New Filling Station Commissioned in Abeokuta, Gives free fuel to vehicles, motorcycles

No fewer than 100 vehicles both private and commercial, as well as at least 50 motorcycles have benefited from the largesse of Energy Switch Allied Oil Services Limited in terms of free fuelling, as a way of giving back to the society.

The MD/CEO of the filling station which is a proposed affiliate of NNPC, Mr. Gbenga Adediwin made this known today during the opening and commissioning of the new station located directly opposite the Government, Science and Technical College at Idi - Aba area of Abeokuta.

Mr. Adediwin also disclosed that the attendants are well trained and friendly. He also assured that the station will be known for delivering best service, quality product as well as actual measurement to customers.

Speaking in an interview, a former Commissioner for Culture and Tourism in Ogun State, Chief Olu Odeyemi commended the leadership of the filling station saying it would greatly serve the need of the people of the area and by extension Abeokuta city.

Earlier, Pastor Abidemi Adekoya of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Lord's Chapel, Province 23, Lagos while dedicating the station, says except the Lord helps you build, those that build builds in vain.

Mr. Rasheed Jegede, a commercial taxi driver who could not hide his joy appreciated the leadership of the filling station for giving free fuel to so many vehicles to open the station while assuring of his patronage and to recommend its services to others.

New Filling Station Commissioned in Abeokuta, Gives free fuel to vehicles, motorcycles

No fewer than 100 vehicles both private and commercial, as well as at least 50 motorcycles have benefited from the largesse of Energy Switch Allied Oil Services Limited in terms of free fuelling, as a way of giving back to the society.

The MD/CEO of the filling station which is a proposed affiliate of NNPC, Mr. Gbenga Adediwin made this known today during the opening and commissioning of the new station located directly opposite the Government, Science and Technical College at Idi - Aba area of Abeokuta.

Mr. Adediwin also disclosed that the attendants are well trained and friendly assuring that the station will be known for delivering best service, quality product as well as actual measurement to customers.

Speaking in an interview, a former Commissioner for Culture and Tourism in Ogun State, Chief Olu Odeyemi commended the leadership of the filling station saying it would greatly serve the need of the people of the area and by extension Abeokuta city.

Earlier, Pastor Abidemi Adekoya of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Lord's Chapel, Province 23, Lagos while dedicating the station, says except the Lord helps you build, those that build builds in vain.

Mr. Rasheed Jegede, a commercial taxi driver who could not hide his joy appreciated the leadership of the filling station for giving free fuel to so many vehicles to open the station while assuring of his patronage and to recommend its services to others.

OGUN RESTATES COMMITMENT TO PROMOTING CULTURAL FESTIVALS

The Prince Dapo Abiodun led government in Ogun State has reaffirmed its commitment towards the promotion and sustainance of Cultural festivals from going into extinctions and ensure they take their place of pride in the international communities.

 The State Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Dr. Oluwatoyin  Taiwo stated this in his office at Oke-Mosan, while fielding questions from journalists on the ongoing 2021 'Odun Omo Iganmode' festival holding in Ota, Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government area of the State.

Taiwo disclosed that the present administration is poised at ensuring that cultural values are transmitted to the younger generation in order to avoid  it from going into extinction, saying his ministry has always been actively involved in the different Cultural festivals across the state.

"The ministry of Culture and Tourism  is always involved in all cultural festivals in the State, of which the Odun Omo Iganmode is one of them. It is our Statutory responsibility to promote our values, market the image, the culture and tourism potentials of our dear State to the international world", Taiwo added.

Meanwhile, Chairman of the 2021 Odun Omo Iganmode Central Planning Committee, Aare Ayodele Bankole, at the medical outreach held at the Palace of Olota of Ota, Oba (Prof.) Adeyemi Obalanlege, has described the festival as "one of the best in the cultural calendar of Ogun State particularly and Yoruba land as a whole",saying "it is a tourist event entrenched with rich cultural values in songs, dances, masquerades amongst other and great time awaits every visitor to Ota, come 18th November".

He disclosed that Governor Dapo  Abiodun is expected as Special Guest of Honour, while the former President of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo is the Father of the Day and the Deputy Governor, who is a distinguished daughter of Ota Awori kingdoms, Engr. Noimot Salako-Oyedele is the Chief Hostess at the grand finale holding on Saturday, December 18, at Ansar-ud-Deen Comprehensive College, Ota.

Other activities for this year's festival include; Medical Outreach, Covid-19 Vaccination, Youth Summit, Installation of Chiefs, Jumat and Church Thanksgiving  services. 

Ogun NCS lauds Abiodun on Digital Literacy

   Nigeria Computer Society (NCS),Ogun state chapter  has  lauded the state government under the leadership of Prince Dapo Abiodun for his efforts on digital literacy.

   The newly elected state chairman of the society ,Mr Ajagbe Taofeek stated this during the electioneering and handing over event held at Simeon Adebo library,Kuto, Abeokuta.

   Ajagbe said the present administration has made digital literacy a priority hence the establishment of Information Technology ( IT) departments in  various ministries, departments and agencies of government ,as well as  IT trainings organised for  its citizens at all levels.

