The leadership and entire members of Fuji Musicians of Nigeria (FUMAN), Ogun State heartily celebrate with the Governor of Ogun State, Prince Dapo Abiodun as the state clocks 45.

This was made known to our Reporter in an exclusive interview by the Governor of the association, Mr. Ganiu Omolaja in Abeokuta.

He said FUMAN is the umbrella body of all Fuji musicians in the nooks and crannies of Ogun State, hence our membership is large, and that they have been making valuable contributions to the development of our immediate communities and indeed, the state.

Omolaja said they were happy to identify with Prince Abiodun on the occasion not just because he is the incumbent governor of the state but also for his dedication and determination to take the state to a higher level of development.

The Governor of FUMAN opined, “The way Prince Abiodun is working now, it is no doubt that under him, the state will become the envy of other states in the Nigerian nation. Our beloved state had recorded first in some area of development in the past, we, at FUMAN believe, during the tenure of our incumbent Governor, with the steps he is taken, another first will be scored”.

Omolaja believed the state is lucky to have the like of Prince Abiodun as it attains 45, because he has shown a high degree of commitment to its growth with his administration’s efforts in road construction and reactivation; building of housing estates in the 3 senatorial divisions of the state; investment in Agriculture for which, he has won many awards; concern for workers; provision and consideration for women and the youths.

The Fuji musicians’ governor promised that they were ready to contribute their own quota to the efforts of Abiodun by ensuring that they constantly dished out melodiously composed Fuji sounds to soothe the nerves of the Governor and those of his lieutenants while they carried out the responsibility of administering the state.

Omolaja disclosed that they were already considering the possibility of packaging and launch a special album to ecstatically mark the 45th birthday of the state, which according to him, will chronicle the plethora of achievements so far recorded by the Prince Abiodun.

By Bisade Ojoye

“Traditional medicine is the way to go if truly we cherish total health for ourselves and the generality of the people of this country, declared by Chief Morayo Ogunyemi, Baasegun General of Nigeria Association of Medical Herbalists (NAMH)

The Baasegun General of Nigeria Association of Medical Herbalists, Ogun State chapter, Chief Morayo Ogunyemi has described the body as a decent, disciplined and resourceful people who would not tolerate or harbour deceitful people.

Chief Ogunyemi made this assertion in an interview during the monthly meeting of the association held in Sagamu, Remo Ogun State.

He stated that the body, formed in 1941 has been proffering cures and solutions to ailments and diseases through the use of herbs, shrubs and roots.

The frontline medical herbalist added that its membership which cut across Ogun state are always in conformity with rules and regulations of the state in its practices.

On the recent approval of the Board of Alternative medicine Practitioners, he commended the Prince Dapo Abiodun led administration for the approval, expressing happiness that dream of their founding fathers and frontrunners in trado-medicine practice has become a reality during his leadership as the Baasegun General of Ogun State. He prayed alongside his members that God, in His infinite mercy should continue to guide and guard him.

Speaking on some of the challenges facing the association and practice of traditional herbal medicine, Chief Adegbesan Adelaja Ladejobi, Egbeji Isegun of Ogun State decried the stance and attitude of orthodox medical practitioners to them and their practices. He enjoined the Orthodox medical practitioners to see trado-medical practitioners as partners in progress who are ever ready to ensure better and healthy living for the people in the state in particular and Nigeria in general. ‘They should see themselves as partners in progress’, he stressed.

The Egbeji Ologun Oro of Ogun- state and ex-Police Officer, said the association had been having constant interactions and meetings with the Police so as to distinguish bona fide members from those fakes and untrained intruders with ulterior motives of duping or wreaking havoc on the unsuspecting general public or those who might be out to deliberately dent the image of the genuine practitioners.

On dosage and packaging, he declared vehemently that the herbal medicine practitioners had always had measurement. He stated that in those days of yore, they had different gauges, adding that they had even improved on it now since many of those materials used are no longer available or as a result of development, improvement in the medical initiatives and researchers just like that of Orthodox medicine practices

Chief Adelaja advised members of the association, especially the up coming ones not to engage in deceit and other forms of vices that could dent their image and that of the practitioners.

