Fayose To Hold Economic Summit

Performing Governor of Ekiti State, Peter Ayodele Fayose has said the state will soon hold an Economic Summit during which stakeholders will offer suggestions on how the state can get out of economic recession and how its resources will be managed.

He said the summit has become necessary in view of the huge debt burden inherited by his administration and the dwindling statutory allocations from Abuja.

He stated this in Oye-Ekiti during a Village Square Meeting with people and leaders of communities in Ekiti North Senatorial District.

In a statement on Wednesday by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Idowu Adelusi, the summit would hold after the resolution of the ongoing industrial action by workers in the state.

According to the governor, participants in the summit would be drawn from all the sectors cutting across organised labour, various trade groups, politicians, academicians because the money coming to the state and the money generated by it is meant for all Ekiti people not only a particular group.

“During the summit, everybody will have the opportunity to bring ideas on how to navigate the pool of huge debts the previous administration has put the state and what to do with whatever we realise as income or statutory allocations. This is necessary because whatever we have is for all Ekiti people.

“We are sensitizing the people of the state on our financial situation and the realities we need to face. The strike embarked upon by workers is uncalled for. They are aware of what comes to the state‎ on monthly basis. A committee, of which labour leaders are members, shares the monthly allocation that comes to the state. There is nothing hidden from them.

“It is not that we have not been meeting with the workers to resolve the matter. Government team have met them seven times. ‎Veteran labour leaders have met them four times. Traditional rulers have also met them a couple of times on the same issue.

“If the strike has no political undertone, why are the workers behaving as if they don’t know the facts on ground? Some states are even owing more than Ekiti and workers there are still on their beats. I plead with them to know that we have no other state than Ekiti and we must protect her interest.

“Money that came for local governments is available for the payment of workers salaries but because they are on strike that can’t be processed yet. Let them call off the strike for us to chart a way forward,” he said.

Responding to a question that he ought to ‎have opposed the screening of former Governor Kayode Fayemi as a minister based on the huge debts he left behind, Fayose said he did not need to play politics of bitterness against anybody, adding that posterity would judge all.

In his contributions, the Oloye of Oye-Ekiti, Oba Michael Ademolaju, said the two parties must come to the round table and dialogue to resolve the matter.

He noted that the state was losing revenue internally as a result of the strike and that it would have negative effects on the economy of the state.

The meeting had in attendance people from Ikole‎, Oye, Moba, Ilejeme and Ido/Osi local government areas of the state.

Packaged by Temitope Eluyefa

MAHMOOD AHMADU NOT INVOLVE IN MONEY LAUNDERING ALLEGATION -FRIENDS

Allegations of money laundering and other related matters alleged by a newspaper report against Mahmood Ahmadu has been described as malicious, fictitious and a filth meant for the garbage by his friends and associate.

Mahmood Ahmad who was recently honoured with a meritorious and distinguished award by the British Government was described as an innocent man with humility who goes about his personal business.

Against a newspaper report stating Mahmood as a money launderer came the reaction which gave the writer the freedom to present an evidence to prove Mahmood was indeed charged for money laundering and ‘wanted’ in the United Kingdom as specified.

Speaking, Wole Arisekola who is the chairman of the Association of Online Media Practitioners (AMPON) described the report as figment of lies from the pit of hell against the person of Mahmood Ahmad and intent of damaging the hard- earned reputation of the gentleman.

Arisekola however called for caution in the investigative journalism practice and advised for thorough professionalism in daily reporting

UNITED NATIONS POPULATION FUND HOSTS OONI IN NEW YORK

His Imperial Majesty Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi(Ojaja II) in company
of his queen Olori  Wuraola Ogunwusi(Yeyelua) on Monday paid a
courtesy visit to the office the United Nations Population Fund(UNFPA)
at New York on America received by the Executive Director of the fund
Professor Babatunde Osotimehin.

Ooni Ogunwusi described the visit a very important one especially as
the very important arm of United Nations is head by a Nigerian from
Yorubaland who deserves to be celebrated. He prayed for him and
charged him to use his expected office to assist the continent of
Africa and solicited his support and that of United Nations for his
Youth Development and Widows empowerment programs.

In his speech, Professor Osotimehin thanked His Majesy for the royal
visit which will remain indelible in his mind for the rest of his
life. He thus promised to reciprocate the honour by not only
supporting kabiyesi's developmental agenda with his office UNFPA but
also mobilize the entire United Nations for him.

