ACCEPTANCE SPEECH BY HON. ISIAQ ABIODUN AKINLADE ON HIS INVESTITURE AS PATRON, NIGERIAN UNION OF JOURNALIST (OGUN STATE COUNCIL)

ACCEPTANCE SPEECH BY HON. ISIAQ ABIODUN AKINLADE ON HIS INVESTITURE AS PATRON, NIGERIAN UNION OF JOURNALIST (OGUN STATE COUNCIL) ON FRIDAY 22nd NOVEMBER, 2013 AT QUARRY HOTEL, ABEOKUTA 1) PROTOCOLS 2) APPRECIATION Glory to Almighty God for making us see this day. On behalf of myself, my family, the good people of Yewa South/Ipokia Federal Constituency and my teeming supporters in the nooks and crannies of Ogun state, I wish to most sincerely appreciate the executive and members of NUJ (Ogun State Council) for this honor done to me by appointing me the Patron of this great union. The NUJ is one of the oldest and most important trade union in Nigeria that has been at the fore front of promoting social justice and good governance. We use this opportunity to remember a number of your members that have paid the ultimate prize to ensure that this democracy comes on board. May their souls rest in perfect peace. As a politician, I deeply appreciate your roles collectively and individually in deepening our democracy and promoting the welfare of our people. I therefore feel highly humbled and challenged by this honor which I will cherish for the rest of my life. Let me use opportunity to assure the NUJ and all our distinguished guests here present that I will continue to do all within my power to support the journalism profession. As you are aware, the National Assembly has taking steps to promote the freedom of the press and transparency in governance through the passage of the Freedom of Information Bill which is now a law in our country. 3) Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, our dear state, Ogun is gradually approaching the very important landmark of 40 years of its creation. We have to now start to insist that our governments promotes the central essence of democracy which are the people, their aspirations and their desires. The welfare of the people must be paramount and their interest uppermost While it is desirable to expand and build new infrastructure, this must never be done in a way that disregard the dignity and welfare of the people as it is being currently done in Ogun State. As we note the efforts of the state government in the area of road expansion, we call on the government to handle these road expansion projects in a way that protects the economic interest of the people , preserve their heritage and improve their welfare. The current approach is creating hardship, homelessness and joblessness for Ogun State people. We believe that it's completely anti-people to first demolish their homes, uproot their businesses before inviting them for compensation which the people are even complaining of being arbitrary and non-commensurate to their properties demolished. We should not expect people who are hungry and homeless to appreciate roads, even if the roads are gold plated. It is also important to state that government being the main creator of wealth and contracts in our developing economy must deliberately target it's project to engage local experts, improve the skills of our people and promote commerce locally. Ogun state people should therefore be made to benefit maximally through contracts awards in the ongoing projects of the government and not merely be laborers and casual workers. 4) Before I end this short address, let me use the opportunity of this August gathering to advocate on the policy of the Federal Government on utilizing cassava flour in bread making. As the Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Science and Technology, I wish to identify myself with this policy which has the potentials of saving the country over N200 billion annually and also create a huge market for our cassava farmers. Cassava is mostly grown in Southern Nigeria and Ogun state is one of the leading producer of cassava in Africa. Our people will therefore definitely benefit immensely from the policy. The House of Representatives is currently working on a law to compel flour millers to add at least 10% cassava content to wheat flour for bread making in order to give legal muscle to the policy. I have had several opportunities of eating cassava bread and I can confirm that it's not too different from the regular bread. Let us all support this initiative in the interest of the nation and the economy of our state. 5) Mr Chairman sir, members of the high table, distinguished ladies and gentlemen, I thank you all immensely for your kind attention. Isiaq Abiodun Akinlade Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Science and Technology.

Ogun State Cabinet RE-Reshuffle......In The Absence Of Credible Political Associates and Worthy Citizens

