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COVID-19
By Yinusa Ishola
Omu-Aran (Kwara) March 28, 2020 (NAN) The people of Ekiti/Irepodun/Isin/Oke-Ero Federal Constituency in Kwara, on Saturday hailed the health sensitisation and distribution of preventive materials embarked upon by the constituency representative, Rep. Raheem Olawuyi, over COVID-19 pandemic.

The constituents, including traditional rulers, party leaders and other stakeholders, in separate remarks, described the intervention as unprecedented and first of its kind since the outbreak of the deadly virus.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the sensitisation, which started on Friday, will take the team to 42 wards across the four councils of the constituency.

Rep Olawuyi represents Ekiti/Irepodun/Isin/Oke-Ero Federal Constituency under the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Oba Abdulraheem Adeoti, the Olomu of Omu-Aran while receiving the team led by Lanre Agas, Rep Olawuyi’s Senior Legislative Aide, in his palace in Omu-Aran, commended Olawuyi for his magnanimity and foresight.

“This is highly commendable; prevention they say is better than cure. We should not wait till we are attacked by infections and diseases.

“This gesture from Olawuyi is very crucial toward achieving personal hygiene and we are happy about it,” the monarch said.

At the palace of the Olosi of Osi in Ekiti Local Government Area of the State, the traditional ruler of Osi, Oba Solihu Adasofegbe, commended Olawuyi for complementing the various measures already put in place to fight the COVID-19 menace.

Adasofegbe said there were a lot of expectations on those at the helm of affairs toward ensuring the welfare and well-being of the citizenry, especially during such critical periods as the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mr Shuaib Olanrewaju, an All Progressives Congress (APC) stalwart in Omu-Aran, described the health sensitisation and distribution of preventive materials as very beneficial, timely and a welcome development.

“We in APC, we are proud of Rep. Olawuyi not only on this health sensitisation but other people-oriented projects and empowerment initiatives toward bettering the lots of the constituents.

Contributing, Mr John Adefila, APC Youth Leader in Irepodun Local Government Area of Kwara, described the health sensitisation as a right step in the right direction toward promoting personal hygiene among the residents.

In his remarks, Olawuyi, represented by Agas, said the gesture was meant to promote personal hygiene to ward off unwarranted infections among the constituents.

The lawmaker said the gesture was also part of the constituency efforts aimed at complementing the various measures already put in place by the state government in curbing the spread of the deadly virus.

According to him, prevention is better than cure and constituents should try as much as possible, both as individual and group, to maintain and sustain the no case of COVID-19 detection in the constituency and the state at large.

He also used the opportunity to appeal to the people of the constituency to cooperate with the authority and ensure full compliance with the various measures designed to rid the state of COVID-19 outbreak.

“We want to appeal to our people to take their personal hygiene with all seriousness. We should not be involved in overcrowded gathering and more importantly we should stay in our houses as directed as a precautionary measure,” Olawuyi said.

NAN reports that the sensitisation took the team to such communities as Ekiti, Osi, Iloffa, Aran-Orin, Oro, Oke-Onigbin and Ekan.

Others include Aiyedun, Odo-Owa, Ajase-Ipo, Esie, Isanlu-Isin, Idofin, Arandun, amongst others. (NAN)
ISHO/AWA/AJA
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Edited by Olawunmi Ashafa/Adeleye Ajayi

