The Governor of Ondo State, Hon. Lucky Orimisan Alyedatiwa, has appointed five Aides to assist him in their respective offices. (more…)
Month: December 2023
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New Year: Embrace limitless opportunities life presents, Cleric urges Nigerians
The Senior Pastor of Solution Family Church, (SFC), Dr. Christian-Shola has called on individuals in Nigeria to embrace the limitless opportunities that life presents as New Year is approaching. (more…)
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Plateau Massacre: Betta Edu Condole With Survivors, State Govt., Assures Of Humanitarian Assistance From Ministry
By Biola Lawal
Abuja (Flowerbudnews): The Minister for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr. Betta Edu has condoled with the government and people of Plateau state over the recent alleged massacre of scores of innocent persons.
It would be recalled that over 100 innocent persons in about 15 communities in Bokkos and Barkin-Ladi local government areas of Plateau were allegedly massacred by unknown assailants on Christmas Eve.
In a condolence message to the government and people of Plateau state, signed by the Minister’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Rasheed Olanrewaju Zubair, the Minister described the incident, as senseless, horrendous, and inhuman.
Dr Edu pledged her Ministry’s readiness to collaborate with the state government to render humanitarian assistance to the affected communities and survivors of the attacks.
According to the Minister, “It was with utter shock and sadness that I received the news of the barbaric, horrendous, and senseless attacks in plateau communities which have left over 100 people dead and injured many while many more are displaced.
“I condole with the government and people of plateau state, especially families of the victims of this unnecessary assault on humanity, and pray for a permanent peace in the plateau”
Continuing, Dr Edu said in the statement: “One can only imagine the difficulties and indignities as well as catastrophic humanitarian challenges facing the survivors and affected members of the communities.
As a Ministry directly in charge of responding to humanitarian challenges of citizens in Nigeria, the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation has been directed by President Bola Tinubu to collaborate with the Plateau state government to bring humanitarian succur to the survivors of the unfortunate attacks as well as the affected communities.
“We are unrelenting in our efforts to ensure that every Nigerian and all parts of Nigeria experiencing humanitarian crises are catered for in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu” the statement added. (Flowerbudnews)
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I MOURN MY FEARLESS BROTHER, ROTIMI AKEREDOLU – TINUBU
It is a difficult task to have to pen a tribute and sing a dirge for a departing soul. It is a more difficult job in our African culture when one is compelled to do so for a younger person. Here I am with the difficult job of singing a dirge for Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu, my beloved brother, confidant, political soulmate and governor of Ondo State.
I cannot fairly capture in words Rotimi’s towering figure and his human essence. Rotimi was a man who moved our nation towards equity, fairness and justice in his strident advocacy against every form of injustice in our country through the instrumentality of the law as a senior advocate, attorney general of his beloved state, as President of the Nigerian Bar Association and Governor of Ondo State.
In a challenging moment of our statehood when marauding agents of darkness spread their tentacles across our country, Rotimi was a strong voice in wilderness calling us to rethink our security architecture so we can have a more secure nation. His unrelenting advocacy led to the birth of the local police in the South West.
Rotimi was a man of ideas and action. While he was with us, he taught us the power of action and service. In Ondo State where he had the honour to serve as the Governor in the last 6 years, he served his people with absolute loyalty, dedication and forthrightness. His footprints dot the entire landscape in the hundreds of kilometres of roads he built, the many school he built and healthcare facilities that he provided. During the dark hours when marauding agents of darkness visited the state and killed defenceless citizens where 40 worshippers of the Catholic Church of Owo were killed on June 5, 2022, Rotimi’s leadership qualities as a true statesman and compassionate leader radiated brightly to the world. He was a mourner-in-chief who guided his people through an agonising period. Today, I MOURN a fighter and fearless defender of truth and the masses.
