Soft News

OKE-OGUN L'OKAN NI 2019

2018-03-19T07:18:00.001-07:00

SAF POLYTECHNIC, ISEYIN GOT APPROVAL OF NBTE !

2018-02-15T06:33:00.001-08:00

Courtesy: Aare Babajide Oniyo

We are getting there!

Earlier on January this year, I was accompanied by the Erstwhile National President of Federation of Iseyin Local Government Students (FILGS) Comrade Azeez Muritala and the Incumbent National Secretary of the Body, Lady(Comrade) Azeez Khadijat to office of the Caretaker Chairman of Iseyin Local Government, Engr. Abolade Akanni and to the palace of His Royal Majesty, Oba Dr. Salaudeen Adekunle Oloogunebi, Ajinese 1, The Aseyin of Iseyin land, to discuss issues revolving round the Prompt Accreditation of SAF Polytechnic and the immediate expedition of action on construction of some stalls on the Approved Aso Oke International Market and Tourist Centre.

To Almighty Allah be the glory for making the SAF Accreditation a reality and huge success, and kudos to everyone that might have imputed one thing or the other towards the success of the Accreditation Exercise. While I consider this as a step to the top, am using this medium to remind the Iseyin Local Government Chairman, Hon. Engr. Abolade Akanni of his promise on the International Market, which he said some structures would have commenced by the end of 1st quarter of the year, I read his lips and belief his words as they say, "First impression lasts longer".

While we expect the realisation of the international market, we say a Big congratulations to SAF Family and the entire Iseyinans home and abroad on the Accreditation of SAF polytechnic, May it usher bountiful developments into our land.

©Babajide Oniyo.

ISEYIN: BETWEEN POPULARITY AND COMPETENCY

2018-02-15T06:21:00.004-08:00

The hullaballoo of 2019 general election is getting more interesting with every aspiring individual working sedulously underground to convince the masses (electorates) in other to secure maximally their votes. Some work individually, while some have people working for them both on one-on-one basis and on the social media. Some even have posters already!

Up till now, Iseyin has been praying not to fall into the same hands of unprofitable servants that have never brought any tangible projects to the Iseyin city except some better expressed stomach infrastructure that are not even getting to the actual people that needed them. Yet, this self-aggrandized politicians love sweet-talking innocent masses with their monetary power to brainwash them into casting their votes for them. They are popular in every nooks and crannies of our dear city, but no capital project can be ascribed to them to indicate their success in the past administration to justify the votes of the masses and trust they reposed in them. Iseyin do not want these popular politicians that are selfish and non-performing.

Competency is the quality we want in any aspiring politicians into various political posts coming 2019. Iseyin cannot continue to suffer in the same potopoto water of backwardness while smaller towns around us are enjoying the real dividend of democracy. We cause all these by voting incompetent person and foodie into power.

We must wake up from our deep sleep this time around to vote only the competent and trustworthy candidates in the coming general election, IDU, The Chronicler Foundation, and Iseyin Youth Council should involve themselves aggressively by staging various political debates for all the aspirants to know their aims and plans of achieving them. 

That you are popular does not mean that you are the best. Enough of stomach infrastructure!!! 

ASUP: The forgotten strike( HND, Bsc Dichotomy)

2017-05-24T01:56:00.001-07:00

-DRAFT-

On January 5, 2006, while in office as President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo approved a policy which reversed the discriminatory restriction of the Higher National Diploma (HND) holders from rising above Level 14 in the civil service. Instructively, it would appear that eight years after, things still remain the way they were in 2014.

The former Minister of Education, Mrs Chinwe Obaji, and members of the House of Representatives’Committee on Education were present at the meeting where the decision was reached.

Prior to the policy, there has been this long-drawn battle about which is superior: university degrees or polytechnic diplomas. In the public and private sectors, both are put to the test as employers – wittingly or unwittingly – discriminate against polytechnic graduates. This was what informed the decision – a couple of years ago – of turning some prominent polytechnics in the country into universities.

In essence, if given the choice, more than 90 per cent of polytechnic students would prefer to be in a university; they only choose polytechnics as an after-thought to escape being home doing nothing.

This dichotomy is also played on the national scene, and even in the media. The better part of last year was dedicated to the trench warfare between the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and the Federal Government (FG). Interestingly, too, the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) was on strike before ASUU, but theirs was not given the requisite attention. ASUP had gone on strike on April 17, 2013, more than two months before the ASUU began its own strike on July 1, last year.

At a point, ASUP suspended its strike – on July 17, 2013 – to prepare grounds for negotiation with the government, only for it to be resumed again. The action entered its seventh month this month.

And what were the reasons for the strike? It was undertaken to drive home a 12-point demand; this was, however, scaled down to four critical demands after negotiations with the government. The four major demands include: constituting a needs assessment committee for polytechnic education, just like was done for the varsities; the government should inject N20.8billion – as an initial stop gap – into polytechnic education; the government should make concerted efforts at bridging the gap between university graduates and those from the polytechnics; and to address the poor state of state-owned polytechnics.

While we were all shouting ourselves hoarse over the ASUU strike, we totally “forgot” about the polytechnics, even when ASUP suspended their action to give room for negotiation, the government barely acknowledged the olive branch extended with its nonchalant attitude reflected in its graveyard silence.

ASUP National President, Chibuzo Asomuhga, in an interview with Vanguard said: “Their (government) thinking that it is only the children of the poor that attend the polytechnics is wrong.” He also pointed out during a press conference that “while the government intervened in other sectors that went on strike or threatened to go on strike, it had ignored the nation’s call for an end to the ongoing strike.” This is the dilemma that polytechnics face in the country.

Beyond this however, it is quite clear that our polytechnics, just like the universities as well as other levels of education are in crisis. ASUU, which ended a six-month-old strike last December, fought the government on all fronts to meet its demands. It took a lot of pressuring from the public also to get the government to agree to give the universities some money. It is for this reason that calls from certain quarters have hammered on the need to bring the action forcefully to the public domain again.

After the suspension of its first strike last year, the government agreed to inject N20.8billion to improve the state of polytechnics only to renege, months after the agreement. Yet, we are striving to be counted among developed economies by 2020.

To put a finger in the dilemma polytechnics and colleges of education face is to understand the psyche of those in government, and Nigerians generally. For instance, in a 2012 interview with Vanguard, Prof Onu Godwin, the Rector, Federal Polytechnic, Oko in Anambra State, said experience in the sector had taught him that more youths prefer gaining admission into universities than polytechnics or colleges of education.

“Only very few choose polytechnics as their first choice because of some particular courses and this can be attributed to societal values on varsity/polytechnic education. I’m not saying that the university is better than polytechnics or colleges of education, but I think if polytechnics are converted to polytechnic universities, it would solve most of these problems,” he said.

Provost, Michael Otedola College of Primary Education (MOCPED), Epe, Lagos State, Prof. Olu Akeusola, also echoed this line recently when he said, “Nigerians will put education institutes in crisis if the discrimination against polytechnics and colleges of education continues.

“We know how to copy curriculum without implementing same. The theory and concept of the 6-3-3-4 system of education is that after a child has gone through compulsory six years of primary education and three years of junior secondary school, those who are educationally inclined would proceed to senior secondary while those who are not would opt for technical schools. From there, the technical students would proceed to polytechnics while those that went to senior secondary schools would go to universities to further their education.”

According to Akeusola, the “Post-Unified Matriculation Examination (Post-UME) into institutions of higher learning has compounded the problems because very few candidates would want to put a polytechnic or college of education as their first choice, and the universities don’t have the capacity to admit them all.”

So, how do we begin to resolve these anomalies? I agree with The Nation editorial of July 16 that we need to revisit “why lecturers in polytechnics and colleges of education cannot go beyond senior lecturers while only in the universities can senior lecturers move to Readers/Associate Professors and finally to Professors. On this important issue, some questions need to be raised and answered. Do the differences in qualities and standards, the mode of appointments and promotion suggest the difference in the qualities of academic staff in the universities and polytechnics and the award of university degrees and polytechnic diplomas?”

We also need to erase the stereotype and assumption that polytechnics only cater for mechanics and the hospitality industry. In reality, media, arts, design, business, fine arts, film, engineering, and journalism are all available at polytechnics.

Many parents, teachers, career advisors, and even students do not really understand what polytechnics and independent training do and what they offer. It is almost considered general knowledge that the university is on “a higher level” than polytechnics. But universities are not as “appropriate” for creative fields as society has led everyone to believe. Universities focus primarily upon research; but creative subjects are fundamentally practical. For instance, if you want to learn how to watch a movie go to university, but if you want to make a movie, polytechnics are better suited to your needs.

To help bridge this stereotype, the government should not be seen to be partial in the drafting and implementation of educational policies. The way things stand, it appears most polytechnics would prefer the transformation of all polytechnics in Nigeria into universities and university campuses. This development, according to this line of reasoning, is considered necessary to correct many of the anomalies that have been bedeviling the successful implementation of Technical Education.

The reasoning also is that by the time we cease to have polytechnics in Nigeria, most of the problems of non-parity between polytechnic and university lecturers and that between polytechnic students and their university counterparts in terms of difference in rank, certification, status, designation and recognition would be over. Would it really?

HOW TO PRESERVE OUR ENVIRONMENT. By Akande Iyiola Adeniyi

2017-05-19T10:05:00.001-07:00

HOW TO PRESERVE OUR ENVIRONMENT

By Akande Iyiola Adeniyi

In the past decades in Nigeria, virtually every State in the country has realized the importance of preserving the environment. This was in the realization of the dangerous increase of environmental problems associated with activities of the citizens and accrued problems emanated from the mismanagement of interference of the growth in our technology and our environment. For example, the emergency of digital telecommunication system in Nigeria.

Wikipedia defines environmental protection as a practice of protecting the natural environment on individual,organisation controlled or governmental levels, for the benefit of both the environment and humans. Due to the pressures of over consumption, population and technology, the biophysical environment is being degraded, sometimes permanently. As such there is always a threat to human health, natural resources and the ecosystems in general.

To human health, it has been discovered that environment has a significant impact on the human health either directly or indirectly. It can expose individual to some harmful or dreadful agents which can result to the temporal or permanent damage to the health of the individual. For example, the incessant outbreak of Lassa fever in the Northern part of the country has been attributed to invasion of Rats which if controlled can be stopped. In a real fact, the World Health Organisation has estimated that thirteen death annually are attributable to preventable environmental causes. The report also estimates that 24% of the global disease burden (healthy life years lost) and 23% of all deaths (premature mortality) are attributable to environmental factors, with the environmental burden of diseases being 15 times higher in developing countries than in developed countries, due to differences in exposure to environmental risks.

Non-preservation or improper preservation of environment can also cause greater damages to our ecosystems. This can be inform of pollution, erosion/flooding, radiation from telecommunication mast, and so on. These are common hazards from poor management of technology growth in Nigeria. Pollution of any form, be it air, water, sound, or thermal is dangerous to human health. Many poor Nigerians have experienced health set back as a result of their exposure to one or more of these pollutions. The fossil fuels used in the factories across the nation, emission of smokes from vehicles on our highways can be regarded as the major cause of the air pollution, Oil spillage in our coastal regions across the nation especially in Niger-Delta region of the country contributed to water pollution in Nigeria. Contact with unsafe drinking or bathing water can impose serious risks (both acute and delayed) to human health. Microbe contamination of groundwater due to sewage outfalls and high concentration of nutrients in marine and coastal waters due to agricultural runoff are among the most serious threats. Also, burning of grass and deforestation are another harm been done to our environment. All these reduces the concentration of Oxygen which thereby resulted to the rise in the temperature of the earth which is known as Global Warming. In Oyo state, virtually all the straight trees in Old Oyo National park, Iseyin axis have been felled which endangered the preservation of natural resources.