On the Arole Oodua's entourage are his sisters Folasade Fadairo  ,
Adesola Olojede Ogunwusi Daodu.
and husband Mr Akin Daodu.The traditional rulers include the Orangun
of Ila HRM Oba Wahab Adedotun(Bibiire 1), HRM Timi of Ede HRM Oba
Munirudeen Adesola Laminisa 1, Ajero of Ijero Oba Adewole Joseph,
Olubaka of Oka-Akoko Oba Yusuf Adeleye, HRM Obama Adedapo Aderemi the
Alayemore of Ido-Osun, HRM Obama Olufon of Ifon Oba Al-Moroof
Magbagbeola, HRM Oba Elerinmon of Erinmo Oba Ajayi Micheal, HRM Oba
Onigbaye of Igbaye Oba Joseph Morontoye, HRM Oba Alaagba of Aagba Oba
Ogunwole Joseph, Alara of Ara Oodaye, Adagba of Iyanfoworogi. The
kingmakers represented by HRH Oba Saka Olawusi the Obaloran of Ilode,
Highchiefs Adekola Adeyeye Jaaran of Ife, Highchief Akinropo Zaccheus
Waasin of Ife and Jimo Awe , Arode of Ife while Obadio of Ife, Chief
Ifarotimi Faloba, Obalesun of Ife Chief O.O. Dada, Lokore of Ife
Adegbolabo Agun, and Eredumi of Ife Chief Omiwenu Odeyele.

DOS Clothing Store Hosts Fab Fashionistas To Cocktails & Shopping With Pop-Up In Accra

It was a gathering of stylish women and happy shoppers as Nigerian premium womenswear brand, DOS Clothing Store held a Pop-Up event at the Lionheart Event Center in Accra, Ghana on Sunday, 29th May, 2016.

DOS Clothing Store is known for its trendy, edgy and modern pieces.
The fashion brand which recently launched a website where pieces can be bought from and directly delivered to your door step, will be unveiling its 2016 Summer Collection in Lagos very soon with some interesting campaigns lined up… stay tuned! However, stylish guests in the city of Accra in Ghana were first treated to a fab day of cocktails, nibbles and shopping.

NFF confirms late Coach Shuaibu Amodu' salaries were being owed

Late Shuaibu Amodu's former media aide, Idah Peterside, took to twitter days ago to reveal that the Nigeria Football Federation was owning the former Super Eagles coach and NFF technical director, salaries for about seven '7' months. Peterside stressed the need for the government to look after its own, saying that those who have served Nigeria deserve double honour.

NFF has now confirmed they were indeed owning the Late Amodu, but claim it was just for two months. According to NFF Gen. Sec, Mohammed Sanusi, the Federation is owing late Coach Shuaibu Amodu salaries for two (2) months and all monies due will be paid to his family.

‘Abba Moro Ignored Due Process In Fatal Immigration Recruitment’ -witness

David Shiafu Parradang, a former Comptroller-General of the Nigerian Immigration Service has revealed that former Minister of Interior, Abba Moro, broke every rule of recruitment into the Immigration Service in the unfortunate March 15, 2014 recruitment exercise.

Parrandang, on Friday disclosed that though he was the head of the immigration service at that time, he was not officially informed of the recruitment exercise that turned tragic and resulted in the death of 15 applicants.

Parrandang, who was testifying as first Prosecution Witness, against Abba Moro and three others in their roles in the recruitment exercise, said apart from not being officially informed of the exercise, he only got to know about it through a newspaper advertorial.
The former Comptroller General also told the court that the Ministry of Interior, headed then by Moro, did not follow any procedure in the recruitment excercise.

“As regard to procedure, we have been holding many exercises in the past, first we will collect applications, screen, shortlist and then set up a date for examination of candidates in their states of origin. After that we then mark papers and qualified candidates invited for physical screening. This is to see whether candidates have height and other requirements to enter paramilitary service. Then after that they will be subjected to physical exercise like standing for hours and other rigours of the job.

But all these were not followed in the 2014 exercise”, he said.

He continued: “With implication of funds, we said when the Minister announced the date of the recruitment, we told him we were not ready financially. We had no money to fund the exercise.

“We then communicated this to the subcommittee on recruitment, and suggested whether the consultant that did the online recruitment (fourth defendant), that was engaged by the Ministry can fund the exercise. Based on that, the subcommittee wrote a letter to the company that we did not have budget and asked if money collected by tne consultant will be used to fund the excersise.

“I was told by the company that it’s not in the agreement it signed with the Ministry and the money (N1,000 paid by each applicant) was for online services only and the company was not required to fund the recruitment.

“We came back to position zero and we decided that it should be brought to the knowledge of the Minister, whether he could convince the company to fund the exercise.

“The subcommittee submitted the report, thereafter we waited for a reply, there was no response until the 14th of March, a day to the exercise. I got a letter, written on the 13th March, that arrangements have been concluded in respect of the recruitment on March 15 and that we should inform states accordingly.

“I thereafter called the Secretary to the board for money for my officers. He asked me to tell them to forward their account numbers to him”, the former CG said.

However, the coordinators in each zone later called to tell him, that they got N300, 000 each, which they complained it will not be enough.

