Oduduwa News

The Ondo State Commissioner of Police, Adebowale Lawal, has announced a ban on the sale and use of fireworks during the festive season, directing intensified security operations across the state.

In a statement on Wednesday by the spokesperson for the command, DSP Ayanlade Olusola, Lawal — who addressed officers during his weekly lecture — raised concern over rising false alarms and staged kidnappings used to extort money, warning that the command would clamp down on perpetrators.

He expressed satisfaction with the readiness of officers statewide and ordered Area Commanders, Divisional Police Officers and Tactical Commanders to tighten control of their jurisdictions to ensure a peaceful Yuletide.

The CP also mandated aggressive patrols, intelligence-driven raids on blackspots and deployment of covert operatives to boost intelligence gathering and early threat detection.

Announcing the fireworks ban, he said such items often cause panic and could be exploited by criminals to conceal their activities, stressing strict enforcement throughout the season.

Lawal appreciated the support of the Inspector-General of Police and directed DPOs to ensure smooth traffic flow, remove road obstructions and deploy personnel strategically for festive safety.

He urged motorists to remain vigilant, avoid speeding and prioritise safety, assuring residents and travellers that the police would secure highways, hinterlands and waterways throughout the celebrations.

Incoming Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (retd.), on Wednesday explained why the Southwest remains one of the safest zones in the country, attributing the region’s relative peace to sustained unity and cooperation among its governors.

Speaking during his ministerial screening at the Senate in Abuja, Musa said security successes in the Southwest are not accidental but the result of deliberate collaboration. He noted that governors in the zone have consistently aligned on regional security strategies, making it difficult for criminal elements to penetrate.

According to him, many of the security challenges in the North stem from porous borders exploited by terrorists and bandits. He warned that criminal groups often flee into neighbouring countries such as Niger Republic after carrying out attacks in states like Sokoto and Kebbi, making it difficult for security forces to pursue them.

Musa also raised concerns about recent incursions into Kwara State and early attempts by bandits to push further into the Southwest, stressing the need to prevent such expansion. He called for stronger regional cooperation across all geopolitical zones and better coordination between federal ministries, departments, and security agencies.

The minister-designate further emphasised the importance of building community resilience, saying many abductions and local crimes can be prevented when communities are empowered and security agencies work in harmony.

The Rivers State House of Assembly has unanimously endorsed President Bola Tinubu for a second term.

The decision was announced during the 37th Legislative Session on Wednesday, following a motion signed by 26 lawmakers and presented by the House Leader, Major Jack (Akuku-Toru).

The lawmakers said the endorsement was in recognition of the numerous Federal Government projects attracted to the state under Tinubu’s administration. They noted that a vote of confidence had become necessary to ensure continuity.

They also recalled Tinubu’s intervention during the state’s recent political crisis, describing his role as fatherly and crucial to restoring stability. According to them, his actions showed genuine concern for the people of Rivers State.

The Assembly further applauded the President for appointing several Rivers indigenes into key national positions, saying the gesture has strengthened ties with the Federal Government and boosted political morale.

Responding, Speaker Martin Amaewhule (Obio/Akpor I) hailed Tinubu as a compassionate leader committed to putting Nigeria on a path of growth. He commended the administration’s economic policies, describing them as impactful and people-oriented.

The lawmakers also pledged to mobilise grassroots support for the Renewed Hope Agenda and reaffirmed their loyalty to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.

The Lagos State Government has announced plans to remove small commercial buses, popularly known as korope, from major highways as part of an accelerated effort to modernise the city’s transportation network under the Lagos Strategic Transport Master Plan.

According to officials, the measure forms a key component of the next phase of the Lekki–Epe Bus Reform Scheme, which will commence on December 8. The initiative is designed to streamline operations, reduce traffic bottlenecks, and improve safety for commuters.

The reform falls under the broader Bus Reform Initiative (BRI) a long-term plan to gradually replace informal minibus transport with a regulated, high-capacity public transit system. Authorities say the move will introduce more reliable routes, enhance commuter comfort, and bring greater order to the metropolis’ bus corridors.

Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Policy Communication, Daniel Bwala, says former President Goodluck Jonathan had no concrete strategy to rescue the Chibok schoolgirls.

He added that Tinubu’s demand for Jonathan’s resignation at the time was legitimate.

Bwala made the remark while explaining the government’s stance on negotiating with terrorists during an interview on Channels Television.

He said although previous administrations sometimes entered talks to save abducted citizens, the Tinubu government maintains a strict zero-tolerance policy on negotiations and ransom payments.

“So the Federal Government does not tolerate the idea of negotiation,” he said.

Bwala added that negotiation only empowers terrorists financially and strengthens their capacity for violence, which the current administration seeks to avoid.

His comments come amid a surge in school kidnappings and escalating insecurity across multiple states, raising concerns over student safety and government response mechanisms.