In March 2010, there was an acid rain that fell in some areas of Lagos including Ogba/Ikeja axis. The heavy rain left cream-coloured dusty deposits on vehicles. There was a similar experience in Port-Harcourt, where it was reported that the rainwater smelled like a disinfectant, and whitish in colour. All these can be harmful to human health.

Nigeria should be steadfast in the preservation of the environment, and it as a result of this that I have streamlined area of concentration to the following:

1. Every home should have a tree in their compound. This can be achieved by an enacted law of the government. Lagos state is one of the Nigeria states that is fully adhere to this. Oyo state is also partially adherent to this campaign.

22. Nigerians should be encouraged to make use of Train, this will reduce the rate at which they use their vehicles which will drastically reduce the emission of toxic waste from their cars. People should be encouraged to use public transport.

3 3. Separate your solid waste and send it for recycling and avoid dumping refuse into the canal/gutter.

44.There should be a legislation and penalty attached to any oil company responsible for oil spillage in our coastal region.

55. When going for shopping, always go with your bag as this will reduce the carriage of nylon or other packaging.

66. Create a compost heap in your garden or use a compost bin. This helps recycle food waste and other biodegradable materials.

7.Grow Your Own Food. Having your own garden is a great way to eat organically, avoid genetically modified foods, and reduce the need for polluting farming equipment and substandard irrigation methods.

8.Skip the sachet Water. Opt for a reusable water bottle to save money and help the environment. Besides, tap water is already stringently monitored by the government, so sachet water isn’t necessarily safer.

9. Companies should manage the emission of fossil fuel combustion. It will reduce the global warming currently experiencing in the country.

10. Do not buy products with lot of packaging. You will always end up throwing away the waste material in the bin, which then will help in filling landfill sites and pollute the environment. You should also discourage others as well.

Iseyin – Oyo Highway:Shame to our Leaders

2017-03-30T07:53:00.002-07:00

Iseyin – Oyo Highway is a major highway in Oyo state, it is a trunk “A” road which enhanced economic activities of the area. The road directly connect cities such as Iseyin, Shaki,Oyo, Ogomoso and far to the Northern part of the country.

The road which was constructed in early 80s is now in dreadful condition beseeching the attention of the government. Each successful government has never deemed it fit to reconstruct this highway despite the aspiration and pleading of the dwellers.

As a result of this road poor condition, many perishable agricultural products have been rotted away thereby discouraging farmers/producers in the area. The extra ordinary narrow bridge on Ogun River has laid claimed to several lives of travelers, yet our leaders seemed to be blind to this.

It is high time our leaders including royal fathers in the Oke-Ogun region make their voice heard to whoever government parastatal concerned. Nobody should be allowed to hold us into ransom again because of their ulterior motive. The good standard living condition of the citizens should be the paramount concerned of any good leader which is lacking in most of our leaders.

A crucial look at the attached images of pitiable condition of Iseyin – Oyo highway will tell you that, our leaders have been insensitive to the hard plight of travelers on this road.

This is a clarion call to all illustrious sons and daughters of Iseyin city to join our voice together so as to power our leaders into action. We are not comfortable about the numbers of borehole drilling in the neighborhood alone, we need you to intervene in enhancing and influencing the construction of capital intensive projects as well.

It is even sad enough that none of our representative could engineer the establishment of higher institution in Iseyin city, this is disgusting and there should be a redressed. Kisi has a campus of Oyo state school of Nursing, Okeho has a campus of Oyo state college of Health Technology, Saki has The Oke-Ogun Polytechnic,Lanlate has a campus of Emmanuel College of Education, Igbo-Ora has Oyo state college of Agriculture and Technology, Eruwa has Ibarapa Polytechnic,Ogbomoso has LAUTECH, but ISEYIN has nothing !!! We are by no means comfortable with this.

In a twinkling of an eye, another election will be here. Are you working good enough to secure our votes???

Kemi Olunloyo advocates for boycott of all South African businesses in Nigeria after xenophobic attacks

2017-02-24T03:17:00.001-08:00

Following a renewed attack on Nigerian nationals in South Africa, popular US trained journalist, Kemi Olunloyo, has called on Nigerians to take a stand.

Ms. Olunloyo fumed at the persistent xenophobic attacks on Nigerians in the country where their businesses were burnt and their goods looted.

The daughter of Victor Omololu Olunloyo, a former governor of Oyo State, said the ‘first’ way to fight back was for Nigerians to boycott all South African businesses in Nigeria.

The outspoken activist made this known on her Instagram account @hnnafrica.

She wrote: “#HNNImpact – We have to send a message to South Africa. End the #Xenophobia or we will boycott your businesses in #Nigeria.

“Nigerians are being attacked and killed in a country where we were instrumental to ending apartheid. Pls google apartheid if you weren’t born.

“The discrimination that led to #nelsonmandela locked up 27yrs! South Africa has a weakened economy. We as Nigerians can collapse it.

“There are good Nigerians contributing to that country while living there. I did that in North America.

“Sadly the so call Nigerian activists are QUIET, President Zuma cares less, Aso Rock is slow, our people are dying and being attacked needlessly and our President is not available.

“I’m a true community activist and a globally recognized one at that in US and Canada. I was even deported by the conservative government in Canada for doing the right thing.

“These are not North American people I’m protecting now. These are Nigerians! MY PEOPLE.

“I have never been to South Africa. I may never. I urge every Nigerian to boycott all #SouthAfrican business begining 2/23/17.

“Do not renew your DSTV/GoTV.

“Close your account at Stanbic IBTC.

“Do not purchase food at Shoprite.

“Do not recharge phone or data with MTN.

“SAY NO TO #Xenophobia and anti-foreigner protests.

“It is all HATE. Homophobia, Xenophobia, Islamophobia, Christianphobia, I’ve always been against all forms of discrimination channelling HATE!

“If you don’t boycott them, you are SUPPORTING THEM!”

Meanwhile, this is coming at a time when the Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Foreign Affairs and Diaspora, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, called on the South African government to take decisive and definitive measures to protect Nigerian citizens and other Africans within South African borders.

Innovation in Iseyin Aso-Oke

2016-09-23T08:01:00.001-07:00

Our own Aso oke is going places, Engr. Taslim Owonikoko ,hosted German Researchers Working On Automated Clothing Weaving Technology (Typical Of Iseyin Aso Oke ) in Europe .

Engineer Taslim Owonikoko is an indegene of Iseyin in Oke-Ogun axis of Oyo State of Nigeria. He is an Innovative Engineer with lots of awards from home and abroad.

PROPOSED OFI DAY 2016 BY OYO STATE GOVERNMENT IN ISEYIN : Credit Raji Afeez Abiola(Rajah)

2016-09-23T07:49:00.001-07:00

PROPOSED OFI DAY 2016 BY OYO STATE GOVERNMENT: Written by: Raji Afeez Abiola(Rajah).

Aso-Oke is the traditional wear of Yoruba(The tribe of the south West People in Nigeria, Africa), Yoruba's known to be the second largest tribe in Nigeria after the Northerners.
Aso-Oke Pronounced ("ah-SHOW-key") is a short word for Aso Ilu Oke, which means cloths from the Up-Country. In many occasions this wear also refers to as ASO-OFI.

This particular weaving(ASO-OKE) started centuries ago among the Yoruba's but predominantly among the Iseyin(Oyo State), Ede(Osun State), Ilorin(Kwara State) and Okene(Kogi State).

Aso-Oke as rightly called, is a cloth that is worn on special occasions by the Yoruba's usually for chieftaincy, festivals, engagement, naming ceremony and many other important events in the society.

Honestly, the investigation and surveying revealed that, among the towns that are producing the product (Aso-Oke), the product from iseyin town is most unique and quality one (Wikipedia). The investigation shows further that, it is only in Iseyin the varieties of Aso-Oke such as ETU, SANYAN and ALAARI can be found in large quality and quantity.
Aso-Oke weaving as old as Iseyin Town itself and it is known as the major occupation of the town, maybe that is why Iseyin has been named as HOME OF ASO-OKE.

Iseyin is a city located in Oyo State of Nigeria. It is approximately 100km north of Ibadan. The city with estimated population of 302,990 in 2011(National Population Commission of Nigeria NPC (web)). Iseyin is the 4th Largest City in Oyo State after Ibadan, Ogbomoso and Oyo Town and usually nicknamed as HOME OF ASO-OKE or ASO OFI as it was mentioned above. Invariably Aso-Oke can be found almost everywhere of the town ( I.e Oke-Ola, Ijemba, Oke-Babadudu, Koso, Ekunle, Isalu e.t.c.) not only found readily available alone but with uniqueness quality that can not be found anywhere in the world.

Honestly I was not amazed or astonished when Oyo State Government chosen OFI day as the State 2016 World Tourism day. Kudos to the State Government to make such move, but I don't known why state Government waited for long before they embark upon on this kind rewardable project!. Anyway, maybe it's because of "RECESSION" of a thing, open the eyes of the State Government to this. Are they been such move has been taken for a long time, a lot of revenue and job opportunity would have generated by the state Government in the past. Anyway, people do say "It better to be late than never". The step has been taken by state Government now(Thank God) but they need to be seen beyond celebration of World Tourism day. They need to see this as an avenue to generate revenue and job opportunity. This task can be realized if the State Government can provide an enabled environment(Market for Aso-Oke, Locally and Internationally) for the project.

I can remember vividly, in some years back(like twenty years ago), many people in Iseyin were employer of Labours through the production of Aso-Oke, few of Iseyin people were doing white collar job, because they were realized millions of Naira in the production, not until recently where the production was no more lucrative due to the lack of standard Market for the product. Thank God the product is picking again.

Honestly, if an enable environment(Standard Market) can be produced for the product (Aso-Oke) the under listed benefits can be actualized by individual and State Government.

Such benefits are following:-
*It will generate revenue to the State Government.
*It will reduced unemployment in Iseyin and Oyo State in general.
*It will promote Yoruba culture, Nationally and Internationally.
*It will reduced social vices among the youths of Iseyin and Oyo State.
*It will put Oyo State on the tourism map in the world.
*It will produced raw materials for the. Industries Locally and Internationally.
*It will increase the tourist attraction of Iseyin and Oyo state.
The findings shows that, the materials can be used for another production aside the wearing attired purposes, such as

*Throw cushion
*Fila and Gele
*Aso-Oke Shoes
*Aso-Oke bags and lot more.

As we are looking up for 2016 World Tourism Day (OFI Day) on September 27th, 2016 powered by Oyo state Government, the people of Iseyin are welcoming you to the HOME OF ASO-OKE and I am appealing to you (Oyo State Government) that we should not only see the day come and gone alone but we want the memory of the day to remain in our mind so long and see immediate benefit and impacts that September 26th 2016 put into our town (Iseyin) and Oyo State in general.

I wish the Oyo State Government contingent, the Stake Holders and the people of Iseyin Local Government Happy OFI DAY to you all in advance.
May God bless Iseyin Local Government, May God Bless Oyo State in general.

