In the wake of the terrorists attack on Owo, Ondo state on June 5, 2022, I asked questions around to try and establish the likely reasons for the bestial and dastardly attack. One explanation was that the terrorists appeared to have a grouse with Catholics – whatever the grouse! Previous as well as subsequent events of the number of Catholic priests killed by terrorists all over the country may justify the need to further explore this explanation. Another reason given was that it was a subtle declaration of war on the Igbo outside of their insurgency-ravaged enclave, since it is assumed that the majority of Catholics in the country are of Igbo extraction. Still another reason given was that it was to punish the Ondo State Gov. Oluwarotimi  Odunayo Akeredolu for his strident call for the presidency to rotate to the South; for his vocal support for the establishment of the South-west security initiative codenamed Amotekun; for banning open grazing of cattle and for his quit order on Fulani herdsmen to vacate Ondo state forests. In order words, it was the declaration of war on Owo because the governor hails from the town. It was a two-edged sword meant to embarrass as well as punish Akeredolu for his so-called anti-Fulani or anti-North stance. It was also a stern warning to Akeredolu to hands off Fulani and or Northern matters or else…

Good to note that Akeredolu now has listening ears – or so it seems! Let’s then wait and see how he reacts to this!

Another school of thought championed by a knowledgeable leader of thought in the town was that in his seven years as governor, Akeredolu had alienated the traditional security agencies such as the police, army, civil defence, etc by denying them support – financial and logistics. Therefore, those ones grudgingly perform their security jobs comme ci, comme ca (so-so; neither good nor bad), as the French will say, or “how for do”, as my Grandma would say. I have said it before and it bears repeating here: that if I were in Akeredolu’s shoes, I would act similarly. The Federal Government that has responsibility for those security agencies should fund them or disband them and allow the states to come up with their own security architecture. I cannot fund an organisation only for someone else to control and give them orders, most times against the interests of the financier. Is it not said that he who pays the piper dictates the tune? Why should I pay the piper only for someone else to dictate the tunes – and most of the time to my grief? I think the FG has continued with this “monkey dey work, baboon dey chop” system because the states – corrupt, ineffectual, ineffective, spineless, cowardly and lacking in ideas – have allowed it.

So, I support that states should not fund the FG-controlled security agencies if the FG will not relinquish or at least relax its control over them: But the states will have to contend with the blackmail that comes with that, which, I understand, was the case in Ondo state. The FG-controlled security agencies were said to usually grumble that they had no vehicles; that they had no funds for logistics; no fuel; no allowance; no-this, no-that! I am sure you know that this is a corrupt country through and through. I am also sure you know that professionalism deserted these shores a long time ago! So, when Akeredolu set up Amotekun, it immediately became a sore point not only for the Fulani-dominated and Fulani-controlled FG but also for the security agencies in Ondo state. I was told they would taunt the people who run to them for help to go to Amotekun! As if they were not being paid salaries by the government to discharge those same responsibilities?

But what is worth doing at all is worth doing well. When he set up Amotekun, Akeredolu should have understood that he had to make it function effectively by having the right mix of numbers as well as training, equipment and other logistics. Political Amotekun, however, was what Akeredolu contented himself with, which could not get the job done. And with the aggrieved FG-controlled security agencies nursing deep-seated grievances, Ondo state’s flanks were left unprotected, which was one of the reasons the terrorists had a field day and strolled away thereafter, unhindered, unmolested, unchallenged, and unrestrained. If they say they have now arrested some or all of the terrorists, where are they and when will they have their day in court? Or were the news of the arrest merely political statements meant to deceive the unwary or give the people cold comfort… until the rage next time?

Last week, 15th July to be specific, there were news reports that Akeredolu donated 50 patrol vehicles to security agencies in Ondo state – Police, Army, Navy, Civil Defence, DSS, and Amotekun “as part of the commitment of his administration to further strengthen the security of lives and property of the people in the state.” What do we call this: Succumbing to blackmail; medicine after death or getting wiser after the act? Grandma, were she alive, would have described Akeredolu as the proverbial child who threw the knife away after it had lacerated his hand! But better late than never! Were Akeredolu to be someone who listens to advice, he would have followed this path a long time ago and probably… I am sure you know what I mean!

