Club ’97 Celebrates End of Year 2022 In Style…Honours Retirees, Raises Fund For Project

It was a joyous moment of thanksgiving when members of a divisional pressure group in the Lagos State Local Government Service, Club ’97 of Epe Division celebrated their end of the year Get-together on Sunday December 11, 2022 at the multipurpose hall of Yaba Local Council Development Area, Lagos.

Club’97 President, Ishaq Adeshina Okeowo (FCA)

In his keynote address, the group President, Mr. Okeowo Ishaq Adeshina (FCA) thanked God for his blessings and protection over members and their families. He equally acknowledged Hon. Ahmed Seriki, a Commissioner at Local Government Service Commission for his tireless efforts to ensuring Epe Division gets its fair share in Commission’s appointments and postings.

Cutting of End of the Year Cake

Okeowo further commended Club’s Patrons and Matrons who are Council Managers and Council Treasurers in their individual stations. Describing them as the pillar upon which the sustenance of the group rest, he admonished them to continue to be good ambassadors that they are in the service.

In his remarks, Hon. Seriki congratulated group members. Like the Club’s President, he also eulogized club’s Patrons and Matrons but with a charge to represent the group well and leave an indelible footprint behind in the service.

Hon. Ahmed Seriki, Commissioner Rep. Epe Division, LGSC

Club’97 at the occasion honoured her retired members with meritorious service awards and gifts. They are retired Council Manager Mr. Tunde Ojikutu (Ifelodun LCDA), retired Council Manager Prince Adeeso Adedoyin (Mosan-Okunola LCDA), Council Treasurer Mr. Hassan Adesola Waheed and Human Resource Officer Mr. Banjo Sikiru Abiodun.

Mrs. Bowale Toyin, Member, BOT

The weekend event featured special prayers by Imam Rasheed Lawal and Pastor Ayodele, goodwill messages, donations toward the group’s secretariat project, induction of new patrons and matron, honouring of retired members, celebration of December born members and cutting of end of the year cake.

Mr. Adesanya Abdul-Akeem Adegbenro, Member, BOT and Council Manager, Igbogbo Bayeku

Dignitaries at the event were representative of Epe Division at the Local Government Service Commission, Hon. Ahmed Seriki, Director of Training (LGSC), High Chief Saheed Adenusi (Jagun Oba of Epeland), Board of Trustees members – Barr. Afeez Otuniyi, Mrs. Toyin Bowale and Mr. Adesanya Abdul-Akeem Adegbenro (Council Manager, Igbogbo Bayeku LCDA). Others were Mr. Adeyemi Bola (Council Manager, Ojokoro LCDA), Mr. Giwa Olayiwola (Council Manager, Yaba LCDA), Mr. Omotayo Shakirudeen (Council Manager, Odi-Olowo Ojuwoye LCDA), Mrs. Shodipo Arinola (Council Manager, Somolu LG), Mrs. Otaiku-Okoka Mosunmola (Council Manager, Apapa LG), Mrs, Odusanya Ebun Olayinka (Council Treasurer, Igando Ikotun LCDA) and, Mrs. Komolafe Ayoodola (Council Treasurer, Agege LG).

Mr. Giwa Layiwola, Host Council Manager, Yaba LCDA

Others were the newly inducted patrons and matron, Mr. Osunsan Rasaq Olatunbosun (Council Treasurer, Eredo LCDA), Mr. Asuni Kamorudeen (Council Treasurer, Badagry West LCDA), Mrs. Yusuf-Ogunbekun Saidat Omoshalewa (Council Treasurer, Bariga LCDA), Mr. Odusanya Abayomi (Council Treasurer, Somolu LG), Heads of Departments and Units as well as distinguished members of Club’97.

Mr. Adeyemi Bola, Council Manager, Ojokoro LCDA.

Club’97 Vice President, Barr. Dapo Alebiosu

Newly Inducted Patrons/Matrons

EKO NAFEST 2022: Kasali Hails Sanwo-olu As Lekki Thrills Audience With Imale Akalagunle

The Executive Chairman of Lekki Local Council Development Area, Hon. Rasak Bamidele Kasali (RBK) has commended Governor Babajide Sanwo-olu’s efforts at developing and promoting tourism in Lagos State.

The Council Mayor made the commendation while congratulating Governor Sanwo-olu for the hosting of year 2022 National Festival of Arts and Culture tagged; Eko NAFEST 2022.

Governor Sanwo-olu and Deputy cheering on the participants

Lekki Local Council Development Area’s cultural group contingents to the annual event under the auspices of National Council For Arts and Culture (NCAC) was one of the highlights of the opening ceremony on Wednesday November 8, 2022 at the Mobalaji Johnson Sports Arena, Onikan Lagos.

Imale Akalagunle from Lekki LCDA performing

In his official opening declaration, the host Governor, His Excellency, Babajide Olusola Sanwo-olu admonished Nigerians to see the differences in our tribe, religion and culture as blessing rather than a curse to the nation.

Team Lekki LCDA

The presence of Lekki LCDA’s Imale Akalagunle and their performance at the opening of the weeklong event which will climax on Sunday November 16, 2020 was a pointer to the unalloyed support of the Executive Chairman, Hon. Rasak Bamidele Kasali (RBK for real) for the development of Tourism as the Fifth pillar of Governor, Sanwo-olu’s THEME agenda.

According to RBK, “ours is a community based tourism and its development will surely guarantee prosperity for our people. We all know the spiral effect of having a Tourism event, monument, relaxation centres and cultural festivities on the local economy. This is why we’re queueing behind our Governor on his resolve to raise the bar of attention given to tourism development in Lagos State”, he said.

