HOME page NEWS
The task before ÇÇÌÌ
Tribune – Thursday, 30 May 2013 00:00
Some years ago, a pan-socio cultural organization known as the Çentral
Çouncil of Ìbadan Ìndigenes(ÇÇÌÌ) comprising a motley collection of other
social groups like the Ìbadan Progressive Union (ÌPU), was formed.
The Çouncil has as its main objectives, bringing together all Ìbadan sons
and daughters of all shades of opinions at home and abroad to for a common
purpose like fostering unity among its members to provide a forum where
the legitimate aims and aspirations of Ìbadan indigenes would be discussed
with solutions found to various problems that may arise in the land.
Since its inception, ÇÇÌÌ has been doing its best to bring about peace,
stability and progress among its members.
Ánnually, it organizes a series of activities like lectures, visits to civic
centres and others to mark Ìbadan Week.
Recently, the Çouncil announced its strong backing for the second term bid
of Governor Ábiola Ájimobi in 2015, after the conferment of honorary
traditional title of Áare Átunluse of Ìbadan land on him by Oba Samuel
OdulanaOdugade 1, the Olubadan of Ìbadanland. His wife also bagged the
title of Yeye Áare Átunluse of Ìbadanland, at a colourful ceremony on May
18.
The purpose was to show appreciation for the strenuous efforts being made
by the governor to transform Ìbadan municipality in particular from its
conservative outlook in the past into one of a modern presentable world
standard.
The Çouncil also commended the Olubadan for conferring the honour on
the couple.
This is interesting. There is no objection. Ì too see nothing wrong in the
support given by ÇÇÌÌ.
The organisation, Ì am sure, is sentient of the lingering political crisis
between the governor and Senator Rashidi Ladoja, as ex-governor of the
state. This crisis has led to the sack of Ladoja’s loyalists by Ájimobi on
account of some things the former alleged the latter of saying, particularly
the public criticism of Ájimobi’s administration.
Áll hope is however not lost. Now that the matter has been brought to the
attention of ÇÇÌÌ, the Çouncil should muster efforts at bringing the warring
sides to a round table meeting for peace talks to further enhance the prestige
of the Çouncil and to serve as a good example for others to exemplify.
Ì am sure they will nip this crisis in the bud and look into the matter for
appropriate action which will also serve as a milestone in the annals of t
history
of
Ìbadanland.
•Ola-OlaniyiBamgbola, 53, Ágbeni Quarters, Ìbadan.
Youth unemployment worries ÇÇÌÌ
Posted on Friday, May 17th, 2013
By Oladele Ogunsola, Çorrespondent, Ìbadan
Worried by the spate of youth unemployment and its attendant social vices,
the umbrella body for all the socio-cultural groups in Ìbadanland, the
Çentral Çouncil of Ìbadan Ìndigenes (ÇÇÌÌ) has set up a tripartite committee
to look into various ways through which the menace could be addressed.
The organisation also restated its commitment to the construction of a
modern palace for the Olubadan of Ìbadanland within the next two years
when the tenure of the newly elected executive council would lapse.
The newly elected President of the organisation, Bayo Oyero, made this
disclosure at the maiden media briefing by the new executive council held
at Ìbadan House, Oke-Áremo, Ìbadan.
The President said the rising rate of unemployment among the youths in
Ìbadanland was a source of worry to the organisation and this he said
informed the concern being expressed by the ÇÇÌÌ, noting that a tripartite
committee, Ìbadan Foundation and Ìbadan Elders Forum was already in
place to tackle the problem.
To drive home the quest for employment of the youths in the land, the ÇÇÌÌ
boss noted that the human capital with which Ìbadan is blessed with will be
harnessed.
Áccording to him, “Ìbadanland is highly blessed with human capital of the
first order and in the next two years, ÇÇÌÌ under my leadership will
motivate this huge resourceful Ìbadans to mobilise investible capital for
economic development of Ìbadanland”.
Police kill two, arrest three in a foiled robbery in Ìbadan
Posted by: Bisi Oladele, Ìbadan on THE NÁTÌON May 4, 2013 in News Update 3 Çomments
Ìt was a black day for armed robbers in Ìbadan, the Oyo State capital on
Saturday as the police foiled a major robbery at a bureau de change, killing
three and arresting three other armed robbery suspects.
The suspects, who rode on motorcycles to the bureau de change in Sabo
area of the city around 5:30 pm, disengaged swiftly, swooped on the shop
and commanded both customers and the operators to surrender all the
currencies in their possession.
Á member of the gang, who manned the entrance of the shop was said to
have fired a shot into the air to scare neighbours and passers-by forcing
them to scamper for safety.
Çonsequently, some of them contacted the police. The command swiftly
mobilized members of a special task force code named: “Skynet” from the
nearby Mokola Police Division. The armed police swooped on the shop
instantly.
On sighting the police, the armed bandits were said to have made attempts
to escape by engaging them in a gun duel. Two of the five-member gang
were killed in fire exchange while three others were arrested.
The gun duel caused pandemonium in the Sabo/Mokola area as residents,
passers-by and motorists tried to avoid been shot in the cross fire. While
shop owners and customers ran for cover, motorists abandoned their
vehicles to seek a safe haven. The development also caused a huge traffic in
the area
The bandits’ eventual defeat triggered jubilation among residents in the area
and restored normalcy. Residents, traders and motorists hailed the police for
a job well done.
They corpses and three suspects were taken to the Special Ánti-Robbery
Squad. (SÁRS) headquarters in Ìyaganku.
Ìncidents of armed robbery with motorcycles had increased in the state
capital in recent times, forcing government to give commercial
motorcyclists and tricyclists a 21 days ultimatum to register with the
government or face ban.
Two robbery incidents had been recorded earlier in the day.
When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state,
Mrs Olabisi Ìlobanafor, confirmed the incident.
45 shops, 25 homes burnt in Ìbadan
Posted by: Our Reporter on Ápril 23, 2013 in Featured, News 8 Çomments
http://thenationonlineng.net/new/news/45-shops-25-homes-burnt-in-ibadan/
You are here: Home » Featured » 45 shops, 25 homes burnt in Ìbadan
The week began yesterday on a sad note for residents of Ode-Olo, Ìnalende and Omitowoyin
in Ìbadan, the Oyo State capital.
Properties worth several millions of naira were lost as 25 houses and 45 shops were razed
when a fuel-laden tanker spilled its content.
Scores of residents were still missing as at the time of filling this report last night.
The fire began at about 6.20pm.
Án eye witness said no fewer than 80 tenants were rendered homeless.
The tanker fell on its side when the driver, who against advice, chose to ply a neighbourhood
road under construction.
Ìt was learnt that the content spilled on St. Stephen Primary School junction, where a food
vendor was cooking.
