Mahmood Ahmadu Never Charged for Money Laundering

Media Statement
When we present matters to the public, we should ensure that the truth is told no matter whose ox is gored. The lies we tell about others to dent their images may come back to us.

Contrary to what we was being circulated about businessman and entrepreneur, Mahmood Ahmadu, our investigations have revealed that he has never been charged with money laundering allegations.

It would be recalled that a national newspaper circulated the news then that he was wanted in the UK and indeed was being charged for money laundering.

The man in the eye of the storm called the AMPON office and described such news as malicious with the intent of damaging his hard-earned reputation.

We hope our media men would take time out to do diligent investigations before going to press. - Wole Arisekola AMPON Chairman.

Excel boys of Port Harcourt lift 18th NNPC/Shell Cup

…Kelvin Amadi Bamaiyi, Joseph Ejeh  for Netherlands.

 

In a classy display of skills and talent, the golden boys of Excel Education Centre, Port Harcourt on Thursday clinched the 18th edition of the NNPC/Shell Cup with a 3:2 victory over their counterparts from Fosla Academy, Abuja. The prize money is a total of N8.2million – N3.5m for the 1st position; N2.3m for the 2nd position; N1.3m and N1.1 for the 3rd and the 4th positions respectively.

 

Kelvin Amadi of Excel school and Joseph Ejeh of Fosla were selected by the coaching crew from Feyenoord Academy, as the two best players of the 2016 tournament and would be sponsored for a training tour to The Netherlands.

 

In the match watched played at Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere Lagos, Joseph Tari of Excel opened the goals in the 13th minute of play when he beat the Fosla defenders and the goalkeeper to lob the ball in the net. The thunderous applause from the team’s supporters was short-lived as Solomon Abraham of Fosla Academy delivered an equaliser in the 14th minute. Jacob Bamaiyi shot the Excel boys back to the lead in the 33rd minute of play.

 

The second half saw Tari finding the net again to give victory comfort to his team. In a brilliant show of resilience and determination, Solomon converted a penalty to score the second goal for his side. 

 

A large crowd cheered the two teams. They included the Managing Director, Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited (SPDC) and Country Chair, Shell Companies in Nigeria, Mr. Osagie Okunbor; the Group General Manager CSR of NNPC, Mr. Ahmed Laminu who represented the Group General Manager of the National Petroleum Investment Management Services (NAPIMS); and President of the Nigeria Schools Sports Federation, Mallam Ibahim Mohammed.

 

Earlier, the boys from the Government Science Secondary School, Bauchi had defeated their Asegun Comprehensive High School, Ibadan team by 4:3 in a keenly contested yet very entertaining third place match.

In his comment, Mr. Okunbor commended the discipline exhibited by the students and charged them to live by that standard even away from the pitch.

 

“The final match is highly competitive but I cannot but commend the level of discipline and fair displayed by the boys,” he said. “They should keep that behaviour in their studies and indeed in everything they do.”

He reiterated the motivation behind the sponsorship of the annual tournament as SPDC’s belief that students could combine their education with football passion without sacrificing one for the other.

 

In opening remarks before the match, the Group General Manager, NAPIMS, Mr. Dafe Sejebor, noted that over 700,000 students had participated in the championship since inception in 1998. “We are proud to note that some of the footballers that started from here have gone on to play for the national teams and international clubs.

 

The final ceremonies also witnessed a special performance of the NNPC/Shell Cup theme music by ace songster, Sonny Nnaji.

 

Also present to watch the final match were the representative of the Chief of Defence Staff, Commodore Ibrahim Umar and ex-international, Segun Odegbami.

 

The annual tournament, Nigeria’s flagship secondary school soccer championship, is organised by the Nigeria Schools Sports Federation and sponsored by the SPDC joint venture.

 

Sheikh Abubakar Gumi College, Kaduna won the maiden edition of the cup in 1999 while Rochas Okoracha Foundation School, Ogbuku, Imo State won the 2015 edition.

