On the mandate of the Executive Governor of Ogun State, Prince Dapo Abiodun we earnestly stand.

Disclosing this to our News team, the Chairman of All Nigerians Autobike Commercial Owners and Workers Association (ANACOWA) Prince Alhaji) Nurudeen Sogeyinbo said the executive and entire members of the association have held on tenaciously to the instructions and directives of the governor pertaining to it operation and functionality.

He also stated that Chief Segun Osoba who he described as a father by all ramifications has also persuaded them to remain calm, cool and orderly if they really wanted the attention of the government in their demand for a place in the transport sector in the state.

Sogeyinbo who poured encomium on the former Governor of the state stated for being a mentor of immeasurable value, said he always obliged them his fatherly advice and guidance.

The Chairman who said he started out as a driver disclosed he went into motor Cycle transportation about 28 years ago with a Vesper for which himself and one other vesper users were nicknamed “No Go Slow”.

He said they have been holding their meetings at Chief Osoba’s place, adding that wherever political platform he chose they had always followed.

The ANACOWA Chairman said when Chief Osoba and other leaders of theirs moved to SDP, they went with them and when they returned to APC they also returned with them. “When they decided to pitch tent with Prince Dapo Abiodun we went with them, we followed the campaign train from the beginning to the end”

He said while they were with Prince Abiodun during the campaign train, they were constantly attacked at the behest of the then governor of the state, saying many of them were beaten, assaulted, maim and some other killed.

Sogeyinbo lamented that the struggle and support for Prince Dapo Abiodun and the recognition of his group has caused him a lot. He said they have lost properties, money and even lives.

According to him, “I have lost properties, so much money and even my son to the struggle. It hurts so endlessly to evaluate what we have really lost. It is indeed colossal, and remembering all that draws ceaseless tears and gnashing of teeth”, he stressed.

Sogeyinbo said they usually get the drive and zeal to move on by the dependable implicit confidence they have in the Governor of the state, Prince Dapo Abiodun and the fatherly support they have been getting from Chief Segun Osoba.

The All Nigerians Autobikes Commercial Owners and Workers Association leader said one day many of their members would not be able to erase from their memory was the day President Muhammadu Buhari visited Abeokuta and was received at MKO stadium.

He recalled how their opposition groups loyal to the then governor, Senator Amosun gave them the beating of their lives, injuring, maiming many of their members for wearing and supporting Abiodun’s course.

In his narrative, he said they suffered untold and unprintable intimidation and unwarranted persecution during the 8 years of Amosun, saying at a point they were just at their mercy of their assailants, and life became almost unbearable for himself and his followers.

He recalled when the governorship campaign started they were told, Abiodun was going to be disgraced, but they didn’t perturb, rather remained committed, and held on to their commitment to God. “Prayed fervently, fasted devotedly and worked tirelessly to the end”.

The ANACOWA Chairman said their worries now are the fact that the same people who vilified them, pounce on them at will, beat them mercilessly are the same group enjoying the outcome of their struggle. “The painful thing is that they rob it in our faces by bragging that they still hold the ace”.

He said as much as it is hurting to see this day in day out, and helplessly too, they are holding on to the promises of the Governor. We remain resolute on his mandate and have been conducting themselves in the most civilized manner, even in face of provocation ” Our members are discipline, decent, responsible and law abiding”.

The National Industrial Court of Nigeria sitting in Ibadan on Wednesday stopped the leadership of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) from conducting fresh election in the Ogun State Council of the Union.

The court restrained the NUJ President, Comrade Chris Isiguzo, the NUJ National Secretary, Comrade Shuaib Leman, and 12 other defendants from holding any election in the state council pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice.

The presiding judge, Justice J. D. Peters, granted the order in an ex parte application brought before him in suit number NICN/IB/85/2019.

The suit was filed by the Ogun NUJ Chairman, Soji Amosu, and three other claimants, challenging the purported decision of the union’s national leadership to conduct fresh election into the offices occupied by the claimants.

The national leadership had constituted a five-member electoral committee, with Lanre Ogunyinka and Tunde Olayiwola appointed as chairman and secretary respectively, to hold election on Saturday.

But ruling on the application brought by counsel to the applicants, Deji Enisenyin, the presiding judge ordered the respondents to refrain from conducting any election in the Ogun State council of NUJ.

He declared that the applicants have right for which the intervention of the court was necessary and sought to be protected from infringement by the respondents.

The judge held that the claimants, who were elected on March 29, 2019, should not be interfered with by Isiguzo, Leman, Central Working Committee and National Executive Council which were joined as first, second, third and fourth respondents respectively.

Justice Peters said, “This is an ex parte application brought pursuant to Order 22 Rules 1 and 2 of the Rules of this Court. I have read the processes filed by the learned counsel including the affidavit in support, the accompanying exhibits and the written address.