   He noted that the state government has not undermine professional capabilities of their members  but engaging them to handle series of digital trainings it has organised in the past

  The outgone chairman of NCS , Mrs Olatundun Adekunte while delivering her speech , said governance in Ogun state is driven by IT, adding that very soon, the state would become a global tech village for other states of the federation.

   Adekunte who is also a director, Standard Regulations Planning and Research in the Bureau of Information Technology ( BIT), Ogun state, noted the fact that Nigeria Computer Society (NCS) has enjoyed sweet partnership from the state government through the Bureau of Information Technology (BIT),Teaching Service Commission (TESCOM), Ministry of Education,to mention a few, urged members to always hold on to professional etiquettes  and mandate of NCS to promote IT advancement amongst the youths in order to have an indelible mark in the success story of Prince Dapo Abiodun's digitalization policies

   She highlighted  achievements recorded during her two terms of leadership as acquiring a land for NCS with a structured plan of 3D building model, Tripod TV award, in-house training for members, IT developments program for tertiary institutions, summer digital trainings for primary, secondary school students  and  youths in the state ,among others

   The BIT director appreciated the members for their support, called for such backup  with the new  2021/2023  executive council members .

OGUN LG ELECTIONS PETITION TRIBUNAL DISMISSES NNPP’S APPEAL FOR CANCELLATION, OTHERS

The Ogun State Local Government Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abeokuta has dismissed all 12 election petitions filed by the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), seeking to declare the election null and void the chairmanship seat for 11 Local Government Areas in the election held on Saturday, 24th July 2021.

The NNPP had dragged the Ogun State Independent Electoral Commission (OGSIEC), The All Progressives Congress (APC) and the duly elected Chairmen in  11 Local Government areas which included Yewa South, Yewa North, Ado-Odo/Ota, Ewekoro, Ifo, Abeokuta North, Obafemi-Owode, Imeko-Afon, Odeda, Ijebu North as well as the Councillor of Ward 14 (Imala) Abeokuta North (as second and third respondents respectively) to the Tribunal.

The petitioner prayed the Tribunal to among others things,  determine and declare that the 11 Chairmen and Imala ward 14 Councillor were not duly elected and ought to have not been returned; issue an Order directing the first respondent., OGSIEC to withdraw the Certificates of Return issued to the elected officers or in the alternative, issue an Order for a fresh election in all the polling units  mentioned in the petition.

In their separate Notices of Preliminary Objections filed before the Tribunal, OGSIEC  contended among other grounds that the petitions filed were not competent in that they were status barred, having been filed outside the time prescribed by the Electoral Law of Ogun State 2006, while the second and third respondents,  having entered conditional appearance on the 25th of October 2021, prayed the Tribunal also for an Order striking out the various petitions on the ground of incompetence, to wit non-compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Law of Ogun State, 2006 and the First schedule of the Electoral Act.

Delivering the judgement, in 6 of the Petitions, the Chairman of Panel B of the Tribunal, Otunba Rotimi Onafadeji, maintained that the petitioner failed to file its petition within 14 days as stipulated in Section 86 of the Electoral Law of Ogun State, 2006 as amended.

According to Onafadeji, “It is the considered view of this Tribunal that the petitions were not initiated by due process of the law, no matter how well couched or the likelihood of its merit. We therefore hold that this petition having not being initiated within the time allowed by the Law under Section 86 of the Electoral Law of Ogun State, 2006 is incompetent and thus, this Tribunal is not competent to entertain same.”

The Tribunal held that time was of essence in dealing with election matters as the spirit of various laws relating to election petition was that as much as possible, petitions should be given expeditious adjudication to enable the parties know their position, the society know the result of the election in which they have voted, as such, the Preliminary Objection on the sole issue formulated succeeds and consequently, the petition dated the 10th day of August, 2021 but filled on the 22nd day of October, 2021 is hereby dismissed and awarded N25,000 in favour of each of the respondents.

Reacting to the Ruling, OGSIEC’s  Chairman, Mr. Babatunde Osibodu said the ruling was a good omen for the Commission , adding that results of the 2021 Local government elections held on  the 24th of July, 2021 was declared and announced immediately, and the Chief Justice of the State expeditiously set up Election Tribunal in order to ensure compliance with the Electoral Law of Ogun State which prescribes that all petition must be filed within 14 days of the declaration of the results, which the petitioner failed to comply with and its legal representatives hinged their argument on. 

Shedding light on the petition, Osibodu posited that, “You will also recall that sometimes ago, I made a statement that only one petition had been filed against the results of the elections as declared. Subsequently, I was made to understand that the state Chairman of one of the political parties made a statement to the effect that I didn’t know what I was talking about because his party had filed several other petitions but I stood by the fact that only one petition had been filed by the dateline of 14th of August 2021. Subsequently, it came to light that 12 petitions dated the 10th of August 2021 were filed by NNPP challenging the results of the elections but interestingly, these petitions were not filed until the 22nd of October.