Anti-corruption: Expert advises FG to align with global legal system

Corruption
By Yinusa Ishola
Omu-Aran (Kwara), March 27, 2020 (NAN) A legal practitioner, Mr John Adeniyi, has urged the Federal Government to take a cue from global, civilised legal system to boost its anti-corruption crusade.
Adeniyi told News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), on Friday that the menace of corruption in the country had assumed unimaginable dimensions and needed appropriate globally-acceptable legal framework.
According to him, it will be very difficult to commit any crime and go scot free with adequate funding, training coupled with modern and sophisticated crime detecting equipment available abroad.
“For those who have travelled abroad, you know you can’t bribe the policeman on the road.
“If you know that when you are arrested you are in trouble and if you are taken to court you can’t influence the judge, there will not be any corruption in Nigeria,” Abubakar said.
He blamed the prevalent corruption and other fraudulent practices among the regulatory authorities as one of the factors responsible for the nation’s underdevelopment.
Adeniyi expressed the need for a strong political will on behalf of government to wipe out corruption and other vices in the country.
He expressed the urgent need for a well-funded judiciary and police operations in order to bring back sanity to all spheres of the society.
Adeniyi also praised the present administration under President Muhammadu Buhari for laying a solid foundation toward ridding the country of corruption-related vices.
He said the issue of inadequate remuneration and decaying infrastructure had continued to dampen the morale of anti-corruption agencies and personnel.
The legal expert expressed optimism that the present anti-corruption crusade would continue to yield result with the introduction of some strategies such as the involvement of whistle-blowers to track down corrupt persons.
“The recent conviction of some highly placed politicians is a sterling testimony that the country is gradually winning the war against corruption and other fraudulent practices.
“People believe it is only when a judge takes a bribe that you can say he or she is corrupt. It goes beyond that.
“Failure to do your job or the needful as a litigant or a lawyer is corruption.
“And this situation to me can only be arrested if only our judiciary and police systems are well placed via adequate funding.
“Our anti-corruption agencies starting from the Economic and Finance Crime Commission (EFCC), the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) need to be encouraged morally and economically for optimum performance as obtained globally,” he added. (NAN)
ISHO/ESAN/DCU
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Edited by Abiodun Esan/Donald Ugwu

Inconsistency in governance, bane of nation’s infrastructure decay – Monarch

Policy
By Yinusa Ishola
Omu-Aran (Kwara) March 25, 2020 (NAN) Oba Abdulraheem Adeoti, the Olomu of Omu-Aran, has identified inconsistency in government policies as a critical factor militating against the nation’s infrastructure developmental efforts.

Adeoti made the assertion during a sensitisation stakeholders meeting organised by the office of the Kwara State National Orientation Agency, (NOA) at the Olomu’s palace on Wednesday.

The News Agency of Nigeria, (NAN) reports that the stakeholders meeting attracted heads of security agencies, market leaders, union leaders, community development association and civil society organisations.

It is aimed at sensitising stakeholders on the need to imbibe the habit of safeguarding essential national assets and public infrastructures within various communities.

Oba Adeoti said lack of continuity in government infrastructure development plans was responsible for the high number of abandoned projects across towns and villages.

He also blamed inadequate maintenance culture on behalf of government as a contributory factor for the dilapidated states of most public utilities.

The monarch said the non-functionality state of most councils across the states had also compounded the menace of infrastructural decays.

According to him, every successive government comes with different project ideas, policies and programmes without concrete plans for continuity.

“It’s very common in government circle and from past experience to see one government refusing to continue its predecessor’s projects and start similar projects afresh.

“This quite explains the high number of abandoned projects scattered across our various communities today.

“Most annoying aspect is that majority of these public infrastructure were put in place through communal efforts, but got rotten due to inadequate maintenance.

“Governments at all tiers need to re-order their priorities as regard having the strong political will to imbibe adequate maintenance and project continuity to move the country forward.

“In the time past, councils in the country are always beehive of activities with adequately equipped works department that can carry out all manners of maintenance, but the reverse is the case presently,” he said.

Chief Bisi Adeyemi, the President, Omu-Aran Development Association (ODA), decried the dilapidated state of public infrastructures in the community due to inadequate maintenance.

He cited the dilapidated state of various courts in the community which were built through communal efforts as a good case to buttress his point.

According to him, most of the buildings housing our magistrate court, upper Area court, high court are presently in a state of mess with dilapidated roofs, walls and furniture,

Adeyemi said the association had in the past embark on rehabilitation of the community water work project toward ensuring effective usage by the people of the community.

“The water work built over two decades ago had suffered neglect through inadequate maintenance and obsolete equipment resulting in low water pumping capacity,” he said.

