News

Rescue Us From Incessant Attack, Neglected Ondo Communities Cry Out To Akeredolu

Published

5 years ago

November 28, 2020

By Joe Ebi, Ebijaw

Communities under Ebijaw ward, Odigbo Local Government Area of Ondo State, have called on the state governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, to, as a matter of urgency, deliver them from incessant armed robbery attack by putting in place security personnel in entrances to their area.

This is coming as gunmen numbering about eight reportedly invaded Temewei-Emi Zion and Ebijaw communities at about 10pm of Thursday night and and started shooting sporadically into the air, thereby leading to pandemonium.

The gunmen reportedly carted away valuables from d communities, including cash and injured several persons in the process.

Speaking on behalf of the communities, Mr. Kem Epere Lamene said there is a looming danger in the area if something urgent is not done.

He said it will be a double tragedy for them if, after being abandoned by the government, they still suffer from armed robbery attack in their domain.

Mr. Lamene, who was reacting to the robbery incident said there was urgent need for the Akeredolu-led government in the state to rise up to the challenge of protecting the lives and property of the people in the area, adding that he swore to do so and the people in this area must not be left out.

He lamented that no single security at both the waterways and land entrances to these communities hence armed robbers come at will to carry out their evil operations.

According to him, if not of recent, armed robbery was alien to the area, just as he added that since he has been on the planet earth for over five decades such has not been recorded.

“This armed robbery we have been experiencing of recent is odd in our area. I was born in the area over five decades ago, what we are experiencing of recent has not happened before. If I may ask, what is really happening? What is the cause of these armed robbery in our area? This is really a bizarre!

“I am using this medium to plead to our governor, Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu to rise to the protection of the lives of our people he vowed to protect; no one seems to be safe in the area. We can no longer close our eyes and sleep anymore; everyone is scarred. So, once again, I am calling on the governor to protect our lives which he took oath to protect,” he pleaded.

Mr Lamene, who said that the area has been neglected by previous and present administration in the state, lamented that no single government presence in the area.

He disclosed that political office holders only come to seek for their votes when they are seeking elective position and after that “vanish into the tiny air” without any accessibility to them (politicians).

Mr. Lamene, who further disclosed that Ebijaw ward as whole has no accessible road, electricity, drinkable water, functional healthcare, college, etc, said the only road approved for them by the NDDC as been blocked by some politicians.

“We have no road, no electricity, no drinkable water. Our people drink from the dirty Owena river and stream. We have no hospital. The only road approved for us by the NDDC, some well-connected politicians have denied us. But I know our God will fight for us and give us what belongs to us.

“If I may ask, is it because we are Ijaw people under Odigbo and that is why the government shows no concern for our area? We have a chairman in the council; we have a house of assembly member representing us; we have a house of rep member at the lower chamber; we have a senator, and we have a governor, but unfortunately non of these people show concern about our plights. We are native of the place and not strangers.

“We are neglected, abandoned and forgotten by the government. Governance is alien to us, as there is no single thing from government you can point at in our area. We, as a people, we have been trying our best through community effort, but government must give us governance, and good one for that,” he said.

News

Shock As Adeleke Employs Roadside puff-puff Hawker As Govt House Chef

Published

7 hours ago

August 30, 2025

Editor

Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, on Thursday shocked a female puff-puff seller during a rally in Osogbo by buying all her snacks with ₦50,000 and offering her employment as a chef at the Government House.

This happened when Osun public servants trooped out in their thousands in what they called an appreciation solidarity rally in support of the governor for his support and care since he took over state governance.

It was observed that the governor, who sat in the bus, had sighted the woman who was among the crowd cheering him.

He immediately beckoned to the woman carrying a plastic container filled with puff-puff on her head and asked how much it would cost to buy all the snacks.

The female hawker, who was visibly surprised and star-struck at the level of her proximity to the governor, found it difficult to even tell the governor how much she sold the snacks.

Surprisingly, Adeleke handed her a bundle of ₦50,000 to the cheers of the crowd.