My personal journey with Rotimi started as joint members of the progressive family. We fought many battles together to restore progressive governance in the South West, Edo State and Nigeria as a whole. During this uncertain period, Rotimi was resolute and unflinching. He showed uncommon courage as member of our legal team in our battles to reclaim our stolen mandates in Ekiti, Ondo, Edo and Osun States. A gallant lawyer and one of the finest of the legal profession. I beckoned on him to contest for the governorship position of Ondo State in 2012. Even though he didn’t make it in first attempt his enthusiasm and determination to serve his people never diminished. He eventually made it to the Alagbaka Government House in his second attempt in the 2016 election, Since he was sworn-in in February 2017, he had served the people with devotion.
Rotimi has played his role well and left us untimely. We will never see his likes again. Let me tell the people of Ondo State that I am grieving with you. We will honour Rotimi’s memory and make sure his legacy of service is never forgotten.
In my grief and sadness, I have telephoned his wife, Betty, and Acting Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa to commiserate with them and urge them to take heart over this national tragedy.
Governor Akeredolu was not just a friend, ally and associate, he was a brother and soulmate.
His death is a blow to our governing APC and the progressive family as we are diminished by it.
I hope that his successor Aiyedatiwa will hold steadfast to the vision of governance left by this towering political leader.
SIGNED: HIS Excellency Bola Ahmed Tinubu
President Federal Republic of Nigeria,ABUJA
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former COAS says Maj.-Gen. Ezugwu remained exceptional in military career
By Flowerbudnews
Enugu: Former Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, says retired Maj.-Gen. Victor Ezugwu remained exceptional in his military career and left an indelible mark in his service to father land.
Buratai said this during the Grand Homecoming, Thanksgiving Mass and Reception for Ezugwu, held on Wednesday at his Umurusi Ukehe community in Igbo-Etiti local government area of Enugu State.
He said that when he discovered the genius and exceptional quality as well as humi
lity, he drew him closer and saddled him with assignments and responsibilities.According to him, Ezugwu dispatched his assignments and duties with a touch of some level of perfection.
“Discovering his unique qualities, I placed him in critical and demanding positions and he delivered with some level of perfection.
“I tested his humility and endurance by keeping him as an acting General Officer Commanding (GOC) 7 Division for two years even when he was doing exceptionally well in fighting insurgency in that axis of the country.
“While as a threatre commander, he helped the country to roll back the expansion of Boko Haram and recovered a lot communities and council areas that fall into the hands of the bandits,” he said.
The former COAS thanked Ezugwu for coming out with lots of initiatives as well as conceptualizing and building anti-landmine vehicles and landmine detactors to protect Nigerian troops from landmines planted by the enemies.
Earlier, Gov. Peter Mbah of Enugu State, appreciated Ezugwu for doing the state proud in his exceptional military career under the Nigerian Army.
Mbah, represented by his deputy, Chief Oliver Ossai, noted that Ezugwu served with integrity and remained a top officer retiring with a clean and respected record in the Nigerian Army.
“As a state, we want our people to emulate your forthrightness and humility to bring out the best for the common good of humanity,” he said.
Expantiating on his sermon at the Church Thanksgiving Service at St Mary’s Catholic Church, Ukehe; Monsignor Joseph Atado urged Nigerians to turn to God, noting “no gun can stop insecurity”.
“Nigeria’s insecurity can also be solved in one week or a month if the politicians who benefiting from the misfortune can stop interfering with the security operations across the country,” Atado said.
Lamenting the level of insecurity and massacre of defenseless residents of Plateau Communities on Christmas Eve, the cleric said that unless the Lord protects the city, the soldiers, the police labour in vein.
“So, our message is for our people to cry out to God. Nigeria belongs to God and God created Nigeria. He can take care of us as his creatures,” he said.
Speaking about the celebrant, Ezugwu, the cleric who said he had known him since 2003 when he was a Lieutenant Colonel, described Ezugwu as a “perfect gentleman, a man who fears God, a humanitarian and a man who devoted his service to God and humanity”.
Responding, retired Maj.-Gen. Ezugwu thanked his family, coursemates, and well-wishers for coming from across the country to honour him despite challenges.
