Government to end electricity problem in the northern area of the state as well as to Omuo-Ekiti axis which had been cut off the national grid for over eight years.

Mr Oyebanji noted that his administration had commenced the empowerment of youths through Innovation Grants Facilities developed as a template to open ways of employment for the youths leading to appreciable impacts in job creation.

He also added that his administration had concluded plans to remove all the challenges impeding youths from embarking in agricultural businesses by developing massive plans for the agricultural space through provision of farm seedlings, pest control, and cultivation of farmland.

“Chief Obafemi Awolowo is dead, but Chief was remembered more because of free education than because of any other thing, and that tells me that policy, though intangible that has a very fundamental effect on the lives of the populace will be more enduring and sustainable than any other thing. And I was elected to choose Awolowo’s philosophy of developing the people.

“One of the main policy thrust of his administration was to ensure that the welfare of  workers was accorded top priority. My administration is making workers welfare a top priority as well. To us, right from the time we started, we have been paying salaries regularly and I know that those who are doing cooperatives are also receiving their deductions and I have given matching order to Commissioner for Finance and Accountant General that payment of deductions must not fail because I promised workers that we are going to restore regular payment of deductions because workers rely on it to finance a lot of things including payment of children school fees, building of houses and so on.

 “We campaigned on a mantra of shared prosperity and the six pillars of my administration is geared towards that and the only way we can achieve this is through productivity, so, the driver or engine of growth is the micro, small and medium enterprises in any state or country. But the lubricant of the engine is the civil service. Why I am saying this is for you to understand what is going to drive our policy thrust.

Governor Oyebanji thanked his immediate predecessor in office, Dr Kayode Fayemi; the first Civilian Governor of the State, Otunba Niyi Adebayo and former governor Ayodele Fayose for their sundry support and counsel. He also thanked Ekiti State members of the National Assembly, for their support in attracting federal presence to the state, as well as the state lawmakers for their cooperation.

He promised to make regular interface with the people a major feature of the administration.

Consciously Impact Your Communities, Ekiti First Lady Implores Council Chair's Wives.

Consciously Impact Your Communities, Ekiti First Lady Implores Council Chair's Wives.

The wife of the Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Olayemi Oyebanji, has implored wives of chairmen of local government councils in the state to consciously impact their various communities.

Dr. Oyebanji gave the charge during a meeting with a women's group, Amazon, in her office in Ado-Ekiti.

According to the Governor's wife, leadership requires a lot of sacrifices; reason women should always make moves and efforts that would touch lives positively within their domains.

She urged the women not to relent in projecting government’s projects and programmes like Gender Based Violence (GBV), women's advocacy programmes as well as domesticate the pet project her office would be embarking upon with a major focus on widows and orphans.

Dr. Oyebanji urged the women to return home to intensify work at ensuring the success of the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidates at the national and state levels in the forthcoming general election.

Earlier in her remark, the coordinator of the group, Mrs Ebunlomo Adetunji, said that the visit was to familiarise with the wife of the governor, her programmes and projects.

She lauded the governor's wife and the Biodun Oyebanji-led administration for the impactful programmes and policies executed within hundred days in office.

The group pledged its support to the Biodun Oyebanji-led administration, urging him to continue to provide dividends of democracy in the various local councils through its various activities and developmental projects.

Ekiti Governor's wife, APC Chair, unveil door-to-door campaign for Tinubu.

Ekiti Governor's wife, APC Chair, unveil door-to-door campaign for Tinubu.

....Target 90 percent votes.

The wife of Ekiti State Governor, Dr Olayemi Oyebanji has launched the door-to-door campaign for the candidates of the All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu in the  forthcoming general election.

Oyebanji, alongside the APC state chairman, Barr. Paul Omotosho, Secretary to State Government, Dr. Abibat Adubiaro on Tuesday in Ado Ekiti, led other party faithful to officially unveiled the; 'Tinubu/Shettima Women Presidential Door-to-Door Campaign Team.

Described as a departure from the crowd renting charaterised by the public rally, the innovation is to havest voters through grassroots mobilisation for APC Presidential candidate, his running mate Ahlaji Kishim Shettima and other candidates of the party.

According to the Governor's Wife, the door-to-door campaign initiative was first employed during the last gubernatorial election in the state and it yielded positive result for the party. 

She urged all the party loyalists across the state to be more committed and spread the message of new hope which Tinubu represented, as well as avoid any act inimical to objective of the campaign.

"I urge each and every one of you to approach your duties with the utmost diligence and commitment, exerting our political influence and, against whatever odd and obstacles we might encounter. This is not just a campaign for Asiwaju/Shetima, but for the betterment of our country and its people.

" Together, we must work tirelessly to spread the message of hope and the renewed hope for that matter, which Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu represents. We must reach out to every nook and cranny of our nation starting from here in Ekiti State and make sure that we do everything humanly possible within our influences, to ensure every citizen knows that with Asiwaju at the helm, we can build a stronger, more prosperous, and more united Nigeria." She stressed 

In his remarks, the chairman of the All Progressives Congress in Ekiti State, Mr Paul Omotoso noted that the essence of the initiative was to ensure that there is personal contact with the electorate, so as to know and understand the voters commitment to the aspiration of APC candidates.

The Secretary to the State Government, Alhaja Abibat Adubiaro, who also emphasized that the door-to-door campaign was very impactful during the last election in Ekiti State, reassured that it would do the same in the presidential poll. 

She described the party flag bearer as a benefactor to many successful politicians and a foremost Yoruba leader who would definitely salvage the country from various problems bedeviling it.

In her remarks at the occasion, Chief Ronke Okunsanya underscored the importance of intimacy with the voters, saying it was the surerest way to account for votes prior to the election.

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