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By William Adeyemi

Matches went down in the Premier League today as teams completed their Matchday eighteen fixture.

Manchester City beat Newcastle United to extend their lead at the top, Chelsea held on by Wolverhampton Wanderers and Liverpool dropping points against Tottenham Hotspur.

Chelsea were denied a chance to close in on Manchester City today, Wolverhampton Wanderers held on and played a goalless draw with Chelsea at the Molinuex stadium. It wasn’t the best display from Thomas Tuchel side, they failed to create those big chances of scoring against Wolves today and it affected them in every way. Chelsea have now dropped points in their last two games and are losing track in the race for the league title.

Manchester City beat Newcastle United at St James Park as they extended their lead at the top of the league table. Pep Guardiola side completely dominated play today and it earned them all three points, Newcastle United had no chance at all of getting back into the game. Ruben Dias opened the scoring for Manchester City in the opening minutes of the first half with Joao Cancelo providing a brilliant assist for the goal.

Joao Cancelo went on to extend Manchester City’s lead to 2-0 in the first half of the match after he scored an excellent goal from outside the penalty area with Riyad Mahrez providing an assist for the goal. Riyad Mahrez made it 3-0 for Manchester City after he scored from Zinchenko’s assist. It was another excellent build up from Manchester City in the second half of the match. Raheem Sterling sealed victory for Manchester City after he scored in the final minutes of the match with Gabriel Jesus providing an assist for the goal.

Jurgen Klopp side completely play in today’s match. Tottenham Hotspur opened the scoring in the first half after Harry Kane scored from Tanguy Ndombele’s assist. Harry Kane long wait for another Premier League goal was over after he scored against Liverpool today. Liverpool scored an equalizer just minutes after Harry Kane got Tottenham Hotspur in the lead. Diogo Jota scored a brilliant header from Andrew Robertson’s assist.

Down into the second half of the match, Liverpool got in the lead after Andrew Robertson scored a brilliant header from Trent Alexander Arnold’s assist. Tottenham Hotspur leveled things up in the final minutes of the match after Heung-Min Son scored from Alisson Becker’s error.

Manchester City went four points above second place Liverpool as they joey their fine form going. Pep Guardiola side have won consecutive games and have kept back to back clean sheets. Here’s how the league table looks after today’s games.

By Bisade Ojoye

Ogun State owned Ogun Social Orientation and Safety Corps, otherwise known as So-Safe Corps has deployed 1,000 capable hands across the State to ensure the security of Ogun visitors, residents as well as their property during the festive period.

This year’s deployment is considered a special one as the Corps strategized towards ensuring its saddled security assignment is well felt in the rural areas from where it is expected to spread to the urban areas.

According to the Corps Commander, Commander (Dr) Soji Ganzallo, “the So-Safe Corps Officers, in a release signed by ACC Moruf Yusuf, Director of Information and Public Relations officers and men numbering a thousand – 500 Intelligence Operatives and 500 gallantly kitted Officers of the Corps were deployed on 17th December, 2021 across the State and this would run through the 8th of January, 2022.

The officers deployed are to work both at the rural and urban levels to make sure the Xmas, New Year and all sorts of social events coming up at the end of the year as well as the new year go smoothly.

The Corps therefore advised the general public to comply with the Covid-19 (Omicron variant) protocols while they socialize with friends, in places of worship and among their relatives.

We gathered that the Zonal and Area Commanders of the Corps across the State have been instructed to professionally guide Officers and men posted out to carry out this special assignment with civility and humane face with utmost respect for the rights of the people .

The corps urged the people of the state that In case of any threat to the security or they notice anything that could disrupt the already established peace in the State, they should use the distress contacts: 08069392064 and 08028286064 and 08035479930 (WhatsApp)

By William Adeyemi

The grand finale of Iganmode Cultural Festival 2021 holds today, Saturday at the
Ansar-Ul-Deen (AUD) College ground, Ota in Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government area of the state.

According to a release by the Chairman, Central Planning Committee of the festival, Aare Ayodele Bankole, the governor of Ogun State, Prince Dapo Abiodun would be honoured with Awori Tourism and Culture Commitment Award in appreciation of his commitment to the development of Ota and for also representing the great values of the entire Awori land in attaining its present status, particularly in culture and tourism.

Bankole, who is also the Otun Maiyegun of Ota, said the Governor would be conferred with an award of excellence for his contribution towards tourism development in the State.

