Police seal Ondo State House of Assembly as leadership crisis deepens (Read full details)

Ondo State House of Assembly

•Lawmakers engage in free for all

The Ondo State Police Command yesterday sealed the House of Assembly complex to avert what could have generated into a bloody battlefield. The 26-member legislature has last Friday been embroiled in a leadership tussle with both the embattled Speaker, Jumoke Akindele and Coker Malachi, laying claim to the seat.

A faction of 12-members had at the weekend purportedly unseated Akindele and elected Malachi in her stead.But at the rowdy session of the House yesterday, hell was let loose when the 14 members loyal to Akindele were pitched against the rest 12 colleagues who purportedly effected the leadership change.

It was gathered that Akindele, in the company of her 13 apologists, stormed the complex as early as 6:30 a.m. yesterday for parliamentary duties when the other faction stormed the House and disrupted the plenary, insisting that she could not perform the function having been “impeached.”

According to reports, the first female speaker in the state was rough-handled, resulting in free for all. It however, took the prompt intervention of the state Police Commissioner, Mrs. Hilda Harrison-Ibirufo, to bring the situation under control with the deployment of no fewer than 30 officers, just as she also stationed an Armoured Personnel Carrier at the entrance of the complex.

In a chat later, the chairman, House Committee on Information, Mr. Siji Akindiose, said a vote of confidence was yesterday passed on the embattled speaker and the other principal officers that were purportedly sacked. He noted that machinery had been put in place to resolve all outstanding issues.

But the Malachi faction, at a briefing, insisted that the impeachment of the principal officers for alleged fraud stands. According to its spokesman, Ogundeji Iroju, the mace is in their possession, maintaining that the Akindele group had no right to “go to the hallowed chamber to conduct the business of the day.”

He submitted that the police hierarchy in Abuja and Akure had been briefed of the change of guards, urging the police to immediately withdraw the security personnel attached to the “sacked” principal officers.

He equally warned banks from transacting business with them, warning that a breach would be seen as complicit. The Guardian however, learnt, that Governor Olusegun Mimiko and the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state had waded into the crisis.

Nosak Group holds management retreat (Read full details)

Introduces Nosak Family Vegetable Oil
Nosak Group, a diversified business group with interests in agriculture, manufacturing, logistics, pharmaceuticals and supermarket, recently held a two-day management retreat in Lagos.

Speaking at the event, the Chairman, Dr. Toni Ogunbor, said hard work and commitment are essential values that can take the company to a higher level.

Enjoining staff to be focused and achieve the company’s objectives, he noted that the global economic recession that occurred about 10 years ago is still having its negative effect in many countries’ economy, including Nigeria. He added that the 2009 banking sector reforms carried out by then CBN Governor, Malam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi (now Emir of Kano) aimed at strengthening Nigerian banks, but in the end it saw stronger banks taking over weaker ones.

Commending staff for their cooperation during the company’s trying period, he stated that Nosak Group has built structures that help it ‘weather the storm,’ saying that over 80 per cent of businesses lost out during the global recession, but Nosak Group survived, as a result of judicious management of its resources and the diversification of its business interests.

Urging members to embrace hard work, the Group Chief Operating Officer, Mr. Thomas Oloriegbe, said doing this would enable staff to run with the company’s vision and mission statement of fostering an environment of success.

Highlight of the event was the introduction of Nosak Family Pure Vegetable Oil.

Speaking on the product, Managing Director, Nosak Farm Produce, Mr. Robert Ogiri, said although there is stiff competition in the vegetable oil sector in the country, the company’s latest product would lead others because of its premium nature. Ogiri disclosed that the product is cholesterol free and has zero trans fat, apart from its triple filter.

Nosak Group holds management retreat