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JMSE
january - march 2013 a publication of the media unit of the governors office, oyo state

i& ajimOb th thE mYO OF iw ROad

OYSG Bridges The Infrastructure Gap with 205 Projects

plus Nation Building According to Ajimobi Oranyan Festival: Promoting our Rich Cultural Heritage

K Y Le da; jmse GboGbo wa ni o!

FRom THe eDIToR-IN-CHIeF

happy new Year!

F
We are excited about the new projects that well be embarking upon and the opportunities they will bring for all citizens of Oyo State.

rom all of us at Ajumose, the Newsletter, we are wishing through you, our readers, every citizen of Oyo State, at home and in the diaspora, a very happy and prosperous 2013.

I can tell you that this year for us in Oyo State will be a very exciting one. We are excited because of many things that will be happening in the state, as the administration is breaking new ground on the road we chose to travel, The Road to Restoration; we are excited about the new projects that well be embarking upon and the opportunities they will bring for all citizens of Oyo State. Also, we cannot but be excited about the due coming on stream of many projects on which the administration has expended time and treasure. We are sure of the positive impact these projects will have on the everyday lives of the people of Oyo State. At a very small though representative level, this edition tells the Oyo State transformational story. It is packed full of interesting articles for your information, orientation and education. In all, we make bold to say that this New Year edition is a precursor to the exciting times awaiting us all in this year 2013. Please come along with us!

festus adedayo ph.d Special Adviser to the Governor on Media

in this issue

d nnECtE StaY COwith OnlinEose: ajum .COm/ twittERE ajUmOS / Ok.COm FaCEbOSE ajUmO
16 FestivaL - From one adeyemi to another, with love at oranyan Festival 19 everYones oYo state - From one caring heart to thousands others 20 GaLLerY 21 PassaGe - Lam adesina: accepted to the ranks of heroes Past

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From the editor - Please come along with us in the news Cover - oYsG bridges infrastructure gap with 205 projects Feature - nation-building according to ajumose oPinion - ajimobi and the myth of iwo road

Om/ SCRibd.CE ajUmOS E.COm/ YOUtUb E ajUmOS Om/ FliCkR.C E S ajUmO

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Our long march to Restoration Continues...

new year message from the governor

posT oNe - DIReCT FRom THe GoVeRNoR

my dear good people of oyo state,

send hearty greetings to you and congratulations on the New Year 2013. I trust that you would join the Oyo State Executive Council to thank the Creator for his grace and enablement that have seen us enter this Year 2013.
those who have felt the temporary negative effects of ongoing infrastructure and urban renewal efforts through demolitions and removal of illegal structures. We will continue to treat such cases with empathy and a human face, as we urge them to note that their pain today would bring gain to them and Oyo State tomorrow. We will ensure completion of the beautification of major cities of Oyo State, which we have begun with Ibadan, our capital. One of those infrastructure projects, the Neighbourhood Markets across the state, we will work to conclude in the first quarter of 2013. I, once again, ask for your support, cooperation and collaboration. Always bear in mind that, Ki Oyo le daa, ajumose gbogbo wa ni. Have a prosperous 2013.
his exCeLLenCY,

Thank you for the support and the goodwill you have shown to the Oyo State Government that I lead. You have appreciated our efforts at infrastructure development and rejuvenation, as well as the efforts in education, works and housing, general administration, welfare of civil servants, agriculture and industry. As 2013 rolls in, I make a solemn promise to you on behalf of the Government: we shall redouble efforts to deliver a richer and more meaningful life for Oyo State citizens. We shall continue in 2013 the long journey of Restoration, Repositioning and Transformation of Oyo State that we commenced on May 29, 2011. We are emboldened to make the promise to you based on what we have already done with your support. As they say in Human Resource management, past performance is proof of potential. Let me restate herewith our commitment to recreating the economy of Oyo State as our primary focus. We will work to empower our people for sustainable wealth creation and develop the capacity of all economic agents. On this note, I seek the understanding of

As 2013 rolls in, I make a solemn promise to you on behalf of the Government: we shall redouble efforts to deliver a richer and more meaningful life for Oyo State citizens.

sen. abiola ajimobi,

Executive Governor of Oyo State

jmse
a publication of the media unit of the Governors office, oyo state. Editorial Dr. Festus Adedayo (special adviser, media) - Editor-in-Chief Mr. Wale Sadeeq (special assistant Print media) - Editor Mr. Tunde Muraina (special assistant, e-media) - Deputy Editor Mr. Seun Folarin - Photographer Mr. Dauda Agboola - Photographer advisory Board Dr. Adeolu Akande - Chief of staff to the Governor Mr. Toye Arulogun - special adviser, Public affairs Mr. Gbolagade Busari - special adviser, information & orientation Editorial/Production consultants Insider Concepts Limited 11, tafawa balewa Crescent, surulere, Lagos nG101014 tel: 08111115050, 08111115555. all correspondence to: the editor, jmse, office of the governor, the secretariat, agodi, ibadan. Printed in nigeria j M S E is the philosophical framework

of the Ajimobi-led Oyo State Government. Its unique semantic is descriptive of a task accomplished by voluntary engagement of the collective efforts of the members of a community.

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Oyo Govt. commences free emergency medical services

he Oyo State Government has kickstarted its free emergency medical services with 34 ambulances, doctors, nurses and medical technicians drawn from the state Youth Empowerment Scheme (YES-O) Speaking at the flag-off of the scheme and the inauguration of the ambulances, Governor Abiola Ajimobi disclosed that emergency road points had been provided for the ambulances and that arrangements had been made with a network provider for a toll-free number. He added that a 24-hour control room had been opened at the Ministry of Health, complete with a 30-feet mast and a dedicated E-1 direct line, coupled with a GIS-based tracking system, to know the location of every ambulance at any point in time to ensure the fastest possible response times. Governor Ajimobi said that the state free ambulance service was borne out of the need to reduce mortality being recorded from accidents, disasters and emergencies. It is well known that people in these situations do not know what to do, where to turn to or whom to call. With the flag-off of this programme, help is now just a call away, he said. The governor noted that it is only in a

primitive society that accident victims are carried to the hospital in open pickup trucks, commercial taxis or Okada, adding that such accident victims often die needlessly through lack of application of basic first-aid interventions. It is our belief that any modern society must be able to respond promptly to emergency situations, whether on the highways or in the homes. Governor Ajimobi further stated that any patient who made use of the ambulance service would be entitled to free drugs for the first 48 hours of his stay in the hospital, due to the N 200 million worth of essential drugs currently being distributed by the government. He recalled that one of the priority areas of his administrations programme was the urgent need to revamp the state health sector and restore the quality of healthcare delivery to the people. The governor lamented that hospitals and primary health centres had been in a state of infrastructural decay due to long years of neglect. There are not enough medical personnel and equipment are obsolete and inadequate. Despite the lack of good infrastructure and standards, the cost of healthcare is high and