Akeredolu is not just the wisest fella in Ondo state; he is the only wise man in the entire state! But since it now seems he has started listening to advice – or succumbing to blackmail, whichever! – let us try him with another burning issue in his state, which hangs the fate of many of the State’s long-suffering teachers in the balance. Someone forwarded it to me and I reproduce it here with some editing. Addressed to HE Gov. Akeredolu, it was written by one Bukola Adeyemi Oyeniyi (Ph. D), an Associate Professor, and it complained about the Ondo State Government’s tardiness in paying salaries and pensions as well as a new policy on the promotion of teachers in the state.

“Per the case of teachers, I was also informed that the state, under your direction, now mandated that any teacher who is seeking promotion from one level to another must present evidence of having completed a Master’s Degree in Education. As I understood it, following intervention, especially by the Academic Staff Union of Secondary Schools (ASUSS), it has also been decided that in lieu of a master’s degree, teachers in the state can attend mandatory six-month training at the Public Service Training Institute (PSTI) in Ilara-Mokin.

“The PSTI training program, which is slated to start in July, shall cost each teacher one hundred and thirty thousand naira. The breakdown is as follows: 10,000 naira as cost of Application Form; 100, 000 naira (payable in two instalments) as school fees; and 20,000 naira as project fee. What certificate will PSI issue these teachers, and can such certificates be used outside Ondo State? What about its curriculum? Is the program the equivalent of a master’s degree in education?

“As much as I believe in personnel training and retraining as a key element in nation-building, I wonder where you expect these teachers to get money to fund either a M. Ed or PSI training program. If this is about revamping education in the state, why not make the training free? As a former NBA President and a lawyer with many years of experience, I do not need to remind you that not paying salary as at when due is a breach of contract. It is called wage theft. Wage theft – the denial of salaries and wages or employee benefits – can be conducted in different ways. Notable examples include not paying salaries and wages as at when due, not paying overtime, making illegal deductions from workers’ salaries and wages, violating minimum wage laws, misclassification of employees as contractors, not paying annual leave or holiday entitlements, or simply not paying an employee at all.

“Lawyers globally are seen as purveyors of justice, beacons of hope, and hope of the poor. Perpetrating wage theft not only casts your government in an opaque light, it also shows that you are not in any way different from others that you have criticized over the years… No one should decry the parlous state of our education when teachers are paid only one month in six months! Every day, doctors and nurses from Nigeria bail out to Europe, the Gulf States and North America where their skills and expertise are valued and are adequately rewarded. Non-payment of salaries coupled with poor working environment is the bane of our hospitals under your watch. This is sad.

“There was a time when hospitals in Ondo State were among the best in Nigeria. The recent terror attack in Owo exposed how sad things have become in our hospitals since you took over the reins of power. Nurses and doctors were not enough to cater for the injured. Blood was in short supply and when Nigerians were ready to donate blood to victims, there were few to no nurses to attend to them! Sir, this is on you. It stops right at your table.

“Is it that office-holding has sapped you of any milk of human kindness or how do you explain the imposition of new laws/directives on hapless and helpless teachers that have not been paid six months salaries? Rather than forcing them to cough out 130,000 naira to attend a training program at the Public Service Training Institute (PSTI) at Ilara-Mokin, why not make such training free if it is truly aimed at revamping the educational sector through training? While there is no harm in revamping our educational system by mandatory train-the-trainers’ programs, it is simply callous and irresponsible to expect people not paid wages to cough out a dime to attain either a master’s degree or this God-knows-what PSI training.

