Connect with us

Breaking

Kwara State government takes over land belonging to ex-Senate President, Bukola Saraki’s late father

Published

on


The Kwara State Government has taken over a piece of land owned by the Saraki Family in Ilorin saying it will be used for a new secretariat for civil servants.

Chief Press Secretary to Kwara Governor, Rafiu Ajakaiye announced the decision Friday, December 27th saying the land was originally meant for Government Secretariat and parking space of the Civil Service Clinic, but was unlawfully allocated to a private firm, Asa Investments Limited, without any record of payment to the state government.

Part of the land, situated beside the Civil Service Clinic, is also right in front of late Dr Olusola Saraki’s residence. The senior Saraki built a house and named it ‘Ile Arugbo’ (elderly peoples’ home).

According to the statement, no certificate of occupancy was issued in favour of Asa Investments Limited. The statement explained that the government has now made provisions for the secretariat in the 2020 budget, although its construction will spill over to 2021.

Ajakaiye added that Gov. AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has signed an instrument withdrawing the allocation of plots of land 1, 3 and 5 to the firm. He said that the said land was unlawfully appropriated contrary to the purpose for which it was meant.
The spokesman added that the governor’s decision followed a resolution of the State House of Assembly urging him to reclaim the land because it was arbitrarily taken over in the 1990s without any evidence of payment by the company, even though the land was meant for public use.

The governor noted in the revocation order that the land was originally meant for the construction of another phase of the Kwara State Civil Service Secretariat and a parking space for both the civil service clinic and the secretariat.

“HUNDREDS OF CIVIL SERVANTS STILL OPERATE FROM RENTED APARTMENTS AT A HUGE COST TO THE GOVERNMENT. THE NEW SECRETARIAT, ONCE COMPLETED IN 2021, WILL DEFINITELY GO A LONG WAY TO END THIS UNHEALTHY TREND AS WELL AS PROVIDE A MORE CONDUCIVE AND DECENT WORKING ENVIRONMENT FOR GOVERNMENT WORKERS,” THE STATEMENT SAID.

THE REVOCATION ORDER READ: “IN EXERCISE OF THE POWERS CONFERRED BY SECTION 5 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA (AS AMENDED) 1999 AND SECTION 1 AND 28 OF THE LAND USE ACT CAP. L.5 OF 2004 AND ALL OTHER POWERS ENABLING ME IN THAT BEHALF, I, MALLAM ABDULRAHMAN ABDULRAZAQ, GOVERNOR OF KWARA STATE OF NIGERIA, GIVE THE FOLLOWING NOTICE:

“THE NOTICE MAY BE CITED AS THE LAND USE (REVOCATION OF RIGHT OF OCCUPANCY AND WITHDRAWAL OF ALLOCATION) NOTICE, 2019. ALLOCATION OF PLOTS OF LAND 1, 3 AND 5 TPS/MISC 129 TO ASA INVESTMENT (NIG) LTD. WHICH IS MEANT FOR THE KWARA STATE SECRETARIAT.

“THE LAND, SPECIFICALLY AND MORE DESCRIBED IN SURVEY NO. KWSH 927 AND LAND/G1071 SITUATED AND LYING BESIDE CIVIL SERVICE CLINIC ON ILOFA ROAD ILORIN, KWARA STATE, IS HEREBY REVOKED AND WITHDRAWN FOR OVERRIDING PUBLIC INTEREST FOR USE OF THE PURPOSE IT IS ORIGINALLY MEANT FOR:

“THE CONSTRUCTION OF KWARA STATE SECRETARIAT; PARKING SPACE FOR CIVIL SERVICE CLINIC AND THE KWARA STATE SECRETARIAT AND ANNEX TO THE CIVIL SERVICE WHEN UPGRADED TO A HOSPITAL. THAT THE PLOTS ALLOCATED ARE HEREBY DECLARED VOID. NOTICE IS THEREFORE GIVEN TO YOU, ASA INVESTMENTS NIGERIA LIMITED, THAT THE PLOTS OF LAND 1, 3 AND 5 TPS/MISC 129 ALLOCATED TO YOU AND ANY TITLE ON THE LAND WHATSOEVER ARE HEREBY REVOKED AND THE ALLOCATION IS WITHDRAWN FOR OVERRIDING PUBLIC INTEREST,” IT READ IN PART.

Breaking

JUST IN: Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Lekan Balogun joins ancestors at 81

Published

on

By

The Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Lekan Balogun has joined his ancestors after a brief illness.

He joined his ancestors at the age of 81.

It was gathered that the late monarch was taken to the hospital Wednesday morning having stayed indoor throughout Tuesday on account of slight malaria fever, though, he was hail and hearty on Monday during which he personally received few guests that paid him congratulatory visits on his second year anniversary on that day.

Making this announcement was the Baba-Kekere Olubadan and his younger brother, Dr Kola Balogun in a statement by the Personal Assistant (Media) to the late monarch, Oladele Ogunsola.

According to the statement, Dr. Balogun disclosed that Oba Balogun would be buried at his Aliiwo ancestral home by 4.00pm on Friday according to Islamic rites just as he said that the State Governor Seyi Makinde, though already verbally informed, would be formally notified early in the morning.