CCC Kicks-Off Seminar on Crisis Communication in the Geopolitical Zones

The Centre for Crisis Communication (CCC) is set to host the zonal phase of the Seminar on Media Engagement in Crisis Situation for Public Relations and Information Officers for the Military, Security and Response Agencies in Nigeria. The seminar will hold in the North East (Bauchi) on the 21 and 22 of June, 2016. It will be recalled that the seminar series which was declared open in Abuja in April, 2016 by the Honourable Minister of Defence, Mansur Muhammad Dan-Ali drew participants from headquarters of the military, security and response agencies. 

Dasuki Sets for Supreme Court Over Denial of Freedom After Bails … Says he is not afraid of trial

Former National Security Adviser (NSA) Col. Mohammed Sambo Dasuki (rtd) is fully set to storm the Supreme Court to press for his freedom denied him by the federal government after three different High Courts in Abuja had admitted him to bail in the criminal charges filed against him by the government.

The ex NSA had on Wednesday at the Court of Appeal in Abuja lost his bid to enforce his freedom after he had secured bails on all the charges against him.

UPDATE ON OPERATION LAFIYA DOLE: TROOPS RESCUE 53 MORE PERSONS KILL 2 TERRORISTS AND ARREST ONE

The Nigerian Army troops deployed in Operation LAFIYA DOLE clearing the remnants of Boko Haram terrorists have been busy performing their assigned tasks with varying degrees of satisfactorily accomplishments. 

It is in this regards that the troops of 114 Task Force Battalion of 28 Task Force Brigade, embarked on aggressive patrol to dominate and secure the road linking Izge and Bitta. During the operation, the patrol came across 43 persons that escaped from one of the Boko Haram terrorists hideout in Madube. The escapees comprised of 10 men, 14 women and 19 children. They are currently being screened and profiled at the Battalion Headquarters. 

Similarly, troops of 115 Task Force Battalion of the same Brigade, in conjunction with some vigilante groups, also carried out patrols to Pegana, Joma, Wambiyar, Dille, Pumpum, Zah, Miya and Pugula communities and cleared them of Boko Haram terrorists. 

Yesterday, some elements of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), arrested and handed over a suspected Boko Haram terrorist, named Garba Thlama Mussa to the unit. He is currently being interrogated  and would be handed over to Joint Intelligent Committee.

The troops of 117 Battalion also carried out patrol within Mubi North and Mubi South to ensure general security of the areas. The same unit also provided security to Adamawa State boundaries adjustment committee during their visit to Kwaja village in Mubi Local Government Area of Adamawa State. 
Troops of 143 Battalion also carried out patrol in Bebel, Fattude, Teddei, Hyambula and Sukur. 

We are pleased to state that the troops in that axis are in high spirit determined to continue doing the nation proud. 
The story is the same in 22 Brigade area of operations as troops of 3 Battalion also conducted  foot and mobile patrols towards Diema, Tatakura and Kala villages in which they had contact with Boko Haram terrorists and killed 2 of them and recovered some dangerous weapons. 

Similarly, troops of 22 Brigade Garrison in conjunction with a detachment of Nigeria Custom Services personnel conducted patrol along Dikwa-Mafa-Maiduguri road to keep it safe. 
As the security situation kept improving in the North East especially in the liberated and cleared areas, other security and Para-military agencies have started redeploying back to their locations. It was to this end that the Nigerian Immigration Service has also deployed its personnel in Dikwa. The 21 personnel were received and briefed at the Headquarters 22 Brigade Garrison. The team is undergoing  training on mines and Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) awareness and ground signs before they commence work. 

In a related development, the troops of 22 Brigade Garrison, intercepted 14  Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) which include 3 men, 3 women, 6 male children and 2 female children coming to Dikwa from Chingowa village. The IDPs were screened by the troops and the Civilian JTF at the area and then handed over  to Dikwa IDP Coordinator for further screening, registration and rehabilitation. 

