Ex-deputy governors mourn Senator Adeleke

Former Kogi State Deputy Governor Yomi Awoniyi and ex-Osun State Deputy Governor Adesuyi Haastrup yesterday lamented the death of former Osun State Governor Isiaka Adeleke.
In a condolence message, Awoniyi described the late senator as a man, who was passionate about Nigeria.
The former deputy governor said the late Adeleke contributed to the expansion of progressive politics in the Southwest.
Awoniyi noted that the former governor would be remembered for peace and for being a detribalised politician, who was loved by his people for making meaningful impact.
Awoniyi prayed God to console the immediate and extended family of the late senator.
He urged his political followers to accept the death of the politician as shocking and surprising and be consoled by the fact that he was a thoroughbred politician, whose passion for development was without limits.
Haastrup, who served as the deputy governor when Adeleke served as governor from January 1992 to November 1993, commiserated with the people of Ede and Osun State over the demise of the late senator.
Haastrup said: “I received with shock the news of the demise of Senator lsiaka Adeleke.
“I recall with nostalgia the commitment and enviable achievements of the first civilian administration of Osun State under Adeleke, whom I had the privilege of working with as the first elected deputy governor.
“We had the unique opportunity of piloting the affairs of our young state for almost two years before the military interregnum, which cut the life of that administration short.

“Senator Isiaka Adeleke was a selfless and committed leader who exhibited unparalleled passion and love for the good people of Osun State.

“My prayers and thoughts are with his family and loved ones and with the people of Ede, his hometown at this difficult period in time.

“I pray that God Almighty will rest his soul in peace,” Haastrup said.

The late Isiaka Adeleke was a three-time Senator who represented Osun West Senatorial District. He had, at various times, served as the Chairman of the Governing Council, Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) and as Pro-Chancellor and Chairman, Governing Council, University of Calabar.

In 1992, he was elected the first civilian Governor of Osun State on the platform of the now defunct Social Democratic Party (SDP), while Haastrup was elected Deputy Governor. Some of the notable achievements of the Adeleke-Haastrup administration include the establishment of the Osun State Polytechnic, Iree; the establishment of a college of technology at Esa-Oke and the completion of the Osun State Broadcasting Corporation (OSBC), among many others.

In 2008, Adeleke instituted a scholarship award for about 100 indigent students in tertiary institutions across the country.

As Chairman of the Senate Committee on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from 2007 to 2011, Adeleke supported the rights of Nigerians living abroad to vote in Nigerian elections.

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Okorocha warns against inciting statements

Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha has warned against inflammatory statements which can undermine peace and security in the state.
This warning followed threats by political leaders from Owerri zone, to kill and burn down the property of anyone who supported any candidate from another zone in the 2019 governorship election.
The governor cautioned proponents of zoning, especially those from Owerri zone, urging them to desist from acts that can jeopardise the safety of life and property of Imo citizens.
According to him, the government will not watch “a few overzealous politicians threaten the life and property of the citizens for political reasons”.

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200 workerso sacked, 80 contract staff members- MTN

•To inject fresh blood

South African telecoms giant, MTN, has sacked 280 of its workers in its Nigeria arm, in a major job cut that is targeting at least, 25 per cent of its 1,8000 workers in the country, a company source confirmed yesterday in Lagos.

According to the source, some 200 permanent employees and about 80 contract staffers across various cadres, ranging from new graduates to senior managers, were affected in a move the source said is designed to inject fresh blood into the telco’s workforce.

Many of those sacked spent up to 15 years with the company having joined MTN as it opened its business in Nigeria in 2001.

Sources said affected workers were given a dismal severance of 75 per cent of their gross monthly income multiplied by the number of years with the company.

“Given that the company is about 16 years old in Nigeria, the severance package brought pain and discontent among the affected staff.

“With the payoff structure, senior managers with 15 years of service were left with about N15 million; most of the staff got less than N5 million,” company source explained.

MTN Nigeria recorded nearly $1 billion in profit in 2016. However, the telecoms firm was heavily fined by the Nigerian government for failing to disconnect 5.2 million unregistered subscribers.