Ikere Gorge Dam and renewed interest in agriculture-SEGUN GBADEGESIN

2016-09-17T09:38:00.001-07:00

-SEGUN GBADEGESIN

A few years ago, I drew the attention of readers to the unfortunate abandonment of Ikere Gorge Dam, a project that was conceived with genuine interest in the development of the rural communities of Oyo State and beyond. My intervention then was out of concern for the regrettable daily loss of the immense economic potentials that the project has, not only for the area, but also for the entire nation in multiple ways. I was also concerned about the scientifically-proven risk of deadly flooding that the abandonment of the project poses for the entire area from Iseyin to Igbeti.

I am revisiting the issue now for two reasons. First, the Buhari administration has rightly pivoted its economic revival policy towards prioritising agriculture. I have no doubt about the reasonableness of the policy direction and the genuineness of the motive of its architects. But I am concerned that in the present budget, the dam has a paltry allocation of N11million for irrigation project, while N9million is allocated for operation and turn around maintenance. This dam is not even operational!

No doubt many areas and zones of this land of ours are capable of making enormous contributions to this new orientation of the federal government, each with special capabilities and different resource bases. But no one can conscientiously deny that Okeogun is one proven area of agricultural capability, having been branded the food basket of the old Western Region in the First and Second Republics.

But times changed. Agriculture was abandoned as a matter of development priority for government. And young men migrated from rural to urban centres with no sellable skills. The result has been staring us in the face ever since with the massive unemployment numbers and attendant high crime rate. Even in the backwoods of Okeogun with uncompromising ethical codes, it is now disheartening to hear of cults in schools and area boys around towns and villages.

The second reason is a rehash of my concern for the risk of the danger that the abandonment of the project poses to the area. This is especially more urgent in the light of the new scientific prediction of an earthquake in the area in future.

Surely a completed dam project, just by that very fact, does not guarantee immunity from the devastation of flooding during an earthquake. But while a completed dam would at least have inbuilt security devices, including fortification of the dam walls, an abandoned dam that is already corrupted by nature can hardly withstand the fury of an earthquake. The danger such a prospect poses to the lives of the people is better imagined than experienced. Therefore, if our federal government cannot improve the lives of Okeogun people, it should at least leave them undisturbed in their destined condition.

These thoughts were running through my mind when I was presented with the gift of a wonderful pamphlet that was published by Okeogun Development Council early this year. Titled: Ikere Gorge Dam: A Goldmine Waiting to be Explored, the pamphlet was edited by Mr. Jare Ajayi, the General Secretary of the council, who was kind enough to give me a copy. The pamphlet is a wealth of information waiting to be digested by policy makers if they are truly interested in the agricultural and rural development agenda of President Buhari and his administration.

The pamphlet conveys a message of economic urgency regarding the potentials of Ikere Gorge Dam for irrigation farming, generation of electricity and tourism. I was elated to learn that the “dam was planned to generate 3750 MW of hydroelectricity for dam and rural electrification programme and to irrigate up to 1200 hectares of farmland” and that “the Gorge also has a big potential for tourism.” By itself, each of these three economic benefits that the dam is designed to produce (irrigation farming, electricity generation and tourism) is capable of reversing the undesirable and economically-unproductive rural-urban migration that the area has witnessed in the last 30 years.

Incidentally, the original impetus for the dam more than 40 years ago, was the drought of 1973/74, which jolted the military regime. And upon taking over the government in 1975, the Murtala/Obasanjo administration took steps to prepare the nation for any such natural emergencies in future. Its policy response was the establishment of 12 River Basin Development Authorities scattered throughout the country in 1976/77. Ogun-Osun River Basin Development Authority, one of the 12, had responsibility for the development of the Ikere Gorge Dam and the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Rural Development was the supervising ministry. This project has been on since 1977!

The pamphlet also disclosed, what might be expected from our knowledge of most development initiatives from the 50s and 60s, that the Obafemi Awolowo administration in Western Region discovered the dam in the 50s and it was eventually taken over by the federal government. “During the Awolowo period, there was a big farm… Around 1966. there were about 10,000 herds of cattle… There was also a large cashew plantation.” These were the words of an Iseyin elder, Mr. Emmanuel Oke, in a 2013 interview reproduced in the book.

Mr. Oke went on to compare Ikere Gorge Dam with Akosombo Dam in Ghana. Both are natural dams. But while “the water level at Ikere Gorge Dam is 38 metres deep, Akosombo Dam is 36 metres.” Greater depth means greater capacity. And “if Akosombo Dam could produce 1,200 megawatts of electricity, Ikere Gorge Dam could do something similar or even better.” One might also add that if Ikere Gorge Dam had 10,000 herds of cattle in a ranch in 1966, as Mr. Oke confirmed, we have a home-grown answer to free range cattle rearing with its unsavoury consequences. And just as Akosombo Dam has turned into a tourist attraction earning enviable foreign exchange for Ghana’s economy, so can Ikere Gorge Dam do for Nigeria’s.

The current state of the dam is pathetic, but it is not an insurmountable task. The engineering design of the first phase covering 3000ha out of 12000ha was completed. Contract for the sprinkler irrigation system had been awarded since 1990 and by December 1997, it was 72% completed. Much has not been done since then. There is a pilot irrigation with only 20 hectares of land available, which is grossly inadequate. But as Mr. Oke observed, it is a starting point crying for further expansion.

As the pamphlet reveals, the design of the dam was well thought-out. With “a gross reservoir capacity of 565 cubic metres…it was designed to…”supply 233 million cubic metres of irrigation water to the 3,000ha in phase 1; supply raw water to Iseyin, Okeho, Iganna and environs” and 92 million cubic metres “is to be released and picked up for treatment and distribution by the Water Corporation of Oyo State.” It was also designed to “release 80 million cubic metres of raw water into the river channel to be taken up at the Adiyan intake of the Lagos State Water Corporation.” And it was to generate “six megawatts of electricity for dam operation and rural electrification.” Beside crop farming, the dam was designed to promote fish farming and cattle ranch.

There is talk about political will. It is hard for me to understand why political will should be lacking in this case in which taking decisive action to execute the project can only elevate the political standing of a leader. If the initiation of the project in 1977 was triggered by the experience of drought, it cannot be denied we have had a recurrence of the 1973 drought off and on in the last 43 years.

Presumably, government interest in the project waned because the country enjoyed the influx of oil revenue, which we saw as a substitute for revenue from agriculture. Experience has now taught us that oil is not a reliable source of national revenue, and we have rightly decided to retrace our faltering steps to our source. Serious leadership that takes this prospect of agricultural revolution seriously would commit resources to reviving Ikere Gorge Dam for a prosperous future.

AN OPEN LETTER FROM THE OKE-OGUN DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL (ODC) TO OBA LAMIDI OLAYIWOLA ADEYEMI III

2016-08-02T06:49:00.001-07:00

OPEN LETTER TO OBA LAMIDI OLAYIWOLA ADEYEMI III, IKU BABA YEYE, ALAFIN OF OYO

THE OKE-OGUN DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL (ODC)!

ON HIS UNWARRANTED HARRASSMENT AND INTIMIDATION OF THE OKE-OGUN OBAS AND PEOPLE

Your Royal Highness,

Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III

Iku Baba Yeye,

Alafin of Oyo,

LEAVE THE OBAS AND PEOPLE OF OKE-OGUN ALONE

The attention of the Oke-Ogun Development Council (ODC) has been drawn to a letter ref. No. APO.13/Vol.65/3 of 22/2/2016 which Your Royal Highness addressed individually to each and every Oba in Oke-Ogun.

ODC is the umbrella body encompassing all socio-cultural associations, clubs, professional groups and organizations as well as all sons and daughters of Oke-Ogun, at home and abroad whose aim and objectives are the promotion of the interests and development of the area. Oke-Ogun consists of the following 10 Local Government Areas: Iseyin, Kajola, Iwajowa, Itesiwaju, Atisbo, Shaki West, Shaki East, Oorelope, Irepo, and Olorunsogo Local Government Areas. The entire people of Oke-Ogun are solidly united behind ODC, through which it has since 2009 submitted a Memorandum to the National Assembly requesting for the creation of Oke-Ogun, a state of its own, from the present Oyo State. Oke-Ogun is therefore, a geopolitical reality which Kabiyesi Alaiyeluwa and indeed anybody must recognize and be prepared to live and work with. It is in the light of this that ODC views Your Royal Highness addressing his letter individually to the Obas in Oke-Ogun rather than a group as debasing and scornful to the status and reality of Oke-Ogun as a distinct geo-political entity within the present Oyo State.

For the purpose and ease of analysis, the offensive letter of Your Royal Highness has been summarized into two parts. The first part is Your Royal Highness claim to promoting ‘unity and coherence’ among the obas in ‘Oyo zone’; and that this ‘fatherly role’ has translated to granting beaded crowns to all the deserving obas in the past. This need for unity, you said, motivated your writing the letter to the Obas. The second part concerns your objection and condemnation of the planned solidarity visit to Ooni of Ile-Ife by the Oke-Ogun Obas without your approval and consent; and that it was at the instance of Prof. Dibu Ojerinde, who you castigated as not only leading the Obas of Oke-Ogun by the nose but also as an enemy of the state governor because he (Prof. Ojerinde) did not felicitate with Governor Abiola Ajimobi on the ‘joyous occasion of the Supreme Court judgment that confirmed the victory of governor Abiola Ajimobi’. Your Royal Highness concluded your letter by politicizing the issue and setting up the Oyo State Government against Oke-Ogun people with a threat to reporting the Oke-Ogun Obas, and ipso facto the entire Oke-Ogun people to Oyo State Governor. This, you in fact did by sending a copy of your letter to His Excellency, Governor Abiola Ajimobi.

We have carefully examined the context, content, language and motive of the letter of Your Royal Highness and regrettably found it to be very insulting and totally devoid of expected royal temperament and nuances. The letter reeks of utter contempt of Your Royal Highness for the Obas and the entire people of Oke-Ogun and also an attempt to malign and destroy, through wicked and false allegation, one of us, an icon of Oke-Ogun, in person of Prof. Dibu Ojerinde, the Asiwaju of Oke-Ogun. Your letter evokes a sad memory of the atavistic age of tsar dealing with his serfs. That age is gone and gone forever and we as ODC will NOT allow our Obas and people of Oke-Ogun to be taken back to that age by Your Royal Highness under the pretext of culture or tradition. We shall respect and uphold only culture, tradition and institutions that respect and relate with us with all human dignity and liberty that accord with civilized norms and guaranteed by the Nigeria Constitution. It is for this reason that we have taken up the fight for and on behalf of all the Obas and the entire people of Oke-Ogun.