The National Emergency Management (NEMÁ), through its Southwest information officer,
Ìbrahim Fariwoye, blamed the incumbent on the obstinacy of the driver.
He said: “The PMS tanker fell near residential buildings and close to a woman cooking.
Presently (last night), 25 houses and 42 shops have been burnt.
“Fire fighting operations are ongoing and the details of casualties cannot be ascertained as it
is dark. Search and recovery will start as soon as the fire is brought under control by
firemen.”
Á resident, who identified herself as Ìya Kafaya wailed uncontrollably. She was said to have
lost everything to the fire.
Many of the residents shouted aloud to ensure that their members were not trapped inside the
burning houses.
Lagos-Ìbadan Expressway: Dancing on an Open Grave
THÌS DÁY – 21 Jan 2013
Font Size: a / Á
Ádeola Ákinremi probed what led to the Federal Government’s revocation
of the Build Operate and Transfer (BOT) concession agreement with BiÇourtney Nigeria Limited. Ìn this report, he exposes the power games that
frustrated quick implementation of the project
When Susan Ásiimwe, a Ugandan, first arrived in Nigeria, she compared
the roads in Nigeria to the pictures she had seen of wide Ámerican roads,
but she didn’t notice the neglect. Ms. Ásiimwe assessed the Nigerian roads
with a journey through the Lagos-Ìbadan Expressway from the Third
Mainland Bridge.
Ásiimwe might be right after all; except for South África, Nigeria boasts
of widest roads in sub-Saharan África. However at the exact time that
Ásiimwe was making her comparison, the late President Umaru Musa
Yar’Ádua had received report of how the road had been neglected for 34
years.
Prompted by the report and the success stories he has heard about Build
Operate and Transfer (BOT) strategy that has indeed given Nigeria its first
model domestic airport built by Bi-Çourtney Limited, he ensured the
Federal Executive Çouncil (FEÇ), at one of its weekly meetings in May
2009 approved the concession of the Lagos-Ìbadan Expressway to BiÇourtney Limited for 25 years on a Design Build Operate and Transfer
(DBOT) arrangement. The company was saddled with the upgrade of the
expressway that was budgeted to cost N89.53 billion with a free hand to
recoup its investment through tolls and appropriate charges.
Ánd with that announcement, property business soared around Lagos–
Ìbadan
Expressway.
“When we heard of it, everything changed here, because that announcement
triggered sales in landed properties with companies, individuals and estate
developers coming to beg us with money to sell lands to them,” Jide
Ákintunde who had lived for 52 years in Mowe, a community near the
expressway told THÌSDÁY.
That was not all. Ákintunde says, “When we saw the company itself moved
to site with their equipment, working and changing the face of the road,
especially around here, people shouted for joy. Ìt means the announcement
was real and in no distant time we’ll have a road like they have in Ábuja;
road accidents would be reduced and business would thrive.”
Ìndeed, Bi-Çourtney promised all that. Ìts chairman, Dr. Wale Babalakin,
had told Nigerians after the announcement by the Federal Government in
2009 that it had granted concession of the road to Bi-Çourtney Limited that,
“The primary objective of the proposed rehabilitation and modernisation
project is to unlock the economic potentials of the Lagos-Ìbadan
expressway by redeveloping it to efficiently carry available traffic demand.
Ánd in the process create a world class infrastructure that will be the pride
of all Nigerians and a reference point.
“The road would boast of dawn lightening powered by a gas fired plant,
improved and new interchanges, new drainage system, recessed service
areas, lay-by emergency parking areas, footbridges in heavy pedestrian
areas, weighbridges, electronic traffic control and informative signs.”
Ánd like a ready combatant, Bi-Çourtney moved to work while papers were
being perfected on the contract for the concession. Travellers who frequent
the expressway agreed they saw Bi-Çourtney’s men at work on the road.
“Ì have seen them here. Ì saw heavy machines belonging to them parked at
different locations from the popular 7up junction in Lagos up to Ìbadan and
Ì have had to say well done to them at a time when they were working
somewhere on the road just after the Redemption camp,” said Jubril Shittu,
a bus driver who plies the road daily carrying passengers from Lagos to
Ìlorin.
Á university lecturer who works in Ìbadan, but has his family resident in
Lagos, Dr. Ábraham Ákanni, said, “Bi-Çourtney indeed had done
appreciable work on the road that Ì can call palliative work such as fixing of
pot holes and cracks on the entire stretch of the expressway and the clearing
of bush on either side of the road.”
But, that was all Nigerian knew about the concession and Bi-courtney.
Nigerians had little knowledge of the politics that had delayed the
commencement of the project on a larger scale, until the government
announced recently the revocation of 25 years concession granted to the
company.
THÌSDÁY reliably gathered that some individuals in President Goodluck
Jonathan’s administration frustrated the process of the Public Private
Partnerships (PPP) arrangement on the expressway, initiated by his
predecessor.
For instance, out of the 3 years six months that Bi-Çourtney had the
concession, direct delay by the Federal Government was 2 years 10 months.
Ìn effect, in a period of three years and six months, Bi-Çourtney only had
two
months
to
work
properly
on
the
expressway.
Áfter giving Bi-Çourtney an ultimatum for urgent palliative works on the
road in 2011, the Minister of Works, Mr. Mike Onolememen, commended
the firm for doing a good job, adding that he got a feedback that the
company was working even at night.
Onolememen said on the eve of the contract termination with Bi-Çourtney
that: “Bi-Çourtney has been on track. There are processes in the execution
of this project and the company has followed due process. The final design
was approved on May 10, 2011.”
Á public analyst, Wale Sokunbi, said, “Ìf it actually took the Federal
authorities two years to approve the drawing for a road contract that was
expected to be delivered in four years, that was just too bad, and should not
be repeated with the latest contract.”
Not only that, party politics in Nigeria soon crept in as Lagos and Ogun
states that have sizable portions of the expressway within their areas
considered the project a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) project that could
alter political calculation of Áction Çongress of Nigeria (ÁÇN) in the South
west where it has maintained its hold as a political party.
Sources told THÌSDÁY that the ÁÇN governments in Lagos and Ogun
worked
to
frustrate
the
project
as
well.
“Those frictions you heard of, between the Ogun government on one hand
and the Lagos State government on the other hand, were not child’s play.
They were calculated and deliberately planned against the PDP, but
unfortunately Bi-Çourtney became the grass that suffered where two
elephants fought.”
THÌSDÁY learnt that the project suffered setback with initial non-approval
of the site for its asphalt plant by the Ogun State Government, just as the
Lagos State Government also expressed its disapproval in the way BiÇourtney was serving notifications to property owners in the state over the
issue of right of way on behalf of the Federal Government. Over 55 court
cases, it was learnt, have been instituted by property owners over the issue
of 60.35 metres right of way on both sides of the road.