Sadly, an administrative patrol was ambushed an administrative patrol 12 kilometres to Gwoza. Unfortunately 3 soldiers and 13 other civilians were wounded. All of the wounded have been evacuated to 21 Brigade Medical Reception Station. They are all in stable condition and responding to treatment. 

Governor Ambode Must Hear This..... LASWA In Metro Ferry Jetty Take Over Mess

Metro Ferry Jetty,Ikorodu was today invaded by LASWA Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA) claiming it now belongs to Lagos State. Attached is the C of O presented by Metro Ferry Mgt, and the letter from LASWA stating Government take over. 

ALLEGED PENDING RETIREMENT OF NIGERIAN AIR FORCE OFFICERS

The attention of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has been drawn to the publication on pages 1-2 of New Telegraph newspaper of Monday 13 June 2016 titled “Arm Scandal: Air Force to retire AVMs, Commodores”. 

The publication alleged that the NAF is at the verge of retiring a number of senior officers connected with the ongoing investigation of arms purchase under the immediate past administration. 

It is pertinent to state that this story is unfounded and did not emanate from the NAF. The Press is therefore please advised to always confirm their story with the NAF before publication. 

 

See How Students Now Dress To School In Osun

Court Warns FMI over Incessant Delay in Three-Year-Old Suit

 

The National Industrial Court (NIC) has warned the Federal Ministry of Information (FMI) against the continued delay in the hearing of a three -year old legal action instituted against it and two others by a former employee, Mr. Yushau A. Shuaib.

 

The warning from the court followed a complaint by lawyer to the plaintiff, Barrister James Abah Odeh of Bamidele Aturu Chambers that the Ministry of Information had in the past three years employed delay tactics to frustrate hearing of the civil action while other defendants especially the Federal Civil Service Commission (FCSC) had been diligent in the court.

 

At the resumption of the hearing when the plaintiff was to be cross-examined, the Federal Ministry of Information was not represented by its lawyer but instead the ministry wrote a letter to the court requesting for another adjournment.

 

The plaintiff counsel Mr. Abah Odeh who was surprised that the Ministry wrote for an adjournment instead of its counsel, accused the ministry of frustrating hearing of the legal action that was instituted against it to challenge the legality of the compulsory retirement of the plaintiff three years ago.

 

Although the adjournment was granted till July 12, 2016, Justice Edet Isele warned the defendant against undue delay of hearing of the case in the interest of justice adding that Justice delayed is justice denied.

 

The plaintiff, Mr. Shuaib had dragged the Federal Civil Service Commission, Federal Ministry of Information and the Former Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala before the Industrial court in Abuja to challenge his compulsory retirement from the Federal Civil Service after a media publication title Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and Controversial Appointments. 

 

In the court action, the plaintiff prayed for an order of the court against the civil service commission to reinstate him to his post as Chief Information Officer forthwith without any loss at to seniority, salaries, positions and other emoluments.

 

He also prayed for an order of  the Industrial Court to compel the Federal Ministry of Information and FCSC  to compute and pay to him all his salaries, allowances, other emoluments and interests due to him from the month of July 2013 up to the date of judgment.

 

In the legal action instituted on his behalf by Mr. James Ode Abah, the plaintiff claimed that he was offered automatic employment in to Federal Civil Service in 1994 as one of the NYSC National Honour recipients for meritorious service and outstanding performance as a writer and had served as Press Secretary in the Federal Ministry Information, Federal Ministry of Finance, Federal Ministry of Health, Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) and National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).

 

The claimant further averred that by a letter of June 26, 2013, he was purportedly retired by the Federal Ministry of Information where he was the Chief Information Officer.

 

The plaintiff claimed that the compulsory retirement was based on imaginary misconduct raised against him by Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala over a publication in the media without following the due process of the law relating to civil service procedure.

 

He therefore asked the court to declare that the letter of compulsory retirement as having  no force of law, it is illegal, unconstitutional, null and void and of no effect whatsoever being in flagrant violation of the rules of the public service 2008 edition.

