The Hood – Hearing from your neighborhood

One of the sons of ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo, Olujonwo, has refuted an alleged claim that he was missing.

Last week, Olujonwo ‘s mother in an interview granted a national newspaper (not The PUNCH) had said her son had been missing and that security agents had been alerted to that effect.

But, in a statement dated February 7, and signed by the 34-year-old Olujonwo, which was made available to journalists in Abeokuta on Thursday, he wondered how he could be placed on missing persons’ list at his age.

In the statement titled, ‘I am neither missing nor lost,’ the former First Son declared that of his own volition, he decided to “keep away” for now.

The statement read in part, “At my age of over 34 years, it is ridiculous to the extreme that my mother would ask the Police to look for me.

“I am well, alive and kicking and the Police need not look for me.

“My siblings and others in my family … know my whereabouts and we keep interacting and communicating.

“My father, who has supported me and my decisions in every aspect of my life, has been in constant communication with me and he is aware that I am hale and heart

“This is my personal and deliberate decision.”

Concerning the rumour trailing his marriage, Olujonwo said he was old enough to marry and manage his marriage, “including to decide what to do with it, if the need ever arises.”

Saturday 16th February 2019 Presidential and National Assembly  Elections.

Two weeks later Governorship and FCT Area Council Chairmanship Elections

Collection of forms for elections: by Political Parties: 17th to 24th August 2018

Commencement of campaigns by Political parties: Presidential and National Assembly  18th Nov.  2018, Governorship and States 1sr December,  2018

Conduct of Party Primaries including resolution of disputes arising from the primaries: 18th August to end 7th Oct.  2018

Last Day for submission of Nomination forms by political parties at INEC headquarters. Presidential and National Assembly 3RD DEC. 2018 and Governorship and State Assembly 17TH DEC.  2018.

Ogun State citizens have been assured of better days ahead, especially from 2019 when a new government takes over the affairs of the state despite the current challenges and hardship being experienced by the people.
In his New Year message to the people and residents of the state, a governorship hopeful under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Hon. Oladipupo Adebutu stressed that Ogun state has enormous potentials of being one of the most financially sufficient and economically prosperous in the country, but surprisingly it has remained a sleeping giant.

While wishing the people of the Gateway state a peaceful and prosperous New Year, Adebutu, who is the Chairman, House Committee on Rural Development in the green chamber, stated that the people of the state deserve more than they are currently getting.

He however prayed that God would visit the state in the Year 2018 and make life better for the people, adding that the state has always been playing a leadership role in the country as the origin of civilisation in Nigeria.

In a statement signed by his Media Consultant, Steve Oliyide, Adebutu emphasised that the people of Ogun State have cause to celebrate the New Year because the state would soon be placed on the right pedestal of development, when the PDP takes over power in 2019.

“May I use this opportunity to wish the good people of Ogun State a happy and prosperous New Year. It should be noted that Year 2017 has come and gone with its challenges and I believe that we will overcome our current travails very soon.

“Ogun State should be able to leverage on its closeness and shared boundary with Lagos to become economically viable, and I believe that with the right leadership, the state would discover its potentials and compete favourably with other progressive states of the federation.

“We have no cause to lack in any area since we are blessed with both human and natural resources. What we need is the right people at the right place,” Adebutu said in the statement.

The lawmaker maintained that the New Year is full of blessings for the state; he also advised the people to continue to pray for both the state and Nigeria.

His words: “the world has moved beyond rhetorics, and the people have become wiser, the kind of government the people need at this point in time should be one that is transparent, empathic and humanistically without lies and deceits.

“What an average resident of Ogun State needs from politicians and their government is to be able to get a secured job, affordable and conducive  accommodation, security and other good things of life”

He added that time is no longer on the side of the people of the state to take their destines in their hands and vote for a government that can feel their pulse.

“The year 2018 provides us an opportunity to ponder on what we need to do as a people. While I wish the people of the state a better year ahead, I believe that the best is yet to come for our state.

“What we need now is focus and proper planning. Ogun State could be at least number two or three in Nigeria with proper management and intelligent application of our resources, which is what the PDP promise to do.