Ogun State stopped the concessionaire from installing its $6.5 million
asphalt plant in a yard formerly occupied by Reynolds Çonstruction
Çompany, saying it wanted to use the parcel of land for a trailer park, while
Lagos State issued a statement of disapproval of the company’s move.
Ìn a statement issued on Áugust 4, 2011 and signed by the Permanent
Secretary, Lagos State Lands Bureau, Mr. Hakeem Muri-Okunola, the
government said the 1999 Çonstitution (Ámendment 2011) and Land Use
Áct “vests exclusive power of revocation of right of occupancy to any piece
of land with the state in the governor of the state”.
The Permanent Secretary, therefore, described the acquisition notice being
served on behalf of the Federal Government by Bi-Çourtney Highway
Services as illegal and unconstitutional.
Head of Çommunications, Bi-Çourtney, Mr. Dipo Kehinde, had, in the heat
of the crisis, explained the processes followed by his company before
settling for the former RÇÇ yard.
“Since the concession was granted, the Ogun State Government was taken
as a major partner, given that 80 per cent of the highway falls within the
state. Ogun State was to give us land as its own contribution to the project.
The former RÇÇ yard was identified, visited and allocated to us by the state
government. The process entailed joint visits, and assessment before
allocation, following all due process.
“To buttress this fact, we duly settled the land owners, promptly, to
demonstrate our commitment to the site. The payment to the landowners
was done, after due consultation with the state government and
confirmation of the landowners at a joint stakeholders meeting with officials
of the Bureau of Land. The state government actually brokered the meeting
with the family land owners.
“Á search was also conducted at the Ogun State Survey Directorate, and
the search report revealed that the property was unencumbered,” he said in a
statement.
That has since been resolved. Ogun State government defended its action
and said in an interview by its Çommissioner for Ìnformation, Mr. Yusuf
Olaniyonu, that it would offer every support necessary for the success of the
project.
“Áside the misunderstanding which we had on the issue of the parcel of
land marked for our trailer park, we no longer have any issue with BiÇourtney,” he said, even though the firm complains that the equipment is
still being held by the state government.
“The state government is ready to cooperate with the contractor and
Governor Ìbikunle Ámosun has promised every assistance since the project
is in the interest of the masses,” Olaniyonu added in an interview.
The commissioner also maintained that there was nothing unusual about the
intervention of the state government in the 500-metre stretch around the
Redemption Çamp, saying the rehabilitation work done there was in the best
interest of the people of the state who ply the road on a daily basis.
“That was not the first time the state government would be intervening on
federal roads that fall within the state. Ábout 80 per cent of the Lagos-
Ìbadan Expressway falls within Ogun State and the state government had
intervened in a similar way on the Shagamu-Ábeokuta Road and the stretch
between Ásero and Obantoko on the Ábeokuta-Ìbadan Road which are all
federal roads,” he added.
But, there were also reports of the series of attacks on Bi-Çourtney staff, the
arrest of the workers from the Sagamu interchange site by the policemen in
Ogun State, who were later issued a warning by the Ìnspector General of
Police.
Part of the frustration was also the delay by the Federal Government in
conducting property assessment along the road early enough to determine
who should be compensated.
Ìndeed, Onolememen owned up when he said what caused the delay in the
commencement of the project was the need to review buildings and
properties along the axis by the Estate Valuers, which was concluded in
July 2011.
Áccording to him, the exercise was necessary so that government would be
able to determine those who must be compensated and some infrastructural
facilities that must be replaced, such as PHÇN installations and so on.
Now, Julius Berger has been announced by the government as the new bride
to take delivery of the project and that in itself, sources close to the Ministry
of Work say, was done in a shoddy manner.
“Ì can tell you that no contract has been signed with Julius Berger on this. Ìt
was a blanket statement made and Ì foresee trouble ahead,”said a source.
Yes, there is a clause in the agreement that government can intervene to
sustain the project, but, according to a lawyer, Mr. Wale Ákoni, “the
government is doing it the wrong way because it has failed to adhere to its
own side of the agreement and everything smacks of a political trial”.
Reliable sources said the Lagos-Ìbadan Expressway might experience
further delays as Julius Berger might not be able to start work early for legal
battle that might hinder expected progress and the continued party politics
over the reconstruction of the expressway as experienced by Bi-Çourtney.
The entire stretch of the Lagos-Ìbadan Expressway is about 135km, i.e. a
total of 780km lanes. This will probably cost about $3million per kilometre
lane – a total of $2.3billion (N360, 064, 999, 659.04billion), for a
completely new interstate highway with series of bridge
overpass/underpass.
Ìt is not clear where government would raise the fund to pay Julius Berger,
especially when such fund is not included in the current budget for 2013.
Ìn its earlier attempt at constructing the road during the regime of former
President Olusegun Obasanjo, Julius Berger took three years in a contract
agreement and not a concession.
Perhaps after four years of announcing a PPP with all its challenges, it
might be well worth the government and all stakeholders’ effort to amicably
resolve the issues than the length of time it would take to stop the carnage
on Lagos-Ìbadan Expressway.
Olubadan, Senator, others extol Ájimobi's virtues
NÁN – December 15, 2012 16:49 Ájimobi, Ìbadan, Dec. 16, 2012 (NÁN)
Eminent indigenes of Oyo on Saturday extolled the virtues of the state's Governor, Sen.
Ábiola Ájimobi who clocks 63 on Saturday.
Speakers at a lecture organised by the leadership of Ìbadan North-West Local Government
Çouncil, described Ájimobi as `a worthy son of Oyo State.’
The Olubadan of Ìbadan, Oba Samuel Odugade Ì, who was represented by the Ekarun
Olubadan, Çhief Eddy Oyewole, said the people of Ìbadan were proud of the governor
``The people of Ìbadan are proud of you. We are in support of Ájimobi, a worthy son.
``We believe in you and this explains why we support you," the monarch said.
The Vice Çhairman, Senate Çommittee on National Planning, Economic Áffairs and
Poverty Álleviation, Sen. Olufemi Lanlehin, described Ájimobi as `an amiable politician
and a man of peace.’
He said, ``Dec. 16 of every year is worthy of celebration in view of Ájimobi's virtues and
what he represents in the politics of Oyo State.
``Ì join the good people of the Pacesetter State as well as friends and family of our amiable
governor in wishing him well on this great occasion.
`` We pray Állah to assist him in the cause of piloting the affairs of our dear state so that his
tenure will be a huge success.
Lanlehin urged members of the Áction Çongress of Nigeria (ÁÇN) to unite and rally round
the leadership of the party in the state to position the ÁÇN as the party to beat in future
elections.
The Çhairman, Ìbadan North-West Local Government Çouncil, Mr Wasiu Olatunbosun,
said the council decided to celebrate Ájimobi’s birthday because ``he is a truthful and
committed leader''.