He emphasized that the traditional medicine assured total health for the people because according to him no orthodox Medical Practitioners can treat anyone being chased by masquerade or spiritual attack. Additionally, if a foetus is breached the Orthodox will perform caesarian operation to bring out the baby, but for us, by the knowledge bequeathed to us by our forbears, with the magnanimity and immeasurable power of God, we will command the baby to come out and so shall it be.

He said traditional medicine has treatment for cancerous ailments such as cancer of the breast, fibroid and so so many other diseases the Orthodox medical practitioners have declared incurable, adding that, in spite of development around the world, we still have effective herbs, shrubs and roots.

In her contribution, Chief (Mrs.) Morenike Mustapha said traditional medicine remained effective, adding that since she started practicing it over 30years ago, she had been treated a good number of people with different ailments and afflictions.

She opined there was hardly any ailments that traditional medicine could not treat from: goiters, hernia and other complex ones. She added that traditional medicine could be practiced by anyone whether Christians or Muslims because according to her, the plants and other things they use were created by God.

By Adesola Lawal

The President of Union of Beninese Residents in Nigeria, Ogun -State chapter, Romain Kakpo has disclosed that the priority of his association was to improve the relationship between the Nigerian Nation and Benin Republic.

Kakpo stated this on Tuesday during an interview with Journalists at the Union’s Secretariat, in Abeokuta

Kakpo said to effectuate this they had been working conscientiously to tackle the pangs of Child trafficking, child labour as well as slave labour.

He condemned the trend of bringing children from Benin into the state for child labour, adding that the union has been collaborating with the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) and the Nigeria Immigration Service, (NIS) to eradicate the menace.

He said that the Union has begun to enlighten and orientate those who were in the practice of giving out their children to serve as child labourers and maids on the need to enrol them into skill acquisition.

He said, having found out that being hired as housemaids or help has become an economic matter, his union had not asked them not to engage in any trades or initiatives that could put food on their table or develop them economically, all they were advocating was for such engagement to pass through legal means and documentation which according to him would protect the hired housemaid and also safeguard the lives and properties of employers.

The President of the union also said that the relationship between the Union and Nigeria Immigration Service in Ogun State has been strengthened as Benin nationals resident in the state have formalised their stay by registering with the immigration office and ensuring that they were gainfully employed and engaging in legitimate work.

Kakpo, who is the third president of the union recalled that before
his administration came on board the issues of child trafficking, child labour and unfriendly atmosphere that buffeted the relationship between Nigerians and Beninese had started tearing apart the peoples of the countries. ‘We thank God all that has changed for the better. There is now a mutual trust which no doubt has started bringing about mutual benefits’, he stressed.

On Agriculture, Kakpo said that many of his members located in the nooks and crannies of state are into farming, he therefore appealed to Ogun State Government to assist farmers among them as they were also ready to contribute to the food security initiatives of the administration.

He commended the Prince Dapo Abiodun led administration for the worthy achievements in the areas of Housing, Security, Agriculture, Road Construction and others spheres in the state.

He also expressed appreciation to the National President of the Union, Honore Coucou Hounkpatin for his stewardship and commitments to the cause of the Benin nationals in Nigeria and therefore called for support of Beninese Government towards the realization of the lofty goals of the Union in the State in particular and Nigeria in general.

Kakpo used the opportunity to call on all Beninese in the State to stand up and be counted because, according to him, their mission was to endure the wellbeing and welfares in Nigeria. “We are your brothers and sister your security and safety matter to us, come join us, let’s know you, where you stay and what you are doing. This is the only way we stand up for you when you need us. Join us this Saturday March 13, 2021 at our Secretariat,
KLM 10, Iyana Ikereku, Adesida Bus Stop, Obada Oko, Lagos Expressway.
On any matters reach out to us on the following phone numbers:

President:08062971304
VP:Moise Agbetogan
Gen.sec.08142107757
Treasurer:08062824258

By Olufemilade Oyinade

The way to revamp the economy of the Nigerian nation is a total business revolution with the youths and women in Small Scale and Medium business as main targets.

This was the position expressed by Otunba Kayode Fasae, Director General of Ekiti State Microfinance and Enterprise Development Agency who stressed that their drive included making funding available for young entrepreneurs and the women.

The Director General appointed in 2019 said they have been working with a number of youth organisations and groups in order to persuade them to key into Small and medium scale Enterprise so that they wouldn’t be employees but employers of labours.