Mr Segun Adeyemi, the State Director of NOA, said the stakeholders meeting was a directive from the agency’s headquarters in Abuja toward safeguarding national public facilities and assets.

He said that only a collective effort of stakeholders could help reduce the incessant vandalisation of public facilities such as electricity transformers, cables and petroleum pipelines.

The NOA boss urged the community leaders to compile the data of abandoned projects in the area for inclusion in its report and transmission to the appropriate quarters for possible action. (NAN)
ISHO/KOLE/GY
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Edited by Remi Koleoso/Grace Yussuf

Mothers
By Yinusa Ishola
Omu-Aran (Kwara), March 22, 2020 (NAN) Mr Raheem Olawuyi, the Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Emergency and Disaster Preparedness, on Sunday called for improvement in girl-child education.

Olawuyi, who represents Ekiti/Irepodun/Isin/Oke-Ero Federal Constituency, made the call in a message to mothers as they join their counterparts globally to celebrate the 2020 International Mother’s Day in Omu-Aran.

According to him, education is the bedrock and foundation for achieving socio-economic development and girl-child education will allow for the emergence of more entrepreneurs and politicians among women.

“Education is meant for all. In fact, it is the fundamental human right of every child whether boy or girl, able or disabled, to acquire basic education.

“Improvement in girl-child education in particular will see more women climbing to the top in the nation’s political terrain and emerging captains of industries,” he said.

Olawuyi said that growing up as a girl in developing country like Nigeria was becoming difficult due to unfavourable socio-economic, cultural and security challenges.

He said that the cumulative effects of discriminatory, exploitative and unjust treatment of the girl-child has negative impacts on the education opportunity for them.

The lawmaker said that there was need for a strong political will and commitment from mothers, as first teachers, in actualising the desired improvement in Girls Education Projects.

“Majority of the nation’s top political positions are currently dominated by men.

“This is a clear challenge to the women folk, who as mothers of the nation, deserve same equal and fair treatment.

“To majority of the parents, girl-child education is less important because no matter what level of education the girl attains, she gets married and answers another family’s name.

“Parents, particularly mothers, should therefore accord priority and channel adequate resources toward improving the education of girl-children for more women as entrepreneurs and politicians to emerge,” he said.

Olawuyi urged mothers to strive collectively with stakeholders toward breaking the barriers of religious misinterpretation, cultural practice, poverty, early marriage, illiteracy and inadequate school infrastructure militating against girl-child education.

“According to United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation’s recent reports, a child born to a mother who can read and write is 50 per cent more likely to survive past the age of five.

“Educated mothers are more than twice as likely to send their children to school.

“Girls with eight years of education are four times less likely to marry as children.

“A girl-child with nine years of education can earn 20 per cent more as an adult.

“If every woman in Sub-Saharan Africa completed their primary school education, maternal mortality would fall by 70 per cent.

“The above statistics is no doubt a big challenge to mothers and other critical stakeholders as we join hands to promote girl-child education in the spirit of the Mother’s Day celebration,” he said.

Olawuyi stressed the need for more women in such critical sectors as agriculture, human capital development, manufacturing, skills and vocations in moving the country forward.

He also advocated building institutional capacity for promoting girl-child education and capacity of stakeholders.

Olawuyi advised Nigerian mothers, irrespective of their ethno-religious, cultural, and political background, to reflect on the Mother’s Day celebration and rise up in offering workable solutions to the nation’s socio-economic challenges. (NAN)
ISHO/ACA/OJO
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(Edited by Chidinma Agu/Mufutau Ojo)

Fire
By Yinusa
Offa (Kwara), March 21, 2020 (NAN) The Olofa of Offa, Oba Mufutau Gbadamosi, has commended the Kwara Government over the provision of a brand new fire truck for the Offa Fire Service Station.

The truck was to aid effective combat of fire outbreak in the community.