The lucky woman knelt down in appreciation of the governor’s generosity.

Excited onlookers quickly rushed to share the snacks in the plastic already purchased by the governor.

The governor invited the vendor inside the vehicle where one of his officials questioned her academic background, and she revealed that she holds a Nigerian Certificate in Education.

Adeleke further asked about the dishes she could prepare and instructed his aides to take her contact details for employment as a chef in the Government House.

Confirming the development, the Commissioner II at the Osun State Civil Service Commission, Olaniyan Taofeek, shared the video on X (formerly Twitter), writing: “The moment Gov. Adeleke turned the life of a puff-puff seller into a Government House chef.”

A Special Assistant to the Governor on Digital Media, Oni Gbenga Lawrence, also corroborated the incident in a post on X, stating: “Moment Governor Ademola Adeleke turned the life of a puff-puff seller to Government Chef… not only ₦50k but he invited her into his car and employed her as chef in the Government House.”

The Guardian correspondent, who was at the scene of the welcome rally, made efforts to interview the lucky vendor, but they did not yield as she was not allowed to alight from the bus throughout the event.
(The Guardian)

News

Katsina Govt Revokes Licenses Of All Private, Community Schools

Published

8 hours ago

August 30, 2025

Editor

The Katsina State Government has withdrawn the operating licenses of all private and community schools in the state, with effect from August 13, 2025.

The announcement came through a circular issued by the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education and signed by Commissioner Hajiya Zainab Musa-Musawa.

The ministry’s Public Relations Officer, Malam Sani Danjuma, released the document in Katsina on Saturday.

According to the circular, the move is part of the government’s effort to strengthen quality assurance and standardization within the education sector.

“The withdrawal of licenses is aimed at ensuring that schools operate in line with approved standards and provide quality education to students,” Danjuma said.

The circular also outlined a review of fees for license application, registration, and annual renewal.

“Owners of affected schools are required to obtain fresh licenses by submitting proof of payment to the ministry on or before September 30, 2025.”

The statement also added that school operators have been warned not to increase tuition or other charges without government approval.

The ministry further promised to issue additional guidelines soon, including categorization of schools and the revised fee structure.

News

JUST IN: Oldest Missionary To Nigeria, Ruth Elton, Is Dead

Published

9 hours ago

August 30, 2025

Editor

British-born Nigerian missionary, Ruth Elton, reputed to be the oldest missionary has passed on at the age of 91.

Ruth Elton, born 7 September 1933, was a British-born Nigerian missionary whose lifelong dedication to faith, healing, and revival left an indelible mark on communities across western and central Nigeria.

It was learnt that Elton died on Saturday at Sharon compound, Alafia Bamin Quarters in Ilesa, Osun State.

She was the only daughter of Pa Elton and her remains have been deposited at the mortuary.

Ruth Elton, daughter of Sydney Granville Elton (Pa Elton), who is referred to as one of the founding fathers of Pentecostalism in Nigeria, had approached a Kaduna court and nationalised as a Nigerian.

At old age and despite the happenings in Nigeria, she still held in high esteem her father’s prophecies that although Nigeria could be known globally for corruption, it would only for a while as new dawn would beckon when the country would be known worldwide for righteousness and prosperity.

Elton moved to Nigeria in 1937 with her parents and served as a Christian missionary across Egbe, Okene, Koton Karfe, and other parts of Kogi, Ondo, Oyo, and Osun States.

A naturalised Nigerian, having renounced her British citizenship in the 1970s, she embraced the country completely and became fluent in Ebira and Yoruba.

Elton, who remained single, believed that she had made a true mark in the country and apart from her missionary work, she saw her efforts in taming infant mortality, especially in Okene, Kogi State as a generational impact.

Relating her experience on infant mortality in the country, Elton recently noted that many newborn babies had passed on due to lack of proper care and hygiene, adding that the practice of force-feeding babies contributed to the challenges, especially in the face of poor awareness.