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Gov. Abiodun: We’ll continue to provide needed infrastructure despite paucity of funds

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Gov. Abiodun

Gov. Abiodun: We’ll continue to provide needed infrastructure despite paucity of funds

…receives Ijebu monarchs’ endorsement for second term

Gov. Abiodun

 

Ogun State governor, Dapo Abiodun, has declared that his administration would continue to provide infrastructure capable of opening up and driving the economic development of the state, despite paucity of funds.

Abiodun gave this declaration, on Monday, while speaking at the inauguration of the long stretch of Igan-Ishamurin-Odo Shikiti Road, in Ago-Iwoye town, Ijebu NorthLocal Government Area of the state.

 

Gov. Abiodun

 

 

“For us in Ogun, our goal is to put our state in the league of advanced economies and make it an investors’ destination of choice. To achieve this, we know the importance of modern day and world-class infrastructure. For this reason, we will continue to rehabilitate existing infrastructure, build new ones and also put them in a position where they will not only stand the test of the time, but serve as a catalyst for our socio-economic development.

“As an administration, we have identified our focus and have taken as a key priority, the development of infrastructure that will ensure the much-desired socio-economic development of the state.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“It is the desire to achieve this objective that makes us to commit huge resources to the development of infrastructure while not neglecting other sectors competing for the scarce funds of the State Government”, the governor stated.

He noted that the Igan-Ishamurin Odo Shikiti road was designed to improve the socio-economic life of the people of Ago-Iwoye, as well as the surrounding communities, by making transportation smooth and convenient for farmers when evacuating their farm produce to urban market centres.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Abiodun observed that the road would serve as a link to Ago-Iwoye, Oru Ijebu and Ijebu-Igbo townships.

He added that the road handled by an indigenous contractors was completed and provided with streetlights, good drains, culverts and has four lay-byes on the stretch of the road to cater for the pedestrians safety.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

While maintaining that the road commissioning would serve as a form of reassurance to other parts of the state, of his administration’s desire to keep and fulfill all electoral promises, the governor said work was at an advance stage at the Illisan-Ago-Iwoye road, abandoned more than 11 years ago.

Abiodun, however, called on the residents and motorists to take ownership of the road and desist from blocking the drainage or making a bonfire on it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Please, protect this road because it is yours. By doing this, you are helping us in building our future together’, he added.

Abiodun, who stressed that his administration would not allow the people to suffer unnecessary hardship, disclosed that the failed portions at the Sango-Ota-Ijoko road were being laid with asphalt.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

He disclosed further that he had awarded a contract for the repair of failed portions along the Abeokuta- Ifo- Lagos expressway, reiterating that his administration would continue to construct or rehabilitate any economic viable road in the state, whether it belongs to the Federal Government of Ogun.

Earlier in his welcome address, the Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Ade Akinsanya, said the road which was started and completed by the present administration, would improve the economic activities of people living along the road, calling on the to good use of the pad and desist from dumping refuse on the drainage.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A former deputy governor, Senator Sefiu Adegbenga Kaka, noted that the road was in a deplorable condition for long and commended the governor for putting it in good shape with good drainage system.

Also, the contractor that executed the road project, Joseph Adegbesan, lauded the governor for believing in the indigenous contractors, noting that the gesture, apart from encouraging the local contractors, also empowered the local people who supplied materials used in constructing the road.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

While delivering the meessage of the Awujale and Paramount Ruler of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona, the Dagburewe of Idowa, Oba Yinusa Adekoya, announced the endorsement of the Governor Abiodun second term bid, by all the monarchs in Ijebuland.

“You have worked assiduously these past three years and three months and you have justified why you deserve a second term in office.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“The message is clear. You have done very well by fulfilling the promises made to us in 2019. 2023 is sure and our people will vote overwhelmingly for you”, he assured the governor.

Speaking, the Ebumawe of Ago-Iwoye, Oba Abdul-Rasak Adenugba, said ‘though I am not a politician, the people of this ancient town have come to tell me that it is Dapo Abiodun they want and not anyone else. You have restored confidence in government and for keeping the promises made to us during the electioneering campaign”.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The monarch further appreciated the governor for embarking on reconstruction work on the road linking the university town to other Ijebu and Remo towns and villages.