"I want to urge you to FAITHFULLY and EFFICIENTLY implement the five cardinal programmes of this government......" were the words of the Executive Governor of Ogun State, Senator Ibikunle Amosun on 21st of July, 2011 to his newly inaugurated members of the executive i.e 18 commissioners and 20 Special Advisers. About 15 months after the commissioners were sworn in, what the governor referred to as a minor cabinet reshuffle was effected on the 5th of November 2012 affecting 5 of the existing ministries and 2 newly created Ministries; Rural Development and Physical Planning. According to the governor he understands that some of these ministries/agencies are weak and non-productive this made the governor to say that his purpose for the 2011 reshuffle was "......to enable government to invigorate and strengthen the administration" Apart from the publicly affected commissioners, there were strong speculations at some points that members of Gov Amosun cabinet (Finance, Information and Health commissioners especially) have at one point or the other "threatened" to quit the government for the reason(s) best known to the parties involved. Sooner than later was the resignation of the commissioner of Justice and Attorney General of the state. Exactly one year after the November 2012"cabinet reshuffle" the state governor announced another cabinet reshuffle. Sure, there is suppose not to be a big deal in changing "guards" especially in a political settings and going by the new merger of APC. One had expected to see the introduction of new hands especially in the ministries where the government seems to be having issues or outright relief of duty of any of the aides that seems incapable of doing his/her job effectively and efficiently. I want to believe that there is no drought of credible and capable hands in the current APC members (ANPP, CPC, APC, PDP decampees) or better still the governor cannot find a good replacement to substitute his cabinet with fresh hands among the non-partisan citizens of the state that are doing well in their chosen carriers/fields. Except His Excellency is up to something, either for fear of loosing political relevance, fear of public outcry (especially the opposition), the governor shouldn't embarrass the state further as lacking people of capacity to have warranted the rotation of the post of commissioner among same sets of people within same ministry. The only question I which I can get a response to is "What is in hiding that someone somewhere is trying to shield from the public"? I know soon, the governor may choose to effect a total overhaul of his cabinet, my urge is that this should be done in fairness and high consideration for competence. Here is a simple glance at the movements of some of the officers from one ministry to another 2011: *Mr. Yusuph Olaniyonu (Information and Strategy); *Mr. Daniel Adejobi (Housing); * Mr. Adebayo Fari (Environment); *Dr. Lanre Tejuoso (Special Duties); *Hon. Falilu Adebisi Sabitu (Forestry); *Mr. Bimbo Ashiru (Commerce and Industry); *Mrs. Oluwande Muoyo (Budget and Planning); *Mrs. Elizabeth Sonubi (Women Affairs and Social Development); *Hon. Muyiwa Oladipo (Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs); *Chief Olu Odeyemi (Culture and Tourism). *Arc. Olamilekan Adegbite (Works and Infrastructure); *Barrister Segun Odubela (Education); ****Mr. Gbenga Otenuga (Youths and Sports); ****Hon. Ayo Olubori (Agriculture); *Chief Samuel Durojaiye Aiyedogbon (Community Development and Cooperative); *Mr. Wemimo Ogunde (SAN) (Attorney General and Justice); *Mrs. Kemi Adeosun (Finance); *Dr. Olaokun Soyinka. (Health) 2012 Cabinet Reshuffle. Chief Olu Odeyemi, formerly Of the Ministry of Culture & Tourism moved to the Ministry of Special Duties. Hon. Ayo Olubori, formerly of the Ministry of Agriculture moved to the Ministry of Forestry. Lanre Tejuosho, formerly of the Ministry of Special Duties moved to the Ministry of the Environment. Mr Adebayo Fari, formerly of the Ministry of Environment moved to the newly created Ministry of Physical Planning. Hon. Falilu Adebisi, formerly of the ministry of forestry moved to the ministry of Rural Development. 2012: Ministry of Culture & Tourism Ministry of Special Duties. Ministry of Agriculture Ministry of Forestry. Ministry of the Environment. Ministry of Physical Planning Ministry of Rural Development *Chief Olu Odeyemi *Hon. Ayo Olubori *Lanre Tejuosho, *Mr Adebayo Fari *Hon. Falilu Adebisi 2013 Cabinet Re-Reshuffle Dr. Lanre Tejuoso again from the Ministry Environment moved to the Ministry of Youths and Sports Mr. Gbenga Otenuga, Commissioner for Youths and Sports, was moved to the Ministry of Urban and Physical Planning. Hon. Ayo Olubori, again from Forestry was moved Ministry of Environment; Mr. Adebayo Fari again from the Ministry of Urban and Physical Planning now takes charge of affairs at the Ministry of Forestry. 2013 Ministry of Environment. Ministry of Youths and Sports Ministry of Urban and Physical Planning. Ministry of Forestry, Ministry of Environment; SUMMARY: Dr. Lanre Tejuoso**** Special Duties»»Environment»»Youths and Sports. Mr. Gbenga Otenuga- Youths and Sports»»Urban and Physical Planning Ayo Olubori**** Agriculture»» Forestry»» Environment Mr. Adebayo Fari**** Environment»» Physical Planning»» Forestry.