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Abiodun says Ogun now in project commissioning period

Published

3 years ago

September 14, 2022

Sahara Weekly

Abiodun says Ogun now in project commissioning period

…unveils 2.4km Oke Ola road in Imeko Afon LG

The Ogun State governor, Dapo Abiodun, on Wednesday, inaugurated the 2.4km Oke-Ola Road in Imeko-Afon Local Government Area, declaring that his administration has moved from the era of ground breaking to period of projects commissioning across the state

Speaking at the event witnessed by top political functionaries, party stalwarts and traditional rulers, Abiodun noted that the road is strategic to the economic development of the Ogun West Senatorial District and the state in general.

“We have gone beyond the era of ground-breaking, this commissioning is therefore a departure from the past as it is the first to be done in Yewaland in many years.

“The Paramount Ruler of Yewaland, Oba Kehinde Olugbenle always says to say all the previous administrations used to do was to come to Yewaland to do ground breaking after ground breaking, they never commissioned. And I said to Kabiyesi that by the grace of God, we are going to break that jinx and today is a historic day not just in the history of this state, but in Yewaland.

“This administration is three years and four months in the saddle, it has started that process of commissioning roads and we have started right here in Imeko-Afon LG”, he stated.

Abiodun said that the road project is another symbolic demonstration of his administration’s approach to a strategic, methodical and systemic development of Ogun State.

He noted further that the road means many things as it is a deliberate approach towards providing a smooth interconnection between the food baskets, industrial hubs and the neighbouring states.

“Ogun State remains the biggest producer of cassava in Nigeria, and one of the largest producers of maize in Nigeria. Imeko/Afon is one of the reasons we take that vantage position. This same Imeko/Afon is also the host of the Oodua Groups Investment Company Limited Cassava Cultivation and Processing Project at Imeko, and some farm settlements. Just a few metres from here is the farm settlement at Oha village”, he noted.

The governor who described the town as agricultural hub of the State, posited that the Oke Ola road would also serves an inter-state road which connects to Oyo State through Malete town, and help in improving security apparatus along the various border communities in the axis.

“We cannot forget that Imeko/Afon is also a window into the expansive corridor of West Africa, therefore, this road is multi-purpose. On one hand, it is a township road that adds to the aesthetics of Imeko town.

“On the macro economic plane, it is a boost to our agricultural and industrialisation agenda as it connects our farm settlements with the Oodua Groups facility. It is also an inter-state link and an international access road, therefore, the road further stamps the vantage position of Ogun State as truly a Gateway State”, Abiodun said.

He added that his administration is committed to making Ogun a truly investors first choice destination, not only in Nigeria, but in Africa, reiterating that his government would continue to do a lot of work on job creation, poverty alleviation and food security.

“We will continue to demonstrate our commitment in the development of partnership with our people in education, health, I
infrastructure, commerce, youth development, agriculture and other key sectors that have direct and positive impacts on our people.

“Let me call on all relevant stakeholders to continue to cooperate with us. As development partners in the Ogun State project, we will walk this path to glory and achieve the Ogun state of our collective dream”, the governor stressed.

While thanking the people of Imeko Afon LG for their support, the governor reiterated the commitment of his administration to an inclusive, equitable and fair development and distribution of amenities to all parts of the state, submitting that “any project that has any clear line of service and benefit to the people of Ogun West would be given prompt attention”.

In his welcome address, the Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Akin Akinsanya, while noting that the road was constructed on record time, said it would impact positively on the economy of the town and provide unhindered access to the neighbouring state.

The Onimeko of Imeko, Oba Benjamin Olanite, appreciated the state government for coming to the aid of the town which has over the years been neglected by previous administrations.

He said the town apart from being a spiritual town, it has agricultural potentials and called on the state government to invest more on the infrastructural needs, particularly renovation of the oldest school and the palace road in the town.

In his remarks, Professor Emeritus of History who is also an indigene of the town, Anthony Asiwaju, lauded the governor for keeping to his electioneering promises, declaring that the governor has written his name gold with the road construction.

Speaking in an interview with newsmen, a trader in the town, Mrs. Ganiyat Olatunji, expressed happiness that the road has been fixed by the present administration, saying apart from helping their business to grow, it would accelerate social development of the town.

Also, a commercial motorcycle rider, Samuel Ayorinde, said that the construction of the road would increase their income as the damage done by the bad road to their motorcycles would be greatly minimised.