“As a lawyer, I expect that you should pay due regard to the laws and guidelines that were operational as at the time of these teachers’ appointment. Is there any modification to the guidelines to make this new directive legal? Even if there have been modifications, standard practice is that the laws or directives operational as at the time of an appointment serve the purpose of such an appointment. Since laws don’t have retroactive application and effect(s), I think imposing new directives guiding promotion is, in itself, a breach. The intent behind the new directives notwithstanding, you are changing the goalpost in the middle of a game! I think, as a lawyer, you should not be proud of this…

But what is worth doing at all is worth doing well. When he set up Amotekun, Akeredolu should have understood that he had to make it function effectively by having the right mix of numbers as well as training, equipment and other logistics.

“So, I suggest that you put an immediate stop to the idea that tutors going from GL 15 to 16 this year will not be promoted not until after the completion of the PSI course or presentation of their M. Ed. The same applies to the idea that beginning from next year, “There shall no longer be automatic promotion again from GL 13 upward, unless the certificate from PSTI, Ilara-Mokin or M. Ed is presented… He who comes to equity must come with clean hands.”

Good to note that Akeredolu now has listening ears – or so it seems! Let’s then wait and see how he reacts to this!

*Bolawole (turnpot@gmail.com / 0705 263 1058),  former Editor of PUNCH newspapers, Chairman of the Editorial Board and Deputy Editor-in-Chief, BOLAWOLE was also Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief of The Westerner newsmagazine. He writes the ON THE LORD’S DAY column in the Sunday Tribune and the TREASURES column in the New Telegraph newspaper. He is also a public affairs analyst on radio and television.

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In the majority judgment delivered by Justice Emmanuel Agim, four of the seven-member panel, dismissed the appeal by Eyitayo Jegede and his party, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, on the grounds that it was incompetent.

Justice Agim upheld an earlier judgment of the Court of Appeal, that the petition filed by Jegede and his party at the election tribunal was incompetent because they failed to include the Yobe governor and chairman of the caretaker committee of the APC, Mai Mala-Buni, as a party.

In the minority judgment read by Justice Mary Peter-Odili, the court upheld the appeal and dismiss the cross appeal by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Akeredolu and the APC.

Odili and two other members of the panel were of the view that since the APC, for which Buni acted, was a party in the case, there was no need to include him as a party.

The main appeal was filed by the candidate of the Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP, in the last governorship election in Ondo State, Eyitayo Jegede, against Akeredolu, challenging the competence of APC’s sponsorship of Akeredolu for the election.

Jegede approached the electoral petitions tribunal praying that the declaration of Akeredolu as the winner of the election by Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, should be set aside.

He also prayed the apex court to declare him winner on grounds that the emergence of the APC candidate breached the nation’s constitution.

On July 16, the Court of Appeal led by Justice Theresa Orji-Abadua had dismissed the petition filed by Jegede while affirming Akeredolu as the winner of the poll.

In its verdict, the Appeal Court had out of seven issues raised for determination resolved four and half in favour of Jegede and the rest two and half in favour of Akeredolu.

Not satisfied with the decision of the Appellate Court, both Akeredolu, Jegede, and INEC approached the Supreme Court for the invalidation of both the Election Petition Tribunal and Appeal Court.

Source: NAN

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This is contained in a statement signed by the State Publicity Secretary, Kennedy Peretei, and made available to newsmen in Akure on Wednesday.

The party and its candidate in the October 10, 2020 governorship election, Eyitayo Jegede, had approached the Court of Appeal to nullify Akeredolu’s election.

However, the appellate court said in a unanimous judgment on Wednesday that the petition by PDP and its candidate lacked merit.

In concluding her lead judgement, Justice Theresa Orji-Abadua, said the appeal was partially dismissed and partially allowed.

“To the ordinary man in the street, the judgement was inconclusive and we must approach the Supreme Court to help the Appeal Court to conclude the judgement.

“The kernel of the Eyitayo Jegede/PDP petition was whether or not a gross violation of the 1999 Constitution (as Amended) should be allowed to stay.