beyond the reach of our people, leaving them to run from pillar to post in search of money to treat the most common ailments. The governor disclosed that government would soon launch the State Strategic Health Development Plan, which he said was developed in conjunction with development partners like World Health Organization (WHO), World Bank, UNICEF and the Federal Government to guide development of the health sector over the next five years. He added that under the plan, a State Health Steering Committee would be inaugurated which would involve all key stakeholders. Governor Ajimobi also said by next month, his administration would launch a Universal Health Insurance Initiative whose aim is to ensure that all citizens are able to minimize out-of-pocket expenses by enrolling in various Health Insurance Programmes which have been developed. Among the programmes, he said, were the NHIS-MDG programme, the Oyo State Community-Based Health Insurance Programme and Formal Sector Health Insurance Plans for government employees and the private sector. The governor also disclosed that his administration would soon begin the renovation of government-owned hospitals across the state, as well as the provision of basic medical equipment. He said that his government had ascertained the required number of medical personnel and commenced recruitment process for a sustainable number of personnel, stressing that they would be complemented with seasonal consulting arrangements with consultants from UI/UCH and LAUTECH Teaching Hospitals. Governor Ajimobi urged the people to maximize the opportunity which the programme had brought to their doorstep and to cooperate fully with the operators. Commissioner for Health, Dr. Muyiwa Gbadegesin, said that the free ambulance service was a new system conceived by the Governor to fill a gap noticed in healthcare delivery, that is, the lack of first responder capability usually leading to needless deaths on the roads and in homes. He said that the fast response time would significantly improve survival rates from accidents and common medical emergencies in both urban and rural areas of the state. The commissioner also said that the inclusion of YES-O cadets in the scheme as emergency medical technicians was to create a new career path for them, saying that they had received specialized training in first aid.

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inFrastruCture

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Osunkeye, Olajide laud Oyo Governor on development

he Chairman of Lafarge West African Portland Cement (WAPCO), Chief Segun Osunkeye, has commended Governor Abiola Ajimobi for the developmental strides of his administration in Oyo State. He gave this commendation when he led the management of the company to the Governors office on a courtesy call. Osunkeye said that WAPCO, which had been in the construction business since 1959, recognizes administrations that prioritize infrastructural development and was proud to identify the government of Oyo State as a key player in that category. He commended Sen. Ajimobi for the ongoing massive infrastructural development across the state and hoped that the state would leverage on WAPCOs years in the construction industry and its comparative advantages. Osunkeye said Lafarge seeks to revive the old bond between the Oyo State government and Lafarge Plc, which has its origin in the old Western region, with headquarters in Ibadan. The Lafarge chairman promised that the organization would fulfil its corporate social responsibility to the Oyo state government while also expressing readiness to collaborate with it in the areas of infrastructural development, skill acquisition and training of artisans.

Lafarge WAPCO; Chief Adebayo Jimoh, GMD/CEO, Odua Investment and Mrs Temitope Oguntokun, Head of Communications of the company, accompanied Osunkeye on the visit. Meanwhile, Former Secretary-General of the Yoruba Council of Elders (YCE), Dr. Kunle Olajide, has commended Sen. Ajimobi for his efforts at restoring sanity to major highways in Ibadan. In a letter of commendation, Dr. Olajide mentioned the Iwo-Road interchange where government effort has eliminated the traffic bottleneck. AJUMOSE recalls that the state government had recently embarked on the removal of illegal structures that constituted environmental nuisance; their presence earned the state the tag of the dirtiest in the country. The government has also carried out massive beautification of the Ibadan metropolis and other towns and cities as well as construction of neighbourhood markets in some areas within the state capital. Dr Olajide said that the governor deserved accolades for his efforts at sanitizing the environment and changing the face of the state. Nigerians are usually very quick to criticize leadership when things go wrong b ut of t e n , t h e y ne ver commend government when they perform, he said, adding that his (Ajimobis) brilliant performance had further confirmed the confidence he had earlier expressed about his administration. I expressed confidence that your success in the election would bring a breath of fresh air to Oyo State and that you definitely will bring style, polish and panache to the government of Oyo State. I thank you for not Governor abioLa ajimobi oF oYo state (seCond riGht), mr. joe hudson, manaGinG direCtor/Ceo, LaFarGe waPCo, (LeFt), disappointing me, ChieF oLuseGun osunKeYe, Chairman, LaFarGe waPCo (seCond LeFt) and ChieF adebaYo jimoh, Gmd/Ceo, odua investment, he wrote. durinG a CourtesY CaLL on the Governor in his oFFiCe.

Governor Ajimobi in response thanked the Lafarge Board and management for the visit. He assured of the partnership of the Oyo State Government. Lafarge has helped and indeed contributed largely to the growth and development of the construction industry in Nigeria. So, there is no better time to visit Oyo state than now. More so because of our own transformation agenda based on infrastructural development, knowledge-based economy and social services. Your company can also help in vocational training with skill acquisition to help artisans and middle-level manpower in our state, the governor said. Ajimobi said he would set up a committee of four to look into infrastructure, skill acquisition, artisanship and training, so that the state could benefit from the partnership with WAPCO. He urged Lafarge to establish a factory or warehouse in the state for easy accessibility and creation of employment opportunities for the teeming youth of the state. Governor Ajimobi described Lafarge Plc as one of the foremost cement producers in Nigeria, which has contributed immensely to the growth of construction industry in Nigeria. Joe Hudson, Managing Director/CEO,

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weLFare

2013, Year of reward for Oyo workers ajimobi

Governor abioLa ajimobi oF oYo state (LeFt) and FrenCh ConsuLar GeneraL (LaGos) mr. FranCois sastourie durinG a CourtesY CaLL on ajimobi in ibadan

transPort

Free transportation excites Oyo workers

disclosed that the car loan programme for civil servants has been upgraded 100 per cent while Government has reduced taxes deductible from their income by 48 per cent. Not yet done, Governor Ajimobi further revealed that the state government would help workers in home-ownership; Government would aid civil servants to access mortgage facilities to finance their real estate dreams. He said they would also be able to access properties in the housing project that a private developer would soon deliver to the state government. Ajimobi said the fact that more than 13, 000 civil servants attended training programmes in the last 18 months underlined the emphasis of the government on developing human capital.