Fasae said they found out that many rural women in various Small Scale enterprises only various needed just a small amount of start up funds, but when they could not raise it, they would approach loan agencies, groups or individual would give them cut throat or bone- straightening conditions which many times kill their dreams, saying that this were their primary targets.

He disclosed, “We spent so much money in the wake of Corona Virus pandemic providing non refundable funds for women in the wake. This was made possible with the support of the federal government and state government under the leadership of passionate and selfless Governor, Dr John Kayode Fayemi”.

The DG said that they have also been able to provide funding for a number of Small Scale business Entrepreneurs as a result of the desire and commitment of the Governor to see many them succeed irrespective of areas or fields.

He said have been selecting beneficiaries by profiling those who approach and seek the assistance of the agency, adding that once anybody could provide genuine business proposals and dependable guarantors, they are considered.

Otunba Fasae allayed the possible fear of those who erroneously feel that the project was politically motivated, saying that the agency was established to serve all without religious or political affiliation.

He buttressed his point with fact that in their forms and other documentation there was nothing that has to do with such. “We are committed to build an enduring legacy that we would be be able to pride in, even when I might have to left the agency”, he stated.

Otunba Fasae disclosed that the agency, with the mentoring of Dr. Fayemi was planning to accommodate many more young Entrepreneurs and peasant traders throughout the Local Government Areas of the state in their various schemes and therefore enjoined the youths to avail themselves the opportunities.

By Selimat Tunde

The way to revamp the economy of the Nigerian nation is a total business revolution with the youths and women in Small Scale and Medium business as main targets.

This was the position expressed by Otunba Kayode Fasae, Director General of Ekiti State Microfinance and Enterprise Development Agency who stressed that their drive included making funding available for young entrepreneurs and the women.

The Director General appointed in 2019 said they have been working with a number of youth organisations and groups in order to persuade them to key into Small and medium scale Enterprise so that they wouldn’t be employees but employers of labours.

Fasae said they found out that many rural women in various Small Scale enterprises only various needed just a small amount of start up funds, but when they could not raise it, they would approach loan agencies, groups or individual would give them cut throat or bone- straightening conditions which many times kill their dreams, saying that this were their primary targets.

He disclosed, “We spent so much money in the wake of Corona Virus pandemic providing non refundable funds for women in the wake. This was made possible with the support of the federal government and state government under the leadership of passionate and selfless Governor, Dr John Kayode Fayemi”.

The DG said that they have also been able to provide funding for a number of Small Scale business Entrepreneurs as a result of the desire and commitment of the Governor to see many them succeed irrespective of areas or fields.

He said have been selecting beneficiaries by profiling those who approach and seek the assistance of the agency, adding that once anybody could provide genuine business proposals and dependable guarantors, they are considered.

Otunba Fasae allayed the possible fear of those who erroneously feel that the project was politically motivated, saying that the agency was established to serve all without religious or political affiliation.

He buttressed his point with fact that in their forms and other documentation there was nothing that has to do with such. “We are committed to build an enduring legacy that we would be be able to pride in, even when I might have to left the agency”, he stated.

Otunba Fasae disclosed that the agency, with the mentoring of Dr. Fayemi was planning to accommodate many more young Entrepreneurs and peasant traders throughout the Local Government Areas of the state in their various schemes and therefore enjoined the youths to avail themselves the opportunities.

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Tunde Jakande writes on interment of Late Pa Lateef Jakande
—————————————-

As we set to leave for the Ikoyi vaults and Gardens, no less than thirty police and LASTMA out-riders stationed strategically to clear traffic.

On a long stretch of convoy of over a hundred cars, we embarked on the trip.

It seemed everyone wanted to witness the internment of lagos most cherished son.

As we moved to connect Ikorodu road, people lined the streets some waving , some in tears.

I thought to myself, wao, what honour!

At the ikoyi vaults, hundreds of people tried to force their way in.

Security officials struggled to prevent the influx.

I heard a very angry individual screaming at a policeman.

“You cannot prevent me from entering o. You no fit. If you like kill me. I must enter that place. That man is my father. You no know the thing Baba kekere do in my life?’

I approached him, calmed him down and explained why everyone could not be let in.

He said he was a councilor a long time ago and if not for LKJ, his life would have ended .