“Having done so I find that the applicants have right for which the intervention of this court is necessary and sought to be protected from infringement by the respondents. I find merit in this application and granted same as sought.

“For the avoidance of doubt, an order of interim injunction is here issued restraining the 1st – 4th and 10th – 14th respondents, their privies, servants, agents and whosoever named from conducting any election in to the offices of Chairman, Vice Chairman, Secretary and Assistant Secretary of the NUJ Ogun State Council which is currently held by the 1st – 4th applicants following the election held on 29/4/19 pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice.

“An order of interim injunction is here issued restraining the 1st – 4th respondents, their privies, servants or agents from interfering with the offices of the 1st – 4th applicants following the election held on 29/3/19 pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice.

“It is further ordered that the respondents, their privies, servants or agents shall not take any step that may adversely be an affront to the orders here made by this court today.”

The judge directed that the order be served on the respondents forthwith.

He, thereafter, adjourned the case to December 4, 2019 to hear the Motion on Notice.

Ogun State Deputy Governor, Engr. Noimot Salako-Oyedele, has attributed the neglect of vocational skills and entrepreneurial education as major factors that had contributed to the downturn in the nation’s economy.

Engr. Salako-Oyedele made this known in her presentation at the 2019 interactive forum, organised by Industrial Training Fund (ITF) , Abeokuta Area Office, tagged “Vocational skills acquisition and entrepreneurship development: A solution to secured and sustainable future”.

She said the importance of vocational skills and entrepreneurship in the modern world could not be overemphasized, noting that vocational skills and free enterprise had made significantly positive turnarounds in the lives of numerous youths through utilization of their unique gifts and talents to build self-confidence and economic independence.

“Let me inform you that the policy thrust of Prince Dapo Abiodun administration is to institute a solid foundation for the socio-economic development of the State by remaining focused on its strong determination to open avenues for economic growth through self-sufficiency. It is also our belief that poverty and hunger can be decisively dealt with through skills acquisition and trainings in various vocations for the unemployed”, she said

The Deputy Governor stated that the present administration in the State believed in training and development as means of attaining efficiency and competitive edge in any enterprise, emphasizing the need for highly skilled artisans like; auto mechanics, plumbers, electricians, electronics and computers technicians, medical technicians and nursing assistants for effective service delivery.

Earlier in her welcome address, the Abeokuta Area Manager of ITF, Mrs. Funmi Coker stated that the interactive forum was one of their several strategies and initiatives to bring together clients and stakeholders for networking, as well as a way to appreciate their contributions towards developing the nation’s human resources.

She pointed out that the ITF, established in 1971, as a foremost human capacity development agency, was vested with the mandate to provide, promote and encourage the acquisition of skills in industry and commerce, with a view to generating a pool of indigenous trained manpower, sufficient to meet the needs of both the private and public sectors.

The Manager emphasized that tackling unemployment through skills acquisition should not be the responsibility of the ITF and other agencies of the Federal Government alone. She therefore called for collaboration of State governments, organized private sectors and other stakeholders to tackle the challenge.

Highlight of the event was the inspection of the trainees craft works, unveiling of the 2020 ITF Abeokuta Area Office, Learning and Development Programme and presentation of awards to some deserving individuals and corporate organisations, among who was the State Deputy Governor, Engr. Noimot Salako-Oyedele, who bagged the Director General’s Award.

Nigerian women have been charged not to only take up roles in trade unionism but also participate actively in politics, as a way of contributing their quota to nation building.

Engr. Salako-Oyedele, who made this call while declaring open the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC), Women Commission annual seminar, held at the ASUSS Secretariat, Leme, Abeokuta, said women were great pillars in the society and should take up active roles in governance, reiterating Governor Abiodun’s commitment at ensuring that women have more than 35 percent representation in his government.

The Deputy Governor further stated that the Dapo Abiodun led administration was passionate about the welfare of employees, dominated by teachers, and civil servants, who she said were mostly women.

She assured the gathering that all hands were on deck to improve service conditions, as well as ensure prompt payment of salaries.

Earlier, in his welcome Address, the President, Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC), Comrade Quadri Olaleye, represented by National Secretary, Comrade Musa Lawal, said for any meaningful development to take place, the incorporation of women into the scheme of things must be structured in such a way as to ensure maximum utilisation of their skills and efforts.

He added there was need for a deliberate and concerted effort to educate, encourage and empower women to participate and contribute meaningfully to development.

Also in her remarks, the TUC Women Commission National Chairperson, Comrade Hafsatu Shuaib said, supporting the adoption and implementation of improved national and states’ legislation to protect and enhance the rights of women and girl-child and the application were well respected.

She disclosed that the organisation had over the years, developed, prioritised and implemented policies affecting women members, as well as maintained links with trade union women groups.

In her contribution, representative of the Ministry of Labour and Productivity, Mrs. Olumayowa Agbesola, encouraged women to engage more in trade union activities, pointing out that a nation cannot succeed without women.