Oyo State government has called on Nigerians not to continue to ignore the natural warnings associated to global warming as they portend immediate danger to human’s safe existence.

It attributed environmental hazards, increasing mental and psychological illness, social infrastructural destruction and rape cases, women and child abuses as direct effects of human’s continued treatment of global warming as non-existing.

Oyo State deputy governor, Engr. Rauf Olaniyan ably represented by the Secretary, Oyo State Emergency Management Agency (OYSEMA), Alhaji Lukman Aransi stated this at a sensitization program on Impacts of Climate Change on environment which held at Ogbomoso on Tuesday said all efforts must be targeted at making the people, especially in the urban and those in the rural areas realize the effects of their negative actions on their environment.

He said Oyo State could not be left behind in the efforts geared at changing people’s attitude towards the climate, especially as the world was already facing the consequences of climate change.

“Devastating effects of disasters are better imagined than felt, their effects are multifarious, ranging from psycho-social, economic demography and environmental disruption, other negative effects infrastructural destruction and exposure of the vulnerable ones, particularly women and children to greater abuse.

“There is a broad consensus from a number of different approaches and scientific disciplines that the world is warming at a faster rate than any other time in the last one thousand years, due to a rapid rise in the green house gasses.

“The present administration in the State has come to realize that everyone irrespective of sex, creed, religion or even race, has vital roles to play in disaster risk reduction, since disaster is an ill-wind that blows no one any good, it can happen anywhere, anytime to anybody.

“Given series of predictions on 2019 annual rainfall and the global attention that climate change has attracted as a result of flood, civil strife, farmers-herders’ crisis and even epidemics, it is my fervent hope that this program will strengthen the capacity of participants to prevent and mitigate disasters.”

The program was attended and papers were delivered by strategic public officials and stakeholders like the men of Nigerian police, Fire Service Department, community health personnel, local government administrators and traditional rulers among others.

The sensitization program was the second of its kind as the first was held at Saki, Saki West Local government to cover participants within the Oke-Ogun zone of Oyo State.

The Head of Local Administration (HLA), Ogbomoso South Local government, Mr Olusegun Oladokun, the Primary Health Centers Coordinator, Ogbomoso South local government, Mrs Folake Olajide and representative of the Fire Service, Mr Awoyemi Adesina hailed the State administration for the program which they claimed would go a long way in stemming the effects of natural disaster as people have been well sensitized.

They called on the State government to put more fund into the campaign and sensitization effort so as to achieve more mileage in sustaining awareness and prevention of disasters.

By Samsudeen Mobolaji Popoola

Virtues of late former Governor of Oyo State, Alhaji Lamidi Onaolapo Adesina were on Monday glowingly extolled by family, friends and political followers.

The moral qualities of the late accomplished educationist turned political gladiator was highly hailed at the 7th remembrance ceremony organized in his honour at his Felele residence, Ibadan.

Mrs. Iyabo Adesina, daughter of late icon, in her opening address after the fidau prayer service thanked the political disciples of her late father for promoting the his legacy since demise.

In their separate remarks, Alhaja Sarat Adesina, widow of late former Governor, Chief Michael Adeniyi former Secretary to the State Government, Alh. Abu Gbadamosi, a renowned politician, Sen. Monsurat Sunmonu, the leader of the Unity Forum, Barr. Lowo Obisesan, former Commissioner for Environment, Hon. Segun Olaleye and a host of other speakers glowingly said there was no politician in this present dispensation that had not in one way or the other gone through the leadership of late Lam Adesina.

Delivering the closing address, the Oyo State Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Dr. Wasiu Olatubosun glorified the late politician for bringing him and many prominent political figures this far in murky politics.

He therefore implored the political gaffers in the country to emulate the unalloyed magnanimity of the late Awoist in order to have an egalitarian society as wished by all and sundry.

The charged atmosphere which was climaxed with the presentation of symbolic cheques of the annual bursary award of Hon. Adedapo Lam-Adesina to over 100 students drawn across the 33 local government area of the State also had in attendance Barr. Iyiola Oladokun, the Deputy of late Lam Adesina, Dr. Gbola Adetunji, a former Commissioner for Health, Hon. Wasiu Musah, the immediate Oyo State Deputy Speaker, Barr. Seun Ashamu, the Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources, Alhaji Saheed Alaran, Hon. Ganiyu Ayesoro, Alhaji A bass Oloko and other notable political bigwigs across the party lines.

Veteran Organisation for Human Rights (VOHRI), has pleaded that Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, and the Commissioner of Police, Shina Olukolu, intervene in an alleged violation of rights case involving Mrs. Sekinah Olohunosebi.

Mrs. Olohunosebi was said to have bought eight acres on October 21, 2006, for her brothers; Messrs AbduRasid Olohunosebi and Nafiu Imran at Igbara Village, Elebu, Ibadan from the late Chief Busari Ogunkeye, of S6/140 Alagbada, Ogunkeye compound, Kudeti, Ibadan.