Your Royal Highness, lets now consider a few of the contentious issues raised in your letter. The first is the motive of your letter, which you said, is to promote unity. Your Royal Highness claims that you have never reneged in your ‘fatherly role’ in the need for unity and coherence among the Obas in Oyo Zone and that your letter is premised on that; and the evidence of your promoting unity and coherence was granting of beaded crown to all deserving Obas in the past. May we, for clarity, ask: What is the delineation of that ‘Oyo Zone’ being referred to by Your Royal Highness? The empirical and political definition of Oyo Zone shows that Your Royal Highness is clearly in error. Oyo zone as being used by Your Royal Highness exists only in imagination than in political reality. Your Royal Highness must know that the geopolitical zone officially known and referred to as Oyo Zone consists of only four Local Government Areas of Afijio, Atiba, Oyo East and Oyo West and clearly does not include the ten (10) Local Government Areas in Oke-Ogun to which you issued your letters to their Obas. The 10 LGAs of Oke-Ogun belong to a separate and different senatorial zone from that of the four (4) LGA in Oyo zone. But since you are still under the illusion of Oyo zone to encompass more than the 4 LGAs around Oyo Township and to include the 10 LGAs of Oke-Ogun we will not ignore it, as doing so will not arouse you to the reality. We shall, however, speak as far as Oke-Ogun side of your ‘Oyo Zone’ is concerned. We do not intend to speak on behalf of the Obas and people in the proper Oyo Zone of 4 Local government areas. It is sufficient to state a well-known fact that they have been grudgingly bearing the yoke of your ‘fatherly royal oppression’. The traditional rulers there have remained at the status of Baale. Which of them have you granted beaded crown?

What unity or cohesion have you provided in Oke-Ogun? There is absolutely none. You have always regarded Oke-Ogun as your serfdom with no rights. How have you promoted unity there when, without qualms or shame, you tacitly and openly induce, encourage and promote disunity in various communities of Oke-Ogun once it comes to obaship tussle? You supplant at will senior Obas with your minions and create multiple heads and authority in same community or town. How many beaded crowns have you granted in your 41 years of reign and at what cost and expense to the unity and peace of the community? How many of them have been able to wear the beaded crown with peace of mind and not in pain of royally induced legal tussles arising thereafter?. Your Royal Highness, you know all these things to be true but for the sake of the public that may find it difficult to believe we will cite a few instances, without opening fully the Pandora box of your deeds as promoter of disunity in Oke-Ogun.

1. For instance Igboho where four of your fore fathers reigned and were buried is today a town with four (4) ‘Obas’ each claiming superiority with your tacit approval and encouragement just to supplant the one age-long known supreme traditional ruler to whom your forefathers handed the town on their departure to the new Oyo;

2. Similarly, the small community of Ado-Awaye for over thirty years has not known peace because there are two Alados, one of them at your behest contrary to the popular wish of that community.

3. The beaded crown of Olokaka of Okaka, Oba Azeez Olatunji Ayoola, Ogelende 1V has remained elusive after the whole Okaka community was put to disgrace and embarrassment when in the morning of coronation Your Royal Highness decided the crown should be withheld, for no good reason, and it has so remained.

4. Similarly, the beaded crown of Onigbetti of Igbetti, the Afiasegbejo has remained a mirage after all expenses for the crown have been paid and coronation arrangement concluded by the community.

Your Royal Highness further complained that “Apart from the beaded crown issue, the relationship between me and most of you had taken the form of frequent visit to me here in the Palace. On many of such occasions we rubbed mind together on the overall development of the Zone”. How could any Oba with sense of self-worth and dignity visit you when a visit to your palace could end up in humiliation and degradation in which an Oba would be ordered to remove his bead, robe and be half naked and to roll on the ground? In this modern age, that is the royal punishment for any Oke-Ogun Oba that dares utter anything contrary to what is in your mind. It therefore sounds to us like a fiction when you claim that you “rubbed minds together on the overall development of our zone”. How we wished it were true. What is the forum where you rubbed mind with the Oke-Ogun Obas and with which of the Oke-Ogun Oba? Was it with the Aseyin of Iseyini or with the late Okere of Shaki who you regarded as sworn enemies? You cannot expect any Oke-Ogun Oba, except your minions, to come to your palace only to be rubbished and treated like slaves.

What development has ever come to Oke-Ogun through the association with Your Royal Highness? Nothing. The concept of development in Oyo Zone by Your Royal Highness begins and ends with Oyo Township. All federal and state institutions are located in Oyo town: The Survey School, Federal College of Education, State Hospital and Old Oyo Games Reserve Headquarters in addition to the private tertiary institutions and Banks. It does not matter that there is no federal or state institutions or presence in any other part of the so called Oyo Zone. The total economic, political and social marginalization of Oke-Ogun has never bothered Your Royal Highness. You are more concerned with the slavish obeisance of the Oke-Ogun Obas to Your Royal Highness. The outstanding entitlements and emolument of the Obas for which Your Royal Highness led a delegation to the governor of the state is more paramount to you than the opening up and development of Oke-Ogun that constitutes more than 70% of the so called ‘Oyo Zone’.

We know as a matter of fact that Your Royal Highness is not interested in the development of Oke-Ogun because it is when we call our Obas in Oke-Ogun for meeting to chart the course of progress and development of the area that you will also hurriedly summon them to the palace for one meaningless meeting or the other just to distract and intimidate them from pursuing the genuine interest of their people. A classical case was when the Oke-Ogun Obas with ODC were to present to the National Assembly their memorandum for the creation of Oke-Ogun State; it was same day you found convenient to summon the Obas to the palace and coerced some of the Oke-Ogun obas that succumbed to your intimidation to sign a memorandum for the creation of New Oyo State even though they had already signed the memorandum for the creation of Oke-Ogun State.

It is this your disdain for the Oke-Ogun Obas and the tact to break their ranks that prompted Your Royal Highness to issue individual letters to each of the Oke-Ogun Obas instead of addressing them together collectively under the auspices of the Conference of Oke-Ogun Obas of which HRH Oba Dr. Ganiyu Adekunle Salawudeen, Ajinase II, Aseyin of Iseyin is the Chairman and Amunijio of Ijio, HRH Oba Gabriel Okunade is the secretary. You should recognize and accept the existence of the body as a reality and live with it. They have unfettered freedom of association and movement under the Nigeria Constitution. And it is under this Constitutionally guaranteed freedom that the Oke-Ogun Obas on their own free volition and without inducement from anybody, as alleged by Your Royal Highness, decided that they would pay a solidarity visit to the new Ooni of Ife HRH Oba Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja III. What permission or consent do they require from you to do that? The planned solidarity visit of the Oke-ogun Obas to Ooni still subsists. It will not be abandoned as a result of your intimidation.

The Oke-Ogun Obas had in the past paid similar solidarity visit to their brother Obas outside Oyo State without any furor. Why should the planned visit to HRH Oba Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja III, Ooni of Ife be different if not because Your Royal Highness is paranoid about anything connected with Ooni and you want to continue the cold hostility when the trend now is to foster the unity of Yoruba race. While the Oke-Ogun Obas will continue to recognize you as the foremost Yoruba Oba they will not be co-travellers with you on journey of ceaseless hostility. In keeping with your intrigues you have tried to politicize a simple issue of solidarity visit so as to set the Oke-Ogun Obas and people on collision path with our amiable Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi. How does issue of planned solidarity become an indication of disloyalty to the Governor? The fear and complaint about the planned solidarity visit is to serve your interest and not the Governor. Fortunately, the Governor can always see through your intrigues to cause disaffection and to feather your political patronage. The Governor knows that he can always count on the unflinching support of Okeogun people. The Oke-Ogun Obas and people are not fair weather friends.

It not strange that Your Royal Highness would stop at nothing, including intrigues and blackmail, to meet your insatiable obsession for political patronage but it is worrisome that you have added other despicable conducts. Your Royal Highness, why did you choose to do unroyal thing which paramount Obas of your class would not do? You left your royal palace in Oyo to go and personally deliver and award the title of ‘Omoluabi of Yoruba Land’ to Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, Executive Governor of Osun State in his Office at Oshogbo! Why should you go about hawking titles outside your domain? Is it not you that said “I opined that our dignity as Obas rest on our tradition and culture, because culture is the principal magistrate of life”? Your action in hawking royal title does not accord with the principle which you yourself enunciated. You only respect culture and tradition in breach as it suits your unbridled importunities. This is unbefitting of your exhausted traditional position as a foremost Yoruba Oba. May we ask if you sought and obtained the approval of the Oyo State Governor for your sacrilegious act?

Your Royal Highness allegation that the decision by the Oke-Ogun Obas to visit the Ooni of Ife was at the instance of Prof. Dibu Ojerinde has been diligently investigated. It is found to be absolutely untrue. Prof. Dibu Ojerinde out of deep respect for your person and office had also sent text message to Your Royal Highness to say that it was not true and it must have been contrivance of his detractors. He said he has handed these detractors to the Almighty Creator. We have no cause to disbelieve him and we could have left it at that since Prof. Ojerinde’s rebuttal has also been corroborated by the Oke-Ogun Obas who affirmed that it was a decision taken freely on their own and it was, therefore, insulting to allege, as your majesty did, that they were being led by nose by ‘an ordinary honourary chief of Ile-Ife’. However, the ODC does not believe the matter should be so lightly glossed over as doing so would indulge Your Royal Highness in further wicked and reckless allegations. We do not expect a royal father to make such a fundamental allegation against a public officer without painstaking investigation as to the veracity of what comes to his knowledge and still proceed to make damaging opprobrious remarks. Your Royal Highness has unfettered access to Prof. Ojerinde and you have enjoyed his benevolence more than any Oke-Ogun Oba. We recalled how Prof. Ojerinde led a large delegation of ODC to your 70th birthday ceremony in 2008 and gave a generous personal gift. We were witnesses to it.

Your Royal Highness, why did you not, as a royal father, invite Prof Ojerinde to ascertain the veracity of what you said has come to your knowledge? Why have you chosen to destroy a person who has been your benefactor and holds you in high esteem? Why do you have to set Prof. Ojerinde and the Oke-Ogun against the Oyo State Governor with your remark “It is my sincere hope that you will not allow yourself to inherit any personal prejudices of any individual against the Governor” You went on to identify that individual as Prof. Dibu Ojerinde where you said “No word of joy from our son Prof. Dibu Ojerinde on this state and national joyous occasion” The joyous occasion you referred to was the Supreme Court judgment that confirmed the victory of Governor Abiola Ajimobi. Would Your Royal Highness, honestly, advise or expect Prof. Ojerinde, a public officer to wear the toga of a politician and take a paid advert to congratulate the Governor? On what basis are you expecting Prof. Ojerinde to felicitate with and congratulate the Governor? This is just a case of giving a dog a bad name in order to hang it. Your Royal Highness should be conversant with the simple code of conduct for public officers.

In your undisguised attempt to politicize the issue you concluded your letter with a gratuitous advice “As your permanent Chairman, I hope you will join me to give the necessary cooperation to the well constituted Authority in the State represented by His Excellency, Governor Isiaka Abiola Ajimobi, the Executive Governor of Oyo State”. And you copied your letter to the Governor. How does the proposed solidarity visit of the Oke-Ogun Obas to the Ooni threaten cooperation to the constituted Authority and must be reported to the Governor , when in deed you as the Permanent Chairman left your palace to go and hawk a chieftaincy title to the Governor of another state? Should you not recognize and appreciate your State Governor first? Or has he not done something commendable that deserve being honored? As we have said earlier the Governor knows his true friends. We will only want to advise your Royal Highness to be cautious on riding on the back of tiger to wield power and to destroy others.