By Olamide Yinusa

The burial of Oniwasinmi of Wasinmi in Ewekoro Local Government Area of Ogun State, His Royal Majesty, Oba (Dr.) Babatunde Osuntoogun will hold on Thursday and Friday December 23 -24, 2021.

The arrangements, according to a release signed by Chief Ashimiu lawal, Secretary to Wasinmi Council of Chiefs are: Christian Wake Keep on Thursday 23/12/2021 by 2:00 pm at his palace.

Church Service on Friday
24/12/2021
at Baptist Church Arigbajo Village, Wasinmi by 10 am.

Entertainment of Guests shall follows immediately at Baptist Pry School. Arigbajo, Wasinmi.

          The Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun has disclosed that aged and physically-challenged will receive special waste management services, for their invaluable contributions to the development of the State during their active years.

          Governor Abiodun made this known in Abeokuta, when he met with the waste Private Sector Participants (PSP), Waste Managers and Vendors, saying the aged deserved the special attention and services, while the physically-challenged rather being burdened should be shown care.

          Abiodun, represented by his Special Adviser on Environment and Chief Executive Officer of the Ogun State Waste Management Authority (OGWAMA), Mr. Ola Oresanya, directed the waste PSP to forward names and addresses of those categories of residents in their area of operations to the Authority, for proper implementation of the special services.

          He charged them to be efficient in service delivery, particularly during the forthcoming festive period, adding that they have social contract with the people by collecting the wastes regularly for proper disposal.

          The Governor also reminded the residents on the need to stop dumping refuse on roadsides and medians, saying the State is known for cleanliness, as the government would continue to maintain the standard.

Ogun State government will hold its 2021Christmas Carol and service of 9 lessons onThursday 16th December.

The annual event, is slated to hold at the June 12 Cultural Centre, Kuto, Abeokuta, by 5pm prompt with the General Overseer, Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye ministering.

A statement issued on Wednesday in Abeokuta by the state Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Alhaji Waheed Odusile, said the State governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun is the Chief host, while Christian faithful and other dignitaries from all walks of life are expected to be in attendance.

A leader of kidnap syndicate, Pastor IzuChukwu Anoloba and others have been arrested by operatives of the Imo State Police Command for kidnapping a Catholic priest, Fr Fidelis Ekemgba.

Parading the suspects and others, the state Commissioner of Police, Rabiu Hussaini, said that the suspects held the priest for over seven days and made him to pay a ransom of N5 million to them.

The CP, who disclosed that the syndicate was a deadly one, disclosed that the pastor was arrested in Lagos following intelligence gathering by men of the anti-kidnapping unit of the command.

He disclosed that the priest, 45, in charge of St. Peters Catholic Parish in Umunohu Amakaohia in the Ihitte/Uboma Local Government Area of the state, was double-crossed and whisked away by his abductors.

Commending his men for an excellent job, the CP said that he would continue to make the state uncomfortable for criminals.

Speaking to journalists, Anoloba said that he got N1.5m from the ransom the priest paid them.

He said, “I am a pastor with Apostolic Church of Christ in Lagos. I got N1.5 million from the kidnap of the priest. I never knew I would be arrested. I regret my actions because I am now a disgrace to the body of Christ and my family.”

By Our Reporter

Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Wing, a youth umbrella of the apex socio-cultural group in Igbo land, has mocked the recent inspection tour of Infrastructural projects executed and completed by Governor David Umahi by those it termed as a group of supposed igbo youth leaders, in Ebonyi State.

Recall that select Igbo youth leaders numbering eleven had at the weekend, visited Ebonyi on the invitation of Governor Umahi for statewide inspection of key Infrastructural projects embarked upon by his adminsitration.

The Mazi Jones Onwuasoanya-led Ohanaeze Ndigbo youth wing, in a statement forwarded to our Reporter on Sunday, further frowned at the activity, and also posited that the recent tour was a carnival of sycophancy by the Igbo youth leaders.

The youth wing, claimed that Umahi was capitalizing on the joblessness of the Igbo youth leaders to advance his bid to becoming the President of Nigeria come 2023.

The Ohanaeze wing also insisted that Umahi has converted the Igbo youths to slaves and court jesters furthering his tactics of scorning the Igbo youths for being jobless, but admitted that the governor has done well in the area of Infrastructural conception and execution in Ebonyi State.