"So they were way and months out of time within which to have filed their petitions and it is on this basis that our legal representatives put forward preliminary objections to each of the petition on the basis that they have been filed out of time and am very pleased to say that the tribunal agreed with us in each of these petitions and subsequently, granted our preliminary objections and ruled that all the 12 petitions filed by the NNPP be dismissed. Not only were they dismissed, costs were awarded against the petitioner in favour of each of the respondents”, he concluded.

ODUN OMO IGANMODE BIRTHS “ILEYA OMO IGANMODE”

Efforts are now in top gear in the ancient city of Otta-Awori Kingdom in Ado-Odo/ Ota Local Government area of Ogun State, to celebrate  a unique, groundbreaking, and trailblazing Iganmode Cultural Festival 2021, otherwise known as "Odun Omo Iganmode Afeleja".

 This festival is celebrated annually to project the rich culture, values and norms of the Awori people. It is a festival and cultural extravaganza  that stimulates the memories as a repertoire of the glorious past, a rekindle of past heroic personage and a formidable fillip to a cultural reawakening.  

Declaring the commencement for this year's preparation with a press conference recently, His Majesty, the Olota of Otta, Oba Professor Adeyemi Obalanlege (Ph.D), had said that; "every Odun Omo Iganmode Afeleja comes with great improvements on the previous ones". The birth  of "Ileya Omo Iganmode" will be a novel experience at this year's Cultural Festival.

 "In the spirit of "oonso laawa (We are one)", Royal Fathers of  Iganmode lineage regardless of where they had migrated to ; Lagos, Oyo , Ogun or any other part of the country or in the diaspora , shall be accorded a rousing welcome to the land of Iganmode Kingdom. The Central Planning Committee in collaboration with my Palace are working tirelessly to give these prestigious  royalties a befitting and memorable day. They will start their day in Otta from their various Iga (compound) and make a royal procession to the Palace of Olota of Ota, where they will be welcome and hosted to a lavish reception", the Olota stated.

 Also addressing the press, the Central Planning Committee Chairman, Aare Ayodele Bankole said, “we are still collating  the Awori towns and Obaships who are of Ota iganmode extractions with direct lineage to the ancient city of Ota. It is amazing to know that these eminent royalties have a very strong and close affinity to their root source. Awo towns and cities like  Iworo in Osun State, Isolo, Shasha, Meiran, Egbeda, Agege, Imeke, Ijanikin  and several more have direct umbilical ties to the ancient City of Ota–Awori”.

 “Hopefully, we should be able to accommodate and lavishly host at least 10 of these royalties during the week of Odun Omo Iganmode commencing on 13th of December. Ileya Omo Iganmode will be instituted eventually starting from this year, as a significant day of spiritual quest, an odyssey of some sorts to bring together all sons and daughters of Ota wherever they may be”, Aare Bankole added.

 He listed the leading towns and villages that have very strong bond which identity could be traced to "Iganmode" to include; Ijeru-Ogbomosho, Oyo State, Meran, Ijanikin , Egbeda, Isolo, Agege, Shasha, Ilogbo, Tigbo Ilu, Ikeja, Ikosi Otta, Ikotun, Egbe, Iworo, Imeke, Atan Otta, Ijoko Otta, Owode Otta, Iju Otta, Egushi Otta, Oke, Ore Otta, Ajegunle Otta, Oko Omi Otta, Obeere Otta, Mupin Otta, Oke Osa Otta, Ajibode Otta, Sango Otta, Ishaka Otta, Idedo Otta, ILoye Otta, and many other ancient towns and villages whose identities are that of Iganmode.

"All these aforementioned Awori towns and villages, just like Otta are not without their Traditional Heads coordinating the affairs of their domains for decades thereby promoting the rich culture of the Aworis and exhibiting all traits of "Iganmode" as warrior. To kick-start, the hosting would be starting with 10 high class Traditional Rulers, traceable to the Otta Kingdom, and the Royals are; Osolo of Isolo- HRM Oba Abdukabeer Agbabiaka, Onijanikin of Ijanikin- HRM Oba Alani Ashafa, Onijeru of Ijeru-Ogbomosho-  HRM Oba Olaniyi Popoola and Oniworo of Iworo- HRM Oba Oladele Kosoko.

"Others are; Osolu of Irewe- Oba Abideen Adekanbi Durosimi, Elegbeda of Egbeda- Oba Hamed Orelope, Onimeran of Meran Kingdom- HRM Samuel Oroja, Olu of Agege- Oba Kamila Oyedeji Isiba, Olota Ikosi- Oba Elias Adedapo Ijelu and Olojokoro of Ojokooro- HRM Oba Taiwo Ridwan Oluwalanbe", the Chairman listed.

Meanwhile, Aare Bankole noted that the theme for this year's edition; “Culture: A Module for Sustainable Leadership”, could not have been more apt,  especially as this  historical cum spiritual event has helped in projecting to the world the richness of the cultural values and norms of the Otta people and by extension, all Aworis.

"On this note, "Ileya Omo Iganmode" will be coming up on  Friday, December 17,  2021, the eve of the Grande Finale. Without a doubt, the event will leave everyone with a soothing, and incredible memory that will linger forever" he said.