he train of improvement; the train of pacesetting; the train of restoration, transformation and repositioning have started moving in Oyo State. There is no stopping until we are able to take this state to the desired height. Thus stated His Excellency, Sen. Abiola Ajimobi as he unveiled the plan of the state government to commence free transportation for public servants in the Ibadan metropolis come February, 2013. The Governors excitement about the project caught on to his audience who filled the House of Chiefs auditorium to the brim, as he spoke at the Interactive Session with a cross-section of government workers in the state secretariat. They clapped and shouted in approval as he further reeled out the goodies his government has for them. Governor Ajimobi

overnor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State has assured workers in the state of his administrations readiness to give them handsome rewards and add value to their lives this year for their commitment and dedication to work. He gave this assurance while addressing civil and public servants at an inter-religious prayer session organized to usher in Year 2013 at the Governors Office Car Park, Secretariat, Ibadan. The governor noted that he had, since assumption of office, subjected the workers to series of challenges and created some stormy sessions, all aimed at getting the best from them and making them more serviceoriented. For you to have been able to withstand the pressure that we have brought to bear on you; for you to have survived our close-marking approach, shocking treatment and the pyramid of checks and balances, be assured that this year will be a year of reward for you. We have demanded a lot from you and you have given us; and for those of you who have survived the tsunami of change which was aimed at instilling discipline in the system and make the civil service service-oriented, you will be adequately compensated, he told the civil servants who thronged the venue of the programme. While giving glory to God for being with his administration, the civil servants and the entire people of the state, Governor Ajimobi said but for God, his efforts at transforming and repositioning the state would have paled into insignificance. He stressed the need for the workers to be Godly and to re-dedicate themselves this year, pledging that his administrations package for them for 2013 would be among the best in the South-West zone. The governor also promised that his administration would build housing estates and arrange for mortgage for the workers to enable them own the houses without any stress. He urged religious leaders in the state to continue to pray for his administration so that it could deliver on its promises and take the

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state to greater heights. The Head of Service, Alhaji Tajudeen Aremu had in his welcome address urged civil servants to key into the blueprint of the government for the successful implementation of the laudable programmes of the Ajimobi administration. In their separate sermons, Rev. Francis Omolade and Prof. D. O. S. Noibi admonished the civil servants on the need for them to discharge their duties with the fear of God and shun corrupt tendencies which they said had virtually become a cankerworm, eating up the system. Prof. Noibi, in particular, acknowledged the various accomplishments which had been recorded by the Ajimobi administration and commended it for running a government with human face. eduCation

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From LeFt, ambassador oLu saanu, ProFessor adiGun aGbaje, hiGh ChieF eddY oYewoLe, Governor abioLa ajimobi, his wiFe, FLorenCe and bashorun KoLa daisi, CuttinG ajimobis 63rd birthdaY CaKe durinG a LeCture orGanized For him in ibadan on deCember 15th, 2012

Government approves promotion of 12,076 teachers

he Oyo State government has brought smiles to the faces of 12,076 teaching and non-teaching staff in public secondary schools by approving their promotion. The implementation of the exercise, however, will cost the government N42, 339,993.18 being additional salaries and allowances payable to the teachers. The Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Tokunbo Fayokun, who announced the promotion, said the state governor, Sen. Abiola Ajimobi, approved it in line with the transformation agenda of the government. Fayokun added that the promotion for 2009 and 2010 adhered strictly to the rules of workers promotion as enshrined in their service rules. The Ministry of Education conducted the 2009 and 2010 promotion interviews for 12,504 teaching and non-teaching staff of public schools in the state, out of which 12,076 qualified. The Administrative Staff College of Nigeria (ASCON) conducted examinations for Levels 6-15 while the Simeon Adebo Staff Development Centre (SASDC) conducted the examination for workers on Grade Level 01 05. 428 out of all the staff who sat for the interview, according to Fayokun, were found not promoteable. The governor approved these promotions because he realizes the importance of promotion in motivating teacher performance and boosting the image of the administration in its quest at repositioning and transforming education in the state, the commissioner said.

Governor abioLa ajimobi (middLe), reCeivinG an award From the rePresentative oF the nationaL President, nationaL union oF teaChers (nut), Comrade KoLawoLe amao (riGht) whiLe Governor rabiu KwanKwanso oF Kano state (LeFt), who was aLso Given an award, LooKs on in ibadan

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OYSG bridges infrastructure gap with projects

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he Promise: The transformation that we envision for Oyo State and our people can only be translated into reality with the provision of necessary public infrastructure. We shall embark on extensive rehabilitation of roads and construction of new ones. Our government shall insist on the construction of durable roads. Never again will our people live with the irony of roads constructed over 30 years ago being more motorable than the ones constructed few months back. Senator Abiola Ajumobi delivering his inauguration address on May 29, 2011.
Governor Ajimobis government has rehabilitated and constructed several roads, built eight bridges and dredged 43 rivers, canals and streams. A flyover, the first in 35 years in the state and the first by any democratically elected government is being constructed at

The reality: Twenty months later, Oyo State Government has executed 205 infrastructure projects covering roads, bridges, health centres as well as dredging rivers and canals. Since coming into office on May 29, 2011,

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Mokola, Ibadan, the state capital. Equitable distribution The Oyo State Ministry of Works drives the infrastructural development mission of the administration. A vital component of the wheel of the administration, the ministry has projects across the length of Oyo State. Though the temptation would be to concentrate on Ibadan, the state capital, there is equitable siting of projects to ensure even development. Works in progress include the Shanga and Aladota Bridges in Oyo. Others are the Owode-Afin, Fola Tyre-Durbar Stadium, General Hospital to the palace in Fiditi, Gedu Schemes I and II in Oyo and the Ilora-Imini Ijaiye roads. Oke-Ogun, the agrarian part of the state, is also receiving attention. Sen. Ajimobi commissioned the road from the Town Hall to Isale Taba in Saki during activities marking his first year in office while work is ongoing on the Apinite-Otun Town Hall also in Saki. Work is also in progress on a by-pass in the mining town of Igbeti; Moniya-Iseyin road, the major road that links Ibadan with Oke-Ogun, is also being rehabilitated. Similar rehabilitation work is going on at the Deeper Life-Oloko road in Igboho while the Saki-Ogberan road has been completed. Motorists are now plying the Ilero-Otu and