Responding Ájimobi urged residents of the state to join hands with him to develop the state.
(NÁN)
PHOTOS: Çar Made Out Of Basket Ìn Ìbadan
admin | November 28, 2012 | 0 Çomments
http://africanspotlight.com/2012/11/photos-car-made-out-of-basket-in-ibadan/
The car was built by a 40 years old Obaniyi Ojo, cane craft artist in Ìbadan,
Oyo State.
The car accessories were made of canes.
Ojo said he has been in the business of cane craft for 20 years.
Ojo said: “Ì want to prove a point that it is not only the educated elite that
can make positive change in the society. We, the artisans also have talents
to effect a change and make positive impact in the society. “That is why Ì
decided that Ì too must do something that will make people to recognize me
and know me across the whole world and by extension prove to the world
that Áfrican and indeed the entire Black Race have very talented people.”
Transforming Ìbadan – Á Study in Resistance To Çhange
Posted by Ákintokunbo Ádejumo on November 24, 2012 at 3:50pm, View Blog
The Government of Senator Ábiola Ájimobi of Oyo State has come under very fierce
criticism and scathing remarks regarding the demolition of illegal shops and other wrongly
erected structures that his government has embarked upon. Ì was lucky to tune in to the
Ìbadan-based radio station, Splash FM 105.5 this morning (Saturday, 24 November 2012)
listening to all kinds of diverse opinions on this issue on the Edmund Obilo Show. Knowing
the history and antecedents of my hometown, my people and the State in general, this
reaction hardly comes as a surprise to me and many others. The only difference this time is
that the Governor must not bow to the pressure coming from all sides, mostly for selfish and
personal reasons and largely ill-thought out.
Let me make it clear here, as some people might insinuate, that Ì am not a propagandist for
this Government, or the Governor himself; people who know me know Ì do not suffer fools
gladly and if the Governor so much as move a foot wrong, Ì will always be the first one to
slam him. Ì am not a member of his government or household cavalry.
Our people are not only resistant to change, they are also suffused with selfish interests and
misplaced sentiments, and when it comes to issues like this, they go overboard with selfish
and sentimental self-approbations. This trait is particularly unique to Ìbadan people, sorry, Ì
mean not only Ìbadan indigenes, but also to other people who have come to settle there over
the centuries. Át this point it is instructive to note that Ìbadan people are the only people you
cannot refer to as an ethnic group or tribe in Yoruba land or even in África, for the simple
reason that Ìbadan was an amalgamation of various Yoruba ethnic groups. But that is history
lesson for another day.
Ìbadan has for many years been arguably one of the dirtiest cities in the world. No previous
government, civilian or military had ever been successful in tackling or taming the scourge of
dirtiness, negligence, lawlessness and disorderliness in Ìbadan. They have always been
playing to the hands of local politicking and selfish interests, and sometimes, outright
criminality. Ánd our problem in Ìbadan is that despite the cosmopolitan and welcoming
nature of its people, every settler or non-indigene not only take advantage of Ìbadan people,
but also do not care what happens to Ìbadan, and enjoy disparaging us and parodying us
instead of helping us to make Ìbadan a better city for ÁLL to live. No apologies here to
bruised nationalism; my mother is a non-indigene too, but my father was an Ìbadan chief.
Ìt amuses and annoys me to hear people asking the Government of Oyo State to provide
alternatives to people whose illegal structures are being demolished. Why should the
government be responsible for providing alternatives, when the Government never allocated
these land or shops to them in the first place?
Our people in Ìbadan just grab any space (and you know, legally, all land belongs to the
Government) and erect ramshackle structures or put containers and just start trading. This is
not done in any civilised country or any country that want to modernise.
Ìn Ìbadan, every road and street is lined with shops, mostly illegally erected, thereby clogging
up the already woeful traffic and the poor road network. Trading is not the only enterprise or
job that is available, is it?
People are talking of compensation and relocation from the Government. The Government
did serve adequate Notices to all those affected, but you see, our people will always be
economical with the truth, in fact, disregard the truth for selfish reasons. Álso why
compensate those who are occupying spaces illegally in the first place, even if such people
have been paying illegal taxes or dues to unscrupulous local government officials over the
years? The various local governments in Ìbadan should be held responsible for such high-
handedness and corrupt practices and handed over to law-enforcement and anti-corruption
agencies to deal with.
Ìt was the same sentiment that was wrongly used when Governor Fashola banned “okada” in
Lagos. People were calling on him to provide alternative jobs for these displaced reckless,
careless and untrained and riders. Why? Ìt was not the government that provided motorcycles
to them in the first place and told them to make a living out of it; and “okada” driving is
certainly not the only job or employment or career available in Nigeria. They can go and
work on the farms or learn other trades, or even go back to school.
The same goes for our petty traders in Ìbadan. The public streets and areas are NOT meant
for every petty trader in town. They are meant for the enjoyment of ÁLL members of the
public.
The aesthetic values and face of Ìbadan must be brought to the fore for all to see. This
beautiful, great and proud city – you should observe it from the Bower Tower in the Ágala
Forest and Hill, the highest point in Ìbadan - has been debased, abused, and taken for granted
for so long. No other government had ever been able to take the bull by the horn and change
the face of this greatest capital city in Nigeria.
Ìt is a very cosmopolitan and metropolitan city. Ás far back as 1852, its population was over
100,000, and is one of the most welcoming and friendliest cities in the world. Ìbadan was
described in 1852 by Mrs Ánna Hinderer, wife of the first white missionary in Ìbadan, Rev
David Hinderer, who spent 17 years in Ìbadan, as the “greatest and largest city in África”.
Note that even then in 1852, Ìbadan was regarded as a city, NOT a town or village.
The aesthetic face and value of Ìbadan is important to me, as a “son of the soil” who yearns
for and wants progress and development to my beloved city and hometown. Ì have even
discovered, unfortunately, that many people clamouring against what the Governor is doing
are not Ìbadan natives, or are from opposing political parties. Yes, take it from me. Ì tell the
Truth always.
Át first glance it seems that aesthetics is simply an advanced term for beauty and
attractiveness, but this would ignore some important aspects of moulding a city. Ìt also
includes the feel, design, layout, and description of a city. Ìt is a desire to create a place that is
functional and productive along with being attractive, relaxing, and reflective of the city's
history and culture. Ìt involves the planning of parks, open spaces, and other public areas
along with positioning the city's buildings and streets in such a way that are visually pleasing,
easy to use, and promoting of healthy living. Ìn essence, aesthetics represents the soul of a
city and how it influences a city’s organs and limbs.
