The butchers while addressing journalists last Thursday at a press conference held in collaboration with Veteran Organization for Human Rights Initiative (VOHRI) in Ibadan, observed that the purported relocation would cause more harm than good if allowed to see the light of the day.

According to the Chairman of National Union of Butchers (NUB), Aare Latosa LCDA, Alhaji Ganiyu Olobo and his colleagues from Egbeda Local Government Area, Alhaji Mukaila Otedola; Ibadan North LGA, Mr. Kehinde Oladejo; Ido LCDA, Mr. Alidu Tajudeen; Akinyeke LGA, Alhaji Oroyinyin Adeleke; Ibadan South West, Mr. Adebayo Wasiu and Mr. Sheriff Iyanda who spoke on behalf of their colleagues hinted that Amosun village is very close to Akinyele town where a large number of Hausa cattle rearers settled.

https://iso.keq.mybluehost.me/oyo-butchers-commend-govt-as-ibadan-central-abattoir-commences-operation-2/

They warned that the closeness of the the two, Akinyele town and Amosun village will lead to fresh crisis among the butchers and Hausa cattle rearers.

The butchers while urging Governor Abiola Ajimobi of the state to prevail on the matter and allow butchers to continue with their businesses in their various locations, disclosed that it was year 2000 clash between the butchers and the Hausa cattle traders that made the former Governor, late Alhaji Lam Adesina to relocate the Hausa cattle rearers to Akinyele town.

They noted that the relocation which is being championed by some elements in the union in connection with a private firm will ignite fresh crisis due to the closeness of Akinyele and Amosun, the proposed abattoir.

“The proposed abattoir at Amosun village is close to Akinyele town where a large number of Hausa cattle rearers have settled. It was the killing arising from the clash between butchers and Hausa cattle traders in 2000 that made late Alhaji Lam Adesina to relocate the Hausa cattle traders to Akinyele town.

“This illegal relocation order given to the butchers will ignite fresh crisis. This is a bad omen and a security threat to the state, especially when electioneering period is at hand”, they said.

The butchers, who described the purported relocation as handiwork of some elements who are using the name of the state governor to coerce butchers in Ibadan stressed that Ajimobi during their meeting with him gave an order that butchers are free to operate anywhere that is convenient for them.

They added they were surprised that some leaders and the private firm are now forcing the butchers in Ibadan to relocate to Amosun village, the order they said was in contrary to the agreement reached with the governor.

They added that apart from security threat and untold hardship the relocation will cause, many youths and many traders will loose their sources of income due to the distance of the village to other areas.

“Many other petty traders who receive their livelihood because of the presence of the butchers in their locality will definitely lose their job and source of livelihood. It should be noted that a good number of youths are employed at the various local government abattoir and this brings employment and source of income to them. Relocation will cause unemployment and by extension youth restiveness.

“As a result of unfavorably location of the Amosun village abattoir, there will be increase in brigand robber, kidnapping and serious threat to life of both the butchers and buyers. The buyers would have to go extra miles before procuring beef, transport fee will increase and price of beef will also increase forcing untold hardship to the buyers.

“It will therefore unspeakable, unconstitutional and illegal for a group of people to arrogate to themselves what do not belong to them hijacking the function of a local government and by extension function of the state government to build a private abattoir in partnership with corrupt members of the National Union of Butchers, Ibadan chapter and later used the good name of our governor to make a relocation orders concerning other members of the butchers to go to Amosun village.

“We therefore appeal that this illegal order should quashed”.

VOHRI Lead Activist, Comrade Sakirullah Ayobami and General Secretary, Comrade Adekunle Abimbola while speaking noted that though private ownership of abattoir is allowed, coercion of butchers to move to the village is illegal.

VOHRI said , “Building of slaughter houses, slabs is one of the functions of local government. Private owned abattoir is allowed but coercion of butchers to operate in a privately owned abattoir is illegal and unconstitutional and runs contrary to the fourth schedule 1 (e) of the local government functions.

“It is constitutional for each local government to establish abattoir”.

They added that “Relocation order was a verbal expression and did not come from the state government but evil machinations of some disgruntled elements.