“Time has come for us to move on and take on the challenges of securing our own future and that of our children with our votes. I am glad that we are all alive to see a New Year and I pray that we will all be alive in 2019 to tell them that we are wiser and that we know what is good for us,” Adebutu said.

He then enjoined the people of Ogun State to enjoy the best of the new year and be rest assured that both Ogun State and Nigeria would be great and come out of their present travails and challenges very soon .

Lado Media Office
01/01/18

The Alake of Egbaland in Ogun State, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo, yesterday sought for a united country.

In a goodwill message in Abeokuta, he noted that Nigerians could no longer afford to go their separate ways after years of working, living and doing things together.

In the statement signed by the Aare Baaroyin of Egbaland, Olootu Layi Labode, the monarch pointed out that there were a lot of happy moments to be achieved socially, culturally and politically in the nation’s known sobriquet as the major economic power in Africa and the entire globe.

Alake, however, enjoined both the leadership and the led to imbibe brotherliness by eschewing rivalry, ethnicity, bigotry, nepotism and corruption.

He urged Nigerians to be patriotic always, appreciating Governor Ibikunle Amosun for his developmental efforts in the state.

Oba Gbadebo advised Egba indigenes to take advantage of the infrastructure in Abeokuta and the entire community to rebuild their demolished mud houses in line with the state’s urban renewal programme.

I join my fellow citizens this morning to welcome and celebrate the New Year 2018. This year promises to be pivotal in our quest for CHANGE.

Unfortunately, I am saddened to acknowledge that for many this Christmas and New Year holidays have been anything but merry and happy. Instead of showing love, companionship and charity, some of our compatriots chose this period to inflict severe hardship on us all by creating unnecessary fuel scarcity across the country.

The consequence was that not many could travel and the few who did had to pay exorbitant transport fares. This is unacceptable given that NNPC had taken measures to ensure availability at all depots. I am determined to get to the root of this collective blackmail of all Nigerians and ensure that whichever groups are behind this manipulated hardship will be prevented from doing so again.

Such unpatriotism will not divert the Administration from the course we have set ourselves. Our government’s watch word and policy thrust is CHANGE. We must change our way of doing things or we will stagnate and be left behind in the race to lift our people out of poverty and into prosperity.

My address to fellow Nigerians this morning is devoted mainly to informing you about the intense efforts this Administration is putting to address our country’s huge infrastructural deficit.

We are going to make significant in-roads in advancing road, rail and power projects across the country.

The Ministry of Power, Works and Housing is one of the drivers of this Government’s commitment to renew and increase Nigeria’s stock of infrastructure in order to achieve global economic competitiveness as targeted under the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan.

With regards to Railways, we have set ourselves ambitious targets. Already in construction stage is the Lagos-Kano Standard Gauge Railway.

The line should reach Ibadan from Lagos by the end of 2019 and will carry two million passengers per year and five million tons of cargo will be transported every year giving a substantial boost to the country’s economy.

Construction of the Kano – Kaduna segment is expected to commence this year and reach Kaduna by the end of 2019. By the end of 2021 the two ends will be joined so that we will have standard gauge railway across the main North-South trading route.

The Abuja – Kaduna route will be boosted by additional rolling stock next Thursday and will be able to handle one million commuters annually.

At the same time I have approved and negotiations will be concluded in the first part of this year for the Port Harcourt to Maiduguri line covering Aba, Owerri, Umuahia, Enugu, Awka, Abakaliki, Makurdi, Lafia, Jos, Bauchi, Gombe, Yola and Damaturu. The Abuja to Itakpe line will go through Baro and terminate in Warri with construction of a new seaport at Warri.

Negotiations are also advanced for the construction of other railway lines, firstly from Kano to Maradi in Niger Republic passing through Kazaure, Daura, Katsina, Jibia to Maradi.

Secondly, Lagos to Calabar the “Coastal Rail” through Ore, Benin, Agbor, Asaba, Onitsha, Sapele, Ughelli, Warri, Yenagoa, Otuoke, Port Harcourt, Aba, Uyo and Calabar. In the next few years, all these Nigerian cities will be linked by functional modern rail systems, giving enormous boost to the social and economic life of our people.