“Whether or not Mai Mala Buni, as a sitting Governor of Yobe State can double as National Chairman of All Progressives Congress, to sign the nomination of Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN) for the governorship election.

“While the Court of Appeal acknowledged that it was a violation of the Constitution, it still went ahead to dismiss the appeal.

“We are still studying the details of the judgement, by virtue of the fact that it was delivered via Zoom. But we have sufficient grounds to appeal the decision of the court.

“We are confident the Supreme Court, which is the highest court in the land, will do justice,” the statement added.

Source: NAN

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Governor Rotimi Akeredolu gave the orders following the increase in the rate of insecurity marked by kidnapping and banditry.

Rather, it advised that there should be continuous dialogue between the leadership of the Fulani communities and the state government on ways to solve the security problems that informed the order.

The Presidency said there was the need “to delink terrorism and crimes from ethnicity, geographical origins and religion—to isolate the criminals who use this interchange of arguments to hinder law enforcement efforts as the only way to deal effectively with them.”

The reaction of the Presidency is contained in a statement issued by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu.

The statement reads in full:

IN TACKLING CRIME, ONDO STATE GOVERNMENT WILL NOT ACT OUTSIDE THE CONSTITUTION

The Presidency has been keenly monitoring events occurring in Ondo State and the “orders” by the government of the state, “asking herders to vacate the forests in seven days.”

What is clearly emerging, is a lack of consistency in messaging which in turn leads to various contradictions regarding accuracy and the intent behind the message. There is little to be said other than to call for restraint on both sides and urge the state government and the leadership of the Fulani communities to continue their dialogue for a good understanding that will bring to an urgent end, the nightmarish security challenges facing the state.

Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, a seasoned lawyer, Senior Advocate of Nigeria and indeed, a former President of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, has fought crime in his state with passion and commitment, greater sensitivity and compassion for the four years he has run its affairs and, in our view, will be the least expected to unilaterally oust thousands of herders who have lived all their lives in the state on account of the infiltration of the forests by criminals.

If this were to be the case, rights groups will be right in expressing worries that the action could set off a chain of events which the makers of our constitution foresaw and tried to guard against.

We want to make it clear that kidnapping, banditry and rustling are crimes, no matter the motive or who is involved. But, to define crime from the nameplates, as a number of commentators have erroneously done- which group they belong to, the language they speak, their geographical location or their faith is atavistic and cruel.

We need to delink terrorism and crimes from ethnicity, geographical origins and religion—to isolate the criminals who use this interchange of arguments to hinder law enforcement efforts as the only way to deal effectively with them.

The President, who swore to defend the constitution has spoken against the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) in asking citizens of Northern origin to leave; he did not spare the group based in Sokoto, ‘Muslim Solidarity Forum,’ which asked the Bishop of Sokoto to leave and is prepared to do all that the law permits to protect citizens all over the country in their choice of where they wished to reside and are treated as equal citizens.

The government of Ondo, and all the 35 others across the federation must draw clear lines between the criminals and the law abiding citizens who must equally be saved from the infiltrators. Beyond law and order, the fight against crime is also a fight for human values which are fundamental to our country.

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Ogundeji, who is representing Odigbo constituency 2 was impeached following the resolution of the house.

The assembly on July 8, suspended Ogundeji and three other lawmakers for alleged parliamentary misconduct until they were recently reinstated by the Ondo State High Court in Akure on  August 8 and confirmed by the Federal Appeal Court in Akure on November 18.

Mr Olugbenga Omole, Ondo State House of Assembly Chairman Ad-hoc Committee on Information made this known in a statement available to newsmen in Akure.

Omole said that Samuel Aderoboye representing Odigbo Constituency 2 was elected as the new Deputy Speaker.

“The former Deputy Speaker, Iroju Ogundeji in a parliamentary resolution presented by Mr Tomide Akinrogunde was alleged of gross misconduct inimical to the progress of the assembly.

“The resolution which was signed by 20 out of 26 members of the assembly, was in line with the Standing Order of the assembly, hence was adopted at plenary.