She said, Sesan Olootu, Kehinde Apanpa, and Falilatu Opadijo are threatening to take over the land.

According to Abayomi Sakirullahi, and Abimbola Adekunle, in Ibadan, the group said the director of State Services and House of Assembly Speaker should look into the alleged seizure of a land belonging to Olohunosebi by the trio.
The group noted that Olohunosebi bought
It said some people, led by Olooto and Apanpa, since 2017, had been allegedly boasting they would take over the land.

“Eleha Olohunosebi Sekinah bought eight acres of land for her two brothers – Messrs AbduRasid Olohunosebi and Nafiu Imran, at Igbara Village, Elebu area, Ibadan, from the late Chief Busari Ogunkeye, of S6/140 Alagbada, Ogunkeye Compound, Kudeti, Ibadan – with full documentation, on October 21, 2006.

‘’The vendor of the land, the late Chief Busari Ogunkeye, left his son, Mr. Sikiru Ogunkeye, as a living witness… In 2016, when the land was bulldozed and cleared, no one challenged the purchaser then.
“However, in early 2017, when Sesan Olooto, and his men invaded the land, they did not show any valid documents to show that they were the owners of the land. Nonetheless, the police did not act … Again, on July 22 …when Eleha Sekinah reported the case of another invasion … to the police at Elebu Oke-Alaro Police Station, only a lip service was paid on the issue.
“A group of persons invaded the land, removed the corner-pieces and signposts. The group, led by Sesan Olooto … which included Kehinde Apanpa and others…claimed the land belonged to Falilatu Opadijo.

“They beat up Mr. Fasola assigned to oversee the land. The case was reported to the State CID through a petition written by B.K. Salami. The then DCP Bature assigned the case to Superintendent Badiru and one officer… Valentine.

‘’Sesan Olooto and Kehinde Apanpa were invited by the police and only Kehinde Apanpa showed up…the only thing the police did was to tell the two parties …to solve the case … Thereafter the damaged corner-pieces and signposts were fixed.

“On July 22, 2019, Sekinah Olohunosebi went for an on-the-spot assessment of the land. She met Kehinde Apanpa and others …claiming they had been sent by … Sesan Olooto.

‘’Kehinde Apanpa and his colleagues had removed the corner-pieces and the signposts when Eleha got to the land.
“The case was reported to Oke-Alaro, Elebu Police Station. The DPO sent two policemen for an on-the-spot assessment …On getting there, the people had fled. The policemen took some photographs of the damaged corner-pieces and the removed signposts ‘’
But Apanpa and Olootu described the allegations as an attempt to defame their characters.
In a telephone conversation, they said a wrong person sold the land, owned by Mrs. Opadijo, to Olohunosebi.
They added that they had told Olohunosebi to settle with Opadijo, instead of making the issue a media war.

Apanpa said: “I am happy that you called me. It is a defamation of our characters. Nobody wants to take her land. It was a wrong person that sold the land to her. That is what we are saying that she should meet Mrs. Opadijo.
“We are not threatening her. It is she that is threatening us. The case was taken to OC Monitoring. The person that sold the land to her is not the owner.

Oyo State Governor, Engineer Seyi Makinde, has emphasised the need for religious tolerance and harmony in the country.

Engr Makinde, in a message to Nigerian Muslims on the occasion of the Eid-el-Maulud celebration said that the times call for greater emphasis on religious harmony, tolerance, and peaceful co-existence.

The Governor said: “We are at a time where religious harmony is a necessary ingredient of our daily life. This is because a number of revisionists are trying to hide under the passion that is usually inflamed by religion to cause disharmony and disrupt the peace.

“We must resist such revisionists and tell them in clear terms that ours is a society that values peaceful coexistence, brotherhood, and unity. Like the Motto of our Dear Country, Unity, and Faith, we must continue to remain united even when we practice a different faith.

“On behalf of the government and the good people of Oyo State, let me congratulate all our Muslim brothers and sisters on the turn of another Eid-el-Maulud and reiterate that we all remain faithful to the teachings of the Holy Quran, which emphasis tolerance, respect for one another, humane conduct and love for fellow human beings.

“We can only build a great nation when we are truly our brothers’ keepers and adhere to the teachings of the prophet who emphasise love as a golden virtue among humanity.”

Oyo State Governor, Engineer Seyi Makinde, has said on Sunday, that the people of Oyo State cannot be divided along religious lines while he told some persons seeking to divide the people through religion toibd other jobs too.

Governor Makinde, stated this while addressing the congregation at the St Paul Anglican Church, Yemetu, Ibadan, during the 80th thanksgiving service for his mother, Mrs. Abigael Omojolagbe Makinde, stated that the state is too interconnected to be divided along religious lines.

As gathered by OYOMIND.COM
NG, the Governor said that, some religious activists who are seeking to divide Oyo people along religious lines would not succeed because, every home in the state has a full complement of both religions.

