Solomon's Column

The lapses in the government over several years at all levels have emboldened cultists and other categories of criminals to persist in their stock-in-trade in several communities in Oyo state. The covert support by the political class across party lines has not helped matters. Residents have for long been having sleepless nights, while those-in-power are still reluctant to take decisive steps to put an end to lawlessness, crime, all forms of criminality and evil. Dr. Raymond Adegboyega an indigene of Ile-Oluwo, Odo-Osun, Ibadan, holds a doctorate degree in Finance and is the Governorship candidate of the National Rescue Movement(NRM) in the state. In this interview, the finance analyst and lecturer opines that cultism is new in the state and, as a result of certain factors, it persists. Excerpts : The activities of cultists and other categories of criminals have continued unabated in several communities in Oyo state. The State House of Assembly has not helped matters by not coming

Members of the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions(NASU) have been called upon to be security conscious and report suspicious activities promptly. This call was made by the chairman of the union in the University College Hospital(UCH)branch Ibadan, Nigeria, Comrade Kehinde Abiona. ''Information is key to all we do. We must be our brother's keeper. I call on all NASU members and Nigerians to be security conscious and report all suspicious activities around them in good time. We always sensitize and educate our members on basic security measures, Comrade Abiona disclosed. He appealed to the hospital's management and government to speedily facilitate the implementation of all that is due to the workers. ''Many of the negotiated terms of contracts should be respected. The issue of promotion letters should also be resolved. Our members who have been promoted are yet to receive their promotion letters. And the is also the issue of

The development of Nigeria's economy has regrettably suffered devastating setbacks due to illiteracy, mediocrity, corruption and compromised government institutions. Since the setbacks are systemic, all attempts to turning to the positive side of development have failed, while trial and error is now the acceptable approach Sadly, Those-in-Power are presently counting the number of days to handover while the economy continues to deteriorate. In several states of the federation, economic activities have declined drastically, this has compiled Nigerians to seek alternative means of income. These means are criminal in nature. Interestingly, unfolding events suggest that terrorism, ritual killings, banditry, kidnappings and other violent crimes have become sources of livelihood not only for those outside government service, but for those in service. The situation is not abating, and the criminals are not relenting, even as tears, sorrows and blood characterize living in different