Lastly, if the truth must be told, your grouse with Prof. Ojerinde, and main reason why you are out to destroy him, and God will not allow you, is his acceptance of honourary chieftaincy title from the late Ooni of Ife. And that is your only basis of concluding that the planned solidarity visit of Oke-Ogun Obas to Ooni is at the instance of Prof. Ojerinde as if they were incapable of taking independent decision on their own. Your Royal Highness should not drag Oke-Ogun Obas and its people into unnecessary feud with Ooni? If you want fraternal support from Oke-ogun based on our common history the way you are going about it is not the way. You cannot earn it by intimidation and harassment of the Obas and People of Oke-Ogun. The Oke-Ogun Obas are not your slaves. Enough is enough. Leave of Oke Ogun.

Extracted

NYSC orientation camp,Iseyin

2016-05-28T09:58:00.001-07:00

softnews blogger

Before now, Oyo state NYSC camp(Temporary) was christened the worst camp in Nigeria though those who passed the judgement have nothing to write home about concerning their state,s NYSC orientation camp.
I could remember the plight of NYSC members at Paiko NYSC orientation camp in Niger state, where you will have to match on another man's faeces before you can get to a convenient place to do your own:but you have to endure,knowing that you are serving your fathers'land.
Today, Oyo state has the best NYSC orientation camp in Nigeria and no one says that one to the world.
Below is the new faces of Oyo state permanent orientation camp:

New University Established In Imo State By Okorocha

2016-04-16T07:48:00.000-07:00

Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha, has announced the establishment of a new state university in his hometown, Ogboko, in Ideato South Local Council of the state.

The governor disclosed this yesterday when he visited the National Universities Commission (NUC), to submit the Law and Order Planning Document for the university, to be known as Eastern Palm University.

He revealed that plans are also underway to establish three more universities in the state.

His words: “That long journey that started is now history, and because of my love for education, I had proposed to move the entire Imo State University to the place, but for political exigencies, that was not possible and hence the need to establish the Eastern Palm University.”

According to him, “There is need for more universities in the state, because education is our number one industry. We have also made plans to establish the Imo Layola University, Imo Catholic University, and Imo Anglican University.

He said that the State House of Assembly had accented to the establishment of the Eastern Palm University, to bring human capital development closer to the people.

Okorocha called for the classification of Nigerian universities, as being practiced in other nations.

In his address at the event, NUC Executive Secretary, Prof Julius Okojie, called for an adoption of martial plan for education in Nigeria

Presenting the certificate of recognition, Okojie urged the governor to put everything in place, in order to ensure a smooth takeoff of the university.

Royal Foods Center

2016-04-16T04:36:00.001-07:00

Royal Foods Center

Admission into college of Health Tech,Eleyeile has commenced !

2016-04-16T03:25:00.002-07:00

ADMISSION REQUIREMENT 2016/2017 academic session

S/N	COURSE	ENTRY REQUIREMENTS	DURATION	CAMPUS	ADVERT DAY	EXAM DATE	INTERVIEW DATE	RESUMPTION DATE
1	HND in Public Health Nursing	A. WASCE/SSCE/NECO 5Credit passes in Eng. Lang., Math. and 3 basic science subjects (Biology, Physics, Chemistry), not more than two sittings PLUS either b, c, d, or e below: B. Registered Nursing (RN) certificate. C. Registered Midwife (RM) certificate or any other basic nursing certificate e.g. Psychiatric Nursing Certificate plus one year post-qualification experience. D. BNSC candidates from Universities accredited by the National Universities Commission (NUC), the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria and WAHEB. E. BNSC candidates from Universities outside Nigeria with evidence of verifcation of certificates and license by the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria.	FOUR SEMESTERS. Candidates with BNSC certificate will start at HNDII Semester I.	MAIN	11/04/16	28/06/16	02/08/16	05/09/16
2	HEALTH TECHNICIAN TRAINING	Academically qualified Health Assistant who has been on the job for minimum of two years with 5 Credit passes O/L in WASC or NECO Exam. which includes Eng. Lang., Math., Biology, Physics and any Social Science subject	TWO	MAIN	11/04/16	28/06/16	02/08/16	05/09/16
3	HEALTH ASSISTANT TRAINING	i. 5passes O/L in WASC or NECO Examination which must include English Language, Biology/Health Science, and any other two subjects. 3 out of the five subjects must be credit passes. ii. Candidates with lesser qualification but with working experience in the Health sector will be considered.	TWO YEARS	OKEHO	11/04/16	28/06/16	02/08/16	05/09/16
4	PROFESSIONAL DIPLOMA IN HEALTH INFORMATION MANAGEMENT	A minimum of 3 Credits and 2 passes in any of the relevant subjects (i.e. English Language, Mathematics, Biology or Health Science, Chemistry or Physics and any other subject) at not more than two sittings.	THREE YEARS	MAIN	11/04/16	28/06/16	03/08/16	05/09/16
5	DIPLOMA IN ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH TECHNOLOGY (HND)	5 Credit passes O/L in WASC or NECO Examination, which must include English Language, Chemistry, Biology or Health Science, Mathematics and Physics in not more than two sittings.NECO and WAEC results cannot be combined	FOUR YEARS	MAIN	11/04/16	29/06/16	04/08/16	05/09/16
6	DIPLOMA IN HEALTH PROMOTION AND EDUCATION	4 credit passes in GCE., SSCE, NECO or Grade II, to include English Language, Mathematics, Biology/Health Science and any one (1) subject.	TWO YEARS	OKEHO	11/04/16	29/06/16	04/08/16	05/09/16
7	PROFESSIONAL DIPLOMA FOR ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH TECHNICIAN	WASC/NECO with at least 5passes which must include 4 credits in Eng. Biology or Health Science & any two of the following: Maths. Geo. Phy. Chem. & Agric in not more than two sittings. NECO and WAEC results cannot be combined. Holders of Environmental Health Assistant, Dental Surgery Assistants, Junior Community Health Extension Workers (JCHEW) and other related programmes with two years’ post qualification experience will be admitted at 200 level of the Environmental Health Technicians Diploma provided they fulfil the entry requirements.	THREE YEARS	OKEHO	11/04/16	29/06/16	04/08/16	05/09/16
8	DIPLOMA IN FOOD HYGIENE	Certificate in Food Hygiene (WAHEB). Credits in 5 subjects in NABTEB Certificate in English Language, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, Basic Electricity and Catering Craft Practice	ONE YEAR	MAIN	11/04/16	29/06/16	05/08/16	05/09/16
9	DIPLOMA IN FOOD HYGIENE	5credits passes in WASC/NECO ordinary level in Eng. Mathematics, Biology/Health Science, Chemistry & Physics.	THREE YEARS	MAIN	11/04/16	29/06/16	05/08/16	05/09/16
10	CERTIFICATE IN FOOD HYGIENE	Catering Craft Practice (NABTEB)	ONE YEAR	MAIN	11/04/16	29/06/16	05/08/16	05/09/16
11	CERTIFICATE IN FOOD PREPARATION / BAKERY & CONVECTIONERIES (NABTEB)	Grade II Certificate or School Certificate attempt.	ONE YEAR	MAIN	11/04/16	29/06/16	05/08/16	05/09/16
12	PHARM. TECHNICIAN TRAINING PROGRAM	5 Credit passes Ordinary Level Examination in Maths., Eng., Phy., Biology and Chemistry in not more than two sittings. NECO and WAEC results cannot be combined	THREE YEARS	MAIN	11/04/16	29/06/16	09/08/16	05/09/16
13	CERTIFICATE IN COMMUNITY HEALTH FOR JUNIOR COMMUNITY HEALTH EXTENSION WORKERS	5 credit passes Ordinary Level in WASC or NECO Examination in English Lang., Mathematics, Biology or Health Science, and any other two subjects in not more than 2 sitings	TWO YEARS	MAIN	11/04/16	29/06/16	10/08/16	05/09/16
14	DIPLOMA IN COMMUNITY HEALTH FOR COMMUNITY HEALTH EXTENSION WORKERS	i. By advancement of confirmed academically qualified JCHEW who has been on the grade for a minimum of 2 years, with valid practice license 4 Credit passes Ordinary Level in WASC or NECO Examination in English Lang., Mathematics, Biology or Health Science, Chemistry or Physics, in not more than two sittings.	THREE YEARS	MAIN	11/04/16	30/06/16	11/08/16	05/09/16
15	DENTAL SURGERY TECHNICIAN PROGRAMME.	5 O’Level credits in five subjects including Biology/Health Science, Maths, Eng, Chem. and any one other subject chosen from Physics, Econs., Geo, Agric. Sc. in not more than two sittings	THREE YEARS	MAIN	11/04/16	30/06/16	12/08/16	05/09/16

NOTE

Applicant should pay application fee of seven thousand naira only (N 7,000.00) to OYSCOHSTEC FCMB Account No. 3123549017.
Applicant should after payment for application do the following:

Take the teller to Account Section to obtain payment receipt
Collect scratch card with payment of N 1,500.00 (at Account Section)
Go to cybercafé with 2 passport photographs and a copy of credential(s) to fill admission form onwww.oyschst.com (cybercafé has their charges)
Go to college account section with a copy of filled form to collect:

College brochure

Past question booklet on payment of N 1,000.00.

IGP Arase Demotes, Transfers DPO Who Assaulted Female Traffic Warden

2016-04-14T08:06:00.004-07:00

The Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase, has ordered the demotion and immediate transfer of the Divisional Police Officer in charge of Ikenne Division of Ogun State, Patrick Onwu, who beat up a female traffic warden, Anifat Bello, for stopping his private car at NNPC junction, on IBB Boulevard in Ogun state on Monday April 11th.

Arase in a reaction to the incident called the state commissioner of police and ordered that Onwu be demoted to a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) from Superintendent of Police(SP).

Shocking Confessions Of A Lagos Pastor:‘I Am A Member Of Ogboni Confraternity’

2016-04-14T07:54:00.000-07:00

For many Christians, Ogboni society is not only regarded as a secret cult but also treated as an abomination that must not be identified with. A senior member of the Christendom however feels otherwise and in fact made a shocking revelation that will leave many gasping for breath.

For over four decades, 65-year-old Pastor Solomon Oladimeji has been a shepherd in the vineyard. Apart from being the founder of Cherubim and Seraphim Church, Orisun-Ayo, with branches at Alapere, Ketu, and Odogunyan in Ikorodu area of Lagos, Prophet Oladimeji reveals that he is also a top member of the Ogboni fraternity. He belongs to Saala Ogboni Fellowship of Nigeria (SOFN) – within the fraternity – where he occupies the position of Oluwo and the third in command to the overall head of the fraternity.

“I am not ashamed to confess my membership of the fraternity. I’m proud to be Ogboni member. In actual fact, being an Ogboni leader has made me not only a good disciple of Jesus Christ, but it has also gone a long way to make me a better citizen.”

He proudly told Sun’s Tunde Thomas in an interview in which he talked about his relationship with the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, members of his congregation, Ogboni and the Scripture among a host of others. Apart from Oladimeji, another cleric who has also founded several churches, Prophetess Eritosin and the paramount head of Saala Ogboni, Olamilekan Ifayemi also opened up on their relationship with Christendom. Below are excerpts:

When did you become a member of the Ogboni, and what were the circumstances that prompted you to be a member?

Although, my journey as shepherd for Jesus Christ’s flock is over 40 years, I became a member of the Ogboni society over 20 years ago. Initially, I was initiated into the Aborigine Ogboni fraternity, that is the one they call Ogboni Ibile, but later I joined Saala Ogboni fraternity, and since I made that decision, I have no regret.