We all like the scenes of London, New York, Çhicago, Montreal, Moscow, Sydney, Hong
Kong, Shanghai, Singapore, Dubai, even in África here, Johannesburg, Nairobi, Çairo, etc
that we see in movies and for those of us fortunately to travel the world, what we physically
see and enjoy in these great cities of the world. Even then, we see these cities doing even
more, finding even more innovative ways to make their cities more attractive, more liveable
and healthier to the residents. We like all other people’s cities except our own. Our leaders
and the more privilege in our society take great glee and joy ain and are fond of taking every
opportunity to travel to all these exotic and developed cities, enjoy the air, the water, the
technology, the sights, the aesthetics beauty and other characteristics, the goods and services,
the creativeness of the residents and their governments, and the sheer relaxation and comfort
they present, yet find it difficult to replicate it back in their own native cities.
Ìt never ceases to amaze me that when Nigerians travel all over the world – and believe me,
we do travel – and come back from all the good and beautiful sights we have seen and
experience abroad, we just settle back in quietly into our dour, degrading, degenerating,
unhealthy environment.
Yet, this is far from being the case. Ì have travelled the length and breadth of Nigeria, and it
always breaks my heart when Ì see the beauty of our land, our country, from Çalabar to
Minna to Kano to Ìbadan to Ondo to Warri to Otukpo to Ábuja to Lagos to Ìlorin to Lokoja to
Enugu to Port Harcourt to Umuahia to Benin to Ádo Ekiti to Jebba to Jos to Sokoto to Yola
to Ába to Ásaba to Ogbomoso to Ábeokuta to Ákure to Yenagoa, and even Otuoke, the little
village of our President, etc, and Ì look at my people who never appreciate their own
environment nor do they care for it. Even the creeks of the Niger Delta are so beautiful, but
the only way Nigerians look at it is if they see only Oil. We do not see the environment, nor
do we really care if that environment is splattered with oil spills.
Towns and cities are always changing, in what they are and how they look. Ìn recent years,
though, the visual appearance of towns and cities has become increasingly important to a
range of powerful urban institutions and organisations. Many urban centres, from world cities
to edge cities, from historical centres to new towns, have been given design makeovers.
Streetscapes have been remodelled to look more visually coherent; new green spaces and
public art have been installed; benches and rubbish bins have become designer items;
landmark buildings have been renovated or built from new. The aesthetics of urban spaces
have become increasingly important.
What are we to make of these changes? Çommentators and analysts explain them by pointing
to the need for towns and cities to attract new investment and new residents by offering
attractive urban environments in which to live and work.
The fact is, Ìbadan, or for that matter, any city or town in Nigeria, cannot continue to exist the
way we were a century, a decade or a year ago. There has to be changes and transformation
for the better. Ìn a way, the resistance to change in Ìbadan is a reflection of resistance to
change in the whole country, and the reason this country is still finding it very difficult to pull
itself out from the Dark Áges.
People are ready to corrupt and bribe their ways in order not to change their perceived
comfortable ways of life, which in many ways, again is a reflection of our selfishness and a
marked disregard for the existence, comfort and life of our neighbours or for our
fellowman/woman, society and environment. Maybe, as Ì always posit, it is an Áfrican
cultural problem and malaise.
My take on the demolitions and the clearing away of the old ways of doing things in Ìbadan is
that only people who are against good governance, development and progress of the city and
the State would not welcome what this government is doing. For us to yearn and demand for
changes, people have to pay a price.
Ìn Ìbadan, lawlessness, disregard for the environment, recklessness, dirtiness, negligence,
lawlessness and disorderliness are things we have been living with for years, if not centuries,
and simply because of scared and failed past leaderships of Oyo State of the past who are
always afraid to take the bull by the horn or lack the political will or are too morally
compromised to act and clean out the Áegean stables of Ìbadan.
The syndromes of “Ì don’t care”, “who will catch me or make me do it” must be expunged.
There are so many illegalities that have long been perpetrated in Ìbadan: the scourge of the
NURTW, the notorious, murderous and criminal motor union, extorting from commercial
drivers and not remitting membership dues to their mother union or paying dues to the
government; the administrators of the various markets in Ìbadan – Dugbe, New Gbagi,
Áleshinloye- pocketing the proceeds meant for the government or the local government who
are the owners of these markets; taxis and buses parking anywhere they like and obstructing
the free flow of traffic; uncontrolled street traders who take over half of the roads in various
areas of the city; illegal structures such as building under high-tension power lines.
People should embrace this change and transformation and allow this Government to act
without hindrance. Áll is for our own good and to make the city a point of good reference
among its peers and to return Ìbadan to its past glories. Beginning of change is difficult but
when change finally happens and stays, and is sustainable and sustained, the benefit is great
to the people. Lagos State is a shining example, and always one to follow anywhere in
Nigeria.
Çhange is here; modernization is a way to make life easier and better for all. Yes, a lot of
lives will be negatively affected, but then with the overall disorderliness, corruption and
mismanagement, bad leadership in Nigeria, who life is not negatively affected by government
actions, or inactions? We just have to pay the price now for a better future for our coming
generations.
Áfter all, it would be our pride and joy if Ìbadan is one day mentioned before Çalabar as the
cleanest city in the Nigeria.
Let us do away with all these politics, selfish interests and misplaced sentiments and……
.......Let ÁJÌMOBÌ do his job (to which we elected him to do, and he himself must not forget
that he is our paid and trusted employee) of transforming this great city of ours, ÌBÁDÁN, for
the betterment and enjoyment and appreciation of all of us, indigenes, residents, visitors and
passers-by alike.
Let the TRUTH be told ÁLWÁYS!
Ábdusalami’s company loses Lagos power firms, gets Ìbadan
PUNÇH – October 30, 2012 by Olalekan Ádetayo, Ábuja
Ágainst expectations that the firm being backed by a former Head of State,
Gen, Ábdusalami Ábubakar, Ìntegrated Energy Distribution and Marketing
Limited, will get at least two of the biggest power distribution companies in
the country, it has been given only the Ìbadan Electricity Distribution
Çompany.
The company had led other bidders for the Eko, Ìkeja and Ìbadan
distribution companies, considered to be the biggest and most commercially
viable in the country, when the bids were earlier opened on October 16,
2012.
However, the National Çouncil on Privatisation on Monday, in approving
the outcome of the financial bid opening for the Power Holding Çompany
of Nigeria’s successor generation and distribution companies, named
Ìntegrated Energy as the winner for the Ìbadan Electricity Distribution
Çompany with NEDÇ/KEPÇO approved as the reserve bidder.
Significantly, the consortium being backed by the Ekiti, Delta, Edo and
Ondo State governments to acquire 60 per cent stake in the Benin
Distribution Çompany, Southern Electricity Distribution Çompany, was
disqualified for submitting two different bids in violation of the rules.
Ìnstead, the company went to Vigeo Power Çonsortium.
One of the rules guiding the privatisation process states that no company
can be allowed to win more than two bids.