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Buratai Pays Tribute to Ihejirika at 70, Hails Mentorship and Legacy of Leadership

Published

3 days ago

February 14, 2026

Sahara Weekly

Buratai Pays Tribute to Ihejirika at 70, Hails Mentorship and Legacy of Leadership

Former Chief of Army Staff and Nigeria’s immediate past Ambassador to the Republic of Benin, Lt. Gen. (Rtd) Tukur Yusuf Buratai, has paid a glowing tribute to his predecessor, Lt. Gen. OA Ihejirika, as the retired General marks his 70th birthday.

In a heartfelt message released in Abuja on Friday, Buratai described Ihejirika as not only a distinguished soldier and statesman, but also a commander, mentor, and “architect of leadership” whose influence shaped a generation of senior military officers.

Buratai recalled that his professional rise within the Nigerian Army was significantly moulded under Ihejirika’s command, citing key appointments that defined his career trajectory.

According to him, the trust reposed in him through early command responsibilities, including his first command posting at Headquarters 2 Brigade and later as Commandant of the Nigerian Army School of Infantry, laid a solid foundation for his future leadership roles.

“These opportunities were not mere appointments; they were strategic investments in leadership,” Buratai noted, adding that such exposure prepared him for higher national responsibilities.

He further acknowledged that the mentorship and professional grounding he received under Ihejirika’s leadership were instrumental in his eventual appointment as Chief of Army Staff and later as Nigeria’s Ambassador to the Republic of Benin.

Buratai praised Ihejirika’s command philosophy, describing it as professional, pragmatic, and mission-driven. He said the former Army Chief led by example, combining firm strategic direction with a clear blueprint for excellence that continues to influence military leadership practices.

“At seventy, General Ihejirika has earned the right to reflect on a legacy secured,” Buratai stated, praying for good health, peace, and enduring joy for the retired General as he enters a new decade.

He concluded by expressing profound gratitude for the leadership, mentorship, and lasting example provided by Ihejirika over the years.

The tribute was signed by Lt. Gen. Tukur Yusuf Buratai, who described himself as a grateful mentee and successor, underscoring the enduring bonds of mentorship within the Nigerian Army’s top leadership.

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Sagamu Plantation Row: Igimisoje-Anoko Family Challenges LG Claim

Published

1 week ago

February 9, 2026

Sahara Weekly

The Odumena Igimisoje-Anoko family of Orile-Oﬁn in Sagamu Local Government Area of Ogun State has strongly disputed claims by the Sagamu Local Government that a large expanse of land near the Sagamu–Ikenne Road belongs to the state government, insisting that the property remains ancestral land belonging to their forefathers.

The family’s reaction follows a public warning issued by the Chairman of Sagamu Local Government, Ogbeni Jubril Olasile Odulate, cautioning residents against purchasing or occupying portions of what he described as a “state-owned rubber plantation” located beside the Ogun State Low-Cost Housing Estate near the NYSC Orientation Camp.

In the statement, the council alleged that some individuals were illegally selling and developing the land and maintained that the property had been earmarked for the proposed New Sagamu Government Reserved Area (GRA).

However, the Akarigbo family has countered the claim, describing the land as private ancestral property and not government-owned.

Speaking on behalf of the family, Omoba Babatunde Adegboyega Igimisoje, Secretary of the Odumena Igimisoje-Anoko family, said the land forms part of Orile-Ofin, which he described as the ancestral headquarters of Remo before the creation of Sagamu town.

According to him, the area is an inheritance from their forefathers and historically belongs to the Akarigbo lineage.

“Orile-Ofin is our ancestral land and the headquarters of Remo in those days. It was during the reign of our forefathers that Sagamu was later formed and settled in 1872, while Orile-Ofin remained our village,” he said.

He explained that the specific portion currently in dispute historically belonged to Oba Odumena Igimisoje-Anoko, whom he described as the last Igimisoje-Anoko to reign as king on the land.

Reacting to the local government’s ownership claim, Adegboyega insisted that the rubber plantation was never government property.

He said the land was only temporarily acquired by the old Western Region government in 1959 for agricultural purposes.

“In 1959, the Western Region acquired the land for rubber plantation, but that did not transfer ownership to the government permanently,” he stated.

The family further claimed that the land was later returned to the original owners.

According to him, during the administration of former Governor Gbenga Daniel between 2008 and 2011, steps were taken to return the land to the family, while his successor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, allegedly revoked lingering government control and formally handed it back to the Odumena Igimisoje-Anoko family.