The apex youth socio-cultural organization in Igbo land, further maintained that the Ebonyi Chief Executive had ridiculed the youths by portraying their leaders as jobless sycophants before the whole world.

The socio-cultural youth wing, regretted that Ebonyi was being rated the highest employer of praise singers in Nigeria, and however charged Govenror Umahi to take more strategic steps towards enhancing youth participation in politics, advance talents in the arts, sciences and technology.

The Ohanaeze Ndigbo youths, further cautioned the Ebonyi helmsman to desist from ridiculing the youths as jobless and helpless, regretting that the supposed igbo youth leaders were expected to be the most vibrant front of Igbo youth organization by canvassing support for good policies, programs and ideologies at enhancing the empowerment and development of the youths in Igbo land.

The press statement by the Ohanaeze wing partly said, “In the past four days or more, a group of supposed youth leaders led by an impostor, have been clowning around Abakaliki, Ebonyi State on the bills of the State Government.

“The Ohanaeze Ndigbo youth wing is a semi-independent extension of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, which should provide a non-partisan platform for leadership training, development and Igbocentric nationalism. The Ohanaeze Ndigbo youth wing, like every responsible youth wing of any socio-cultural organization is expected to the most vibrant front of the organization it represents by canvassing support for that organization’s key policies, programs and ideologies.

“These youths, eleven of whom are elected and serving representatives of the various Ohanaeze Ndigbo States on the National Executive Committee of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide-Youth wing, therefore, apex Igbo youth leaders, are in Ebonyi in the guise of inspecting projects executed by Engr David Umahi as governor of Ebonyi State in the last six years and six months.

“It is only a group of jobless or unfocused youths who would spend more than four of what are supposed to be useful days on excursion of projects. If these youths had something reasonable to engage their time with, they would certainly not have been available for Engineer Umahi to use for his own political gains”.

By Olufemilade Oyinade

Olowu of Owu, Oba Adegboyega Dosumu has joined his ancestors after a brief illness.

The monarch who was before ascending the throne of his ancestors was seasoned with film production, famed for quality presentations with the now rested Village Headmaster on NTA as the flagship of his works

We gathered the traditional ruler who had been ill for some time, so much that he had not been attending any public function, including the last Owu Day celebration died on Sunday morning.

By Jamiu Lawal

 

Ogun State Ministry of Information and Strategy has said it has taken advantage of the new media (social platforms) alongside the production of a State-owned weekly newspaper, the Nigeria Gateway to further sensitise the populace on government’s policies and programmes.

This, it noted was meant to ensure effective coverage and reportage of all government’s programmes and activities to the people of the State to elicit necessary feedbacks from them.

The Commissioner, Alhaji AbdulWaheed Odusile, disclosed in Abeokuta this while appearing before the members of the State House of Assembly Committee on Finance and Appropriation to defend the 2022 budget estimate of his Ministry.

Odusile, who defended a total budget estimate of N601m for the next fiscal year, said the initiative taken on the adoption of social media was meant to further propagate government policies to the nooks and crannies of the State, and help reposition it by re-awakening  the people’s consciousness towards embracing its core values.

According to him, “the Ministry is set to put in place a 24-hour Feedback Unit to get proper and extensive information from the populace to aid two-way communication channel between the government and the governed”.

He underscored the need to ensure the immediate upgrade of equipment and other infrastructure at State-owned media houses; the State Broadcasting Corporation (OGBC) and the State Television (OGTV), as well as the State Printing Corporation to aid their performances.

In another development, the State Ministry of Transportation has stated that it would operationalise key road infrastructure investments and develop inter-city and intra-city bus mass transit schemes within the State in the next fiscal year to promote safe, efficient and affordable transport system for all citizens and visitors to the State.

The State Commissioner for Transport, Engr. Gbenga Dairo, who disclosed this while taking his turn to defend the budget proposal of the Ministry before the State lawmakers, explained that the government was set to attract investments towards rail access developments associated with Lagos-Ibadan standard gauge rail corridor.

Engr. Dairo while defending his Ministry’s total budget estimate of N861m for next year, said out of the total amount, the sum of N512m was being earmarked for capital expenditure, while recurrent which included personnel and overhead would take N349m.

Other agencies that defended their budget estimates before the lawmakers include the State Ministry of Culture and Tourism, State Signage and Advertising Agency, Bureau of Information Technology, State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Corps (TRACE), State Printing Corporation, State Broadcasting Corporation and State Television, State Independent Electoral Commission, as well as Parks and Garages Development Agency, among others.

