News

Traditional Festival: Confusion In Ondo, As Govt, Monarch flex Muscles

Published

1 month ago

August 25, 2023

Editor

… Go ahead, open your shops – Govt

… Markets, shop owners defile govt order, close shops as directed by the monarch

Markets and shops remained closed in Akure, the Ondo state capital as directed by the Deji of Akureland, Oba Aladetoyinbo Adedelusi in observance of the Aheregbe festival.

This was in defiance of the counter directive given by the state government to the one given by the Deji of Akureland, Oba Aladetoyinbo Aladelusi.

Ondo state government had overruled the monarch on Thursday after the issuance of the directive by his Chief Press Secretary, Micheal Adeyeye, in a statement issued in Akure, directing all shops and markets in Akure the state capital to open for business.

But, markets and shops were closed across the state capital except in lsinkan community, where they insisted that they’re not under the Deji of Akureland and do not observe the Aheregbe festival.

Commercial activities were at its peak in lsinkan, as the traders said Deji’s directive didn’t affect them because they do not observe the Aheregbe festival in Isinkan Kingdom.

Oba Aladelusi, had said that “the closure of the markets became necessary as part of the requirement in observing the age-long tradition of the annual Aheregbe Festival.

“It is important to emphasize that there shall be no trading or opening of shops under any guise during the festival.

“Residents, market women and shop owners are kindly enjoined to comply with this directive.

“However, only pharmacy shops and patent medicine stores are exempted from the closure of their shops during the festival

” The festival will not in any way restrict both human and vehicular movement.

But, the state government in a swift reaction through the information and Orientation commissioner Mrs Bamidele Ademola-Olateju, said that the state government had last year ruled against such closure of markets in any part of the state.

Ademola-Olateju said in a statement that : “On August 24, 2022, one of the decisions made by the Executive Council was that; there shall be no closure of market in any part of the state without the approval of the Governor.

“The statement credited to Mr. Michael Adeyeye, the Press Secretary of His Majesty, the Deji of Akure constitutes a clear violation of an existing order of the Government, and an abridgement the right of Akure residents to the pursuance of their livelihood.

“The public should note that even if approval was sought, such closure would have been limited to Ọjà Ọba (Oba’s Market) in Akure.

“We urge our respected Royal father, His Majesty, the Deji of Akure to respect the government’s decision and refrain from any action that can inconvenience, and, or inflict economic pain on Akure inhabitants.

“We also ask that the cordial relationship between the revered stool of the Deji not be drawn into open confrontation with the government.

“Akure residents are urged to go about their normal business on Friday and beyond, in pursuance of their freedoms. No market or shop shall be closed by anyone either by coercion or threat of force before, during or after Aheregbe festival.

“Whoever flies in the face of this directive will draw the ire of the government.

The commissioner said: ” The government of Ondo State ask that; everyone should be law abiding and move about freely in the pursuit of happiness.”
VANGUARD

Advertisements

News

LG Chairman Assures Corps Members Of Security Of Lives In Bauchi

Published

55 mins ago

September 28, 2023

Editor

Mr Markus Lusa, the caretaker Chairman of Bogoro Local Government Area of Bauchi state has assured the corps members serving in the area of security of their lives and property.

He made the assurance on Thursday during a town hall meeting between the corps members and the Bogoro local government council stakeholders, organised by the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in the area.

Lusa, who explained that the council was always partnering with all the security agencies in the area, added that the council was ready to partner with NYSC to better the lives of the corps members serving in the local government.

Represented by Mr Markus Nahemia, the Director, Administration and General Services, Bogoro LGA, Lusa urged the corps members to be patient as all their previous demands would be met in due time.

Earlier, Mr David Dauda, Bogoro Local Government Inspector (LGI) of NYSC, enjoined the stakeholders in the area to encourage corps members by financing community development projects that would have a positive impact on the lives of the members of their host communities.