 

Plaintiff further asked the court to declare that the decision of the Federal civil service commission of June 26, 2013 on his compulsory retirement without conducting any investigation, without giving him opportunity to defend himself and without complying with the conditions, precedent for retirement is contrary to Section 36 of the 1999 Constitution and the Article 7 of the African Charter on Human and People’s Right and Enforcement Act Cap A9, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and the Public Service Rules 030305 and 030601 of 2008 it is therefore illegal, unlawful, unconstitutional null and void and of no effect whatsoever.

 

Meanwhile Justice Edet E. D. Isele has adjourned further hearing in the industrial dispute case till July 12, 2016 when the Ministry of Information is expected to cross-examine the plaintiff

Outrage over abuja -lokoja road zero allocation.

It is no longer news that one of the most important roads in nigeria is the ever busy abuja lokoja dualized road network which was carefully planned to link the other parts of the country with the federal capital territory. 
However, years after this project was awarded and commencement of work, it has been one calamity after another with the project that is meant to bring joy and succour to a state like kogi State and inhabitants of the towns and villages on that route owing to the complete neglect of some portion of the road by successive governments. 
Investigations revealed that some sections of the road, particularly sections, 2.3, and 4 have become the hottest spot of fatal accidents, kidnappings and various vices that have caused untold hardships to influential and pliable Nigerians. 
The latest being the kidnapping of a customary court judge and killing of his orderly.
"This is just one in the long list of ugly incidences on the route not forgetting it was also here that the former labour minister, ocholi, met his untimely death along with his family. 
The chairman of the all progressives Congress (kwara state) also tasted the horror on this route when he was kidnapped. 
Information available to us indicate that thus trend might continue unless the contractors that are working on this sections (2,3,4.) are mobilized back to work as soon as possible.
The bad news however is that the hope of a permanent relief from the minister of power,works and housing, Babatunde fashola to complete the three priority road projects in the country, (abuja -lokoja, Kano -maiduguri, Lagos -ibadan) might be dead on arrival as only one section of the critical abuja -lokoja road project was accommodated in the budget and this has now become a source of worry to nigerians as people are now wondering as to why a project of such importance which should've been appropriated for is not in the budget. 
People living in this area our sources revealed are now appealing to there representatives in the national Assembly to take the matter up Immediately and ensure the contractors are paid and negotiated with to go back to site. 
We gathered that the contractors have not been paid for years despite the fact that they have their certificates for the jobs done. 
"with the way things are it is only wise for the minister to do the needful inorder to achieve the mileage of having found a permanent solution to one critical problem claiming the lives of both the low and the mighty of our society.

OJB JEZREEL Is Dead

Babatunde Okungbowa aka OJB Jezreel

A reliable source has confirmed that Music producer, Babatunde Okungbowa aka OJB Jezreel is dead. He passed on about an hour ago. 

A source who confirmed his death to shybellmedia revealed that his kidney transplant failed completely last week and his family had to keep him on N35k dialysis to overcome the relapse.

He finally gave up the ghost about an hour ago ...just one month to his 50th birthday.

His body has been deposited in a morgue at Isolo General Hospital.

OJB Jezreel is survived by three wives, June ‘Ama’, Korede and Mabel and many children. 

More details shortly as the event unfolds.

MALTINA TEACHER AWARD HAS TURNED ME TO A CELEBRITY – Rose Obi

From an obscure Parent Teacher Association, PTA teacher on a N17, 000 monthly salary, Mrs. Rose Nkemdilim Obi, the 2015 Maltina Teacher of the Year, has revealed that the award has turned her life round for good.

Mrs. Obi, a Mathematics and Chemistry teacher at Federal Government Girls Secondary School, Onitsha, Anambra State explained that the award has elevated her to the level of a celebrity. “I never knew it would happen that way but the interesting part of it is the opportunities and the doors it has opened for me. I also have the chance to interact with my fellow teachers, organize workshop and being called to address large gathering in other to tell teachers what am doing, in terms of classroom management and teaching methodology,” she said.