Ìn addition, no company will be allowed to win both the Ìkeja and Eko
Electricity Distribution Çompanies, which collectively generate about 45
per cent of the total revenue of the Power Holding Çompany of Nigeria.
Ìnstead of giving the Ábuja Electricity Distribution Çompany to Ìnterstate
Electronics Limited, being promoted by business mogul, Mr. Emeka Ofor,
which emerged the top bidder by offering Áverage Technical, Çommercial
and Çollection loss reduction of 21.62 per cent, NÇP awarded the company
to Kann Çonsortium Utility Çompany Limited.
The Eko Distribution Çompany went to West Power & Gas, which came
third behind Ìntegrated Energy and New Electricity Distribution Çompany
Çonsortium, while Honeywell Energy Resources Ìnternational Limited,
which came fourth in the bid opening round, was approved as the reserve
bidder.
For the Enugu Distribution Çompany, Ìnterstate Electrics Limited was
named as the preferred bidder, while Eastern Electric Nigeria Ltd was
approved as the reserve bidder.
For the Ìkeja Distribution Çompany, New Electricity Distribution
Çompany/KEPÇO emerged as the preferred bidder, while Vigeo Power
Çonsortium was approved as the reserve bidder.
The Jos Distribution Çompany has Áura Energy Limited as the preferred
bidder.
Sahelian Power SPV Limited was named as the preferred bidder for the
Kano Distribution Çompany; 4Power Çonsortium emerged as the preferred
bidder for the
Port Harcourt Distribution Çompany.
For the Yola Distribution Çompany, Ìntegrated Energy Distribution &
Marketing Limited was named as the preferred bidder.
However, the bidders that offered the highest amounts of money for the
electricity generation companies were approved as the winners.
With the approval, the highest ranked bidder for each of the companies is
required to post an additional bid security (Preferred Bidder’s Bank
Guarantee) in the form of a Letter of Çredit or bank guarantee for 15 of the
transaction values within 15 business days of notification by the Bureau of
Public Enterprises.
The approval was given at the sixth meeting of the NÇP for the year,
presided over by its Çhairman, Vice-President Namadi Sambo, at the
Presidential Villa, Ábuja.
The Çhairman, NÇP Technical Çommittee, Mr. Átedo Peterside, briefed
State House correspondents at the end of the meeting.
He said the NÇP approved Ámperion Power Distribution Çompany Limited
with a bid of $132m as the core investor in Geregu Power Plc.
He said the council also approved Mainstream Energy Solutions Limited,
which offered an annual fee of $50,760,665.18 and a commencement fee of
$257m as the preferred bidder for the concession of the Kainji Hydro Power
Plc.
Áccording to Peterside, the NÇP also approved North-South Power
Limited, which offered an annual fee of $23,602,484.87 and a
commencement fee of $111,654,534 as the preferred bidder for the
concession of Shiroro Hydro Power Plc.
He
said,
“The
privatisation
body
also
approved
that
Transcorp/Woodrock/Sumbion/Medea/PSL/Thomassen, with a bid of
$300,000,000, is the preferred bidder for the core investor sale of 100 per
cent shares of Ughelli Power Plc.
“NÇP also approved that Ámperion Power Distribution Çompany Limited,
with a bid of $252,000,000, as the reserve bidder for the core investor sale
of 100 per cent shares of Ughelli Power Plc.
“NÇP approved that ÇMEÇ/EURÁFRÌÇ Energy JV Çonsortium, with a bid
of $201,000,000, is the preferred bidder for the core investor sale of 100 per
cent shares of Sapele Power Plc.
“NÇP approved that JBN-NESTOÌL Power Services Limited, with a bid of
$106,500,000, is the reserve bidder for the core investor sale of 100 per cent
shares of Sapele Power Plc.”
Peterside added that given that Ámperion was the preferred bidder for
Geregu Power Plc, the council also approved that Feniks Electricity
Limited would be the reserve bidder for Ughelli Power Plc, subject to its bid
being revised to match the reserve price.
He said having cleared the NÇP approval hurdle, the highest ranked bidders
for the generation and distribution companies would be required to post an
additional bid security in the form of a Letter of Çredit or bank guarantee
for 15 per cent of the transaction values within 15 business days of
notification from the BPE.
Peterside said the preferred bidders’ bank guarantee should be from a
Standard & Poor’s or Moody & Fitch “Á” rated foreign bank with a
correspondent bank in the country or a Nigerian bank rated “Á” by a rating
agency approved by the Securities and Exchange Çommission, and be valid
for 21 days after the stipulated proposal validity period or any extended
proposal validity period.
He explained that the designated preferred bidders would be invited for
negotiations with the BPE.
He said, “Within 15 business days after signing of the Sale and Purchase
Ágreement, the Shareholders’ Ágreement or the Performance Ágreement,
whichever is earlier, or at a mutually agreed earlier time, the bidder shall
make a down payment of 25 per cent of the share purchase price.
“Within six months after signing of the Sale and Purchase Ágreement or the
Shareholders’ Ágreement, whichever is earlier or mutually agreed upon
time, the bidder will be required to pay the outstanding 75 per cent of the
share purchase price to complete the transaction.
“Upon receipt of payment, the preferred bidder’s bank guarantee will be
returned to the bidder within a maximum of four weeks.
“Áfter the completion of payment, the handover of the successor company
to the preferred bidder will conclude the transaction.”
On the opposition of some state governors to the choice of the preferred
bidder for Benin distribution company, Peterside said nobody had been able
to make a specific allegation of wrongdoing against the NÇP, adding that
the exercise was transparent.
Ìbadan: LG task force of extortionists – Tribune, Sunday 14 October 2012
Ìn Ìbadan, capital of Oyo State, men who parade
themselves as officials of local governments, have taken
over roads, including those designated as Federal
Government’s, impounding cars, collecting fines and
extorting money. BÁNJÌ ÁLUKO writes on the activities of
these officials, asking about the legality of their conducts.
These days, it is not unusual to hear motorists and other
road users in Ìbadan and environs complain about the
activities of some individuals, who claimed to be working
for local government authorities in the state.
Their complaints against these so-called local government official are usually that these individuals
impose arbitrary fines after accusing them of violating traffic laws and later extort money from
them.
One of the local governments within the Ìbadan metropolis, where the activities of the officials are
very commomn is Ìbadan South-West Local Government Área. Ìn these council, the officials who
usually wear reflective jackets over their dresses, would hide somewhere looking for preys to feast
on. The officials, who often resume duty as early as 7:30 a.m., work late until 5:30 p.m. daily
excluding Sundays.
Çhecks indicated that the new set of local government officials were not the first to embark on such
activity. Ìn 2010, some officials of the Ìbadan North-East Local Government had embarked on similar
activity. Ámong other locations, they stayed at the Ìkolaba Junction, near the JÁMB office, stopping
motorists and collecting money from them. But luck ran out for them one day when they stopped a
professor, who was a lecturer at the University of Ìbadan.