As a member of Ogboni fraternity, my life is having a meaning. I have prospered. My coast has been enlarged. Members of my congregation are increasing everyday. I also thank God that due to my diligence as a committed member, I have been able to rise to the enviable position of Oluwo within the Ogboni fraternity.

Are your members, that is members of your church aware that you belong to Ogboni fraternity?

What is there to be hidden? I am not ashamed of my association with Ogboni Society, and I don’t hide it from members of my church. They all know that I’m a leader in the Ogboni group. When you even come to my house, I openly display my regalia as Ogboni chief. Let me quickly tell you this, by making my members know that I’m Ogboni member, it makes me popular among them. They describe me as an open and honest person. For that, many of them have been voluntarily coming to me pleading to be initiated as a member of Ogboni fraternity.

Some people would think that you use charms on them?

Why should I use charm on them or to charm them as some people will say? God forbid. I’m a child of light; darkness or anything evil has no place in my life or church. Your member will like you, when they know that the power you are using to solve their problems is power from Jesus Christ, my Lord and Saviour. I have never committed evil in my life and I will never do so till the day my Lord calls me home.

Are you saying that charm doesn’t exist?

No. I’m not saying so. Charms do exist, but it depends on how you use it. I used herbs and leaves combined with other items to prepare soap, anointing oil for members and other people that are having spiritual problems.

It is unfortunate that today a lot of Christians are suffering out of ignorance. You see some saying it is what my pastor or what my prophet tells me I believe. I will never use any soap, cream, oil by just any minister of God, but only if those members know what those pastors are doing.

Some of these pastors and prophets come to people like me to acquire power to perform miracle and wonders. Some of them are even Ogboni members like me. But they are hypocrites. I will never deny somebody who is my benefactor, and that is why you see me wearing and displaying beads and other items being used by Ogboni fraternity. To me, what matters again is saving life, and it doesn’t matter where you get saved whether it is in the house of babalawo or any juju priest. We are all calling on the name of the same God.

In my neighbourhood, both at Alapere and Odogunyan, many residents know me both as a cleric and Ogboni leader. In fact, Baale of Odogunyan, that is the community leader, knows me as the Oluwo of Saala Ogboni. I’m highly respected in the community. I joined the Ogboni fraternity because I like their ways of life. They are decent people. Contrary to misconception some people have about Ogboni, that we are evil people. Far from it, rather I will say that Ogboni members are not only children of Light, but we are also messengers of the Most High God because, we don’t kill but only save lives.

But some people believe Ogboni is evil, and that it is an evil association condemned by the Bible.
Those who say so are ignorant. They have been brainwashed by our colonial masters. But thank God, we are now in a different era, and we can all be reading the Bible without relying or depending on what the imperialist swould want us to believe in order to suit their own purpose. Some will tell you that Ogboni is evil because they use juju, they still carry out sacrifices of various forms by shedding blood of animals, and birds. Some even out of ignorance say we eat human flesh. Rubbish. May Almighty God forgive our traducers.

If you are talking about sacrifice, where did the Bible condemn sacrifice? Let our accusers point it out either in the old or the New Testament. Throughout my years at the seminary and the Bible school, I never come across such.

Then the sacrifice you are talking about, on several occasion especially in the Old Testament, sacrifices were carried out to atone for the sins of the Israelites.

It was also often carried out when the children of Israel were looking for one favour or another.

But coming down to the New Testament, don’t mind those confusionists who say that Jesus Christ, my own Lord and Saviour condemns sacrifice, what a big lie. If you can still remember when Jesus Christ himself was born the day His parents Joseph and Mary were taking Him to the Synagogue, Joseph has to sacrifice doves, and pigeon. He took the birds to the church. You can read in the book of Matthew and Luke.

So, if the parents of Jesus, my Master, the Author and Finisher of my Faith were involved in sacrifice, why would I say I want to distance myself from such?

Again, they accused us pastors of asking some people that have problems to go and bathe in a running stream, what is wrong with that, did such not happen in the Bible? Have we forgotten the story of Naman, the Syrian Army General who had leprosy and was looking for a cure, how Prophet Elisha asked him to go bathe inside River Jordan, and Naman was healed after complying with the prophet’s instruction, and this is why I said some people are dying due to ignorance.

Sacrifice is biblically ordained. I sacrificed animals and birds to offer prayers to cure and heal people of their ailments.

When I pray for you and it is revealed to me that I should kill duck, cow or even goat to offer prayers for you, I will tell you to make available such animals for sacrifice, and the moment we do that, you receive your healing.

When I kill fowl, goat, duck or even cow for sacrifice to heal somebody, I have not in any way transgressed. I’m only doing the will of Jesus Christ, who is my personal Lord and Saviour. Whatever is outside the Bible, you will never see me doing it.

Even in the book of Revelation, the use of leaves and herbs was recommended for healing. And for those who describe Ogboni fraternity as a cult, this is wrong. Ogboni is a society. We are transparent and honest people. Ogboni abhors evil. We are organized and disciplined. A cult is a group of people involved in secrecy, we are open to scrutiny. Let those who out of hearsay say evil about Ogboni be bold and come to our meeting and see whether it is true that we drink blood.

All those pastors saying rubbish about Ogboni are doing so to attract membership.

You say you sacrifice animals, if that is what is needed for someone’s prayers to be answered, but the Bible says Jesus has done that by His death, are you not going against the Bible?

Far from it! Whatever I do as Ogboni Pastor is biblically ordained and inspired. If you read your New Testament very well, Apostle Paul who is regarded as one of the most dynamic evangelists of his era says that without shedding blood, that there is no redemption. Am I the one that put that in the Bible? Even when Jesus Christ was about to be dedicated, His parents, Joseph and Mary took pigeons and doves to the church which were slaughtered as a sacrifice.

You also read in several other places both in the Old and New Testament where blood sacrifice took place. You remember the case of Cain and Abel. I even read Bible before I carry out this killing of animals as sacrifice in order to save souls.

You said you belong to Cherubim and Seraphim sect, is the leadership of the church aware of your membership of Ogboni fraternity, and again are members of the Christian Association of Nigeria aware of your position in Ogboni?

I have never hidden my membership of the Ogboni group. The church leaders are aware, and nobody has raised any eyebrow. I’ve even used my membership of Ogboni to win more souls for Christ. As for CAN leaders both at Alapere, and in Odogunyan, I play prominent roles in the affairs of the association. I pay my dues as and when due. I also sacrifice my time and energy for evangelism. They respect me a lot.

There are also other pastors there who are fellow Ogboni members. But I won’t mention names here unless the situation warrants it. Just as I’m not ashamed of the gospel so also I’m not ashamed of being an Ogboni pastor.

Some pastors do come to us at Ogboni meetings seeking spiritual assistance for their church grow in terms of membership. At other times, they seek our help that their members will obey them or do whatever they ask them to do without questioning their authority. But it is a big shame that these pastors when they mount pulpits would be deceiving their members by behaving and talking as if they are truly holy spirit-inspired. They should learn to give credit to whom it is due.

Let me be bold in saying this that it is unfortunate that the church is full of deceit today.

It is a big shame that many of these so-called men of God that claim that they rely on the power of the Holy Spirit to do miracles are liars. They are big liars.

Many of these pastors both within the orthodox and the Pentecostal fold are members of Ogboni fraternity. They come to the Ogboni meetings seeking powers which are given to them. We also have many professionals including lawyers, doctors, engineers, university lecturers, imams, Islamic and Christian leaders, and traditional rulers as our members. We don’t discriminate. Our mission here on earth is to save mankind.

Why do you think Ogboni has such powers that even pastors, as you say, seek power from it?

Ogboni members derive power from God. We call on the name of the supreme being which Yorubas called Olodumare. We call on Him and He answers our prayers anytime we call upon him. We also get power through some deities like Ogun, god of iron, Sango, god of thunder and so on and so forth.

What matters most is to have purity of heart and mind. When your mind is pure, when you call on God, He will answer your prayer. If God is not with us, the power we use as Ogboni members will fail us.

Without God’s backing, there is nothing we can do. Ask those pastors or any other person that have been to our meetings if we ever call on any other name during our meeting than that of Supreme being, Olodumare.

As the saying goes, the taste of the pudding is in the eating, whosoever is in doubt about what we do or wants to know whether I lie that God is the source of our power should endeavour to come to our meeting. Saala Ogboni runs an open-doors policy. You are welcome into our midst any time.

You said Ogboni is not a secret cult; if so, why is it not holding meetings openly as other religions?
It was in the days of the yore that Ogboni holds meetings in secret. Today everything about us is open. We hold our general meetings on 1st Sunday of every month in broad daylight.

During the meeting, we welcome new members, then we exchange ideas on issues that will bring development to the society. We also conduct vigils in the open like Christians and Muslims do. Just like their own, we hold such vigils in our headquarters, local branches, but we conduct our fellowship in the open. We hold such vigils in the second Sunday of every month. As a reporter who is naturally inquisitive, you are invited either our night vigils or general meeting as doing so will enable you to have open mind while writing your report.

Christians believe in Christ, Muslims believe in Mohammed, what does Ogboni believe in?

We believe 100 percent in Olodumare, the Supreme being, and it is from Him we derive our power to do all things. However, we also believe in lesser deities such as Ogun, Sango, Sonponna, and other deities which are believed to be mediums through which we can also call on the name of Olodumare. Ogboni strongly believes in the culture and traditions of our forefathers. You can call us traditionalists.

As Ogboni pastor, what spiritual advantage do you have that other pastors who are not Ogboni members don’t have?

The advantages I have are enormous. You know when you are doing something with purity of mind and purpose, God will answer your prayers. Being an Ogboni pastor, I have 100 percent direct access to Olodumare and when I call upon Him, He never disappoints, and that is why you see some people that call themselves pastors, they can’t see any vision, they can’t cure anybody, and that is why they come to our members in the Ogboni fellowship to acquire powers to enable them perform miracles.

You don’t need to kneel down before me before I know who you are or your problems. The moment I pray for you or you send a prayer request from any part of the globe, I will know what your problems are and the way out. But how many of these pastors can lay claim to such? The moment you become a member you will be automatically qualified to have or enjoy these powers.

As I said, Ogboni is not evil. We are not children of darkness, but that of light. If we are evil, why is our membership increasing with even both Islamic and Christian clerics seeking our assistance?

Pastors that are not Ogboni members will have problem of church growth that is talking about membership, that is why in some churches they don’t have up to 30 members, whereas in other ones you see a mammoth crowd.

For those who have large members, do you think it is by their own power that they do it?

No. Several pastors come to us and we do what we call Aworo in Yoruba for them.

Aworo is a kind of charm that draws crowd to a place. We do it for pastors, and that is why you see many of them driving state of the art cars. For those pastors that don’t know their ways, you see them in penury, drinking garri and coconut most of the time.

What is your educational background?

What does educational background have to do with my work as a servant of the Most High?

However to satisfy your curiosity, I had elementary education, and that was a period when

standard six certificate was of high quality than secondary school certificate today.

I was into private business of buying and selling textiles and wood when God called me into His ministry. Initially I resisted because my business was flourishing, but later I succumbed to God’s call.

Then, if you are asking about my educational background, which school or seminary did Moses, Joshua, Elisha and Elijah attend? And yet were they not great ministers of God who performed wonders? Even my Personal Saviour and Lord Jesus Christ, did He attend any school?