Assessing the impact of the award one year after,   Obi, a master’s degree holder, whose mum was also a teacher said: “I have succeeded in shifting from a traditional method of teaching to a discussion-based methodology. The strategy brings about a synergy between what happens in the classroom and what happens inreal life. It brings out analytical skills from students.

“I am following my mum’s footsteps; my mum was a teacher, and I also have passion to bring out the best from students. Give them the best training and get them prepared to enter the workforce of the country. Secondary education is very important in career development, thus my resolve to give the best to students,” she said.

Obi who started as a PTA teacher, disclosed that the remuneration was so poor compared to the effort that she put in, and maintained it was not the money but her passion for the job. 

“It was the passion that kept me.  You can see where it led me.  The scope of the job for permanent and PTA teachers are the same.  But when it came to salaries, the PTA remuneration was very poor.  

Mr. Gozie Obi, her lawyer husband, could barely contain his joy when his wife was announced winner of the Maltina Teacher of the Year award in a colourful ceremony held at the grand ballroom of the Oriental Hotel, Victoria Island on Monday, 12thOctober 2015.

His 37-year old wife, whom he described as a combination of beauty and brains, was rewarded with N5 million for emerging the best among 19 finalists unveiled during the ceremony.  She would receive the award in tranches of N1million on World Teachers Day each year for five years.

“I thank Nigerian Breweries for this mind blowing opportunity given to teachers.   The Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT) cannot thank you enough for what you have done,” Obi added.

This year’s edition of the Maltina Teacher of-the Year initiative was opened on Wednesday, 27th April, 2016 and the scope wasextended to include privately owned secondary schools.

The initiative with prizes worth N50 million annually, is to reward commitment and diligence to duty by exceptional teachers across the country. It is done on the platform of NB/Felix Ohiwerei Education Trust.

Kufre Ekanem, the company’s Corporate Affairs Adviser explained that the quality of the 2015 winner gave the organizers enough impetus to believe that teachers in the nation’s public schools can match their counterparts in the private schools. “Mrs. Rose Nkemdilim Obi, the 2015 winner turned out to be a good testimony.” he said.  

Ekanem added that collection of applications will last till 30th June 2016 and advised interested teachers to download application forms from the Maltina website -www.maltina-nigeria.com. Applications forms should be completed and uploaded to the website or sent by email to maltinateacheroftheyear@heineken.com or post to P.M.B. 12632, Marina, Lagos.

"How Abba Moro Ignored Due Process in Fatal Immigration Recruitment", Witness Reveals

 

David Shiafu Parradang, a former Comptroller-General of the Nigerian Immigration Service has revealed that  former Minister of Interior, Abba Moro, broke every rule of recruitment into the Immigration Service in the unfortunate March 15, 2014 recruitment exercise.

 

Parrandang, on Friday disclosed that though he was the head of the immigration service at that time, he was not officially informed of the recruitment exercise that turned tragic and resulted in the death of 15 applicants. 

 

Parrandang, who was testifying as first Prosecution Witness, against Abba Moro and three others in their roles in the recruitment exercise, said apart from not being officially informed of the exercise, he only got to know about it through a newspaper advertorial. 

The former Comptroller General also told the court that the Ministry of Interior, headed then by Moro, did not follow any procedure in the recruitment excercise.

 

“As regard to procedure, we have been holding many exercises in the past, first we will collect applications, screen, shortlist and then set up a date for examination of candidates in their states of origin. After that we then mark papers and qualified candidates invited for physical screening. This is to see whether candidates have height and other requirements to enter paramilitary service. Then after that they will be subjected to physical exercise like standing for hours and other rigours of the job.

 

But all these were not followed in the 2014 exercise”, he said.

 

He continued: “With implication of funds, we said when the Minister announced the date of the recruitment, we told him we were not ready financially. We had no money to fund the exercise.