“The Speaker, David Oleyelogun, therefore, called for nomination and Samuel Aderoboye was elected through a majority voice vote.”

According to him, a panel to investigate allegation of gross misconduct against the former Deputy Speaker had been inaugurated.

In his acceptance speech, the new Deputy Speaker, pledged to work with other stakeholders in ensuring the delivery of democracy dividends to the people.

Meanwhile, Oluwole Ogunmolasuyi, representing Owo Constituency 1 has been appointed as the new Majority Leader, Festus Akingbaso representing Idanre State Constituency is the new Minority Leader while Taofeeq Mohammed is the new Chief Whip.

Source: NAN

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This is as he picked his membership card of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

The deputy governor resigned his membership at his Ward 2 in Apoi, Ese Odo Local Government Area of the state.

He is expected to officially defect to the PDP on Monday at the party’s secretariat in Akure.

The relationship between Ajayi and Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu has become frosty over the last couple of months.

His resignation from APC put an end to the speculation trailing his planned defection.

Ajayi, in his letter of resignation, thanked the APC in the state for the opportunity to serve and wished the party well in its future endeavours.

Fielding questions from  newsmen, Ajayi said: “I just tendered my resignation as a member of the APC to the chairman of this ward and also to the chairman of Ese-Odo APC.

“Both of them are here, we pray that by the grace of God, Apoi Ward 2 will witness more development and progress.”

Ondo State governorship election will come up on October 10.

Source: NAN

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Presenting the palliatives which included rice, beans, yam, eggs, vegetable oil, beverages, condiments, bread, drinks, etc, Akeredolu said that the corps members had truly displayed the true meaning of patriotism and nationalism.

“Of a truth, our administration purposed to give palliatives to the poorest of the poor in all the 18 local governments that made up the state, but the exemplary services rendered by the members of the service corps to fight the novel virus should not go unrewarded.

“I want to let you know that your patriotic service to the nation especially at the challenging times of battling to contain the spread of Coronavirus pandemic with the production and donation of antiseptic hand sanitisers and face masks to the state government, hospitals, institutions, the vulnerable and indigent people across the state is acknowledged and appreciated,” the governor sad.

Akeredolu who was represented by the Chairman, Ondo State Palliative Committee, Pastor Akinola Olotu, said that the government would not waiver in its responsibility to the scheme.

He said that the present administration in Ondo State valued the indispensability of the youths and would ensure they were encouraged to remain productive in the overall interest of the state.

The chairman, who is also the Senior Special Adviser to the Governor on Agriculture and Agricbusiness informed the elated corps members and those who witnessed the presentation that the governor was working assiduously to lay a very solid foundation for the development of the state.

“The State Government has just commissioned her industrial hub at Omotoso where engine blocks and machines would be fabricated to service the assembly plant which is the first of its kind in the Southwest geopolitical zone,” he said.

Olotu enumerated some of the achievements of the governor to include road construction, infrastructure development and opening up the state to economic transformation.

On the palliatives, the chairman said that based on the directive of Akeredolu, the state was the first in the nation to visit hospitals and give succour to the patients especially the pregnant and nursing mothers as well as sick and recuperating ones.

Speaking shortly before the donation, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Youth and Students Affairs, Muyiwa Ogunyemi Eyiyato, thanked Akeredolu and the good people of Ondo State for the kind gesture.

Eyitayo asserted that the present government had done more for the youths and students than the previous regimes in the state.

In her brief remarks, the NYSC State Coordinator, Mrs. Grace Akpabio, said that she was not surprised at the kind gesture of the governor because he had proved to be a purposeful and dynamic administrator since he took over the mantle of leadership in the state three years ago.

Akpabio said the positive disposition of the governor towards NYSC facilitated the construction of perimeter fence round the Permanent Orientation Camp Ikare-Akoko and that had warded off those who encroached on the land.

Akpabio said that the governor released substantial amount of money to the scheme last year as a state subvention which had been stopped long before he became the governor.