According to the him, the nature of families in Oyo State was such that adherents of different religions, especially Islam and Christianity co-habit in the same family.

He stated that religion cannot, therefore, be exploited as a weapon to divide the people and cause disaffection and disunity in the State.

The Governor added that though it had become clear that some people “do not want the Government to succeed,” he was appreciative to God and the people for their continued support, promising that his Government would continue to serve the State.

The Governor said: “I want to greet the Aare Musulumi of Yorubaland, Edo and Delta states, Alhaji Dawud Akinola because he is here with us today. What this means is that those who are seeking to use religion to divide us should look for another job.

“As a government, we will do what is right and proper. There is not one family in this state that there is no Muslims or Christians, so, issues of religion cannot divide us in Oyo state.”

Twenty-three of the rescued inmates of the illegal Olore Correctional Center at Ibadan have been admitted at the Adeoyo State hospital in Ibadan so they could receive better health treatment before being released to their families while about hundred others have been reunited with their families.

You would recalled that OYOMIND.COM.NG reported that the notorious center was last week discovered by the State government where the inmates were rescued by security personnel, after which the State governor visited the place and ordered the demolition of the structure used for the center.

The State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Inclusion, Alhaja Faosat Danni stated this at the weekend while briefing newsmen on the update about the saga in her office.

Sanni said “after due profiling of the rescued inmates by the relevant State government agency and security agencies, over hundreds rescued inmates were handed over to their relatives and right individuals with an agreement not to return them to such centers again.”

She urged Parents and guardians to always seek government assistance in correcting societal ills rather than subjecting their children to the care of unregistered correctional centers.

“Cases like this and many societal ills are better handled by social workers in the ministry, parents and guardians should always consult the ministry for corrections and rehabilitation of their wards in a better way rather than subjecting them to torture,” she added.

Alhaja Sanni stressed that government has continue to ensure that adequate food, water and conveniences were provided for the evacuate-es as about 23 of them still receiving treatment at Adeoyo State hospital due to their critical conditions.

Oyo State Road Transport Management Authority (OYRTMA) at the weekend trained over fifty commercial motorists on road safety regulations and measures to curb traffic accidents on major road in the state.

The training, organized in conjunction with the Institute of Road Transport Workers, Oyo State Chapter was aimed at producing better and cautious drivers across the State to reducing road accidents on the State’s highways.

The State Road Transport Management Authority (OYRTMA) commenced the special training session for drivers and motorists drawn across the State on Road Safety, Signs, Rules and Regulations as well as defensive driving in line with the constitutional responsibilities of the agency enshrined in the Oyo State Road Traffic Management Authority Law, 2009 in sections 16 (a, d, f, n, o, p).

The Chairman of OYRTMA, Mogaji Akin Fagbemi while addressing beneficiaries of the 1st batch of the training at the OYRTMA headquarters in Ibadan, charged them to seize the opportunity to learn as much as possible so as to be good ambassadors of the Transport Institute and that of OYRTMA.

He further implored them to put into use all lessons that would be learnt in the course of the training, saying “this training is for the benefit of all road users to be abreast of the rules and regulations guiding the usage of highways and driving in Oyo State.

“We are working to put the incidents of traffic accidents to the lowest degree and make the State a good example to others in the area of traffic regulation compliance and discipline.”

The intention to empower commercial motorists in the State was also disclosed as the government partnered with Sterling Bank Plc., to float a Micro-Bus Empowerment Scheme to further reduce the level of unemployment and poverty in the State.

Participants at the training are expected to be part of the Micro-Bus Empowerment Scheme championed by the Institute of Road Transport Workers in conjunction with Sterling Bank Plc., which would commence soon.

Oyo State Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, Rt. Hon. Kehinde Ayoola has said that the West Africa Energy, which operated under the name Solous MRF. 1 Ltd. has failed in its performance under the contract it signed with Oyo State Government.

The Commisoner while revealing the new development in his office on Saturday, said the government has revoked it’s contractual agreement with the company due to the fact that the company was found to be in material breach of the contractual terms.

The Commissioner cites instances that the State capital, Ibadan, has experienced unbearable heaps of refuse in the last four weeks, saying the company has not lived up to expectations in cleaning the city.

He said, Oyo State Government being the main employer of the contractor, has deemed it fit to relieve West Africa Energy of its duties, so as to ensure efficient waste management in the State.

Hon. Kehinde Ayoola thereby assured residents, that the State Government was taking holistic measures to ensure the State experiences a turn-around in the environmental sector, as well as, creating wealth from wastes.

He also revealed that the State Governor, Engr Seyi Makinde has appointed a Chairman for the Oyo State Waste Management Authority, in the person of Prince Seun Adelore, who will see to the day to day running of the disposal mechanism in the State, under the supervision of his office.

It would be recalled that Oyo State Government reached a partnership agreement with West Africa Energy in 2016, with the past administration in the State.