The late Olubadan was the first most educated to have emerged as Ibadan monarch, a British trained P.hd holder, a former university lecturer, former member of management staff of Shell British Petroleum, former gubernatorial candidate of the defunct Nigeria People’s Party, NPP, former Senator and a successful business man.

His last official outing was the Olubadan Advisory Council’s meeting which he presided over last Saturday where the decision to derobed Mogaji Akinsola, Olawale Oladoja was taken.

He however, on Tuesday instructed the Ekerin Olubadan, Oba Hamidu Ajibade to midwife a small committee to deliberate on last Friday’s decision on what should be the position of Ibadan Zone in the proposed newly reconstituted Oyo State Council of Obas and Chiefs.

The decision of the small committee was earlier on Thursday ratified by the Olubadan Advisory Council at a meeting presided over by Otun Olubadan and the former governor of Oyo State, High Chief Rashidi Ladoja and was to be taken to the late Oba Balogun for his signature Friday morning so as to meet the deadline for submission to the state Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters later in the day.

The late Olubadan is survived by wives, children and grandchildren.

Announcing the passage of the monarch, Governor Makinde, in a statement, stated that Olubadan, who joined his ancestors late Thursday evening at the University College Hospital, UCH, Ibadan, described him as an epitome of royal excellence and a great achiever, who made great marks on Ibadanland in just a little over two years of his reign.

He expressed his condolences to the Olubadan-in-Council, the Oyo State Traditional Council and the people of Ibadanland and Oyo State, praying to God to grant repose to the soul of the deceased monarch.

Makinde said: “With total submission to the will of God, I announce the passing unto glory of our father, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Dr. Mohood Lekan Balogun, Alli Okunmade II, the 42nd Olubadan of Ibadanland.

“A mighty Iroko has fallen; Oba Dr. Balogun has joined the ancestors.

“In Kabiyesi, Ibadanland had a cosmopolitan and well-experienced Olubadan, who made indelible marks on the sands of history and achieved greatly within a short while.

“On behalf of the Government and good People of Oyo State, I condole with the immediate family of the Oba Dr. Balogun, the Olubadan-in-Council, the Oyo State Traditional Council and the people of Ibadanland.

“It is my prayer that God grants repose to the soul of our late monarch.”

Continue Reading

Breaking

JUST IN: Labour Party National Chairman, Abure arrested for attempted murder in Edo (Video)

Published

on

By

Operatives of the Edo State Police Command have arrested the National Chairman of the Labour Party (LP), Julius Abure.

Abure was arrested on Wednesday in Benin City, the Edo State capital, on allegations of premeditated attempted murder, amongst other alleged infractions.

The Labour Party chairman’s arrest followed a petition by the LP Youth Leader, Comrade Eragbe Anselm Aphimia.

The petition, addressed to the Commissioner of Police, Edo State Command, dated February 13, partly reads, “I, Comrade Eragbe Anselm, write to you with utmost urgency and grave concern regarding a heinous act of violence perpetrated against me on the 29th of December 2023.

“I am a member and National Youth Leader of the Labour Party (LP) in Nigeria, and the events I am about to recount are of utmost importance for justice and the safety of individuals involved in political activities.

“On December 28, 2023, I flew into Benin City Airport around 2 p.m. as part of an official 5-member delegation authorised by the Acting National Chairman of the Labour Party, Alhaji Lamidi Basiru Apapa.

“Our mission was to organise Ward, LGA, and State Congresses in Edo State, as well as supervise the sale of nomination forms for various posts, as mandated by INEC guidelines, within the stipulated time frames.

“On arrival at the Benin Airport, I was received by one Mrs Mary Okheime Newberry, who falsely claimed to be providing transportation and accommodation on behalf of unnamed “stakeholders.”

“She proceeded to lodge us at the Smart Homes Hotel, unknown to us that she was plotting a sinister and gruesome ambush. The next morning, a man named Austin Emeka came to pick me and my colleague, Mr Patrick Anethua, up from the hotel lobby, pretending to take us to a meeting venue.

“Instead, we were violently attacked just outside the hotel gates by a waiting mob.”

Continue Reading

Breaking

JUST IN: Tinubu appoints new leadership for NAFDAC, NCDC

Published

on

By

President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment and reappointment of chairpersons of boards and chief executive officers of agencies under the ministry of health and social welfare.

In a statement on Thursday by Ajuri Ngelale, presidential spokesperson, Tinubu approved the appointment of Mansur Kabir as the chairman of board of National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).

He also reappointed Mojisola Adeyeye as the director-general (DG) of the agency and appointed Olajide Idris as the DG of Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).

Continue Reading

Bodex F. Hungbo, SPMIIM is a multiple award-winning Nigerian Digital Media Practitioner, Digital Strategist, PR consultant, Brand and Event Expert, Tv Presenter, Tier-A Blogger/Influencer, and a top cobbler in Nigeria.

She has widespread experiences across different professions and skills, which includes experiences in; Marketing, Media, Broadcasting, Brand and Event Management, Administration and Management with prior stints at MTN, NAPIMS-NNPC, GLOBAL FLEET OIL AND GAS, LTV, Silverbird and a host of others

Most Read...