With respect to the Abuja Capital Light Rail, progress has reached 98% completion, as at 64% completion when we assumed office. Only test runs remain before start of operations.

This train service will stimulate economic activities in the Federal Capital and provide residents with an efficient and safe transportation system. Twelve railway sub-stations around the capital over a 45.2 kilometre route will serve as a catalyst and a pull factor to the economy of the area. The Light Rail System will reduce traffic congestion and carbon emission in line with the Administration’s policy on climate change.

Management of the Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA) has been reconstituted and has been charged with a 12 week rapid intervention in road repairs to cover all the geo-political zones. Government is undertaking repairs and maintenance of 44 roads within the six geo-political zones.

Twenty five major highways will be funded under the N100b SUKUK facility. Each geo-political zone will benefit by an equal amount of N16.67b. The following major highways are to receive special attention:

a. Oyo – Ogbomosho,

b. Ofusu – Ore – Ajebandele – Shagamu,

c. Yenagoa Road Junction – Kolo Otuoke – Bayelsa Palm,

d. Enugu – Port Harcourt Dual Carriage Way,

e. Onitsha – Enugu Expressway,

f. Kaduna Eastern Bypass,

g. Dualization of Kano – Maiduguri Road,

h. Dualization of Abuja – Lokoja – Benin Road,

i. Dualization of Suleja – Minna Road.

In addition, Government has approved work to start on the re-construction of Abuja – Kaduna – Zaria – Kano road which is in a state of disrepair. Work will soon start and is expected to be completed in 2019.

More Nigerians across the country are experiencing improved power supply to their homes and businesses. However, power remains a concern to this government because too many people still do not have regular and reliable supply.

The Payment Assurance Guarantee Scheme which started in January 2016 has enabled the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trader to raise so far N701 billion to assure Generation Companies of at least 80% payment for any power delivered to the national grid.

Consequently, generation has now reached 7,000MW. On December 8, 2017 the country achieved 5,155MW of power delivered to consumers, the highest level ever recorded.

Several moribund projects have been revived. Repairs of Afam Power Station added 110MW in 2017 and another 240MW will be added this year through a private investment partnership.

Katsina Power Project is now being tested and producing 10MW of power from wind for the first time in Nigeria. It should be fully operational this year.

The Zungeru 700MW Hydroelectric Power Project, stalled by court cases is due for completion in 2019. The transmission and other requirements to operate the 30MW Gurara Phase 1 Hydroelectric Plant, the 40MW Kashimbilla Hydroelectric Plant and the 215 MW Kaduna Gas/LPG/Diesel Power Plant will also be completed this year.

A landmark project, Mambilla Hydroelectric Power Project is at last taking off. This project has been on the drawing Board for 40 years, but now the engineering, procurement and construction contract for the 3,050MW project has been agreed with a Chinese joint venture Company with a financing commitment from the government of China. Completion is targeted for 2023.

As I mentioned earlier, the Transmission Company of Nigeria can now distribute all the 7,000MW that can be generated. TCN and the Niger Delta Holding Company have added 1,950MVA of 330 down to 132KV transformer capacity of 10 transmission stations and 2,930MVA of 132 down to 33KV transformer capacity of 42 sub-stations including Ikot Ekpene, Aba, Alagbon, Ajah, Ejigbo, Funtua and Zaria.

This Administration is working with the privatised distribution Companies to overcome the continuing challenges of distribution.

These massive public works should spearhead the recovery and lead millions back to employment. You will recall that it was not until last year that we got out of the economic recession into which the country had fallen as a consequence of past unsustainable economic policies which projected short-term illusory growth.

The government is slowly stabilizing the economy.

It was in order to change the steady and steep decline that we adopted the more sustainable policies and programmes captured in the Economic Recovery Plan. Diversification efforts have resulted in improved output particularly in agriculture and solid minerals sectors. The relative exchange rate stability has improved manufacturing sector performance.

We have got to get used to discipline and direction in economic management. The days of business as usual are numbered.

Two years ago I appealed to people to go back to the land. I am highly gratified that agriculture has picked up, contributing to the government’s effort to re-structure the economy. Rice imports will stop this year. Local rice, fresher and more nutritious will be on our dishes from now on.