Otu-Alaga roads without tears. OYSG is also fixing Iresa-Apa to IresaAdu Phases I & II, Mowolowo-Iwo Ate and Ipeba-Ajaawa roads in Ogbomoso. The Governor has commissioned the Ogbomoso California-Ibapon Agric road. In Ibarapa zone, the Ibadan-New Eruwa Junction to Lanlate Junction in Eruwa; OkeOla-Aborerin-Igboora Junction; EleyeleIddo-Eruwa and the Igboora-Idere roads will soon be completed. Mokola flyover Though commuters plying the Mokola Roundabout route in Ibadan are suffering some little discomfort because of the construction of the flyover, it will be for a little while as everything is being done to ensure that the bridge is completed in the first quarter of 2013. Almost completed is the Podo Motor Park. OYSG plans to move the unstructured parks from Beere down to Challenge to Podo Motor Park. AJUMOSE recalls that the Temidire Park, constructed from scratch by the Ajimobi administration had earlier been inaugurated. Overall, OYSG is currently executing 205 projects; bridges, roads and culverts. There are two motor parks, one flyover and the dualisation of Methodist to Efunsetan Roundabout in Challenge. The road, whose

contract was signed recently, is to enlarge the entry point into Ibadan from Lagos and it is not the only road that will be dualized. Major roads into Oyo, Ogbomoso and Iseyin will soon receive the same treatment. The Circular Road That is not all. The 110 kilometre major Circular Road that will take off from Akilapa on the Lagos-Ibadan Express Way, run through Egbeda on Ife Road to Akinyele on Oyo road and finally Apata on the Abeokuta road is also in the pipeline. The road is a development corridor that will further open up the areas and encourage external economies of scale among companies that would be situated there. Prices of property will also increase along the route and ensure more rapid development of the city. The project is now at the pre-MOU stage with four companies having shown interest after it was advertised. A highly capital intensive project, the circular road will be a Public-Private- Partnership arrangement. And fittingly, it is not only a road; it is a form of developmental corridor as portions are being classified for specific purposes. AJUMOSE gathered that the first 10 kilometres will be for industrial establishments, another 10 kilometres for educational institutions, while there will also be designated portions for auto mart, electronics and financial

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OYSG PROJECTS IN NuMBERS

newLY ComPLeted bodija/ seCretariat bridGe

institutions among others. A corollary to the massive on-going road construction and reconstruction is provision for a mass transit. The state executive council has already approved the purchase of 100 units of fully air conditioned and digital 43-seater buses for this. The mini circular road from Dandaru at Mokola, to Sanyo on the Lagos-Ibadan Express Way and some other lanes will be dedicated to the buses. Though not exactly like the Bus Rapid Transport system in Lagos, the service will be fast and efficient. It will also be affordable. Neighbourhood markets A major criticism of the Ajimobi government is the demolitions it is effecting on major streets to clean up the state and restore the original master plan. Governments bulldozers have pulled down illegal structures at Challenge, Mokola and Sango amongst other areas. Sen. Ajimobi has, unknown to many, made alternative provision for the displaced street traders in the form of neighbourhood markets, part of a larger urban renewal project. And to ensure that the traders are not cheated, structures have been put in place to ensure that they are direct beneficiaries of the markets and not some money bags who would come from nowhere to buy the shops. The Governor, has, in fact, delegated officials

to meet with representatives of the traders so that they will be given priority when they are eventually moved to the neighbourhood markets. A source disclosed: It is not that we say we have neighbourhood market in Iwo Road, interested people should come. No. We will be relocating those people we sent packing, we are relocating them on human grounds to the new site. There is a multi-ministerial committee comprising works, environment, physical planning, trade and investment, water and lands. Tackling flooding Like other parts of the country, the floods ravaging the country have not spared Oyo State. Following the August 26, 2011 tragedy that claimed lives in the state, government has embarked on massive orientation of the people on the causes of flooding and how to prevent it. It has also set up a technical committee headed by an academic at the University of Ibadan to assess the issue critically because it does not make sense to invest so much in infrastructure only for water to destroy them. The committee has since submitted its report and government is going about its implementation. Though it has many projects going on simultaneously, officials of the Ministry Works say it comes with the territory and

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Units of digital buses acquired for mass transit

is not an exertion. They, however, attribute their success to God and team leader Sen. Ajimobi. If you want to be a member of his team, you should learn to work 26 hours in a day. That is the magic behind our success. You have to be proactive, you have to be visionary, you should be focused and avoid distractions. You should be proactive and think ahead to know what he (The Governor) wants.

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Circular Road

Flyover under construction at Mokola Modern motor parks at Temidire and Podo

Minor Circular Road On-going projects across

Neighbourhood market at Iwo Road

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nation building, according to Ajumose

2012 Chatham House Lecture: Ajimobi charts path to greater Nigeria

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ever one to shy away from airing his views on national issues, Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State made a number of sound interventions on developments in Nigeria at a lecture titled Review and Reform: Key Elements and Implications of Nigerias Constitution Review Process he delivered at Chatham House, London, recently.
The Governor gave his objective appraisal of issues including appointment of the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), fiscal federalism, state police, independence of the judiciary and tenure of elected public officers amongst others to a cosmopolitan audience of likeminded people desiring a better Nigeria. On INEC The Governor noted that instead of being appointed by the President, the Chief

Justice of Nigeria should appoint the INEC chairman. He also touched on the funding of the electoral body, noting that: INEC funding should be first line charge of the Federation Account as a mechanism for checks and balances. Only the recurrent expenses of INEC are at present excluded from presidential approval. Extant constitutional provisions allow the president to appoint INEC board that will superintend the election in which he is likely to be a candidate. INEC reports to the president. Its funding relies on the disposition of the president as well.

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All these have serious implications for the independence of INEC and the possibility of having free and fair elections in the country, he said. Fiscal federalism Governor Ajimobi described the present federal system as feeding bottle federalism in which states assemble monthly in Abuja for federal allocation does not allow for hard work. He noted that many of the milestones in many parts of the country were accomplished in the First Republic when states had more control on their resources. This allowed for healthy rivalry among states and the outcome is the many landmarks that still mark out the leaders of that era as the heroes of Nigeria, he said. The governor, who highlighted the development projects he had executed in the last 16 months, said that he would have done more if the state had been given power to control its resources. Tenure of public officials Governor Ajimobi kicked against the second term politics in the country, which he said was too much of a distraction. Extant constitutional provisions limit elected president and governors and their deputies to a maximum of two terms of four years. As a former senator and governor who had contested election three times in this dispensation, this provision allows elected executives only about two years of service. This means he has one year to settle down as a newly elected officer and one year to prepare for election, if he wants a second term. This is unhealthy for the system because for the development that Nigerians seek, we need executives that can devote considerable time to the task of governance. The governor also opined that the removal of incumbents from the second term elections would reduce the use of incumbency factor to undermine the democratic rights of other contestants within the political parties or in the general elections. State Police Governor Ajimobi supported the creation of state police, noting that it

would guarantee fast and immediate response to security challenges and allow for indigenous police service that would leverage on its knowledge of the local communities to detect and prevent crime. The provision for state governors as chief security officers of their respective states is largely meaningless because the police do not report to them. Valuable time is wasted in cases of security challenges because police authorities need to seek approval for action from the federal government rather than the governors who are on the ground and who feel the impact of such security challenges. Furthermore, previous administrations at the federal level had used this control of the security apparatus to intimidate, arm-twist and undermine state governments, especially when they belonged to rival parties. The implication is that security in the states is compromised and the safety of lives and property has not received the best attention because of this structural problem, he stated. To guard against abuse of state police by state governors, the Governor called for constitutional provisions for checks and balances such as the inclusion of paramount traditional rulers, representatives of the federal government and the armed forces, and notable groups like the Nigerian Bar Association and the judiciary in the State Police Service Commissions. Immunity Clause Governor Ajimobi opined that the retention or removal of the controversial immunity clause in the constitution was not the problem but rather, the will by the national justice system to prosecute the so-called big men in the society when the need arose. The provision for immunity has been inserted into the constitution to protect officials against distraction because of our litigious culture as a people. For me, I do not see anything wrong in removing the Immunity clause, if it will enhance the integrity of our democratic system.