The recent wave of abductions has attracted national and international scrutiny, with many Nigerians questioning the federal strategy for combating insurgency and banditry.

Health activities across major state-owned hospitals in Oyo State have been severely disrupted as health-records officers, laboratory attendants, pharmacy technicians and other allied health-workers under the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) continue their nationwide strike. Visits to facilities such as Jericho Specialist Hospital, Adeoyo Maternity Teaching Hospital, Ring Road State Hospital and other general hospitals in the Ibadan zone showed that the strike has forced many departments to operate below capacity, with only skeletal services available to patients.

At Jericho Specialist Hospital, health-workers in departments critical to patient flow including Records, Laboratory, Pharmacy, Radiology and General Support stayed away from duty, leaving long queues of patients unable to complete basic processes such as registration, laboratory tests or drug collection. Doctors and nurses on duty struggled to attend to patients, but the absence of essential support staff meant only emergency or very limited outpatient consultations were possible.

A similar situation played out at Adeoyo Maternity Hospital, where antenatal mothers, children and emergency cases were delayed due to the non-availability of laboratory services, incomplete documentation and limited clerical support. While wards and clinics remained open, staff confirmed that only “bare-minimum operations” were possible since the strike began, adding that admissions, diagnostics and drug dispensing were significantly slowed down.

Across other state hospitals in Ibadan, Oyo, Ogbomoso and Iseyin, allied health-workers’ absence has crippled the non-clinical backbone of service delivery. Patients who require laboratory tests, imaging, record retrieval, drug refills or referrals are being turned back or asked to return when “full operations resume.” Hospital officials say the skeletal service level will continue until the government resolves JOHESU’s demands over the long-standing CONHESS salary adjustment, which triggered the nationwide action.

The Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Adewale Egbedun, on Tuesday issued a strong warning to Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, urging him to desist from what he described as attempts to “import brigandage and political intimidation” into Osun State.

Speaking during a press briefing at the Assembly Complex in Osogbo, the Speaker said emerging political activities linked to external forces were becoming “worrisome and unacceptable,” stressing that Osun would not tolerate any form of destabilization.

Egbedun accused Governor Makinde of allegedly bankrolling and encouraging certain political actors in Osun to stoke unrest ahead of the 2026 election cycle, claiming such moves were aimed at widening Makinde’s national political reach.

According to the Speaker, “If Governor Seyi Makinde is desperate to become Nigeria’s President in the future, he should not use Osun State as a launch pad for that ambition. He has Oyo State—his own territory—to experiment with. Osun people will not fold their arms while external forces attempt to pollute our peaceful political environment.”

He added that Osun remained committed to peace, stability, and democratic processes guided by local decisions rather than external dictates.

Egbedun called on political stakeholders in Osun to maintain vigilance and resist what he described as “backdoor infiltration tactics” capable of undermining the state’s progress under Governor Ademola Adeleke’s administration.

He further urged security agencies to monitor the situation closely to prevent any escalation.

“Osun is not a battleground for anyone’s presidential ambition. We will defend our peace, our government, and our people,” the Speaker declared.

The development has stirred political reactions across the South-West, with analysts suggesting that the comments may intensify already tense relations between Osun and Oyo political blocs within the PDP.

In a letter to Senate President Godswill Akpabio, President Tinubu conveyed General Musa’s nomination as the successor to Alhaji Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, who resigned on Monday.

General Musa, 58, on December 25, is a distinguished soldier who served as Chief of Defence Staff from 2023 until October 2025. He won the Colin Powell Award for Soldiering in 2012.

Born in Sokoto in 1967, General Musa received his primary and secondary education there before attending the College of Advanced Studies in Zaria. He graduated in 1986 and enrolled at the Nigerian Defence Academy the same year, earning a Bachelor of Science degree upon graduation in 1991.

General Musa was commissioned into the Nigerian Army as a Second Lieutenant in 1991 and has since had a distinguished career. His appointments include General Staff Officer 1, Training/Operations at HQ 81 Division; Commanding Officer, 73 Battalion; Assistant Director, Operational Requirements, Department of Army Policy and Plans; and Infantry Representative/Member, Training Team, HQ Nigerian Army Armour Corps.

In 2019, he served as Deputy Chief of Staff, Training/Operations, Headquarters Infantry Centre and Corps; Commander, Sector 3, Operation Lafiya Dole; and Commander, Sector 3 Multinational Joint Task Force in the Lake Chad Region.

In 2021, General Musa was appointed Theatre Commander, Operation Hadin Kai. He later became Commander of the Nigerian Army Infantry Corps before being appointed Chief of Defence Staff by President Tinubu in 2023.

In the letter to the Senate, President Tinubu expressed confidence in General Musa’s ability to lead the Ministry of Defence and further strengthen Nigeria’s security architecture.