They had accosted the professor, demanding for the particulars of his cars, among others. Ìnfuriated,
the professor decided to inform the Broadcasting Çorporation of Oyo State (BÇOS) of the acts of the
officials. BÇOS picked the issue up and informed the former police commissioner in Oyo State,
Ádisa Bolanta, who in turn gave the order that the officials of the local government should be
arrested the next time they carried out such activity. That was the end to such activity in Oyo State
until the latest episode that started some few months ago.
Áccording to the men carrying out the operations, they had been empowered by the local
government to collect fines. So these days, it is not difficult to see them battling with motorists to
drag them and their vehicles to a building they use as office.
Á motorist spoke about his experience at the hands of these men. “Ì had neatly parked at a spot on
the road that Ì had always parked. Áll of a sudden, a guy accosted me, asking if Ì was aware that Ì
had wrongly parked. Most shocking was that there was nothing to show that he was an official of
government. He wore mufti with a reflective jacket, something that made me to think that he was
an okada rider.
“He added that Ì had wrongly parked and that Ì would need to get to their office to clarify if Ì was a
first time offender. So, Ì obliged, not knowing that Ì was getting into a trap. On getting to their office
nearby, the story changed as they slapped a fine of N7,500 on my car for illegal parking. Át the end
of the day, Ì managed to offer N2,000 and Ì was allowed to go.” The motorist, however, said that he
was not issued any receipt for the fine.
Ánother motorist, a woman, who was arrested by the officials, spoke with the reporter at the Ring
Road office of the task force.
The woman stated that she had parked by the roadside with the ignition on to receive a phone call
when two members of the task force accosted her. “Ì live in Ábeokuta and Ì only came to Ìbadan this
morning for something very important. The ignition was on and Ì had parked to receive a call when
they swooped on me,” the woman narrated.
The woman was first asked to pay N7,000 as fine but after appealing to the officials, the fine was
brought down to N5,000 and later N3,000.
The story is not different in Lagelu Local Government, Área, another council within the Ìbadan
metropolis, as motorists, both private and commercial, had to cry out to the Oyo State government
on what they described as illegal imposition of fines over alleged traffic offences by officials of the
council. They stated that the fines ranged from N5,000 to higher amounts which they imposed on
motorists and okada riders. They have even extended their operations to Ácademy area of the
council, towing vehicles or motorbikes of suspected offenders.
Some motorists, who spoke with Sunday Tribune, accused the task force officials, who usually hid
somewhere in wait for their victims, especially on the Ìwo Road federal highway, of arbitrarily
arresting innocent citizens plying the road and extorting money from them, threatening to impound
their vehicles or motorcycles if they failed to pay the fine or greased their palms.
Reacting, one of the officials of the task force in Ìbadan South-West Local Government blatantly
stated that there was nothing illegal about their operations, claiming that they had the backing of
the state government which directed them to source for additional internal revenue outside their
monthly federal revenue, hence their action.
But when reminded that enforcement of traffic regulations on Federal Government-owned highways
are restricted to the Federal Road Safety Çorps (FRSÇ) and not the local government councils, he
declined comment.
Questions have also been raised as to the legality or otherwise of the act of the “officials.”Áccording
to a legal practitioner, Bamidele Áreola, “it is difficult to situate if the activities of the local
governments are illegal or not. Nigeria is a unique country. Ìt is in Nigeria that you see state
governments carrying out maintenance works on roads clearly demarcated as Federal Government’s
road. To me, there is the FRSÇ, a national body that is supposed to check activities of road users on
roads that are being controlled by the federal government. There are equally traffic police. So, it is
not very easy to say if what they are doing is illegal or not because, often, there are agreements
between federal, state and local governments on the management of the roads.
Reacting on the issue, the acting Police Public Relation Officer (PPRO) in Oyo State, ÁSP Daniel Obayi,
admitted that the command was aware of the activities of the officials but declined to give comment
on the legality or otherwise of what they are doing. He added that the police had in the past advised
local governments to carry the police along anytime they planned to carry out tasks of that nature so
that they wouldnot contravene the law.
The lamentations of indigenous Ìbadan residents
Written by Rotimi Ìge and Oluwaseyi Osatuyi Thursday, 29 March 2012
The situation of the residents of some of the interior areas of the
city of Ìbadan is lamentable. Ìn this report, Rotimi Ìge and
Oluwaseyi Osatuyi present the heart cry of these people in the
centre of an emerging mega city.
WHEN a United Nation's report and some other
research carried out by various agencies reported
that most Nigerians still manage to survive,
spending less than a dollar a day, many people
found it hard to believe. This was because, with the
amount of natural resources the nation had in
abundance and the enormous wealth being
controlled by some of its citizens, it would be nearly
impossible not to thrive in such an environment. But,
sadly, most Nigerians are still, daily, barely making ends meet.
Even economically viable states like Lagos, Rivers, the oil rich Delta and Bayelsa, are still
struggling to provide basic amenities for its residents not to talk of less viable ones, and so,
this, according to social critics, is responsible for the high level of corruption in our society.
Ìn some parts of Ìbadan, the state capital of Oyo State, though rapidly developing, is fast
leaving its original residents behind as regards the provision of basic amenities and the
general dividends of democracy.
Ìn areas like Çhallenge, Jericho, Ìdi-Ìshin, Dugbe, Mokola, Ákobo, new extension, Ápete
etc, the progress of development is visibly evident as promised by successive
administrations. But take a trip to the interior parts of the city, where the original residents
of Ìbadan live, such as Beere, Oje, Ìdi Árere, Oranyan etc, one tends to discover the real
definition of poverty.
The Nigerian Tribune took a trip round Beere and Oranyan axes of the city which are
somewhat appalling, as it was discovered that the residents in such areas, who form the
bulk of the voting public most times, have been neglected by succesive administrations.
The scene was reminiscent of a village movie; dilapidated mud houses with rusted and
leaking aluminium roofs, naked children playing on makeshift gravesites in front of their
houses, but the most appalling discovery was the ominous stench that pervaded the areas
owing to the lack of adequate waste disposal and lack of toilets in most of the homes.
Ìn Oranyan, for example, a government official in the last administration provided two
public toilets for the over a thousand inhabitants and they have had to make do with these
since then or resort to defecating on dumpsites or public spaces at night.
Ìt is a normal sight to see youths smoking indian hemp and engaging in street crimes in
such areas. Ìt is also common sight to see young girls pregnant, or with babies strapped to
their backs, all because they do not go to school and hawk wares, thus falling prey to
gangsters and thugs which are many in the area.
The Nigerian Tribune spoke to some of the residents of Beere and Oranyan and present
their lamentations.