But the question is: if erring presidents and governors were not prosecuted while they were in office because of the immunity clause, how many of the 1999-2007 class of president and governors have been prosecuted since they left office in 2007? We need to look deeper into why so-called big men do not face justice in Nigeria, rather than focusing on the immunity clause. Nigeria needs a justice system that will not sacrifice justice on the altar of class or wealth. We need a system where the so-called big men will not be able to buy, delay or frustrate justice, he submitted. The Judiciary Sen. Ajimobi praised the judiciary for playing an important role in the development of Nigeria, adding, however, that there was still room for improvement. Our judicial process is expensive to the extent that it puts a lot of our people at a great disadvantage. The judicial process is also too slow that it perennially confirms that justice delayed is justice denied. Our constitutional review should emphasise this to retain the confidence of our people in the judiciary. He called for a review of constitutional provisions that would allow states, rather than the National Judicial Council to determine the number of judges they needed. Only a state can determine the number of judges it needs. The national control has led to less number of judges in some states in contrast to the number of cases in the courts, he said. The governor submitted that a new constitution is not the solution to the myriads of challenges confronting Nigeria as the constitution could only provide the framework for the operation of the government. The responsibility for good governance and the development of Nigeria lies on a responsible leadership and a vigilant following. It is our readiness to make the constitution work that will ensure that the on-going constitution review is worthwhile, he said.

FeaTuRe

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opINIoN

ajimobi and the myth

of

y all traditional indices and parameters, Iwo Road is qualified to be called the crossroads that troubles the visitor. It is a major road with several intersections. A section of the road takes you to Ife; another one leads you to Iwo Town; one also takes you to Oyo via Ojo.

iwo Road
around Iwo Road should not conflict with its political metaphor. Each time I pass through Iwo Road, I see the vacuity of our political leadership, the depravity of humanity and the desperation of a struggling people. I see the rejects of the society that are in the world but as mere walking corpses. I see disgruntled and angry women strapped their future to their back with a loose sash, looking askance into a tomorrow that is already dead to them. I see a colony of malcontents dramatising the vanities and inanities of an unjust society. I see a people with mangled aspirations drooping their heads in total submission to their failed visions and the remnant of their expectations. Even in its present appearance of grandeur, Iwo Road remains the theatre of the absurd where people of diverse destinies connect with their existential realities. Iwo Road is the crossroads that leads some people to their destinations and frustrates others from reaching their destinies. Iwo Road is home to different human char-

bY daPo thomas

The other two lead you to Gate in the heart of Ibadan and Lagos respectively. Iwo Road also has its own traditional narratives. The myth about the road is that it is the crossroads where deities and other weird creatures converge in the dead of the night; and it is believed that such assembly is good for the state because of its divine returns. In Ibadan, as in other major Yoruba towns, the visit of the gods at any point in time is always a sign of blessing. It is therefore in the interest of the state to allow the deities ascend and descend at will to avoid blessing deficit. It is this myth that was said to have constrained past administrations in Oyo State from lifting Iwo Road from its accustomed labyrinth. The convocation of metaphysical agents and forces within and around Iwo Road and the conspiracy of previous administrations in Oyo State, evident in their unwillingness to liquidate this evil assemblage, confirm the cultural indulgence the notorious road had enjoyed in the past years. But whatever may be the myth

acters: the money changers, hawkers of anything under the sun, madmen and specialists, beggars of diverse tactics, touts and thugs, assassins and apprentices of evil, food vendors and their consuming multitude, jobless graduates roaming around and about, urchins with their tools of crisis, labourers and their implements of grit, security agents and their revenue collectors, street sweepers with their brooms of pity, goggleeyed intellectuals and their observatory ladders, government officials with their tax files. The list is endless. Then the traffic. This is the major phenomenon of Iwo Road. It is a disservice to grammatical expression to say that what people experience daily at Iwo Road is go slow. No, it is more than that. Without being hyperbolic, it is a gridlock. On a daily basis, travellers are trapped for hours in the gridlock, workers get late to office because of it. The traffic wardens end up creating traffic stalemate. They stand in the midst of the traffic not knowing what to do, where to start from or who to blame. The confusion begins from nowhere and ends at nowhere. This gridlock is tied to its mystery. The Abiola Ajimobi government with its consensual sloganeering credo must have been intrigued by the Iwo Road mystery hence its resolve to unravel it. Ajimobi must have realised that the secret of the success of his administration lies in his ability to deal with this mystery

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personnel to the road for effective monitoring. These days, movement around the road is somehow smooth and stress-free. What Ajimobi is doing in Iwo Road was what Babatunde Fashola did to Oshodi some years back. I am not too sure if Oshodi had its own myth but what I do know is that Fasholas intervention has demystified the notorious Oshodi. Since that intervention, Oshodi has remained quiet, fomenting no crisis, witnessing no trouble and engendering no conflict. The gridlock had since disappeared. Vehicular and human traffic now flows without the stress of the past. Ajimobi and Fasholas action on Iwo Road and Oshodi respectively exemplifies how visionary leadership and administration should respond to obstacles of development. Myths are obstacles to progress and until they are disparaged and treated with contempt and disdain, our society will be held hostage by mere soporific narratives and antiquated traditions. While crediting the Ajimobi administration for its creativity and sagacity in coming up with the magic for the revival of Iwo Road, I am proposing that the government should come up with the mechanisms including legislations, that will give an enduring value to the various measures and structures that are being put in place at Iwo Road.
THomAs, A former speCiAL Adviser To AsiwAju BoLA AHmed TiNuBu, is A LeCTurer AT THe depArTmeNT of HisTory ANd iNTerNATioNAL sTudies, LAgos sTATe uNiversiTy. CuLLed from THe NATioN NewspAper, suNdAy jANuAry 27, 2013