 

“We then communicated this to the subcommittee on recruitment, and suggested whether the consultant that did the online recruitment (fourth defendant), that was engaged by the Ministry can fund the exercise. Based on that, the subcommittee wrote a letter to the company that we did not have budget and asked if money collected by tne consultant will be used to fund the excersise.

 

“I was told by the company that it’s not in the agreement it signed with the Ministry and the money (N1,000 paid by each applicant) was for online services only and the company was not required to fund the recruitment.

 

“We came back to position zero and we decided that it should be brought to the knowledge of the Minister, whether he could convince the company to fund the exercise.

 

“The subcommittee submitted the report, thereafter we waited for a reply, there was no response until the 14th of March, a day to the exercise. I got a letter, written on the 13th March, that arrangements have been concluded in respect of the recruitment on March 15 and that we should inform states accordingly.

 

“I thereafter called the Secretary to the board for money for my officers. He asked me to tell them to forward their account numbers to him”, the former CG said.

 

However, the coordinators in each zone later called to tell him, that they got N300, 000 each, which they complained it will not be enough.

 

He said when he asked the Secretary to the board where the money came from he was told it came from the consultant.

 

But when he protested that the money was not enough for logistics like hiring of venue, ambulance to provide first aid, he was told the exercise must go ahead.

 

Parradang also stated before the court that "not too long after the exercise started, I started getting calls that they were overwhelmed with the number of applicants, and I advised them to seek help from sister security agencies and keep me informed of further happening.

 

“Then on 16, while in Jos, I started receiving calls, SMS of the happenings and I went  back to Abuja immediately to coordinate. I called them and asked them to back their complaints up with writing report. At the end we had 15 deaths and 165 injured, according to report by DSS”, Parrandang stated.

 

Speaking on the three slots given to the deceaseds' siblings and those injured, which the then President Goodluck Jonathan openly gave, the witness said it was later overruled by the board, that said it was illegal.

 

“A year later, the President called us and those injured and siblings of those who died, three slots were openly given to each of them. Immediately after that, the President set up a presidential committee for another recruitment exercise but the three slots to those earlier given were not part of this fresh recruitment.

 

“The letters earlier given by the President were withdrawn, the Ministry said it was an illegal recruitment”, he concluded.

 

The trial Judge Justice Nnamdi Dimgba later adjourned till July 1 for cross examination of the witness.

 

Moro and three others were accused of defrauding 675, 675 graduate applicants of about N675,675,000, having been made to pay N1000 each as processing fees for 5,000 (five thousand) job openings.

 

The four defendants were also accused of breaching the Public Procurement Act, No. 65 of 2007 in the award of the contract for the organisation of the recruitment test to Drexel Tech Nigeria Ltd.

Read Why Gov Aregbesola Insists June 12 Is Our Democracy Day.... Declares Public Holiday In Osun

Full Text of Statement By Governor Rauf Aregbesola on the commemoration of the June 12 anniversary 

JUNE 12, IS OUR DEMOCRACY DAY.

 

My good people of Osun,

Today marks the 23rd anniversary of the historic presidential election of June 12, 1993, won by Bashorun Moshood Abiola. Though the election was cruelly disallowed and the winner arrested and put in unjust incarceration (for daring to affirm his victory), where he later died in what has remained mysterious circumstances, we have kept faith since, in celebrating that date as Democracy Day. We will never drop our commitment to June 12.

June 12 is most symbolic of democracy in that it was the date Nigerians freely expressed their choice on whom to be their leader; it was also the date of unequivocal affirmation of the unity of the country by Nigerians across all divides. Nigerians, in their heterogeneity, on June 12, 1993, voted for Chief Abiola in a pattern that defied ethnicity, religion, ideology and locality. It was a pattern that made mockery of the fabled fault-lines and fissiparous tendencies of the Nigerian federation and projected a nation united behind a popular leader.