He appreciated the government and the people of Bogoro for being corps members friendly, adding that the LGA could best be described as a home away from home to Corps members.

In his remarks, Mr Saul Mamman, the Education Secretary, Bogoro Local Education Authority, said that assisting corps members to execute community development service projects would lead to greater social impact and sustainable change in the local communities.

Speaking on behalf of the corps members, the Corps Liaison Officer (CLO), Bogoro Local Government, Mr Daniel Obioma described the programme as apt and timely.

While commending the people of the area for being accommodating and hospitable to corps members, Obioma said that the event would assist them in discharging their duties effectively.

Advertisements

News

Subsidy: CSO Threatens To Thwart Labour’s Oct 3 Planned Indefinite Strike

Published

3 hours ago

September 28, 2023

Editor

A Civil Society Organisation, CSO, operating under the aegis of Civil Society and Workers Dialogue Forum (CSWDF), has expressed its disapproval of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, and the Trade Union Congress, TUC’s planned indefinite strike scheduled to commence on Tuesday, October 3, 2023.

The organisation described the proposed strike as sabotage and deliberate mischief, saying the union wasn’t sensitive to its part of dialogue with the Federal Government over the fuel subsidy removal impasse.

Reacting to the planned strike in a statement jointly signed and issued on Thursday by the group’s convener, Abubakar Ibrahim and co-conveners, Bashir Faisal and Rafiu Shaibu, they assured of their support if the two workers’ unions decided to toe the path of nobility.

According to the CSO, the Nigeria Labour Congress fully agreed to the withdrawal of fuel subsidy, which they also earlier advocated for, adding that “having the subsidy that has been draining government for centuries removed, it should be supported by all stakeholders”.

The group, having acknowledged the difficulty faced by Nigerians, explained that the Federal Government has made deft moves in rehabilitating the refineries to reduce the cost of petrol and gas importation.

It added that the recent distribution of palliative to the tune of N5 billion to each of the 36 states of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory, FCT are part of mitigation measures until things normalise as no government anywhere in the world derives pleasure in the suffering of its people.

“The wage increase of workers is being negotiated with NLC constituting membership of the committee, hence, we are appalled at what the proposed strike intended to achieve.

“As opposed to the past, the NLC has always been on the negotiation table before any decision was taken by this administration.

“We recalled that in June this year, the Union was in talks with the FG over fuel subsidy removal without carrying other stakeholders along, which we protested our exclusion.

“Having agreed with President Bola Tinubu’s administration, only for the workers Union to recant and propose an indefinite strike is counter-productive and we will mobilise our members across the 36 States and FCT for anti-NLC protest.

“This statement should serve as official notice to the Director of State Service DSS, IGP and other security agencies, that we are going to mobilise to streets against NLC on 3rd October, 2023,” the CSO stressed.

The group recalled that some states have purchased buses for public transportation and have also added funds to the federal government’s offer to them, insisting that the proposed strike was inappropriate.

Advertisements

News

Nigerian Artistes In Strange Covenant With Devil – Nigerian Prophet

Published

3 hours ago

September 28, 2023

Editor

The spiritual head of the Wisdom Church of Christ International, Prophet Bisi Olujobi, has said some Nigerian artistes have entered a strange covenant with the devil.

The Prophet said this in a statement he made available to DAILY POST on Thursday.

According to him, the artistes, in the desperation to achieve stardom, seek favour from the devil.

However, he noted that these celebrities did not know that the devil would take something back for every favour received from him.

“The devil cannot give anything without taking something reasonable in return. That is the game of the devil which they (Nigerian artistes) fail to realize,” he disclosed.

Olujobi called on Nigerian artistes and their African counterparts to return to God, who he described as the giver of all gifts.

The cleric said the strange covenant between the artistes and the devil would be the reason behind the untimely end of some of them in their prime.

“Nigerian artistes and their African counterparts have to return to God, the giver of all gifts, as many of them have entered into strange covenant that will eventually cut off their light at their peak,” he stressed.