through a systemic despatch of its nuisance contents. The governor, therefore, decided to engage the Iwo Road mafia in a battle of wits which he seems to be winning. The first move was the relocation of the parks. Though, some of them have refused to obey this relocation order, it is not as bad as it used to be. Then, some structures encroaching on the road were demolished while some traders were sent packing. Some of the illegal bus parks are now undergoing beautification and landscaping evolution. Thus, a new Iwo Road stripped of all forms of traditional razzmatazz is emerging. No responsible government in this modern age will subscribe to a risible myth or succumb to the fallacy of a witch-cult fantasy. Why should Iwo Road not undergo a revification simply because some weird creatures are said to have turned the place to a midnight eatery where they feast on appeasement menu in assorted calabashes brought by patrons of herbalists and promoters of Icce? The best the government can do for them in this regard is to relocate their eatery to places like Dugbe, Yemetu, Orita Challenge, Idi-Arere, Beere, Oje and the rest. Ibadan, and indeed, Oyo State as a whole, does not appear to me like a state that will lack a convenient venue for the convocation and revelry of midnight principalities and other entities of darkness. All previous administrations before Ajimobi were unable to solve the Iwo Road mystery because they lacked the creativity to deconstruct its metaphor and understand the contemporariness of its social construct. These days, governance requires depth of ideas, good thinking,

poetic logic, political theatrics, oratorical dramatics and above all, divine wisdom. When you lack all these, you lack initiative. Any inspirational and creative administration must understand and appreciate the economic dynamics of roads. When you have gridlock spots where vehicles are trapped for several hours, there is an alarming decline in economic activities and by extension, in revenue. Unrestricted movements of human personnel and the facilitation of their economic goods are revenue-friendly to a government that develops and maintains its infrastructure, especially roads. The massive road constructions going on in states like Lagos, Osun, Ekiti, Ogun, Oyo, Edo and Imo, confirm the linkage between roads, economic growth and other development indicators. Strategic road networking is key to development and is also a major boost to regional integration. Since all the states in the South West are determined to forge ahead with the process of integration, all efforts must be made towards upgrading their infrastructure by making it trade-friendly. This way, they will stimulate and create massive opportunities for their peoples and invariably guarantee their economic prosperity. The rehabilitation work at Iwo Road is, therefore, the elixir that the Ajimobi government needs to provoke the inspiration it requires in unlocking the problematics of other projects and similar policy gridlocks. With the new law banning street begging in Oyo State, the transformation of Iwo Road is nearing total completion. Besides, the Oyo State Traffic Management and the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) have deployed

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FesTIVal

From One adeyemi to another, with love at Oranyan Festival

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he Son, Adeyemi, occupant of the Agodi House in Ibadan has assured the Baba Adeyemi, the Royal Father, Alaafin (Owner of the Palace) in Oyo that his administration would not relent in its efforts towards promoting the rich cultural heritage of the Pacesetting State. This transpired on Saturday, 15th September 2012. It was at the Grand Finale of the Oranyan Festival, the first of its kind.
race. Represented at this first festival were Yorubas from all parts of South-West Nigeria and the larger diaspora in Benin Republic, Togo, Ghana, Cote DIvoire and others. Before this Day of Days, the week-long activities, (it started the previous Saturday)

It was a high day, if any day could qualify for such designation. The ancient city of Oyo was a-glitter and the elements were in perfect agreement. The festival delivered on promise: that it would bring together, not only the sons of Oyo, but the entire Yoruba

took the city through colourfully exciting Festival Float, Live Radio Programme in which the character, Oranyan was x-rayed to the public as the first Alaafin of Oyo who effectively transferred political power from Ile-Ife to Oyo. The history of the transition was traced as found in extant written and oral traditions. In addition, there was the Arts and Crafts Exhibition at the Palace Ground as well as film shows featuring Oranyan and Sango, both Alaafin at different times in the annals of Oyo. Young children, youths and the adventurous were not left out as they too had their day. The beauties of Oyo were in their element at the unveiling of the Miss Oranyan for the year while the brawnies

FesTIVal

Former Governor oLunLoYo with some oYo ChieFs

reLiGious Leaders at oranYan FestivaL

ProF. wande abimboLa

oYo roYaL Fathers

sheKere monument

Gov ajimobi addressinG the event

From one adeYemi to another

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FesTIVal
seKere orChestra

also disported themselves at the Durbar Stadium venue of the staging of the finals of the Youth Soccer Competition. Very popular was the Gbegiri Day at which the popular delicacy of the Yorubas, especially the Oyo people was served at the palace grounds to accompany Oka amala. Excitement had built to fever pitch on the last day of the festival. Organisations; civil, institutional and corporate, had taken spaces at various points around the palace to display their banners wishing the Kabiyesi and the people of Oyo a happy celebration. Various voluntary organizations like the Boys Scout were on hand to maintain order alongside the formal uniformed law enforcement agents. Also present at the palace grounds were members of the Royal Dundun and Sekere orchestra to welcome the various dignitaries as they entered the inner palace compound to pay homage to the Iku Baba Yeye, His Royal Highness, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Atanda Adeyemi. The beautifully rich in semantics Yoruba Language was on display as the principal currency of communication by all these festive spirits in songs, speeches, poems, proverbs, Ifa passages, even on the mouth of the ubiquitous (now world-famous) talking drum. From the moment the entourage of the Alaafin entered the arena, there was not a dull moment as various activities befitting the grand finale of a world-class cultural event unfolded to the applause and admiration of the mammoth crowd. The charged atmosphere however turned super-charged when the Adeyemi of Ibadan (as he was called by the Alaafin), His Excellency, Sen. Abiola Ajimobi, made his entrance. Long expected, he was warmly welcomed by all the crowned heads, their chiefs and the people of the ancient city. A peoples man, he was generous with his smiles as he acknowledged cheers from them. Responding to the warm welcome of the people of Oyo through the Alaafin, Sen. Ajimobi assured them that his administration would not relent in its efforts at promoting, presenting, preserving and developing our rich cultural heritage to the delight of all. He was all praise for the initiative of the Alaafin in thinking out this festival, which seeks to highlight the

somersauLt

labours of our heroes past, pointing out that the future of the past must be guaranteed. To do this, it is incumbent on us to hold on to and lift proudly aloft that which is glorious about our past. We should return to the cultural values that have served us well for centuries. The governor pointed out that it is essential for us to go back into history to enlighten and educate ourselves about the role of culture in social re-construction, in order to inspire the present and embolden the future. He pointed out that culture is at the nerve-centre of the human social spirit and also a fulcrum of growth and development, if properly packaged and managed. He however advised that we need to do away with those aspects that are inimical to our development or things not in tune with modern and global realities. In his best element with wit and anecdotes, the governor interspersed his speech with brotherly advice and humorous remarks, he warmed up to his people and they too responded. As he is wont to do, the governor pointed out the Ajumose in cultural appreciation when he recalled the aims of his administration in creating out of the Ministry of Information the new Ministry of Culture and Tourism so as to streamline the function of the ministry and its agencies for effective performance, transforming and repositioning the state to generate employment, reduce poverty in the society and contribute significantly to the socio-economic development of the State.