Oba Gbadamosi gave the commendation while taking delivery of the truck from Mr Yakub Waheed, Director, Kwara State Fire Service in his palace in Offa on Saturday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the provision of a new fire truck was coming barely four days after a fire outbreak at Owode market where over 20 shops were touched.

The truck delivery was also sequel to an earlier request by Offa Descendants Union (ODU) for a new fire truck and upgrading of Offa Fire Service Station for optimum and effective service delivery.

Oba Gbadamosi said the government had with this singular gesture demonstrated its sincerity and commitment toward the well-being of the people of the community.

According to him, the provision of the truck would in no small measure assist Offa fire service in achieving the desired promptness as regards effective fire combat.

Waheed in his remark reiterated government’s commitment toward ensuring a safer and conducive environment for all categories of the citizenry.

Similarly, Mr Maruf Ajenifuja, the National Public Relations Officer, Offa Descendants Union (ODU), commended the government for acceding to the union’s request over the incessant fire outbreak at the Owode market.

Ajenifuja described government’s gesture as unprecedented, beneficial and timely.

“ODU hereby registers her gratitude to His Excellency Gov. AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, for this noble gesture at this time, in our community’s history,” he said.

It would be recalled that Gov. AbdulRazaq, had during a sympathy visit to the Olofa’s palace following the Tuesday’s fire outbreak, promised to take concrete steps toward curtailing future occurrence.

AbdulRazaq, who was represented by his Deputy, Mr Kayode Alabi, also used the opportunity to commiserate with the victims of the fire outbreak, the Olofa and people of the community. (NAN)
ISHO/CCN/AJA
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Edited by Chinyere Nwachukwu/Adeleye Ajayi

Olomu preaches unity as Oyedepo becomes new Asanlu of Omu-Aran

By Yinusa Ishola

Installation
Omu-Aran (Kwara), March 20, 2020 (NAN) The Olomu of Omu-Aran, Oba Abdulraheem Adeoti, has re-emphasied the need for unity and peaceful co-existence among indigenes and non-indigenes for the growth, progress and socioeconomic development of the community.

Adeoti made the appeal during the installation of Chief Emmanuel Oyedepo as the new Asanlu of Omu-Aran.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Chief Emmanuel of Ile-Nla compound, Omu-Aran, is the elder brother of Bishop David Oyedepo, President, Living Faith Church and Chancellor, Landmark University, Omu-Aran.

Oyedepo succeeded the last occupant of the throne, late Chief James Oyinloye, who died in 2019.

The installation by the Omu-Aran Traditional Council of Chiefs took place at the palace of the Olomu of Omu-Aran.

The traditional rites were performed by Chief Jide Adebayo, the Eesa of Omu-Aran and former acting Managing Director of NAN.

Oba Adeoti urged the elders, youths and women in every compound, including non-indigenes, to see themselves as one indivisible entity and live together in peace and harmony.

“This is the only way we can ensure the desired growth, progress and socioeconomic development as no meaningful achievement can take place in an atmosphere of rancor and acrimony,” the Olomu said.

Adeoti described every residents irrespective of ethno-religion, tribe, cultural and political affiliations, as an integral part of the desired transformation and development envisioned for the community.

He charged the new Asanlu to be good ambassador of the Olomu-in-Council and the entire Omu-Aran community.

The monarch said the new Asanlu was being installed and presented with certificate of chieftaincy having fulfilled every traditional rite regarding the title.

He charged Oyedepo to imbibe the act of humility, transparency, diligence and trustworthiness in the discharge of his traditional duties.

Adebayo, the Eesa of Omu-Aran, while performing the traditional rites on Oyedepo, called for adequate support for him to succeed in his new assignment.

He expressed the readiness of other traditional chiefs in ensuring harmonious working relationship with new Asanlu for the betterment of the community.

Responding, Oyedepo thanked his immediate family, the Olomu-in-Council, the Omu-Aran Development Association (ODA), for the opportunity given to him toward contributing his quota to the development of the community. (NAN)

ISHO/ESAN/MST

Edited by Abiodun Esan/Muhammad Suleiman Tola