May 29, in 1999, was the date the military handed over power to civilian administration and will remain symbolic for the transition to civil rule and the opportunity it presents for realising a truly democratic government that approximates the yearnings and aspirations of the people for a leader that will lead them to the Promised Land of security and life more abundant.

We waited for 16 years for that leadership to emerge and we thank God for the election and coming to power of President Muhammadu Buhari. A government with a human face is here at last. He represents the aspirations and symbolism of June 12 in that he also got a pan-Nigerian mandate that once again defied the divisions in our country. He represents hope for change and national rebirth. He is on that path. God willing, he will lead us to the Promised Land.

May 29, however, is a child of June 12 being that it was the unrelenting pursuit of the actualisation of June 12 with the sweat and blood of our patriots that led to military disengagement and civilian rule on May 29.

We salute and commend the courage of our patriots, living and dead, who sacrificed everything, including their lives, in the cause of June 12 and birth of democracy in our land. You are our heroes and heroines. You will never be forgotten, but will live in our hearts forever. Your wish has been largely fulfilled, though we acknowledge that democracy anywhere is an unfinished business. We must keep nurturing it with the nutrients of peace, love and hard work and protect it with mutual respect, tolerance and unbounded patriotism.

There are many forms of government and we have tried many of them, but we have learnt from experience that democracy, with all its imperfections, is still the best. It affords the people the opportunity to choose their leader and participate in the process of governance. It permits them to correct mistakes and throw out bad leadership at the next election cycle. It allows them to weigh options and make the best choice, even if they are not always right. More importantly, it puts people at the heart of government. That is why one of its most popular definition is ‘Government of the people by the people for the people’.

Since our inauguration, we have put you, our people, at the heart of government and worked to make democracy meaningful and impactful. Every policy we have made, every decision we have taken is to further the peoples’ interest and lift them from the morass of hopelessness, helplessness, dejection, poverty and ignorance into the cape of peace, security, prosperity and abundant life.

We have revived education with new schools, free meals, free school uniforms, improved infrastructure, motivation for teachers and so on. We have enhanced transportation and beauty of our landscape with the construction of over 1,000 kilometres of roads across the state. We have vigorously pursued urban renewal and sent flooding packing from our state. We have rehabilitated hospitals and improved healthcare delivery for all the people. We have encouraged agriculture, made food to be abundantly available and made farmers to be prosperous. We have created tens of thousands of jobs directly and indirectly through O'YES, O'REAP, O'MEALS, OPON IMO, O'AMBULANCE, O'SCHOOL, AGBA OSUN, O'BOPS, O'FOPS  and other ‘Os’.

We have also deepened democracy by allowing the opposition a robust room to operate and not retaliating the wrongs we suffered when we were in opposition. Our accommodating spirit and genuine outreach to all have won the leading lights of the opposition to our side and made democratic participation in Osun to be more inclusive. We have enhanced the rights of all to freely worship as he or she deems fit. We have done all these because we value the people.

We salute and recognise workers as invaluable and indispensable allies in the service of the people and delivering the dividends of democracy. They have sacrificed and given their best. They have shown understanding of the situation we are, even as we try to mitigate the consequences of the shortfall in revenue occasioned by a drop in the price of crude oil. I want to assure them that good times are here and we shall all enjoy the fruits of our labour.

As we celebrate June 12 as Democracy Day, let us remember the struggles and sacrifices of our heroes and heroines by continuing to be good citizens, by working hard and paying our taxes.

It is for this reason that we have declared tomorrow as public holiday, in commemoration of this watershed date and to honour the memory of Chief Abiola, his wife, Kudirat Abiola, who was cowardly murdered by agents of the evil regime and other Nigerians who suffered for standing for what they believe to be right.

I wish us all a Happy Democracy Day

Oyo Gov Visits Yinka Ayele's Fresh Fm Radio Station

The oyo state governor senator Abiola Ajimobi visited Fresh 105.9 fm ibadan at AYEFELE MUSIC HOUSE CHALLENGE IBADAN. Below are the pictures