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eVeRyoNes oyo sTaTe

From One Caring heart to thousands Others:

eVeRyoNes oyo sTaTe

First lady

dOnatES

alaanu house

t is tough enough to have a loved one compromised by sickness and needing prolonged admission in the hospital. Having to care for such a person may also require being there in the hospital with him or her. As the hospital only provides bedspace for the invalid, the relative would have to squat and huddle in corridors and shelters within the hospital premises, especially when the family is not resident in the metropolis.
It is for these kind of scenarios that large-hearted and wealthy Nigerians and organizations initiated the Alaanu House Project at the University College Hospital, Ibadan, where they provide comfortable living space for such relatives to pass the night in comfort and dignity. Our First Lady, Mrs Florence Ajimobi has joined the ranks of these magnanimous, public-spirited entities. Conferred with the title of Ambassador of Peace and Humanity by a grateful management of the health institution, Mrs. Ajimobi remarked that the plight of these relatives got her attention when she saw them sprawled in corners and corridors of the hospital, bereft of their dignity. On enquiry, I learnt that though provision was made to accommodate relatives of patients who are on admission in the hospital, it is grossly inadequate to cope with the number of people who have to sleep over to see to the needs of their loved ones and they have to make do with hanging around for as long as was necessary. Their sorry plight informed her decision to intervene and contribute the building and furnishing project so as to alleviate these peoples privation. The dignity of the people must be preserved, even in the face of pain and turmoil, she observed. Governor Ajimobi, while commending the First Lady, remarked that before this project, which was commissioned in the memory of his mother,

Madam Dhikrat Abeje Ajimobi, his wife had always involved herself in caring for the poor and the underprivileged in the society. He recalled that even before he became governor, his wife took it upon herself to carry out some humanitarian services including the donation of buildings to orphanages. He urged wealthy Nigerians to emulate this good gesture of giving back to the society. The governor also remarked that the project is in sync with his administrations programme on health delivery, which has seen various government health institutions treating more than half a million indigenes of the state free of charge. He revealed that his government is in the process of upgrading Adeoyo Hospital to a modern hospital with cutting-edge facilities and equipment to hold the health fort in the state along with the UCH, the national health centre of excellence and the nations foremost teaching hospital.

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GalleRy

wiFe oF the Governor oF oYo state, mrs FLorenCe ajimobi Gives out Food PaCKaGes From the ajumose Food banK at oje marKet, ibadan

mrs ajimobi PresentinG a bLood Pressure monitorinG Kit and vitamins to a Patient at adeoYo hosPitaL durinG a Free heaLth ProGramme orGanised bY the oFFiCe oF the First LadY

the First LadY CarrYinG the First babY deLivered in 2013, adebaYo biLKis

the wiFe oF the Governor, mrs FLorenCe ajimobi PresentinG a GiFt to a CanCer Patient at uCh, ibadan

mrs ajimobi with members oF oYsowa durinG a sensitization waLK on Gender vioLenCe

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orn to the family of Adesina in Ibadan on 20 January 1939, Uncle Lam went to the popular Loyola College before proceeding across the Niger to the University of Nigeria, Nsukka between 1961 and 1963 where he bagged a Bachelor of Arts in History. His sojourn in the ivory tower was not over until he had done a year stint at the University of Ibadan in 1971. Alhaji Adesina turned to the classroom soon after leaving the university, becoming instructor in many private institutions. But his restive spirit that would not keep still in the face of anarchy and mismanagement drove him to the penning of critical editorials and articles in the Nigerian Tribune, all aimed at effecting a change in the military government of the day. He was a natural choice, then, when the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo at the dawn of the Second Republic, cobbled together a team that he christened Committee of Friends; which group later metamorphosed to the Unity party of Nigeria, UPN. He was to emerge a member of the House of Representatives, where he diligently acquitted himself in the service of his constituency. With the coming of the Third Republic, the progressive leaning of Alhaji Lam took him to the Social Democratic Party, SDP, where he played a significant role in the landmark victory of the enigmatic MKO Abiola in Oyo

State. It was therefore logical that he became a vociferous voice in dissenting against the annulment of the vote. He was captured as a Prisoner-of-War by the military authority clamping down on dissenters and disgruntled elements and clamped into detention along with other leaders of opposition. With the coming of this political dispensation, Great Lam rode on the pinion of popular goodwill to emerge as the gubernatorial flagbearer of the Action for Democracy, AD, in Oyo State and thereafter won through to become the occupier of the seat of the governor in Agodi. He lost power in a deeply controversial manner in the wave that swept almost all of the AD governors of the SouthWest geopolitical region. Since quitting power, Alhaji Adesina had busied himself re-organising the party machinery that delivered the state to him. Largely due to his political strength, experience and wisdom, his party was able to recapture most South-West states back. Alhaji Lam suffered a series of health challenges towards the end of his days, which culminated in his admission into St. Nicholas Hospital on Lagos Island. His struggle for life ended on the 11th November 2012. His burial according to Islamic rites took place in his Felele, Ibadan residence.

lam adesina:
accepted to the Ranks of heroes Past
He lived in a time of decisive struggle for the soul of the nation; the footprints of the likes of the great Lam, would form a part of our nations story.

passaGe

LAM OF THE PEOPLE

e will continue to celebrate the life of a good leader. He had always mentored us; he mentored many of us; let us take solace in the fact that he lived a fulfilled life, both spiritually and politically.