He said when he asked the Secretary to the board where the money came from he was told it came from the consultant.

But when he protested that the money was not enough for logistics like hiring of venue, ambulance to provide first aid, he was told the exercise must go ahead.

Parradang also stated before the court that “not too long after the exercise started, I started getting calls that they were overwhelmed with the number of applicants, and I advised them to seek help from sister security agencies and keep me informed of further happening.

“Then on 16, while in Jos, I started receiving calls, SMS of the happenings and I went back to Abuja immediately to coordinate. I called them and asked them to back their complaints up with writing report. At the end we had 15 deaths and 165 injured, according to report by DSS”, Parrandang stated.

Speaking on the three slots given to the deceaseds’ siblings and those injured, which the then President Goodluck Jonathan openly gave, the witness said it was later overruled by the board, that said it was illegal.

“A year later, the President called us and those injured and siblings of those who died, three slots were openly given to each of them. Immediately after that, the President set up a presidential committee for another recruitment exercise but the three slots to those earlier given were not part of this fresh recruitment.

“The letters earlier given by the President were withdrawn, the Ministry said it was an illegal recruitment”, he concluded.

The trial Judge Justice Nnamdi Dimgba later adjourned till July 1 for cross examination of the witness.

Moro and three others were accused of defrauding 675, 675 graduate applicants of about N675,675,000, having been made to pay N1000 each as processing fees for 5,000 (five thousand) job openings.

The four defendants were also accused of breaching the Public Procurement Act, No. 65 of 2007 in the award of the contract for the organisation of the recruitment test to Drexel Tech Nigeria Ltd.
The other programs lined up to up mark the Arole Oodua's historic visit to the US include a grand reception at Museum of Contemporary African Diasporan Art (MoCADA) New York on June 13th (Today), Symposium at Howard University, Washington DC on 15th June, Oduduwa Economic Development/Transformation Leadership Summit at Gaylord Hotels, Maryland on 16th June and will pay a business visit to HERSEY Chocolate factory for bilateral talks with the American biggest Chocolate company view to perfecting the markets for the newly unveiled cocoa plantation in Ife kingdom.

The visit will be climaxed by the annual convention of Egbe Omo Yoruba in Dallas with a royal dinner organized by the Ajilesoros at Huston Texas on 25th June 2016.

OONI OF IFE TO RECEIVE AMERICA WHITE HOUSE AWARD OF PEACE IN WASHIGNTON; VISTS BIGGEST CHOCOLATE FACTORY IN AMERICA FOR BILATERAL TALKS

His Imperial Majesty Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi(Ojaja II) the Ooni of Ife on Thursday arrived the United States of America accompanied by his beautiful queen Olori Wuraola Ogunwusi(Yeyelua) and entourage of about 80 people to include prominent Yoruba  monarchs like the Orangun of Ila HRM Oba Wahab Adedotun(Bibiire 1), HRM Timi of Ede HRM Oba Munirudeen Adesola Laminisa 1, Ajero of Ijero Oba Adewole Joseph, Olubaka of Oka-Akoko Oba Yusuf Adeleye.

In a release signed from United States of America by Ooni's director of media and publi affiars, Comerade Moses Olafare, saying, accompanying the AROLE OODUA is HRM Obama Adedapo Aderemi the Alayemore of Ido-Osun, HRM Obama Olufon of Ifon Oba Al-Moroof Magbagbeola, HRM Oba Elerinmon of Erinmo Oba Ajayi Micheal, HRM Oba Onigbaye of Igbaye Oba Joseph Morontoye, HRM Oba Alaagba of Aagba Oba Ogunwole Joseph, Alara of Ara Oodaye, Adagba of Iyanfoworogi. The kingmakers represented by HRH Oba Saka Olawusi the Obaloran of Ilode, Highchiefs Adekola Adeyeye Jaaran of Ife, Highchief Akinropo Zaccheus Waasin of Ife and Jimo Awe , Arode of Ife while Obadio of Ife, Chief Ifarotimi Faloba, Obalesun of Ife Chief O.O. Dada, Lokore of Ife Adegbolabo Agun, and Eredumi of Ife Chief Omiwenu Odeyele represented the chief priests.

"Ooni Ogunwusi is in the U.S. on a two-week visit to attend the 2016 annual Odunde Festival believed to be largest gathering of the blacks in America holding  in the of city of Philadelphia on Sunday 12th 2016 and will be hosted at the White House in Wahington where he will receives the white house Ambassador of Peace Award on 22nd June". He said.

Olafare also revealed that, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi will also on Friday be a guest at the United Nations Population Fund Building in New York, visit the African burial ground Manhattan NY where over 4 African slaves were buried alive in early 18th century, he will honoured with the presentation of the key to the historical city of  Newark and be hosted to Colombia University town hall meeting at Lerner Hall, Broadway NY.