She thanked the chairman and members of the palliative committee for accommodating and factoring in the corps members into their plans.

The representative of the corps members, Onyenwe Obumnene, described Akeredolu as a loving and caring father to the members of the service corps.

He prayed that God wold grant him wisdom to pilot the affairs of the state to safe haven and lead the citizens to the promised land.

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This is the decision reached on Thursday by the Federal Government and the governors of the states of the South West of Nigeria who are behind Amotekun.

The agreement was reached at a meeting chaired by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Present at the occasion were the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu; the governors of South West states and the Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami.

Speaking with journalists shortly after the meeting, Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State said the decision to have a legal framework drawn was to address the issues causing the crisis over the setting up of Amotekun.

His words:  “We had a very fruitful discussion. Governors of South-West, as you know, we were all there. The meeting was presided over by the Vice President. The Honourable Attorney General of the Federation was there as well as the Inspector General of Police.”

He added:  “We have rubbed minds and all of us have agreed on the way forward. The most important one is that we are going to have legal framework to back this Amotekun. And this legal framework is going to be one which we all are going to look at and will be sure to go without any hindrance.”

Akeredolu disclosed that Malami, at the meeting, insisted that the formation of Amotekun was illegal.

Recall that Amotekun was launched on January 9 to stem the increasing rate of criminal activities in the South West of the the country.

The governors of the six states in the South-West are the organisers.

However, hardly had the security network been launched than Malami declared it illegal.

His reaction ignited controversy with many declaring that Malami was discriminatory since similar organisations were set up in other parts of the country, particularly, North and no dust was raised.

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Fayemi who spoke in Ibadan at the launch of the security apparatus stated that the South West governors were not out to undermine the integrity and sovereignty of Nigeria but were providing the Yoruba people with a “confidence building strategy” to tackle crime and criminality in the region.

The governor added that Amotekun was neither an alternative to any of the conventional security agencies in the country nor a state police.

He said rather, Amotekun would complement and work in collaboration with existing security agencies to provide adequate security of lives and property in the region.

“The Western Nigeria Security Network operation Amotekun is nothing but a community policing response to a problem that our people would like to put an end to.  But pending the time that the community policing strategy being put together by the Nigeria Police comes to fruition, it is clearly important that we give our people a confidence boosting strategy.

“So if you ask me, Amotekun is nothing but a confidence building strategy for our people in the western zone. When those elements that are going to work in the joint task force with the mainstream security agencies undertake this assignment, they are going to do it with the knowledge of the terrain, language and culture of the community they are going to work.”

“Amotekun is not a duplication neither is it a replacement for the Nigeria Police Force. Amotekun is a complement that gives our people the confidence that they are being looked after by the people they elected into office. We do not want this to create fear in the mind of anyone. We are not creating a regional police force. We are not oblivious of the steps we need to follow in forming a State police. We are law abiding citizens of Nigeria. We know that will require a constitutional amendment and we are not there yet,” he said.

While commending the role played by the mainstream security agencies in tackling kidnapping and banditry in the zone, the governor said Amotekun would reduce the burden on the agencies which he described as “overstretched”.

Fayemi who added that the security agencies had embraced the Western Nigeria Security Network urged Nigerians not to give room for fears which may have emanated from the propaganda circulating in the social media about Amotekun.

“We were daily assaulted by the spate of kidnapping, banditry, armed robbery across the length and breadth of the South West. We obviously sought succour in all the right places and the mainstream security tried their best in arresting the security situation. It was in the context of this development that we lost the daughter of our leader in Afenifere, Pa Fasoranti.

“As elected leaders of our various States, our primary responsibility according to section (14)2 of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended, is the security and welfare of our citizens and that’s what informed the coming together of my colleagues and I to fashion a way that we can utilise to complement the work of our mainstream security agencies that are quite overstretched in their efforts to curb the menace that has afflicted not just our zone but the entire country at the time,” he said.