MTN’sspokesman,FunsoAina, could not be reached for comments yesterday.

But a source familiar with the latest downsizing said 200 of those affected had earlier agreed to leave the company voluntarily.

The source said the sackings were as a result of “the changing dynamics of the telecoms industry in recent times”.

The source said the company introduced the voluntary severance scheme (VSS), to provide a window for one week in April, for persons who have served in MTN for five years and above to take up.

Those who decided to leave under the VSS were to be paid the equivalent of their three weeks gross salary for every year they worked with MTN.

“What it means is that if one worked in MTN for five years, one would be paid three weeks of their gross salaries times five,” the source said.

Eventually, all 280 staff were disengaged under the VSS and paid their benefits, the source said.

The source added that since revenue from the voice segment of the industry has attained its plateau, the new revenue stream would naturally come from data services. “Younger and tech-savvy Nigerian graduates are going to drive this new initiative designed to take the telco to the next level,” another source familiar with the development added.

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Leader of a kidnapping gang killed in Ondo

•One soldier killed, three others injured 
Soldiers attached to Operation Delta Safe (ODS), a Joint Task Force (JTF), yesterday killed the suspected leader of a militant group terrorising Ishawo in Ikorodu area of Lagos State and neighbouring creeks.
The suspected militant leader, Ossy Ibori, was reportedly shot dead at 3 a.m at Ajakpa in Ondo State when he led his gang to attack the troops deployed to protect the area.
A soldier was killed and three others injured in the operation.
Security forces were said to have overpowered the militants, killing Ibori during a gun duel.
Other members of his gang reportedly jumped into the river.
Sources said the troops recovered weapons from the fleeing criminals.
Another account said Ibori was lured out of Ishawo creek to Ajakpa with the help of his lover, where the soldiers trailed him to.
Ossy said to have been the kingpin and among the masterminds of high profile murders and kidnappings within Lagos and Ogun states, allegedly opened fire when he sighted the military men.
Confirming the incident, Lagos State Police Commissioner Fatai Owoseni said efforts were on to apprehend fleeing members of Ibori’s gang.
The police chief said most of the militants who fled Lagos creeks because of the current operations, retreated to Ondo, their base.
He said: “Around 3 a.m today (Monday), a squad of soldiers posted to dislodge the militants who have been wreaking havoc in some parts of Lagos, engaged the criminals in a shootout at Ajakpa. Suspected leader of the gang, known as OC, was killed. Efforts are ongoing to arrest other gang members.”
JTF spokesman Major Abubakar Abdullahi said: “Troops of Operation Delta Safe (ODS), in line with its mandate to rid Niger Delta of all criminal acts of militancy and kidnappings, in a special operation, repelled an attack on troops’ location around Ajakpa community in the creeks of Southern area of Ondo State last night.
“The attack was led by one notorious gang leader, Ossy Ibori, with a hideout at Ajakpa in Ese-Odo Local Government Area of Ondo State. The (militant) leader was gunned down during the gun duel with some of his gang members. His body was identified by some of the locals.
“While the search for other criminals who jumped into the water with gunshot wounds is ongoing, troops recovered one AK-47 rifle and four magazines.
“Criminal gangs, led by late Ossy Ibori have been terrorising parts of Lagos, Ogun and Ondo states prior to this operation. They committed many atrocities, threatening the peace and security of the areas.
“Last month, the gang killed an Army Captain and four policemen at Ikorodu. Also, late last year, they abducted students and workers of a secondary school. The criminals, in addition, carried out several attacks on Ese-Odo community around Ajakpa, Safarogbo and Balowo areas.
“The need to flush them out from their hideout became necessary to ensure peace and security in Ondo State. Sadly in the process, one gallant soldier paid the supreme price while three others sustained gunshot wounds. They have since been moved to a military hospital for proper medical attention.
“While the operation is ongoing, let me appeal to law-abiding residents of the affected communities to remain calm, vigilant and support our troops with valuable information on the whereabouts of other criminals.”

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