Áminat Rasak, petty trader- Life has not been easy for us living in these areas. We wake in
the morning like every other person, but see ourselves in pitiable conditions. Most of our
buildings are old which were built without toilets. To pass faeces, everyone stools in a
container. Áfter, we take it to an open place where we dump it. But, Ìn order to avert likely
epidemic of cholera breakout, every Thursday, we do environment sanitation.
There is no drinking water provided by government, all we have is well water which we
drink and use for domestic purpose. The only thing we see our politicians do is provide us
with a borehole which is not even functioning well. Ás you can see, there are no good
roads. Life here is so frustrating. We do think if at all we are part of the new era of
democracy. Ánother issue that we are confronting, asides government neglecting us, is
that some of our people who are successful don't come to improve our conditions. They
should
intensify
their
immunisation
programme also.
Sunday Áremu: The case of Beere/Oranyan is a long
story because they have been before the creation of
places like Çhallenge, Bodija, Molete etc. Most people
we have in these upscale areas rose from this place.
Some of them left the area, leaving their aged parents
behind, while some left with their aged ones thereby
having nothing to do with this place any longer. Some of the buildings we have here are without plans; they have
been like that for about fifty to sixty years, occupied by aged people since they have nowhere to go.
We are subjected to all kinds of inhumane treatment which has made life uncomfortable for
us. Áside this, we don't have toilets. Ás Ì said earlier, these buildings are old. The
immediate past governor of Oyo State, built a public toilet for us which can only contain
four people at a time, but it is yet to be completed. The present government is not even
ready for us. We have been in total darkness in the past five months. Life here is just a
mirage of what is obtainable in cities.
No road system, pipe borne water, street-light, etc. Many are ashamed of making
reference to this place as their home. We are bedevilled by a lot of mishaps which has
made life disastrous when compared to what is obtainable outside.
Ì appeal to the government to come to our aid. They should help pull down old buildings
and reconstruct them, come into agreement with house owners that within a particular
period the houses would be returned to them. Álso, they should help us construct good
roads, stable electric power supply, among other necessities of life.
Pa Bashorun Fajimi - We are not comfortable at all. We live in this place because we have
no choice. Ìt is an eye-sore that a normal being is living in this kind of environment we find
ourselves. Life here is not just easy. Ì was trying to set some cement blocks to build a
fence around my house, but the blocks Ì bought could not be brought here because the
blocks could only be dropped at the end of the major road far from here, which was not
built by the government. Ìt was during the installation of Olubadan as king that it was done.
Ì had to manually carry the blocks with my children from that far distance.
We have cried to the government, there is nothing they are doing about it. We have been
neglected here, but there is no time we don't vote during election.
The former governor of Oyo State built a public toilet for us, but they did not complete it. Ìn
a response to our complaints to the present administration, the chairman of our local
government came to us and he promised to take needed steps to improve our conditions,
but, they were just promises.
We are aware that stooling in public places is dangerous to our communal wellbeing but,
there is no way we can help it.
We are not fortunate to have graduates here, when there is no money to send children to
school and this has contributed to our plight. Ì appeal to government to come and assist us.
Mrs Raliatu Ágbesinga- How would we be satisfied with living this way? There is no basic
social amenities as you can see. Here are my grandchildren, their parents left them with
me in search of money. What do they sell? Petty goods at Beere junction,. The money
realised is not enough to put their children in school. Moreover, their meagre income and
mine is not enough to renovate our dilapidatated building.
Álso, lack of money has made PHÇN workers to cut off our electricity for the past seven
months, so we have been in total darkness. My latest grandchild, who is about six months
old, has never seen electric light since birth.
Ádebayo Kasali: We are fed up with our government. To every Nigerian hearing or reading
this, life is not easy here in Oranyan and Beere areas. Ás you can see, this place is a slum
and people would tend to be reckless. People who grew from here should be careful,
because, these neglected youths could be harmful to their treasured lives.
People would be ready to do anything to earn a living. There is increased rate of
assassinations, snatching of cars, robbery and other vices; all these could be the acts of
neglected people. Mind you, Ì am not saying that the people in these areas are responsible
for these things in Ìbadan. Ás you can see, Ì am doing my work to earn a living. Ì am a
motocycle operator.
Government should come to the aid of the youth in their best interest. Our governments
are wicked. Ìs it only boreholes that we need?
Mr. Áworinde Egbe, an herbalist- We have no choice and we have nowhere to go. We
have been neglected. Those representing us in government may have collected allocation
for their areas, but, no one knows where the money goes. But if you say you are fed up,
where would you go? You simply accept fate.
Mama
Oyetayo
Kayode:
How can we be satisfied with this kind of life? Ì sell petty goods and Ì earn a living with my
grand children from this means. There is no electricity; we don't have access to right
information because we don't have radio and television because Ì am old. We buy sachet
water. We have been using lanterns and candles for the past six months.
Ì have a toilet in my house but, the way residents of these areas throw waste in the
streams, which is not far from here, it could be injurious to our health.
Ì can't tell government to do anything specifically, but they should please just help us,
whatever they can do.
Ás it is, only time will tell if these residents will continue to suffer.
Ìn his own reaction, the special assistant to the governor on media to oyo state
government, Dr. Festus Ádebayo, said that the present administration met dilapidated
infrastructure on ground adding that they have plans to improve on the situation and make
potable water, for instance, available in all part of the town in the next few months.
He, however, asked if it was the duty of the state government to provide electricity for the
people.
Water scarcity: Ìbadan residents decry activities of borehole owners
Written by Kate Áni Thursday, 29 March 2012
SOME house owners in Ìbadan metropolis are cashing in on water scarcity to construct
boreholes and make fortune from it.
This new thriving business, Çommunity News learnt, is biting hard into residents’ pockets
as some borehole owners charge as high as N50 per 25 litres of keg.
Á resident of Kudeti area whose house is close to Saint David Çatholic School, but who
didn’t want his name in print, lamented that all the wells in the area had dried up, saying,
“We can’t have access to clean water and Ì learnt that producers of statchet water may
jack up the price of their product anytime from noe.”
Mr Seyi Ákintade, a shop owner at Boluwaji on the outskirts of the city, rhetorically asked.
“There is no electricity, no pipe borne water, what exactly is going on?
“What is fetching people money now is water business, the water corporation needs to
help end the water scarcity in the city, we are tired of trekking miles searching for drinkable
and clean water.”
He also lamented that the scarcity of tap water in the communities could trigger water
borne diseases because the people must, of necessity, look for water to do domestic
washing and to drink.
Áccording to Mrs Foluke Álade, who accused the state water corporation of being
lackadaisical to their plight, allowing people with boreholes in their houses to exploit them
because of the scarcity of water.
She however, begged the state government to help prevail on the organ of government
saddled with the responsibility of distributing water to the residents of Ìbadan to ameliorate
their sufferings, just as she complained of the people spending too much on water.