“It was duly returned to the rightful owners. So it is surprising to now hear that the land is being described as local government property,” he said.

He cautioned the council chairman against interfering in what he called a family land matter.

“The rubber plantation land is not government land and does not belong to the local government. The chairman should not join an issue he does not fully understand,” he added.

In the same vein, Prince Abdul Fatai, an executive member of the Anoko family, also warned the local government to stay away from the land, describing it as their forefathers’ heritage.

He appealed to the Ogun State Government and the Akarigbo of Remoland to intervene in the matter to prevent tension and ensure peace in the community.

“We are calling on the state government and the Akarigbo to step in so that this issue can be resolved peacefully. This is our inheritance, and we want justice,” he said.

Meanwhile, Sagamu Local Government had maintained that the land belongs to the Ogun State Government and warned that anyone found buying, selling, fencing or developing plots in the area would face arrest and prosecution.

The dispute has now set the stage for a possible legal and administrative battle over ownership, with both sides standing firm on their claims.

Residents say they hope authorities and traditional institutions will urgently intervene to clarify ownership and prevent further conflict or losses for unsuspecting buyers.

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Sagamu Communities Exonerate Sir Kay Oluwo, Accuse Teriba of Land Invasions, Violence

Published

1 week ago

February 9, 2026

Sahara Weekly

Residents of Ajeregun and eight other neighbouring communities in Sagamu Local Government Area of Ogun State have distanced businessman Sir Kay Oluwo from allegations of land grabbing and unrest in the area, instead accusing one Kazeem Teriba and his associates of orchestrating violent land invasions and illegal sales of community lands.

The community’s attempts to link Sir Kay Oluwo to the disturbances were false and misleading, maintaining that he only acquired lands through legitimate family transactions backed by agreements and receipts.

Speaking on behalf of Ajeregun and Oyewole Bakare villages, Mr. Akani Awokoya said Teriba and his group had been crossing into neighbouring communities to sell lands without the consent of rightful owners.

“It is not Sir Kay Oluwo that is disturbing us,” Awokoya said. “Kazeem Teriba and his boys are the ones causing the problem. They come into our communities and start selling our lands without permission.”

He explained that Sir Kay Oluwo purchased land lawfully from his family.

“I personally sold my father’s land to Sir Kay. We have agreements and receipts. It was a proper transaction,” he added.

Awokoya alleged that Teriba’s group had been linked to repeated acts of intimidation and violence in the area, creating fear among residents.

“These people operate like bandits. They invade communities and disturb the peace. We have reported them to the police and also petitioned the Akarigbo-in-Council,” he said.

Corroborating the claims, the Public Relations Officer representing the nine communities in Aroko Latawa village, Prince Raheem Shitta Adeoye, also absolved Sir Kay Oluwo of any wrongdoing.

According to him, the unrest being experienced across the communities began last year and was allegedly tied to Teriba and his associates.

“Sir Kay Oluwo is not disturbing anyone here. Kazeem Teriba and his boys are the ones causing the unrest. That is why all the nine communities are crying out to the government for help,” Adeoye said.

He noted that Oluwo only purchased land legitimately, while some individuals were laying claim to ownership of multiple villages.

Meanwhile, families in the affected communities, through their solicitors, Tawose & Tawose Chambers, have submitted a petition to the Inspector-General of Police over the alleged activities of Teriba and several others.

The petition accused the suspects of offences including aiding and abetting violence, conspiracy, unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition, assault, and conduct likely to cause a breach of public peace.

The solicitors alleged that the named individuals invaded Ajeregun village in Sagamu armed with guns, shooting sporadically and causing panic among residents.

They further claimed that during one of the incidents, a villager, Nasiru Semiu, sustained gunshot wounds and later died, while others were injured.

In a response dated January 5, 2026, the Office of the Inspector-General of Police acknowledged receipt of the petition and directed the Commissioner of Police, Ogun State Command, Eleweran, Abeokuta, to investigate the matter.

The letter, signed by CP Lateef Adio Ahmed, Principal Staff Officer to the Inspector-General of Police, confirmed that the case had been referred to the state command for appropriate action.

Community leaders said the development reinforces their call for a thorough investigation and urged the state government and security agencies to intervene to restore peace.

They maintained that Sir Kay Oluwo should not be blamed for the crisis and insisted that attention should instead focus on those allegedly responsible for the disturbances.

Meanwhile, Mr. Kazeem Teriba could not be reached for comment, as calls placed to his phone were not answered at the time of filing this report.