 

Committed to regulating the practices of the built sector, the Ogun State House of Assembly today passed a bill titled: ‘Ogun State Administration of Physical Planning, Urban Development, Slum Regeneration and Building Production Management Law, 2021, as well as four other resolutions on building production management regulations.

The resolutions include the State Building Production Management Regulation 2020, the State Layout and Land Sub-division Regulation, State Planning and Development Permit Regulations, State Slum Regeneration and the State Outdoor Physical Furniture Regulations.

The separate passage of the bill and resolutions followed the respective presentations of the reports of the House Committee on Lands and Housing by its Chairman, Damilola Soneye at a plenary presided over by the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Olakunle Oluomo.

Subsequently, Soneye moved the motion for the adoption of the two reports, seconded by Hon. Olusola Adams and Yusuf Adejojo respectively and thereafter supported by other lawmakers through a voice vote.

The bill was later read and adopted clause-by-clause after which the motion for the third reading was moved by the Majority Leader, Yusuf Sheriff, seconded by the Deputy Speaker, Akeem Balogun, while the Clerk of the House/Head of Legislative Service, Mr. ‘Deji Adeyemo did the third reading.

Responding, Speaker Oluomo directed that the clean copy of the bill be transmitted to the Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun for his assent.

It would be recalled that the Assembly had earlier conveyed a stakeholders’ forum on the bill, where concerned government agencies in the State responsible for the proposed law on administration of physical planning, urban development and building production management were challenged to always consider and reflect the uniqueness of the various communities and status of residents, especially low-income earners in the new law, when eventually passed and assented by Governor Abiodun.

The lawmakers at the public hearing stressed that the State remained a developing entity, that needed to accommodate more developmental projects including investment opportunities in preparation for the status of a smart city, and would have to consider transiting its expansion and developmental initiatives on the people with human face.

 

 

The Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun has attributed the peace and security enjoyed in the State to dedication and cooperation of men and officers of the Nigerian Army with other security agencies in riding the State of criminals.

Governor Abiodun who stated this in Abeokuta, when he received the outgoing Commander, 35 Artillery Brigade, Alamala, Abeokuta, Brigadier General Adewale Adekoya, who came to introduce his successor, Brigadier General Isa Abdullahi, said the Army has been helpful in his administration’s effort at curtailing crimes and criminalities in the State.

Abiodun described the outgoing Commander as a tenacious and amiable officer who discharged his duties creditably well, appreciated him for the time he spent in the State, saying “during your time here, you cooperated very well with the security architecture of the State and there has been good collaboration between you and the other members of our security agencies.

“That is what has been responsible for the peace that we are enjoying in Ogun State, it has allowed us to occupy that pride of place as the most peaceful State in the country”, he said.

The Governor stated that his administration has done a lot at improving the security architecture by reconstituting the Security Trust Fund, equipping security agencies with modern gadgets, as well as providing patrol vehicles and motorbikes, assuring that more would be done to support security personnel in the State.

Welcoming the new Brigade Commander, Brigadier General Abdullahi to the State, Prince Abiodun said “you are welcome back to the State, it is a pleasure to have someone who has actually worked here in the past, we pray for the repose of Brigadier General Olatunde’s soul, he was someone that our path crossed while I was seeking this office and he was someone that discharged his duties very responsibly, it is unfortunate that he didn’t live to see us occupy the seat.

“But it is heartwarming that someone who worked very closely with him and who is also very familiar with this terrain, someone who we do not need to recount the history of how we came into power succeeded him’’, he said.

The Governor while wishing the new Commander a successful duty in the State, described him as a capable officer who is not a stranger to the State, pointing out that the Army would be needed to maintain peace and orderliness, while his administration concentrates on creating an enabling environment for more investment in the State.

Speaking earlier, the outgoing Brigade Commander, Brigadier General Adekoya, lauded the Chief of Army Staff for giving him the opportunity to serve in his State of origin, said his stay has provided him the opportunity to know the politics and climate, describing the people as friendly and enlightened with a called on them to support the new Commander to enable him serve them better.

In his remark, the new Commander, Brigadier General Abdullahi, noted that his posting is a normal military routine, just as his knowledge of the State would help in contributing to its security, urging the people to support him to succeed in his new assignment.