In his speech, the Chairman of the Western Nigeria Governors’ Forum and Governor of Ondo State, Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, said the governorsweare united in their resolve to ensure peace and security in the region.

Akeredolu stated that the South West governors could not erect “an antagonistic structure whose template is against existing security apparatus”.

He said the ” barbarism” displayed by criminal elements in the region  gave the governors grave concern which necessitated the security platform.

The governor stressed that he and his colleagues believed in the unity of Nigeria because the nation’s “strength is in unity”.

Earlier in his welcome remarks, Governor Seyi Makinde stated that development could not take place in a state of insecurity.

He added that Operation Amotekun would protect the lives and property of indigene and non indigene.

Osun State Governor, Mr Gboyega Oyetola who was represented by his Deputy, Benedict Alabi, thanked the service chiefs for their support in tackling insecurity in the region.

He assured that Operation Amotekun would work in collaboration with all security agencies.

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The governor made the charge during the swearing in ceremony for the 2019 Batch ‘C’ (Stream 1) corps members deployed to Ondo State.

Akeredolu said majority of the corps members would have preferred to serve in some other states for reasons best known to them, but their deployment to Ondo State presupposed that God had prepared them for the state.

“Providence has brought you here and it behoves on you to justify your deployment and do your utmost best to enhance the development of the state through your solicited sacrifice individually and collectively in the next 12 calendar months.

“As a responsible government, I want to say, without mincing words that your welfare and security would be adequately taken care of during the service year,” he said.

Akeredolu promised that his administration would continue to improve on developmental projects and infrastructures that would encourage those who observed their mandatory service to want to stay and live in the state at the end of the service year.

He appreciated all the stakeholders of the NYSC for their numerous support which he said over the years sustained the scheme to objectively deliver on its mandate.

“Let us continue with this positivism so that these young Nigerians will have a good tale to tell the whole world during and after the service year.”

Akeredolu who was represented by the Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Barrister Dotun Owanikin, while declaring the course open admonished the compatriots in the national service to take the contents of the orientation course seriously.

The State Coordinator, Mrs. Grace Akpabio, in her introductory remarks announced that since the commencement of the registration, the prospective corps members had shown remarkable interest in all the camp activities and were relating well with all the officials and entire camp community.

Mrs. Akpabio said that orientation course had been packaged among other things, to introduce the participants to the objectives and programmes of the NYSC scheme, prepare them for the challenges of service year and post-service life as well as acquaint them with the new environment as corps members.

The NYSC boss intimated the new inductees that they would be introduced to series of extra-curricula camp activities that were exciting, rewarding and memorable.

That, according to her, included lecture on Tradition and Culture of the Yoruba, Leadership Lectures, Entrepreneurial Training, Parade Drills, Man ‘O’ War Training, Social and Cultural activities, Sports, Inter-Platoon Skills Competition among others.

“Let me admonish you to participate actively in all these activities and comport yourselves as mature youths. Endeavour to cooperate with camp officials and obey all rules and regulations governing your stay in camp and do not hesitate to approach any of my officers in case you need any assistance or clarification especially with regards to the verification/registration.”

The state coordinator however made special appeal to prospective corps members with life threatening ailments to report to Camp Clinic for proper monitoring and asserted that machinery had been put in place to ensure that they enjoyed first class medical treatment on camp.

She informed the gathering that the secretariat was making steady progress on the on-going construction of the Camp Clinic, Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development, SAED, Centre and Orientation Broadcasting Service (OBS) Studio extension projects and sought the financial assistance of all and sundry.

“While soliciting your individual and collective contributions towards these projects, I want to use this opportunity to encourage the local governments, corporate citizens and well meaning Nigerians and philanthropists as well as other stakeholders too numerous to mention to make their presence felt in the camp by having a project which we promise to name after such entity.”

During the ceremony, Oath of Allegiance was administered on 2050 prospective corps members by the Chief Judge of Ondo State who was represented by  Justice Ademola Enikuomeyin.

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