He, however, described his military carrier spanning 1985 to 2023, as “a very sweet and bitter journey”.
He commended his wife for being there for him both “physically and spiritually, and his children for their support too.”
Ezugwu also thanked the priests and his people of Ukehe community for their support and prayers, and prayed that God should bless them
.
High points of the event were unveiling of Ezugwu statue in his Ukehe community, presentation of gifts, testimonies about Ezugwu and honouring of Buratai among others.
Dignitaries that graced the event included the GOC 82 Division, Maj.-Gen. Hassan Dada; retired Brig.-Gen. J.O.J. Okoloagu; and former President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Nnia Nwodo, among others.(Flowerbudnews)
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Akeredolu: I’m shaken by death of my counterpart – Adeleke
Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State has expressed shock over the death of his Ondo State counterpart, Rotimi Akeredolu.
Adeleke, who said he was deeply troubled by the news of the demise of Akeredolu, described his death a a huge national loss.
The Osun governor, in a statement by his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, stated, “Arakunrin Akeredolu was one of the finest minds in the country’s legal profession, and as a colleague in the Governor’s Forum, his wise counsel and constructive contributions are hard to miss. Nigeria lost one of its finest, and I’m hugely shaken.”
Adeleke condoles with the acting governor of Ondo State, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, the family of the deceased, the government and the people of Ondo State over this painful loss, urging them to keep his memory alive by sustaining his legacy of good deeds and impacts.
He stated, “In this moment of grief and pain, I offer my deepest sympathy to everyone touched by Arakunrin Akeredolu’s demise and pray to God to grant him eternal rest while hoping for his immediate family;
“… the government and the people of Ondo state that he left behind find comfort in the life full of accomplishments that he lived.”
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‘Corrupt officers will be dismissed’ – Nigeria Immigration Service
The Comptroller of Kwara State Command of the Nigeria Immigration Service, NIS, Aminu Shamsuddin, has cautioned men and officers of the command to stay away from any form of corruption..
Shamsuddin said that any corrupt personnel found engaging in bribery and corruption will be dismissed from the service.
The comptroller, represented by Deputy Comptroller Momoh Aliyu, made this statement during the passing out parade of the newly recruited officers on Wednesday in Ilorin, the capital of Kwara State.
A total of 190 officers were inducted at the occasion.
“Avoid bribe in the course of your duties. If you are caught in the act, you will be dismissed from the service,” Shamsuddin warned.
While congratulating the new officers and welcoming them to NIS, he urged them to be submissive, well-behaved, and loyal to the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
According to him, the first step to becoming an officer in NIS is to be inducted into the service to have some prior knowledge of the job.
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BREAKING: Aiyedatiwa sworn in as Ondo Governor
Ondo Deputy Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa has been sworn in as the State’s substantive Executive Governor following Governor Rotimi Akeredolu’s demise.
State Chief Judge, Justice Olusegun Odosola administered the oath of office at the Cocoa Conference Hall of the Governor’s office in Akure.
Present to witness the swear-in ceremony are top Judges in the state, government officials and politicians.
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NEMA launches “Operation Eagle Eye” for safe driving during yuletide
By Rita Iliya
Minna: The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has launched “Operation
Eagle Eye” aimed at reducing accident during the yuletide.The agency’s Head of Minna Operations Office, Hajiya Zainab Sai’du, said that the exercise was to make the yuletide accident-free.
She said that “the operation is a disaster-reduction measure put in place by the agency to carry out surveillance on major highways to reduce incidences of road crashes.”
She added that the exercise was aimed at sensitising motorists and the public on causes of road traffic crashes and to prevent occurance, as well as respond to them anytime they occur, in line with international best practices.
According to her, the ‘Eagle Eye’ exercise is an annual event conducted during festive periods,
characterised by mass vehicular movements.
“The event is also to complement the efforst of other response agencies, especially the Federal Road Safety Corp in curbing the menace of road crashes,” she said.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng) /Flowerbudnews