Chairman of the Southwest Governors’ Forum and Ondo State Governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu has described the passing of the Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Saliu Akanmu Adetunji, Aje Ogungunniso 1, as another tragedy in Yoruba land.
While describing the death of the revered monarch as a rude shock, Akeredolu said it came shortly after the demise of Soun of Ogbomoso, Oba Jimoh Oyewumi, which he said was a big blow dealt on the traditional stool in Yoruba land

Oba Adetunji, who was the 41st Olubadan, had in the early hours of Sunday given up the ghost at the University College Hospital, UCH, in Ibadan, Oyo State.
Akeredolu in a condolence message issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Richard Olatunde on Sunday, said despite the Olubadan’s old age, he was a valuable asset to the people of Ibadan and the entire Yoruba race.

While condoling with the Oyo State Government and indigenes of Ibadan, the governor emphasized that the late monarch did his best for the development and growth of Ibadan land.

Stressing that the monarch’s legacies will speak for him, the Governor maintained that Oba Adetunji had gone to be with his ancestors.

The Governor added that the monarch, who displayed royalty with a difference while he was alive, will be remembered for his firm stands, principles and love for his people.

The Transparency and Accountability Group (TAG), a non-political group committed to the promotion of tenets of probity and accountability in governance, has berated the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) over what we believe to be the Commission’s intentional lackadaisical handling of an issue of urgent public importance that TAG tabled before it.

The issue in contention – Process of Award of Contract for the Construction of the Olaiya Flyover bridge – was brought to the attention of the ICPC by our group through a petition dated 22nd February, 2021.

In the petition, we had accused the Osun State Government of violating the State’s procurement laws in awarding the said contract. Citing several provisions of the State’s Procurement Act, TAG had prayed ICPC to halt the process of contract, until the parties involved satisfied the provisions of the Law.

TAG, having received a letter of invitation from the ICPC to come forward and defend our petition, is accusing the Commission of intentionally stalling the process of probity, having waited more than 6 months to act on a petition of the nature we submitted, the delay which has allowed the Osun State government proceed with the project, now at the brink of completion.

Our letter to the ICPC reads:

“We are in receipt of your letter of invitation dated yesterday the 22nd day of September, 2021, by which we are requested to attend an interview session at your Commission’s office in Osogbo today the 23rd day of September, 2021 in respect of a petition we submitted as far back as seven months ago, precisely on the 22nd day of February, 2021.”

“It is recalled that our petition was prompted by the Group’s concern for the management of the Osun commonwealth as well as the safety of the citizens’ lives. It is our desire to see to the enthronement of a decent society wherein public officials would be prudent and responsible enough to adhere to laid down rules in their management of the people’s resources. And, by extension, we believe that if laid down procedures of doing things are adhered to, the possibility of the resultant government decisions (including public infrastructures) constituting threats to the citizens’ welfare and lives would be minimized if not eliminated.”

“When we smelt foul play in the procedures leading to the Osun State Government’s award of contract for construction of the “Olaiya Flyover” in Osogbo, we drew the government’s attention to same, in the hope that the lawfully needful would be done. But, our concern and words of caution were treated with disdain. And, believing in the integrity of your Commission, we ran to you with the same complaints, in the belief that the government’s decision to be lawless in its conception and execution of the said flyover would be checked with the instrumentality of your Commission. However, it seriously beats our imagination and detracts a lot from the respect we had for your Commission that it took her good seven months before it could get back to us on this weighty matter, when the project complained about (which borders seriously on the safety of all of us) has neared completion, and evidently irreversible!”

“It was our belief that your Commission was a serious one, and that she would attend to the petition with all the promptness and seriousness it deserved (even if our complaints were perceived to be vacuous on their face). However, disappointing was the Commission’s attitude to it. But, note Sir, that posterity will have something to say about all of us as to how good or bad this country is, and the role we all individually and or collectively played in what becomes of her. It is pertinent to also state that it is considered pointless honouring your invitation, as we no longer have any confidence in your Commission’s very belated intervention.”

“Notwithstanding our disappointment, and moreso because of our disappointment, take notice Sir, that your Commission shall form one of those departments of government which we will henceforth beam our searchlight upon. This is because, as long as we remain stakeholders in the Nigerian project, with an avowed commitment to seeing that she becomes great again, we will not fold our arms while some agencies that are better scrapped for inefficiency continue to draw their sustenance from the dwindling commonwealth.”

TAG shall remain committed to the core tenets of accountability and probity in governance, as we set out to do from inception.

Signed:
Com. Ayo Ologun
Spokesperson, TAG

Super Falcons defender Osinachi Ohale has joined newly promoted Primera Iberdrola side Deportivo Alavés Gloriosas on a two-year deal.

The Falcons defensive stalwart, who spent the last six months with Madrid Ladies, was unveiled by the club on their website and on their social media handles on Wednesday.

“Deportivo Alavés and Osinachi Ohale have reached an agreement whereby the Nigerian defender becomes a new Albiazul player for the next two seasons. Ohale stands out for her physical power. In addition, she has great strength in defence, being an expeditious player on the court and with the ball out in the first meters of the field,” the club said.

The highly experienced defender has also played in Sweden, Italy, USA and Spain

In a short video posted on Instagram by the club, Ohale says she’s hoping to hit the ground running.

“I’m really looking forward to starting this new journey with you all. I am super excited and I look forward to great achievements together,” Ohale said.