To be a minister of God is not an academic issue but everything depends on God who call you. If God does not call and you call yourself, your ministry will not prosper. You will be living from hand to mouth, but when it is God that called you to be a servant in His vineyard, you will prosper beyond your own wildest imagination.

Cameroon would-be suicide bombers ‘not Chibok girls

2016-03-29T06:59:00.004-07:00

Investigators have revealed the identity of a would-be suicide bomber arrested in Cameroon. She is not one of the 219 Chibok schoolgirls.

Cameroon released the identities of the girl and another would-be female suicide bomber to Nigerian security agencies and a delegation to Yaounde.

The self-confessed bomber is Aissatou Musa and her accomplice is Mamma Sali.

But the girls were yet to be handed over to the Federal Government as at press time last night.

According to sources, after debriefing and profiling of the two girls, the Cameroonian authorities communicated their findings to Nigerian security agencies and the delegation to Yaounde.

It was learnt that the two girls have no Western education.

A report said: “Available information as regards the acclaimed Chibok girl indicated as follows: Aissatou Musa, who claimed to be one of the Chibok girls, is the daughter of Musa Bladi and Fanta(mother) of Mandara ethnic group.

“The second girl is Mamma Sali. She is the daughter of Sali Chetima and Hajiya Bintou of Kanuri tribe.

“Both hailed from Bama and speak in Mandara, Hausa and Kanuri. They have never been to Western school, except Koranic schools. They have no relationship with the 219 Chibok girls.”

But as at press time, the two girls were yet to be released to the Federal Government.

A source said: “The girls have not been handed over to the Federal Government because the Cameroonian Government is still probing some clues on Boko Haram from them.

“You know, Northern Cameroon town have been attacked many times by Boko Haram since the insurgents were displaced from their bases and cells in the Francophone country.”

The #BringBackOurGirls group on Saturday gave the Federal Government 24 hours to unveil the true identity of the self-confessed bomber.

Cameroonian health and security officials yesterday started treatment on an arrested suicide bomber who claimed to be one of the 219 missing Chibok Girls.

The girl was found to be heavily drugged and bore several injuries on her body.

The girl’s health condition delayed her movement to the far north regional capital of Cameroon, Maroua, as earlier planned.

Pictures of the arrested suspected bomber obtained by Nigerian officials indicated that the girl was likely a minor, between ages nine to 12 years.

Her accomplice was about 30 years or more, and both spoke only in Kanuri language.

Considering the well-known guidelines regarding the publication of photography of minors, the statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, said it was decided to forward the pictures of the suspected bomber to the Murtala Mohammed Foundation for verification by interested Chibok community stakeholders.

EgyptAir hijacker arrested – Authority

2016-03-29T06:56:00.000-07:00

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Cyprus has announced that the EgyptAir hijacker has been arrested and currently in the custody of authorities in Cyprus.

This is according to a tweet posted by Homer Mavrommatis, Director of the Cyprus Ministry of Foreign Affairs Crisis Management Center, said Tuesday.

Following the hijacked MS181, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Cyprus, Ioannis Kasoulides is set to address a press conference.

Authorities identified the hijacker as Egyptian national Seif El Din Mustafa, presidential spokesman Alaa Yousuf said. Earlier, Yousuf identified the hijacker as an Egyptian-American dual citizen with a different name.

The Airbus 320 was carrying at least 81 people, Egypt’s Civil Aviation Ministry said.

The hijacking is not related to terrorism, but rather the hijacker’s ex-wife, a spokesman for the Cyprus Transport Ministry said.

Is Diabetes Killing You? Get Rid Of It Naturally In 30days

2016-03-29T06:53:00.001-07:00

Fuel scarcity to end soon as Buhari approves additional crude oil

2016-03-29T06:49:00.003-07:00

Buhari

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Tuesday said that President Muhammadu Buhari has given approval for the corporation to take additional crude oil volume to guarantee the country’s supply of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) petrol.

In a statement titled “NNPC determined to end fuel scarcity,” its Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, Garba Deen Muhammed, said that due to the challenges that “major oil marketers face in contributing their supply quota due to constraint in accessing foreign exchange and outstanding subsidy obligations, NNPC is burdened with the obligation to guarantee almost 100% in the national supply, since the domestic crude oil supply (445,000 bbls/d) can only guarantee about 50% of the 45 million litres national requirement for petrol; we have secured presidential approval to take additional crude oil volume to guarantee national supply of petrol.”

Explaining the causes of the scarcity, the spokesman noted that in continuing with our desire to keep Nigerians abreast of the key actions taken in the downstream petroleum sector, NNPC re-assured Nigerians that it was on top of the petroleum products supply and distribution situation, and it remained committed to eliminating this endemic issue once and for all within the next few days.

According to the statement, the current administration inherited a huge catalog of issues and problems in the downstream sector not limited to arrears of subsidy payments to Oil Marketers, corruption and inefficiencies in the supply and distribution chain, incessant vandalism of pipelines, refineries poor performance, among others.

It added that; “A combination of these issues resulted in most oil majors completely pulling out from the importation business and NNPC assuming a near 100% importation obligation without the necessary logistics put in place.

“In line with the change agenda of this Administration, NNPC Management initiated and made progress on various key solutions to providing a lasting end to these issues.

“The unpaid arrears arising from the subsidy regime had necessitated most oil marketers to stop all forms of involvement in petroleum products imports. Thankfully, with the firm support of Mr. President and the National Assembly, we greatly reduced this debt burden and since January, 1st 2016 we have been able to eliminate subsidy payments by managing prices at current levels through price modulation. This has resulted to savings of over 100bn Naira monthly for the nation.
“Nationwide Petroleum supply and distribution have been ramped up to all states to ensure product availability in the country. The current supply to States is in excess of the normal consumption especially in the five major consuming cities.”The spokesman said that the corporation has intensified monitoring to ensure full compliance with approved prices.

Violations of approved prices and hoarding of petroleum products attract the following penalties, he vowed.

The penalties, according NNPC, include giving out of petroleum products free to the public, sealing off fuel stations found to be hoarding petroleum products and payment of a fine.

The corporation also vowed to withdraw Marketer’s License, stressing that “Any NNPC, DPR, PPPRA or Government Agent found conniving /wanting will be sanctioned accordingly in line with public service guidelines and procedures.

“As partners in progress, we encourage the general public to report product hoarders and saboteurs of this Administration’s change efforts as they are wittingly fighting every bold change effort currently being put in place. We encourage everyone to shun panic buying and undue return trips as this attitude emboldens marketers to hoard products.”

The statement noted that supply constraints due to foreign exchange challenges are being resolved through collaboration with the Central Bank of Nigeria on innovative ways of closing the gaps in accessing foreign exchange. It said that as a result of credible leadership provided by the Minster of State, Petroleum Resources/Group Managing Director, NNPC, Dr. Emmanuel Kachikwu and the major international upstream oil companies have indicated their willingness to support major oil marketing companies with some of the required foreign exchange.

Continuing, the statement noted that “We are vigorously pursuing an improved model for ‘crude oil for refined product’ exchange (the Direct Sale – Direct Purchase arrangement) which eliminates inefficiencies with an attendant cost saving for the nation of about $1 billion. This will guarantee sustainable product supply to the nation.

“In the medium term, NNPC is working on sustainable strategies to permanently address the issues and challenges facing the midstream and downstream sectors. The overarching objective is to make Nigeria a net exporter of Petroleum products as was the case in the 1970’s.

“Our commitment to ramp up our local Refining capacity and availability remains un-waivered with the ongoing rehabilitation works targeted at running all Refineries at a minimum 70% capacity utilization within the next 6 – 8 months. This is in addition to our initiative of increasing the combined capacity of the domestic refineries through co-locating smaller but cost efficient modular refineries within the existing refineries premises within a time frame of 12-24 months.

“To curb Storage and Logistics challenges, we are working on a joint partnership with technically and financially capable investors to ensure that petroleum products transportation and storage facilities are efficiently operated on an open-access common-carrier user-tariff basis.

“Some of these Depots will be nominated as strategic reserves while we take possession of a strategic reserve vessel in the next 3 months. Tangible results will be delivered within the next 3 – 6 months.

“Changes usually take time, effort and a lot of focus. We understand the plight of Nigerians and the impact on the overall economy. We genuinely empathize with the attendant sufferings and wish to reassure that we are focused and committed to bring an end to this situation within the next few days and we kindly call on all Nigerians to partner with us on this journey to allowing the whole process of change come into fruition.”

Arms deal: Drama as police lay ambush for Metuh in court

2016-03-25T03:28:00.001-07:00

THERE was a mild drama at the premises of the Federal High Court in Abuja, on Thursday, as men of the Nigeria Police stormed the premises of the court, where the embattled National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olisah Metuh, is standing trial over his alleged involvement in the $ 2.1 billion arms purchase scandal.

The police were in court in wait to rearrest Metuh and take him back to the Kuje Prisons custody should the trial judge, Justice Okon Abang, disqualifed himself from the trial, following allegation of bias by the PDP spokesman.

Metuh had, last week, accused the judge of bias, saying he would not get justice if his trial continued in his court.

Metuh, through his lawyers, further asked the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Ibrahim Auta, to withdraw his trial from Justice Abang and reassign it to another judge.

The PDP spokesman is standing trial for allegedly obtaining the sum of N400 million from the former National Security Adviser (NSA), Colonel Sambo Dasiki.

When the matter came up on Thursday, the defence counsel, Emeka Etiaba, informed the court that the defence team had filed a motion for stay of proceedings and another application for the judge to disqualify himself on ground that they would not get justice should he continued with the matter.

He also informed the court that his team had also appealed against the ruling of the court on the no-case submission filed by the defence.

Etiaba urged the court to take the application for motion for disqualification first as it touched on the jurisdiction of the court.

He admitted that the prosecution team were not served with the application seeking to disqualify the judge, saying that prosecution team rejected service on the flimsy excuse that the lawyer, who served them, was not a court bailiff.

Etiaba urged the court to adjourn the matter, saying the trial could not proceed because of the lead defence counsel, Dr Onyechi Ikpeazu’s absence.

He had earlier told the court that Ikpeazu was indisposed as a result of his ailment and that he needed time to recover to handle the case himself.

On his part, the prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs opposed the application for adjournment and expressed concern that the defence was not fair to him by not serving him with the motion to disqualify the judge after he had called eight witnesses and the defence made a no-case submission, which the court ruled against the defence.

Jacobs told the court that he needed time to reply to the motion seeking to disqualify the judge.

The judge, after listening to would take the application on jurisdiction and if it succeeded, he would disqualify himself, but if it failed, the defendant would be at liberty to open their case.

He also said he would proceed to take the application for stay of proceeding and if it succeeded, the court would wait for the ruling of the court of appeal, but if it failed, the defendant would open his case.

The judge, however, warned that the next adjourned date might be the last chance the court would give to the defendant to open their case.

He traced the history of the proceedings and noted that the matter had been adjourned three times on the instance of the defendant.

Justice Abang said the petition written against him to the Chief Judge, Justice Ibrahim Auta and his response to the petition, now formed part of the records of the court.

The EFCC, in its charge against Metuh, who was arraigned alongside his firm, Destra Investments Limited, alleged that he received N400 million, part of the money meant for the procurement of arms, from the Office of the NSA in November, 2014.