Special guests at the opening ceremony were His Excellency, Governor Babajide Sanwo-olu, His Deputy, Dr. Babafemi Hamzat, Ooni of Ife, His Imperial, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi (Ojaja ll), Lagos State Speaker, Rt. Hon. Mudashir Obasa, Director General, National Council For Arts and Culture, Segun Runsewe and others.

Participants at the event are contingents from the 36 States of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory while Lagos State as the host was supported by the 57 Local Governments and Local Council Development Areas.

Imale Akalagunle Cultural Group

Tinubu Congratulates Atiku

Atiku and Tinubu

National Leader of All Progressives Congress and frontline presidential aspirant, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has congratulated former Vice President Atiku Abubakar for emerging as the flag bearer of the opposition  Peoples Democratic Party, following the primary conducted at the Moshood Abiola Stadium in Abuja on Saturday.

In a press release signed by Bayo Onanuga
Director, Media and Communication,
Tinubu Campaign Organisation, Tinubu commended  Atiku for his patriotism and commitment to Nigeria’s progress.

Tinubu also congratulated the other contestants for the orderly and peaceful way they conducted themselves and for pledging to rally round the winner, in the true spirit of democratic sportsmanship.

He  expected   the former Vice-president , who was also the 2019 presidential candidate of the PDP,  to be his  worthy opponent, by the Grace of God and the support of APC delegates,   in the coming 2023 President election.

The APC National Leader said  Atiku’s victory  didn’t come as a surprise to Nigerians because of his vast experience as a statesman and veteran of many presidential contests from 1993.

While welcoming the PDP candidate to the race, Tinubu added that the coming election should be about issues that will improve the quality of life of Nigerians; bring peace, progress, political stability and solve myriad of sociopolitical challenges and insecurity  currently facing the country.

“I welcome the victory of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar as the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the just concluded primary. I look forward to squaring up with him as a worthy opponent in the coming election. I have known the former Vice President as a formidable politician and a patriot who believes in the unity and progress of our dear country.

“ As we move further into the election season, I charge the PDP presidential candidate and all political actors across Party lines that we should make this election season one that is devoid of bitterness, rancour and strife.

“We should make our campaigns peaceful and issue based. Election season should be a festival of ideas that will uplift our country and improve the living condition of all our people.

“Unfortunately for the PDP, its candidate will be  burdened to explain why Nigerians should give it another opportunity, after squandering 16 years at the central government, without much to show”.

“Nigerians are yet to forget the national ruin and mismanagement of our country for 16 years by successive PDP administration and this bad memory will dog the campaign of the PDP Candidate”

“ Nevertheless, I once again congratulate our former Vice President for his victory in his party’s primary.

PDP Would Have Given Tinubu Ticket For President – Bauchi Governor

Tinubu and Bala

Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed has revealed the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) would have given former Lagos State governor Bola Tinubu a consensus ticket if he is a member of the party.

Mohammed is one of the presidential aspirants of the PDP for the 2023 election while Tinubu is also one of the frontliners for the presidential ticket of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

The Bauchi State governor said he met Tinubu at the Iftar dinner organised by first lady Aisha Buhari for presidential aspirants.

Mohammed said despite being a PDP presidential aspirant, he has great admiration for Tinubu, who was Lagos State governor between 1999 and 2007.

He credited Tinubu for the formation of the APC and the subsequent election of President Muhammadu Buhari in 2015 to unseat former President Goodluck Jonathan of the PDP.

“I was lucky I met Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, (vice president) Osinbajo we discussed, he (Tinubu) called me consensus,” Mohammed said in an interview on Arise TV.

“I told him (Tinubu), if you were in PDP, we would have given you the (presidential) ticket because we know that without you, (Muhammadu) Buhari wouldn’t have been the president.

“In PDP, we recognise contribution. We have people in Nigeria that we must recognise and it was definitely a good outing for me.”

Mohammed commended the host of the dinner Aisha Buhari, describing her “as a unifier and has shown that she is a mother of the nation.”

Mrs. Buhari urged political parties and aspirants to ensure fair play and build bridges of peace during the elections.

“We must replicate the 2015 experience by ensuring a free, fair and violent free election in 2023. Ensure fair play and build bridges where necessary. Our journey is irreversible. You must remain focused on issues that strengthen the nation,” Mrs. Buhari said.

She also noted it was “high time women were adopted as running mates at all levels considering their voting strength and active involvement in political processes.”

UK-Based Nigerian Student Dies After Eating Candy Laced With Cannabis

A United Kingdom-based Nigerian student identified as Damilola Grace Olakanmi is dead after she was said to have consumed cannabis sweets.

The University of Hertfordshire business law undergraduate, 23, was said to have bought the “gummies” via a messaging app on her phone and they were delivered to her home.

Olakanmi and a 21-year-old friend immediately fell ill at their home in South Park Drive, Ilford at 11:30 pm on March 29.

According to Evening Standard, the pair ate the sweets that came in packaging branded “Trrlli Peachie O’s”.

Olakanmi was taken by air ambulance to Queen’s Hospital, Romford in critical condition.

It was gathered that doctors later discharged Olakanmi’s friends who happens to be a student from the United States visiting the UK from the hospital.

Richard Taylor, a justice campaigner and relative, consoled Wunmi, the student’s mother, who kept a vigil by her daughter’s bedside as she fought for her life in an east London hospital, where she died on Saturday.

“Wumi has lost her only child , she has nothing now. They had to hold her up because she broke down every time a friend came to the house to give support,” said Taylor on Sunday.

“It’s a tragic warning to all young people about how they live their lives. They should resist drugs.

“Damilola was a promising young woman who should be looking forward to her future and having children of her own. She was studying law.”