By the same token, I am today appealing to enterprising Nigerians with ideas and unemployed graduates and other able-bodied and literate men and women with ideas not to just sit and wait for employment from the government or the Organized Private Sector. Great nations are built by enterprising people who turn their hands to anything that circumstances dictate.

In respect of political developments, I have kept a close watch on the on-going debate about “Restructuring”. No human law or edifice is perfect. Whatever structure we develop must periodically be perfected according to changing circumstances and the country’s socio-economic developments. We Nigerians can be very impatient and want to improve our conditions faster than may be possible considering our resources and capabilities. When all the aggregates of nationwide opinions are considered, my firm view is that our problems are more to do with process than structure.

We tried the Parliamentary system: we jettisoned it. Now there are shrill cries for a return to the Parliamentary structure. In older democracies these systems took centuries to evolve so we cannot expect a copied system to fit neatly our purposes. We must give a long period of trial and improvement before the system we have adopted is anywhere near fit for purpose.

However, there is a strong case for a closer look at the cost of government and for the public services long used to extravagance, waste and corruption to change for the better. I assure you that government is ever receptive to ideas which will improve governance and contribute to the country’s peace and stability.

As the electioneering season approaches politicians must avoid exploiting ethnicity and religion by linking ethnicity with religion and religion with politics. Such must be avoided at all costs if we are to live in harmony.

In this respect the rest of Nigeria could learn from the South Western States who have successfully internalized religion, ethnicity and politics.

Political discourse should be conducted with civility, decorum and in a constitutional manner. We all have a collective responsibility to strengthen our democracy and entrench the rule of law. We should draw encouragement from the series of bye-elections conducted by INEC last year which were generally violence free and their outcomes adjudged to be free and fair.

Before I conclude my address I must reassure my fellow citizens that security of life and property is still top of our government’s agenda. We have since beaten Boko Haram. Isolated attacks still occur, but even the best-policed countries cannot prevent determined criminals from committing terrible acts of terror as we have seen during the past years in Europe, Asia, Middle East, elsewhere in Africa and in America.

Our government remains determined to protect all Nigerians in line with our election pledge and promises. On behalf of all Nigerians let me offer our thanks to the Armed forces, the Police, other para-military forces and traditional authorities who are working round the clock to ensure that you and I go about our normal business in reasonable safety.

Terrorism and urban crimes are world-wide phenomena and our security forces are continuously adapting their responses to changing threats.

With regard to rampant cases of kidnappings, we are taking immediate short-term measures to combat this new evil creeping into our societies. Tighter police methods and swift and severe punishment for those proved to be engaged in kidnapping are on the way.

With respect to Niger Delta, Government is still engaging responsible leadership of the Communities to help in identifying and addressing genuine grievances of the region. Our clean-up programme in collaboration with the United Nations is making satisfactory progress.

I am grateful to all the Governors and other Political & Community leaders of the Niger Delta States for their part in bringing relative peace to the areas.

Finally let me again express my heartfelt thanks to all Nigerians who prayed for me during my illness last year. I feel deeply humbled by your prayers and good wishes and I am more determined than ever to serve you to the best of my ability.

Good morning. And I wish everyone a Happy New Year

Scores of chieftains of the All Progressive Grand Alliance in Ogun State, on Friday, defected to the Unity Party of Nigeria, UPN, just as they pledged their support for the governorship aspirant of the party, Otunba Rotimi Paseda  ahead of 2019 general elections in the state.