“Consequent upon intimidation, anxiety, serious threat to life and violation of the fundermantal human rights of the butchers in Ibadan occasioned by the fake relocation order issued by the aggrieved members of butchers in persons of Alhaji Azeez Alagunfon, Biliaminu Eleshimeta, Kehnide Tewogbade, Fatal Alagunfon, Alhaji Saliu, Alhaji Latest Adegoke and others.

“We are therefore appealing to you sir to use your good office to investigate thoroughly for justice to be earned. The action of the above-mentioned runs contrary to the fundermantal rights of the people by virtue of section 33, 34,36,39 and 40 of the constitution of Nigeria, 2010 as amended.

“This illegal partnership with the owner of abattoir at Amosun village which resulted in the blanket order given to butchers in all the eleven local government in Ibadan to relocate is an aberration of the fourth schedule 1 (e) of functions of local government”.

The post Oyo: Hausa cattle rearers, butchers raise fresh alarm, say relocation of butchers to Amosun will ignite fresh crisis first appeared on MegaIcon Magazine.

The post Oyo: Hausa cattle rearers, butchers raise fresh alarm, say relocation of butchers to Amosun will ignite fresh crisis appeared first on MegaIcon Magazine.

Contained in a statement issued on Wednesday by the State Commissioner for information, Culture and Tourism, Mr. Toye Arulogun in Ibadan quoting the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Oluwaseun Abimbola, the government disclosed that Order 3 of the interim injunction forbidding INEC from releasing the voters register to OYSIEC for conduct of elections into LGs and LCDAs has been discharged by the court.

Mr. Abimbola noted, “in respect of the case filed by Oyo baales challenging the LCDAs and in which the court had issued an injunction preventing the conduct of elections into LG and LCDAs. I made an application to the court to discharge the part of the Interim order preventing our conduct of elections into LGs since the subject matter of the suit is only on the propriety of LCDAs and not LGs.

“The other counsels in the matter all conceded to the point as canvassed by the Oyo State Government on this matter. Consequently, the Order 3 of the Interim injunction forbidding INEC from releasing voters register to OYSIEC for conduct of elections into LGs and LCDAs has been discharged by the court. Oyo State Independent Electoral Commission (OYSIEC) is now at liberty to conduct LG elections only, but not into LCDAs which is still pending in court,” the Attorney General stated.

He, also hoped that this development would clear the air and misrepresentation by the people who believe that the state government was not interested in the conduct of the local government election, maintaining that the order secured is a demonstration to the fact that the state government is ready for the conduct of the election and the barrier has been removed.

The post Court rules Oyo to conduct LG elections first appeared on MegaIcon Magazine.

The post Court rules Oyo to conduct LG elections appeared first on MegaIcon Magazine.

The government also warned them to conduct their Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) with decorum or face sanctions.

Mr. Abimbola Adekanmbi, the state Commissioner for Finance handed down this caution in a circular issued to all Local Governments and Local Council Development Areas in the state.

Mr. Adekanmbi noted that this decision was taken due to inordinate and uncoordinated tax drives by revenue agents appointed by local governments and local council development areas especially in the area of wrongful parking.

“The agents have conducted themselves in a manner capable of causing breach of public peace. It therefore becomes necessary that the Oyo State Board of Internal Revenue, as the body statutorily empowered to interpret the Joint Tax Board policies and see to the implementation in Oyo State,” the commissioner explained.

Mr. Adekanmbi further reemphasized that all LGs and LCDAs have been restricted to collection of fees for wrong parking in the Motor parks in their jurisdictions only, adding that they are expected to do this with decorum without causing unnecessary hardship to the people of the state.

He, however warned that the State Government and the BIR will not hesitate to apply all possible sanctions against any LGs or LCDAs that continue to flout the directives of the state government.

The post Stop collecting fees for illegal parking, Oyo govt. tells LGs, LCDAs. first appeared on MegaIcon Magazine.

The post Stop collecting fees for illegal parking, Oyo govt. tells LGs, LCDAs. appeared first on MegaIcon Magazine.

The party described the recent appointment as illegality taking too far and aberration to the constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria.