Iwo was agog with academic energy as 216 brilliant students from nine schools converged at Salinsile Events Centre for the MECAMA Games Competition. The Busy Brains 4.0 Edition, held from November 24 to 26, 2025. The three-day event, organized by Algorithm Educational Concepts in partnership with the Dexterity Progressive Organized Private Schools of Nigeria (DEPROPSON), Iwo Chapter, showcased outstanding intellectual performance among young learners.

Conceptualized and convened by Mr. Akinwole Adebayo Najeem, a lecturer from the Mathematics Department, Federal College of Education, Iwo, the competition aimed at strengthening teamwork, critical thinking, and problem-solving among pupils and students.

Participants from schools including Daaru Qalam School, At-Tawfeeq Model Academy, At-Tawheed School, Kunfayakun Erudite School, Excellent Model School, Olohunlogbo School, Aonullah International School, and Al-Abadillah School formed 108 creatively named teams, adopting titles inspired by ornaments, gems, flowers, and elements such as Alabaster, Bamboo, Alexandrite, Pearl, and Bismuth.

To ensure fairness and transparency, 27 umpires—among them respected lecturers of the Federal College of Education, Iwo, such as Mrs. Hamdallah Orisadare, Mr. Akereyeni Kehinde, and Mr. Nurudeen Adefajo—supervised the contest.

Following a keenly contested first round, 56 teams advanced to the second stage. The semifinal rounds were intense, with students thrilling the audience with their speed, accuracy, and strategic collaboration across diverse academic challenges.

In the grand finale, exceptional young minds emerged winners. In the Primary Category, Team Bismuth (Daaru Qalam School) clinched the top prize, followed by Team Bamboo (At-Tawfeeq Model Academy) in second place and Team Plutonium (At-Tawheed School) in third. In the Secondary Category, Team Nitrogen of At-Tawfeeq Model Academy took first place, while Team Pearl and Team Milestone—both from Kunfayakun Erudite School—won second and third respectively. Winners received cash prizes of ₦50,000, ₦30,000, and ₦20,000.

MECAMA Games Development Manager, Mr. Hafeez Adewoyin (Diamond), expressed satisfaction with the event’s success, applauding participating schools, umpires, and students for their dedication. He reaffirmed MECAMA’s commitment to nurturing young talent and promoting educational excellence across Osun State and beyond.

Inventor and convener of the MECAMA Games, Mr. Akinwole Adebayo Najeem, lauded the students for their brilliance, describing the edition as a display of creativity, teamwork, and modern problem-solving skills. He called for support from government, organizations, and individuals to sustain and expand the initiative.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Osun State, on Wednesday, pressed ahead with its gubernatorial primary election in Osogbo—and in a significant outcome, Fatai Rauf Yekini Oladimeji (FRYO) emerged as the party’s governorship candidate, despite internal turmoil triggered by Senator Ademola Adeleke’s recent resignation from the party.

Delegates began arriving at the Osogbo City Stadium early in the morning, with accreditation and security measures set up across multiple entry points. The turnout reflected the party’s determination to proceed with its political calendar, even as analysts predicted that Adeleke’s exit could destabilize the PDP structure in the state.

Adeleke’s abrupt resignation on Monday deepened existing tensions within the party, exposing long-standing rifts between factions loyal to the former governor and those aligned with Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde. His departure was widely perceived as a reaction to losing control of the party’s structure and the governorship ticket to the rising Makinde-backed bloc.

Despite the escalating crisis, the PDP leadership remained resolute, with insiders confirming that Makinde’s political network played a key role in ensuring that the primary held as scheduled. Delegates widely described the election as a “battle for the soul of Osun PDP,” one that ultimately produced FRYO as the consensus choice.

As voting progressed, it became increasingly clear that FRYO enjoyed significant support from the Southwest PDP power base linked to Makinde, giving him a decisive edge over other aspirants. Party officials later announced his victory to loud cheers from supporters who celebrated the result as a new direction for the party in the state.

Speaking after the announcement, a senior PDP chieftain noted that the emergence of FRYO demonstrated the party’s resolve to move past the Adeleke episode and rebuild ahead of the 2026 elections.

“Adeleke’s resignation was unfortunate, but the PDP cannot be held hostage,” the official said. “Today’s primary, and the emergence of FRYO, shows that the party is ready to reposition itself. Governor Makinde’s stabilising influence helped to prevent a total breakdown.”

Political observers say the choice of FRYO may mark the beginning of a reshaped PDP leadership dynamic in Osun—one less centred on Adeleke dominance and more aligned with the regional strategy driven by Makinde within the Southwest zone.

Despite lingering grievances within the Adeleke camp, party leaders expressed confidence that FRYO’s candidacy could unify members, restore internal order, and re-energize the PDP’s grassroots base ahead of the 2026 governorship election.

The party is expected to present FRYO formally as its candidate after completing the final ratification process.