The Orimolusi of Ijebu Igbo, Oba Lawrence Adebajo, reaffirmed the stance of other monarchs in Ijebuland, submitting that “in the short period I have been an Oba, you have changed my perception about politicians as liars. Your words have been your bond. I can see the development you’ve brought into our towns. We love you and our people have told me that year 2023 is yours without equivocation”.

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Senator Gbenga Daniel Advocates for Unity Amid Remo State Creation Discussions

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A wave of unity and purpose has swept across Remoland as traditional rulers, political leaders, and prominent stakeholders stand firmly behind the call for the creation of Remo State, a separate and sovereign entity within the Nigerian federation.

 

This bold declaration follows decades of marginalization and the failed attempt to co-create Ijebu-Remo State. Today, Remo leaders assert that their future lies in charting a distinct course—one anchored in their shared identity, cultural heritage, and economic potential. The proposed capital of the envisioned Remo State is Sagamu.

 

At the recent press conference held at the palace of the Akarigbo of Remoland, speakers emphasized that Remo is no longer aligning with the Ijebu in the state creation struggle. While expressing goodwill towards their Ijebu counterparts, the Remo delegation stated clearly that any arrangement that attempts to subsume Remo under another identity will be firmly rejected.

 

The Remo State proposal includes the local government areas of Sagamu, Ikenne, and Remo North, along with other Remo-speaking communities. With a strong industrial base, strategic proximity to Lagos, and the ongoing development of key infrastructure such as the Ogun Agro-Cargo Airport, Remo leaders believe their region is economically and administratively capable of sustaining a state.

 

Senator Otunba Gbenga Daniel (OGD), representing Ogun East Senatorial District, praised the initiative and pledged to foster peaceful dialogue between the Remo and Ijebu people. He acknowledged the strong leadership of the Remo Committee on State Creation and called for continued engagement across all levels.

 

Elder statesmen, including Chief S.K. Onafowokan and Dr. Yemi Ogunbiyi, lent their voices to the cause, calling for strategic diplomacy while reiterating Remo’s stance on autonomy.

 

Aare Dr. Kola Oyefeso, Chairman of the Remo State Creation Committee, reiterated that the campaign is peaceful, democratic, and people-driven. He assured that Remo would not accept any merger that erodes its identity and would prefer to remain within Ogun State rather than be annexed into an unfamiliar structure.

 

  • As the movement gains momentum, calls are being made to all Remo indigenes, at home and in the diaspora, to support the cause through advocacy, representation, and resource mobilization.

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Northern Group Alleges N200 Million Bribe From Zamfara Governor Dauda Lawal to Frame Bello Matawalle

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The Concerned Northern Forum (CNF) has distanced itself from a controversial press conference held on Monday in Kaduna, where its supposed chairman, Alhaji Aliyu Muhammad Sani, accused the Minister of State for Defence and former Zamfara Governor, Bello Matawalle, of financial mismanagement.
In a sharp rebuttal on Tuesday evening, CNF Secretary, Abubakar Suleiman, described the event as a “shameful charade” allegedly sponsored with a N200 million bribe by agents of the current Zamfara Governor, Dauda Lawal.
He said the aim was to smear Matawalle and distract from the real rot within the Zamfara government.
“Governor Dauda Lawal and his people have tried everything possible to tarnish Matawalle’s image. This time, they bribed a handful of desperate individuals with N200 million to hijack our platform and stage a scripted attack. We disown that charade in its entirety,” Suleiman said.
He maintained that the CNF neither authorised nor participated in the press conference and had previously warned Aliyu Sani not to drag the Forum into political vendettas.
“No meeting was held, no mandate was given. What happened was the personal decision of a few compromised individuals. They do not speak for us,” Suleiman stated.
He alleged that Lawal’s administration had diverted over N10 billion in local government funds to sponsor this and similar smear campaigns against Matawalle and the federal government, while governance in Zamfara continued to deteriorate.
“Zamfara is on its knees. Insecurity is worsening, people are suffering, and instead of solving real problems, this administration is spending public funds on media stunts,” he said.
Suleiman further revealed that during Monday’s event in Kaduna, the group deliberately refused to stand with Aliyu Sani after learning that he had recruited non-members and thugs with offers of N200,000 each — funds allegedly traced to Dauda Lawal.
The CNF secretary also called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to resist being used as a tool in political battles, stating that if anyone deserved investigation, it was Governor Lawal.
“We challenge the EFCC to look into the billions received and mismanaged by Dauda Lawal in the past two years. His hands are not clean,” Suleiman asserted.
“If those behind this plot do not retract their falsehoods and apologise publicly, we will explore legal options to defend the integrity of this Forum and the truth.”
The CNF reaffirmed its stance on transparency, justice, and development, insisting that it will not be used to settle political scores.