Bad economy: I've 3 years to go - Buhari

2016-03-25T03:27:00.001-07:00

President Muhamadu Buhari on Thursday told the top hierarchy of All Progressives Congress, APC that whenever they are confronted with question on bad state of the economy, they should respond by saying the government still have three more years to go.

The President also said that Nigeria was able to save over N3 trillion with the implementation of the Treasury Single Account, TSA.

He spoke at the National Executive Committee (NEC), meeting at the National Secretariat of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abuja.

The President equally disclosed that probe of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC would soon kick start once there are enough evidences to nail the culprits.

The corporation he added was been reorganised to know the exact amount of crude taken out of the country.

On the state of economy, he said that, "I wonder why people could not believe that in Nigeria; about 27 out of 36 states have difficulty in paying basic salaries of their workers".

On the TSA he said that, "If you go and see the Central Bank governor, he will tell you that in the TSA, we have more than N3 trillion. Where would this money have been if TSA was not in vogue?

"I was made to understand that vouchers would have quickly been raised towards the end of the financial year and checks made. Whether they are going into projects or private pockets, nobody can prove it to you.

"That money is there, it is identified, if is quantified and when the budget comes back eventually, the Ministry of Finance will see how to allocate it to the rest of the country," he stated.

On NNPC, he said that "We have tried to make sure that NNPC is reorganised, so that we know how much of our crude is taken, how much it is sold and to which account the money is going.

"But I tell you that up to the time we came, if anybody told you that he knows how much of crude exchanges hands either on the high sea or reaching their destination and the accounts the money goes into, that person is not telling you the truth. We are getting the cooperation of countries that has received this crude. But we have to be sure of the facts in our hands before we start prosecution so that Nigerians will believe what we have been telling them," he stated.

On the outcome of the NEC meeting, the National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, who briefed newsmen at the end of party's NEC, said that it was resolved at the meeting to establish a budget for the party.

According to him, "We went through all our experiences since the last elections and we have taken decisions as to where are strengths were, where we did not quite measure up and all these are going to be addressed.

"For the first time, NEC has established a budget for the party and we have set up a committee to look once more into the constitution of the party to be able to streamline it.

"More particularly, NEC decided to down size our Board of Trustees in line with all other constitutional amendment," he said.

N7 billion allegation: Musa Dikwa apologises to Oritsejafor, Oyedepo

2016-03-25T03:25:00.002-07:00

Barely one year after his allegation that ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, allegedly gave out N7 billion to the leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and Pentecostal Fellowship off Nigeria (PFN), to facilitate and support his reelection, controversial Pastor and Executive Director of the Voice of Northern Christian Movement (VNCM), Kallamu Musa Dike, has apologised to those affected by his statement.

One of those Dikwa accused of benefitting in the presidential largesse, Pastor Bosun Emmanuel, who disclosed this to correspondents in Abuja, on Thursday, during a press briefing, said, specifically, Dike's Dikwa apologised to the President of CAN, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor; General Overseer of Living Faith Worldwide aka Winners Chapel, Bishop David Oyedepo and Secretary, National Christian Elders Forum (NCEF), Pastor Bosun Emmanuel.

Bosun Emmanuel disclosed this in Abuja on Thursday during an interview session with corespondents.

While sharing the discussion he had with the controversial pastor, he said, "It would be recalled that during the electioneering campaign leading to the 2015 elections, Musa Dikwa addressed a press conference in which he claimed three ministers of the gospel, the President of CAN (Pritsejafor), Bishop David Oyedepo and myself (Pastor Bosun Emmanuel) received N7 billion from the Jonathan administration to mobilise ministers of the gospel nationwide to campaign for his re-election.

"The story was started by the former governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi who claimed the sum of N6 billion was given to pastors to campaign for Jonathan’s re-election.

It was the story of Amaechi that Musa Dikwa latched on to and insisted that it was not N6 billion but N7 billion and proceeded to mention the names of the three ministers of the gospel.

As we could recall, Rotimi Amaechi was the Director of the Campaign for the election of the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, now President Muhammadu Buhari. "We met Musa Dikwa personally in Jos on Wednesday 12th August, 2015.

I sat directly facing him for almost three hours and Musa Dikwa did not know he was talking to the pastor he lied against. We were interested in finding out, “were you there when the money was being shared”? No, he was not. “Was the money shared in Naira?” “No, it was in dollars." It was the conversion that made it N7 billion.

“So, if you were not there, how did you know the money was being shared and the purpose for which it was shared?” He said he was informed by a CAN official in Abuja who told him to come quickly and collect his own share.

"Ironically, the CAN official Musa Dikwa mentioned as the informant was also one of the people who got Musa Dikwa arrested by DSS for carrying unsubstantiated story, and the same man is also one of the five respondents in the N300 million suit of Musa Dikwa against Department of States Services (DSS).

"(He gave us photocopies) The big question is, if the man Musa mentioned as the source of the N7 billion Naira story is truly the source, why would the same man invite DSS to arrest him, and why would Musa join the man as a respondent in a N300 million lawsuit? Musa Dikwa claimed that the DSS violated his Human Rights by arresting him.

"Now, see who is heading for court? What right does he have to complain of the violation of his rights? What if I should sue Musa Dikwa N500 million for defamation of character? "Anyway, he apologised for including the name of Pastor Bosun Emmanuel in the story and even assured us that he would call another Press Conference to clear Pastor Bosun. So far, he has not done that.

The implication is that even the inclusion of CAN President and Bishop Oyedepo in the campaign of calumny could also be false. "The following day, 13th August, 2015, Musa came again to meet us at our lodging and disclosed the name of the person who specifically instructed him to include my name. He mentioned the name of one of the APC Pastors based in Lagos.

So it became clear what happened. My name was included to discredit the WAKE UP CALL CD, while, (I think) Bishop Oyedepo was included because he came out openly to declare support for Jonathan and the President of CAN was mentioned to divide the church. It was a classical APC campaign by deception.

"It is not impossible that some clerics collected money to campaign for politicians on both sides during the elections. That could have happened amongst Muslim clerics and Christian clergy. But, this N7 billion story is hogwash. I can say categorically that I have never collected a kobo from a politician or government official in my life to do Christian ministry. Musa Dikwa LIED against me, but thank God, he confessed.

"For now, I will allow the issue to rest and I will encourage Musa Dikwa to remember all the admonitions and counsel that ministers of the gospel gave him during the meeting. A member of the body cannot be doing injury to the body. Peddling false information is not a Christian virtue." However, several calls, SMS and email to Musa Dikwa, for response were not replied, while his telephone remained on 'busy' mode.

I didn’t succeed in Kogi, Bayelsa, Rivers elections —Buhari

2016-03-25T03:24:00.002-07:00

PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari, on Thursday, expressed disappointment at the way the conduct of elections in Kogi, Bayelsa and Rivers went and particularly described that of Rivers rerun, which was marred with violence, as shameful.

The president made this known at the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at its national headquarters in Abuja, adding, however, that he would address the problem of election violence in subsequent elections.

“I am afraid I did not succeed in the election in Kogi, Bayelsa, Rivers. I think more Nigerians are killed or killed themselves in Rivers than in any particular state.

“At this stage of our political development, to remain brutal is shameful and as a government, I promise we will do something by the next general election.

https://t.co/Ti8QsYvyQw“I want all Nigerians to believe and hold their permanent voter card (PVC) as personal entitlement as Nigerians and use it the way they like, and vote for whoever they like at whichever election. If they voluntarily sold it, it is part of their right and so, let them sell it and remain at home and not participate in any election.

“But let the law enforcement agencies give them the confidence that nobody, who has money to hire thugs and give them drugs, would stop them from exercising their fundamental right.

The president also told the the top hierarchy of APC that whenever they are confronted with question on the bad state of the economy, they should respond by saying the government still have three more years to go.

The president said the country was able to save over N3 trillion with the implementation of the Treasury Single Account (TSA).

He equally disclosed that probe of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) would soon kick start once there were enough evidences to nail the culprits.

The corporation, he added, was being re-organised to know the exact amount of crude taken out of the country.

On the state of economy, he said “I wonder why people could not believe that in Nigeria, about 27 out of 36 states have difficulty in paying basic salaries of their workers.”

On the TSA, he said “if you go and see the Central Bank governor, he will tell you that in the TSA, we have more than N3 trillion. Where would this money have been if TSA was not in vogue?

“I was made to understand that vouchers would have quickly been raised towards the end of the financial year and checks made. Whether they are going into projects or private pockets, nobody can prove it to you.

“That money is there, it is identified, it is quantified and when the budget comes back eventually, the Ministry of Finance will see how to allocate it to the rest of the country.”

On NNPC, he said “we have tried to make sure it is reorganised, so that we know how much of our crude is taken, how much is sold and to which account the money is going.

“But I tell you that up till the time we came, if anybody told you that he knows how much of crude exchanges hands either on the high sea or reaching their destination and the accounts the money goes into, that person is not telling you the truth.

“We are getting the cooperation of countries that has received this crude. But we have to be sure of the facts in our hands before we start prosecution, so that Nigerians will believe what we have been telling them.”

“I was telling a British team that came to supervise the training team they sent, that when I was in uniform, we took the perceived corrupt ones and put them in safe custody and quietly told them they were guilty until they can prove themselves innocent.

“But now, under multiparty democratic system, I see some of them ride Rolls Royce, some of them have built estates here, but they are innocent until we can prove them guilty.

“This situation is true and you don’t need to stretch your imagination to find out.

“If you can find out, you discover that a level eight officer has five houses, while you, as a permanent secretary or commissioner is still living in a rented house.

“That is the credible thing to do now. We have to get credible evidence to carry out successful prosecution and get judgment from the judiciary.

“Effort is being made to give a list of recoveries in whatever currencies so far, so that Nigerians will know that it is not all about long stories,” he said.

He urged APC members to continue to make sacrifices, adding that when he came on board, he had to cut down on cost by reducing the 42 ministries to 24.

The president also apologised for dissolving governing councils of universities along with the boards of parastatal agencies.

“We gave a blanket order which we had to rescind when we said all boards are suspended or dissolved. We had to go back and lick our vomit in terms of universities councils, because we found out that according to their laws, they cannot choose vice chancellors unless the councils sit and interview candidates who want to be VCs.

“So, there is nothing wrong in saying sorry and going back on your decision. So, we said sorry and allow all the universities to continue with their councils.

“So, please, try to bear with us as we reflect on where we found ourselves,” he said.

On the accusation of globe trotting, Buhari explained that ‘”sometimes, you need to present your case on personal basis to your economic colleagues and neighbours.

“Nothing is better than personal touch and I believe that we are learning a lot and eventually, the nation will realise. So, I don’t envy you on the harassment you are going through from your constituencies.

“Take it with a lot of determination and we will be all right, God willing,” he said.

Buhari said the government had made progress in security, as 14 out of the 774 local governments seized by insurgents had been recaptured.

Speaking on the outcome of the NEC meeting, the national chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, while briefing newsmen, said it was resolved at the meeting to establish a budget for the party.

According to him, “we went through all our experiences since the last elections and we have taken decisions as to where are strengths were, where we did not quite measure up and all these are going to be addressed.

“For the first time, NEC has established a budget for the party and we have set up a committee to look once more into the constitution of the party to be able to streamline it.

“More particularly, NEC decided to downsize our Board of Trustees (BoT), in line with all other constitutional amendment.”