The leader of the group and former chairman of the party, Hon. Adesegun Atoyegbe said they decided to pitch their political tent with the UPN because its governorship candidate was a seasoned technocrat that would provide the desired good governance for the people of Ogun state having came close in 2015 governorship election.
He said, “We have seen that the party has been tagged as the Easterners party, hence, impossible for it to win election in the South West, especially Ogun State and the party has no electoral fortunes to win any election in Ogun State  and that is why we decided to leave the party.”
According to Atoyegbe, APGA lacks internal democracy and does not provide democratic dividend to the people at the grass roots adding that leadership of the party are self-centered and practice politics of exclusion, adding, “I want to urge not only the UPN members, but the entire Ogun state to support and vote massively for the UPN candidates in 2019.”
Hon. Atoyegbe who addressed the mammoth crowd at an event organized by Paseda Youth Ambassador held in Ijebu-Ode area of Ogun State that, the move was part of reconciliation effort to provide a viable alternative political party in the state, adding that UPN remain the only party in the state with masses oriented blueprints.
He therefore stressed that, the intractable crisis rocking many opposition parties in the state had made it impossible for the electorate to have avalanche of options to determine their voting pattern in 2019.
Receiving the defectors on behalf of the party, a national officer of UPN, Engineer Babatunde Folarin expressed happiness for the democratic step taken by the defectors in providing vibrant opposition in the state.
The UPN stalwart assured the new members of the party’s open door policy and all inclusive in decision making of the party.
“We are very glad to receive you to our party. UPN is the people’s party and we need all hands on deck to ensure the party takes over power in 2019.
“If you will all recall, we came close in 2015 general elections and repeated same feat in the 2016 local government election held in the state and today, the party produced two councilors in the face of intimidation and oppression of the ruling party. We shall continue to build on that milestone achievements and ensure total victory in 2019.
“We are not relenting on oars, as we have engaged all meaningful stakeholders in state for a possible alliance and I am happy that you are part of the result of our consultation.
“I want to assure you and the good people of Ogun State that, the hard time will soon be over and we shall come back stronger in 2019”.

It was excitement galore during the yuletide period when sports enthusiasts converged on Sekoni area of Sango in Ado-Odo/Ota local government area of Ogun State to witness a table tennis competition among youths of the area.

The very successful and well organized event which was put together by three times national Table Tennis Champion, Shola Oyetayo popularly known as ‘Sugar’ saw dozens of youth battle for prizes of the Ping-Pong competition.

Tagged Banana Table Tennis Competition, spectators were thrilled by several display of uncommon skills and dexterity by competitors before the winners eventually emerged.

The sponsor of the competition, Alhaji Mustapha Adekunle (a.k.a Banana) while declaring the competition open said the initiative was to engage the youths and encourage them to get involved in sporting activities.

Alhaji Adekunle who is a stalwart of the People Democratic Party (PDP) in Ado-Odo/Ota local government revealed that the competition would henceforth be an annual event which will be held across the 16 wards of the local government.

The PDP bigwig however admonished the youths to stay away from criminal activities and further urged them to get their voters card in order to be able to exercise their voting rights in the coming elections.

Meanwhile, the first prize winner of the competition went home with the sum of N30,000 cash. The second prize winner got N20,000 cash while every other participants were given consolation prizes.

Lesbian Act

Protest by the students of Moshood Abiola Polytechnic against the Government of Ogun State and ASUP MAPOLY Chapter.

‘Touching lives and giving hope’ is the slogan of Fausat Asakun Memorial Foundation (FAM), the commitment and living up to this slogan paid off on Sunday the 17th on December 2017 when the Founder and Chief Executive of FAM Foundation stood on the podium amidst thunderous applause to receive award  recognition award at the Nigeria edition of Ogun Ambassadorial Awards UK 2017.

The award came in recognition of FAM Foundation’s lives improvement efforts for the less privileged through the initiation and sustenance of economic empowerment and skill acquisition programmes as well as catering for orphans and widows in Yewaland with special focus on Yewa North and Imeko Afon local government areas.

Responding to the award, the founder of Fausat Asakun Memorial Foundation, Jagunmolu Jamiu Akande Omoniyi thanked the organisers for the recognition of the foundation’s contribution humanity and pledge that the foundation will remain committed to improving quality of life for the less privileged in its area of operation.

Jagumolu Jamiu Omoniyi was not alone at the award ceremony, with him was his wife, Jagunmolu Vanguard and FAM teams led by the likes of Hon. Gabriel Falola (Apology) Hon. Rufus Oyegoke, Mr Sabur Abimbola, Otunba Sola Adeyemi, Mr Olumide Abiodun, Alhaji Musa, Mr Gateway Yunus Fayomi and a host of others.