He begged me to let him in. I did but told him he could not go beyond the reception area.

As we deposited the remains back to mother earth, a flood of memories overwhelmed me.

Even with all the triumphs, accolades and accomplishments, is this the end result? His final abode?

I suddenly felt sick in my stomach. LKJ was now indifferent to the clicks from cameras that wanted to capture every detail.

He was before his maker, alone. No cheers, no followership. Just him.

As i walked back, I realised the entire crowd had disappeared.

The crowd that wanted to break down the gates of the Ikoyi vaults and Gardens just to gain entrance had all gone.

Not a single person stayed back. The reality is that none will ever visit the place except for family members.

So what is your mentality towards life? Do you constantly remind yourself that our stay on earth is transient?

Do you constantly remind yourself that eventually, not a single person will be there with you at the end?

Does this thought not make you sober and humble? Does this not make you want to do good and live right?

What happens to the houses and millions of naira you are now struggling to make?

You may be rich or poor, yoruba or hausa, literate or not but death is the ultimate leveler. It makes us all equal.

Final thoughts:

The greatest human is not he that has the most knowledge in his head but he whose heart is full of love and compassion.

Help those that you can while you can!

Rest in perfect peace LKJ.

Have a great week and thanks to everyone
Who condoled with the family.

Tjak

By Leke Babatope

The Lagos State Police Command has warned the general public, particularly those who have their accidented and exhibit cars or items parked at various police formations across the state to come forward for claims with immediate effect.

According to CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, Police Public Relations Officer Lagos State Command the Command detested the manner in which police formations in the state were littered with such exhibit cars and items and therefore directed the Area Commaders, Divisional Police Officers and Heads of Departments to decongest their formations of the items without delay.

This publication availed the affected car owners 14 day-grace to claim their cars/items afterwhich the command would be left with the option of selling off the cars and items on public auction after due court processes.

“Kindly give this statement wide publicity, please”, he stated

The All Progressives Congress (APC) Registration and Revalidation Committee, Ogun State, led by its Chairman, Hon. Ademorin Kuye has applauded the Ijebu-Ode Local Government Area over its smooth conduct.

The Committee during its visit on Wednesday expressed its satisfaction over the enthusiasm with which existing members trooped out to revalidate their membership as well as the excitement of new members willing to join the ruling party.

Hon. Kuye made this assertion while assessing the ongoing exercise at the Wards I and II, Ishado, and Our Lady of Apostles Polling Units respectively.
The second round of forms distributed to the local government were exhausted, and this according to the Chairman, showed the willingness of many people to become members of the party.

While welcoming the team to the local government, the Transition Chairman, Ijebu Ode Local Government, Engr. Olugbenga Olugbile commended the committee on the way it has so far handled the exercise.

He then called on the Chairman, a member of the National Assembly, to please revisit the issue of state creation, particularly, Ijebu State.
He lamented that out of the two old provinces in Ogun State, it was only the Ijebu province that was yet to become a state.

Accompanying the Committee on the trip was the APC Chairman, Ijebu Ode Local Government, Alhaji Sikiru Adebayo; Secretary to Ijebu Ode Local Government, Dr. Amos Oluwo

*Gives 24-hour for rehabilitation

By Adesola Lawal

Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun has inaugurated a 20- man Peace Keeping Committee on Farmers- Herders Conflict, headed by a former House of Representatives member, Hon. Kayode Oladele, with a charge on members to look into the remote and immediate causes clashes and find lasting solutions to crisis.

The Governor spoke while inaugurating the Committee at the Oba Complex, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, said government was hopeful that the Committee would unravel activities that always to crisis in that axis of the State.

The governor also ordered the Ministry of Housing and that of Special Duties to within 24- hours rehabilitate all displaced persons and work out compensation for all victims of the skirmishes.

“Government believes with the Committee, what really happened to disrupt the peace of the areas will be made known because knowing what happened will prevent occurrences and how to solve it.

” You will ensure that the clashes do not happen again. But if it happens, you will know the steps to be taken. You will also look at any other matter that threatens peace in the State”, the Governor said.

The Committee, according to the Governor has four weeks to carry out and submit its assignment, adding that it would be a standing one saddle with the responsibility of engendering peaceful co-existence in the State.