He always said that what gladdens his heart is that he has political son in me. whatever anybody may say, i am the foremost political son of Alhaji Lam Adesina. Talking about godliness, the former governor lived it and acted it. He was always praying and fasting. i used to call Alhaji Adesina my three-in-one. He was my teacher, my uncle and my political mentor. whatever i am today in politics, he made me. in addition, when you remove the mundane politics of oyo state; the pedestrian politics; the pull him down innuendoes of oyo politics, there is no closer person to him as his political son than i, Abiola Ajimobi.
-seN. abiola ajimobi, exeCuTive goverNor, oyo sTATe.

e was a great man. He was a warrior. He fought for democracy. He was imprisoned but did not yield. He was not a man who would trade his conscience for a pot of porridge or gold. He was committed to the democratic ideals. He had

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passaGe

great character. He fought a battle and he won. He was loyal and honest to his friends. He was a battle man; a great general. He got this state back in the fold of the progressives. And he exited well. His death can never be more glorious than this.
- seNATor bola ahmed tinubu, former goverNor of LAgos sTATe ANd ACN NATioNAL LeAder.

lhaji Lam Adesina was an insightful politician, bridge builder and a listening leader. He fought relentlessly with others for the democracy the country now enjoys. particularly, during the locust years and twilight of brutal military rule, Lam was among the political leaders, including the late Attorney general of the federation, Chief Bola ige, rounded up as prisoners of war in broad daylight in ibadan by the government of the late general sani Abacha. These leaders never wavered and remained undaunted until the military withdrew back to the barracks. His contribution during dark days of military spoke volumes of a leader, a freedom fighter with selfless interest. i have strong conviction that he led a meaningful life, a life worthy of emulation and has carved a niche for himself in the hallowed political chamber of Nigeria.

when the struggle was fierce against the tyrannical rule of the late general sani Abacha, Lam, who travelled with me from ibadan to owo, the home of the late governor Adekunle Ajasin for the National democratic Coalition (NAdeCo) meetings, demonstrated his dogged fighting spirit. At one of the meetings, he nominated me as the chairman of a three-man ad-hoc committee assigned to carry out espionage on the activities and manoeuvres of Abacha. Nigeria will miss a great educationist, a man of deep knowledge, a thoughtful columnist and a man of uncompromising integrity who was kind to a fault.
CHief areoye oyebola.

A T I

desina loved lbadan, oyo state and he loved Nigeria. He had religious tolerance. He lived a corruptfree life. He was a good teacher and leader. He was a great and dispassionate man. As a governor, he would go for any religious gathering personally.

- dr ola makinde, preLATe, meTHodisT CHurCH of NigeriA.

here is no doubt that he was a committed democrat. He spent the better part of his life in the service of humanity. That explained why he was relevant even outside of office am sad to learn of the death of a patriot and dedicated lover of the unity of the Nigerian people. Alhaji Lam Adesina was a visionary and fearless politician. may his soul rest in peace.

- goverNor emmanuel uduaghan of deLTA sTATe.

- ogBeNi rauf aregbesola, goverNor of osuN.

is death is more than shocking. Chief Niyi Adebayo and i were with him in the hospital, eight hours before he died. we watched the Aston villa-man u match together, the three of us in his hospital room. we joked. we spoke. we laughed. we discussed politics. He was in good spirit and alert, only for us to be called at about 7am this morning (sunday) that he had died.
CHief segun osoba, ex-goverNor of oguN sTATe

- CHief ebenezer babatope.

t came as a shock this morning when i got a call that he had passed on. may his soul rest in peace. He really will be missed. As you are well aware, we used to be six Alliance fpr democracy governors. There are only four of us left now

- CHief niyi adebayo, ex-goverNor, ekiTi sTATe.

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is death has created a very big vacuum. Lam has been a very committed Nigerian, a nationalist. A man who lived an exemplary life in many ways. right from his days when he was a columnist.
- aminu tambuwal, speAker, House of represeNTATives.

am has remained a constant fixture in the nations polity for over three decades, either as a newspaper columnist, member of the House of representatives, social and political critic, and prisoner of conscience, state governor or an elder statesman. Though deceptively meek, he was a political lion who was ferociously effective. A perfect validation of the saying that all politics is local, Lam Adesina never lost control or confidence of his people. even during the locust years when the peoples democratic party (pdp) captured the body of oyo state politics, the soul of the people remained with the former governor.
- action congress of nigeria (ACN)

e was not known to be flippant, arrogant with power or inordinately ambitious. when his people called upon him for leadership, he never abused the privilege and did not amass wealth to the detriment of the people. He led by example
- goverNor olusegun mimiko of oNdo sTATe.

am Adesina, my close friend of over 50 years, will be greatly missed at this hour when our country badly needs its best citizens to rescue it from the pit where it now prostrates. Lam was very bold, selfless, altruistic and humane.

am was always very polite to me, even though he was younger. He was a hardworking person and i first got to know him when i was commissioner in the ministry of education. He was first a class teacher before he rose to the position of a principal. Though we are on different sides of political divide, he always deferred to me most politely. i visited him occasionally, especially in connection with his column in the Tribune: The search Continues. Lam was a reliable person, who will be missed by both the family and the entire community. very often, he passed through hard times but he persevered. He saw all the difficulties of life, from his youth to adulthood.
- dr omololu olunloyo, former oyo sTATe goverNor.

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8th-day fidau prayers for alhaji lam adesina

From LeFt, son oF the deCeased, dr wasiu adesina; widow, aLhaja sarata adesina; wiFe oF the Governor, mrs FLorenCe ajimobi, Governor abioLa ajimobi, asiwaju boLa ahmed tinubu, ChieF bisi aKande, ChieF seGun osoba and mr. oba otudeKo

From LeFt, widow oF the deCeased, aLhaja sarata adesina; dauGhter, aishat adesina ; mrs. ajimobi, Governor ajimobi, ChieF aKande, aare abduL-azeez ariseKoLa aLao, Former Governor rashidi Ladoja and hon. moses aLaKe adeYemo, dePutY Governor oF oYo state

members oF the adesina FamiLY FLanKed bY LaGos state Governor, mr. babatunde FashoLa and mrs. FLorenCe ajimobi

Governor ajimobi, 2nd LeFt, with Comrade adams oshiomhoLe, Governor oF edo state,and ChieF aKin oKe, state Chairman, aCn

From LeFt, Governor abioLa ajimobi, Former Governor omoLoLu oLunLoYo, oGbeni rauF areGbesoLa, Governor oF the state oF osun, an ibadan hiGh ChieF and hon. moses adeYemo

Governor abioLa ajimobi and aare abduL-azeez ariseKoLa aLao with Former President oLuseGun obasanjo

Governor ajimobi weLComes eKiti state Governor, dr. KaYode FaYemi

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A REMINDER FROM THE GOOD PEOPLE OF OYO STATE.

Wondering how to succeed in the global economic downturn? Maybe its time to ask yourself where instead. Oyo State, an inland state in South Western Nigeria, is one of the most urbanized States in Nigeria. Its centralized location makes it the ideal low-cost distribution point for the South West; it also guarantees accessibility to the nations seaport and efficient transportation for both imports and exports. For details about why Procter and Gamble, Nigerian Breweries, British American Tobbacco and many others value Oyo State real estate so highly, Please call +234 (0) 806 375 3107 or visit the Oyo State Ministry of Trade, Investment and Cooperatives, Oyo State Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan.

Business Success Hinges On Location, Location, Location!

oyo state of nigeria