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Gabonese President Honours Tony Elumelu with National Award for Championing African Development

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Gabonese President Honours Tony Elumelu with National Award for Championing African Development.

Gabonese President Honours Tony Elumelu with National Award for Championing African Development.

 

 

The President of the Republic of Gabon, His Excellency, General Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema, has conferred the nation’s honours – the Commander in the National Order of Gabonese Merit – on the Group Chairman, United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc and Founder of the Tony Elumelu Foundation, Mr. Tony Elumelu.

 

Gabonese President Honours Tony Elumelu with National Award for Championing African Development.

 

The distinguished award recognises Elumelu’s enduring contribution to Africa’s economic development, particularly his impact on youth entrepreneurship and infrastructure growth in Gabon and across the continent.

 

Speaking at the presidential palace while presenting the recognition in Libreville on Monday, Nguema, who was on Saturday sworn in as the newly elected President of the oil-rich country, praised Elumelu’s commitment to inclusive and sustainable development in Africa, adding that ‘Tony Elumelu is not only a visionary entrepreneur but also a committed friend of our nation Gabon. Through his Foundation and the UBA Group, he has consistently shown that investing in Africa is not just good business – it is the key to our shared future. Today, we honour a man whose actions continue to empower young Africans and inspire nations.”

 

While acknowledging the recognition, Elumelu, who has made several high-level visits to Gabon in recent months, expressed deep gratitude for the recognition and reaffirmed his commitment to supporting the country’s development agenda:

 

“I am truly humbled by this honour. It is a reflection not just of my personal journey, but of a shared belief – that African-led solutions, African entrepreneurs, and African institutions will shape the future of this continent. Gabon holds enormous potential, and I am proud that the Tony Elumelu Foundation and UBA Group can play a role in unlocking it,” Elumelu said.

 

“This is more than a medal – it is a reminder of what we can achieve together as Africans,” Elumelu stated adding that, “At UBA and the Tony Elumelu Foundation, we remain committed to building bridges, not just between nations, but between ambition and opportunity.”

 

The recognition comes at a crucial time for Gabon, as the country accelerates its economic recovery and prioritises inclusive growth under the new leadership.

 

Elumelu’s engagement focuses on two key pillars of Infrastructure financing which is essential for long-term economic transformation and Youth entrepreneurship, championed through the Tony Elumelu Foundation, which offers training, mentorship, and $5,000 in non-refundable seed capital to young Gabonese and African entrepreneurs each year.

 

The award also highlights the strengthening of financial partnership between Gabon and the UBA, which has a strong presence across the continent and is a key driver of financial inclusion and development.

 

Elumelu is the Founder and Chairman of Heirs Holdings, his family owned investment company committed to improving lives and transforming Africa, through long-term investments in strategic sectors of the African economy, including financial services, hospitality, power, energy, technology and healthcare.

 

He is the Chairman of pan-African financial services group, the United Bank for Africa (UBA), which operates in 20 countries across Africa, the United Kingdom, France, the UAE and is the only African bank with a commercial deposit taking presence in the United States. UBA provides corporate, commercial, SME and consumer banking services to more than 35 million customers globally. He also chairs Nigeria’s largest quoted conglomerate, Transcorp whose subsidiaries include Transcorp Power, one of the leading producers of electricity in Nigeria and Transcorp Hotels Plc, Nigeria’s foremost hospitality brand.

 

Tony is the most prominent champion of entrepreneurship in Africa. In 2010, he created The Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF), the leading philanthropy, empowering a new generation of African entrepreneurs, catalysing economic growth, driving poverty eradication and driving job creation across all 54 African countries. Since inception, the Foundation’s flagship programme has identified and catalysed 18,500 entrepreneurs and created a digital ecosystem of over one million Africans, as part of a ten-year US$100m commitment to fund, mentor and train young Africans.

 

Tony’s businesses and the Foundation are inspired by his economic philosophy of Africapitalism, which positions the private sector, and most importantly entrepreneurs, as the catalyst for the social and economic development of the African continent.

 

In 2020, in recognition of his business leadership and economic empowerment of young African entrepreneurs, Tony was named in the TIME100 Most Influential People in the World, and recognised with Belgium’s oldest royal order.

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