He said President
Muhammadu Buhari was impressed with the methods adopted by the State government in addressing the crisis, stating that this has made the president direct other states in the country to adopt the same template in resolving the farmers-herders crisis.

He said palliatives would given to all farmers and herders affected in the clashes, directing the Committee to liaise with the Ministry of Special Duties for seamless distribution, just he directed the Ministry of Housing to provide accommodation to those whose houses were destroyed.

Governor Abiodun while enumerating the link between peace and development, noted that no meaningful development would be achieve if clashes like that of he farmers and herders is allowed to continue. He informed that the aim of the State was to become number one in Internal Generated Revenue in the country.

In his welcome address, the Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Tokunbo Talabi, noted that the Committee arose from a lot of brain storming on the part of government, adding with inauguration, the State was setting a standard in conflict resolution in the country.
He said it was imperative for members of the Committee to understand the magnitude of their responsibilities and come up with solutions that would engender peaceful co-existence.

In their goodwill messages, the Southwest Coordinator of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), Alhaji Kabir Muhammed, lauded the State government for setting up the Committee, the representative of Fulani Youth in the State, Abumumuni Ibrahim, pledged the cooperation of his group towards finding lasting solutions to the clashes.

The Onimeko of Imeko, Oba Benjamin Olanite, stressed the need for proper demarcation for all concerned to know their limit, while the member representing Yewa North in the Ogun State House of Assembly, Non. Haruna Abiodun, noted that peace would return to the axis when each operate within its bounds.

Speaking on behalf of other members of the Committee, a member of Ogun State House of Assembly from Imeko Constituency, Hon. jemili Akingbade, thanked the governor for his timely intervention in settling the dispute. He assured that the committee will live up to its expectations by diligently carrying out its terms of reference.

Other members of the Committee are; Hon. Abiodun Egungbohun, Commissioner of Budget and Planning, Mr. Olaolu Olabimtan, Commissioner for Housing, Hon. Jamiu Omoniyi, Special Assistant to the Governor on Inter-Ethnic Affairs, Sani Hadi, Chairman, Imeko -Afon, Hon. Babatunde Davis, State Chairman, All Farmers Association of Nigeria, Chief Segun Dasaolu and Onimeko of Imeko, Oba Benjamin Olanite.

Other are; the Eselu of Iselu, Oba Ebenezer Akinyemi, Baale of Igbooro, Chief Bidemi Akorede, a Community leader, Chief Egungbohun Deinde, Southwest Coordinator of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, Alhaji Kabir Muhammed and Alhaji Bashir Eggua.

By Adesola Lawal

South-West governors have expressed support for the decision of the National Economic Council (NEC) on forest management and checking of open grazing as part of measures to fight insecurity in their region and indeed, the nation

They also supported the decision that the nation’s borders needed to be fully secured and protected while media practitioners should assist the country to end fake news,

The position of the Governors, Royal Fathers were contained in a communique issued at the end of a meeting held in Ibadan, Oyo state.

The meeting, according to the stakeholders was to appraise the security situation of the zone.

A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to Governor ‘Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, indicated that Chairman of the Southwest Governors, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State read a three point communique agreed to after the meeting:

Governor Akeredolu who also briefed newsmen at the end of the meeting said though the meeting was at the instance of the Chief of Staff to the President, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, and the Director-General of the Department of State Services, the trio could not fly out of Abuja due to bad weather.

The meeting, held inside the Executive Council Chambers of the Governor’s office, Agodi, Ibadan, had in attendance five governors including the host, Engr. Seyi Makinde; Arakunrin Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State; Dr. Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State; Gboyega Oyetola of Osun and Prince Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State.

The meeting equally had in attendance the Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of South-West, David Folawiyo, and security chiefs serving in Oyo State.
Others included the Co-Chairman of Nigeria Council of Traditional Ruler, chairmen of Council of Traditional Rulers in each of the South-West states
and some first class monarchs, amongst who were: Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi; Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi III; Akarigbo of Remo, Oba Babatunde Ajayi; Olugbo of Ugbo kingdom, Oba Fredrick Akinrutan; Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Saliu Adetunji, and Olugbon of Orilegbon, Oba Francis Olusola Alao.

Also in attendance was Oyo State Commissioner of Police, Ngozi Onadeko, as well as other heads of security agencies.