Contained in a statement issued by the party’s publicist, Alhaji Akeem Azeez viewed that, “it is not only ridiculous but also unthinkable to see that the All Progressives Congress (APC) who prides itself as the only party who has the interest and concerns of the people at heart will deprive the people their inalienable right to choose their choice of Leader at the grassroots which is consider as closest to the people of the state for almost six years of APC rule in Oyo state”.

The statement reads further, “the Social Democratic Party (SDP) bemoans the elitist style of governance which can be aptly define as government of the few by the few and for the few as evidence with the appointment of the children and relatives of the elites which include blood brother of the Governor of Oyo State which is a total departure of worldwide known and accepted definition of Democracy. Their actions and otherwise have not only shown APC as not only anti people and there can never be worse anti masses policies than the one forced on the people of this state by the ruling party. Where is the hope for common man?”.

The party, therefore urged the people of the state to be wary of politicians who are simply wolfs in cats skin in subsequent elections in the state starting from the much anticipated Local Government election in the state.

The post OYO SDP KICKS AGAINST CARETAKER COMMITTEES FOR LGAs, LCDAs. first appeared on MegaIcon Magazine.

The post OYO SDP KICKS AGAINST CARETAKER COMMITTEES FOR LGAs, LCDAs. appeared first on MegaIcon Magazine.

The state Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice, Mr. Oluseun Abimbola, stated this on Tuesday at a press briefing held at the governor’s office, while noting that the state government would abide by all the orders in the suit FHC/ABJ/CS/16/2017 pending determination by the court.

The Commissioner pointed out that one the orders directing the 2nd (Accountant General of the Federation), 3rd (Central Bank of Nigeria) 4th (Revenue Mobilization and Fiscal Commission) and 5th (Federal Ministry of Finance) defendants to warehouse in an interest yielding account, all monies and or allocations belonging to the distorted 33 constitutionally recognised local governments in Oyo State, pending the determination of the Motion on Notice was an ambush on the allocation meant for the local governments in the state which would affect the welfare of the people, payment of salaries and the development of the grass roots.

Also, the press briefing had in attendance his counterparts from the Ministries of Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters and Information, Culture and Tourism, Messrs. Bimbo Kolade and Toye Arulogun as well as the Special adviser to Governor Ajimobi on Communication and Strategy, Mr. Yomi Layinka. They urged the citizens of the state to be peaceful and law abiding, stressing that local governments election would still hold but not until the judicial process affecting its conduct dealt with.

According to Abimbola, “fifteen (15) claimants filed actions on behalf of some villages in some LGs in Oyo and 10 defendants have been joined in the suit which include the Oyo State Government, Oyo State House of Assembly, the Attorney General of the Federation, Accountant General of the Federation, Central Bank of Nigeria, Revenue Mobilization and Fiscal Commission,  Federal Ministry of Finance, Independent National Electoral Commission, Oyo State Independent Electoral Commission and Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III, the Alaafin of Oyo.

“The suit emanated based on the grievances of these plaintiffs on the creation of LCDAs in about two local governments in Oyo Town. They submitted their petitions to the LCDAs Petitions Review Committee headed by me like other aggrieved parties and they have made their presentations. Our committee has been sitting and complaints have been reviewed. However, we are surprised that the state government is taken to court over the issue they have made presentations on. They have the right to do so under that the provision of the constitution and the legality of the orders will be rigorously contested by the government.

“Meanwhile, we are going to abide by the interim order and that puts the conduct of the already scheduled February 11, 2017 local government elections on hold. The nation’s electoral body has been directed not to release the voters’ register and without this, there cannot be election. We want to reassure the citizens that election will hold as soon as we settle the court case. We urge the citizens to be law abiding and be peaceful in their endeavours,” the commissioner explained.

Responding to questions, the Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Mr. Toye Arulogun noted that it is a misrepresentation of facts for some individuals and groups to insinuate that the state government orchestrated the suit, adding that it would be unreasonable for the Oyo State Government to go to court to seek an order aimed at crippling the finances of local governments in the state at a very critical time such as this. He stressed that the order of the court had far reaching implications on the Government and the governed in the state.

Arulogun reiterated that the government has shown its readiness for the conduct of the elections by instituting OYSIEC, setting a date for elections, deploying resources to OYSIEC, printing of election materials and purchase of utility vehicles, pointing out that only a mischievous and cynical mind would doubt the government’s commitment to conduct the elections given the amount of evidence indicating the contrary.

Also, the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy  Matters, Mr. Bimbo Kolade disclosed that majority of the people of the state had embraced the new LCDAs and demonstrated support by volunteering and pledging buildings as offices and homes, furniture and other essentials towards the successful take – off of the new LCDAs.

He, however appealed to the people of the state to remain calm and assured them that government will implement the LCDAs as an actualization of the yearnings of the people.

The post Oyo govt. to contest order on LG allocations, elections. first appeared on MegaIcon Magazine.

The post Oyo govt. to contest order on LG allocations, elections. appeared first on MegaIcon Magazine.

The governor, who disclosed this at the town hall meeting held for the people of Oyo and Ogbomoso zones in Oyo Town on, also stated that the government would revoke the ownership of any unused fertile land for agriculture, and that the government would distribute the 210 hectares at Rural Community Development Centre (RCDC), Awe, Oyo Town, to farmers to boost food production in the state.

The town hall which was the third in the series of recently resuscitated stakeholders’ engagement between the government and the citizens to discuss and jointly find solutions to critical issues affecting the state had in attendance traditional rulers, community, religious and party leaders, cultural and ethnic groups, religious bodies, youths and faith based organisations, students from Secondary Schools and higher institutions, Non-Governmental Organisations, Labour leaders, politicians among others.

Governor Ajimobi alsi reiterated that there was no going back on the conduct of local government elections in the state in February 2017, noting that the government has started considering petitions received on the newly created LCDAs with a view to make necessary adjustments.

He said,  “we realized that we need to further deepen the dividends of our government and that is why we created the LCDAs. If we started from the scratch, it will take time. We know the creation is not perfect but we are ready to make necessary adjustments. We are being guided by the principles of fairness to all, we are going to follow the federal government approved map for the state and we will follow the constitution of the land in redressing the grievances from the LCDAs creation”.

Ajimobi further explained that the drop in oil revenue has turned everybody to the abandoned agriculture, stressing that his administration is constructing automated silos of international standard in Atiba to boost food storage in order to improve food security.

Continuing, the governor warned that the government would take over unused fertile farming land for use, maintaining that the state would leverage on its position as the largest producer of cassava to boost its internally generated revenue through agriculture and ensure that there is enough food for the people of the state.

“Oyo state is the largest producer of cassava in the country. We have many unused fertile land for farming. I want to appeal to our people to release these lands for those that need it for farming to boost agricultural produce in the state. We are ready to revoke any unused lands and give it to farmers for use. We are ready to also share the 210 hectares of land at RCDC Awe, Oyo Town for the use of our farmers,” the governor said.

He appealed to the entire citizens of the state to collaborate and support government’s plans and policies for reviving education in the state and consequently reiterated his assurance that the crisis in the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) would be resolved by month end and the school will be reopened.

Ajimobi appreciated the market men and women for their expression of interest to support the renewed Internal Generated Revenue (IGR) drive of the state, pledging that his administration would continue with its unprecedented infrastructural effort to open the state for more industrialization.

The governor promised that Atiba FM, a  fully digital radio station based in Atiba, and the Silo for food storage would be ready for commission this year.

In their separate reactions, the traditional rulers present at the town hall through their representative,  Oba Oparinde Stephen Femi, the Akibio of Ilora and the retired Archbishop Ayo Ladigbolu commended Governor Ajimobi for his efforts at transforming the state and his resolve to return education in the state to the path of glory.

In his remarks, Archbishop Ladigbolu said that the people of Oyo Town appreciated the governor’s gesture for citing the silo and Atiba fm in Oyo and for the ongoing dualization of the road in the town.

“We thank the governor for his achievements so far in the state, the people of Oyo Town appreciate him for the road dualization, the Silo and Atiba Fm. No governor has dualised roads in Oyo town before, Ajimobi stands out and we say thank you to him on behalf of the Alaafin of Oyo and the people of Oyo and Ogbomoso zones of the state,” he noted.

The post Ajimobi committed to Agriculture, Grassroots development. first appeared on MegaIcon Magazine.

The post Ajimobi committed to Agriculture, Grassroots development. appeared first on MegaIcon Magazine.