The race for the Oyo North Senatorial District is beginning to attract attention, with Chief Hannah Ogunesan of the APC, Hon. Shina Peller of the APM and Dr. Yisa Yusuf (YY Muslim) of the Accord Party emerging as notable contenders in the unfolding contest. Beyond the political parties and personalities, the election is shaping up as a test of what the people of Oyo North want from their next representative.

Oyo North has produced notable senators over the years, including Braimoh Yusuf, Robert Koleosho, Hosea Agboola, Gbenga Babalola and the incumbent, Senator Fatai Buhari. While the district has historically seen strong representation from Oke-Ogun, Ogbomoso remains an important component of the senatorial district. With 13 local government areas, the next senator will inherit the responsibility of representing a diverse constituency with different political, economic and developmental interests.

Buhari’s tenure has also raised the expectations surrounding the office. His admirers highlight constituency interventions, empowerment initiatives and human-capital development, while his sponsorship of the legislation that led to the establishment of the Federal University of Agriculture and Technology, Okeho, has become one of the major issues associated with his representation. The university is particularly significant to Oke-Ogun, where the demand for a higher institution of federal significance had featured prominently in development discussions.

For Chief Hannah Ogunesan, who had held the position of Head of Service in Oyo State, the APC platform provides access to an established political structure and an opportunity to present a new agenda to the electorate. Her challenge will be to translate that platform into a compelling message about representation, development and inclusion across the entire district, including both Oke-Ogun and Ogbomoso.

Hon. Shina Peller comes into the contest with previous legislative experience, having represented Iseyin/Itesiwaju/Kajola/Iwajowa Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives. His political profile and familiarity with legislative responsibilities give him a distinct background, while his decision to contest under the APM means that he will also have to demonstrate the strength of his personal political network beyond the structures of the major parties.

Dr. Yisa Yusuf popularly known as YY Muslim, representing the Accord Party, brings another option to the contest. His candidacy provides voters with an alternative outside the APC and APM establishments. His task, however, will be to build sufficient grassroots visibility and organisation across the 13 local government areas while convincing voters that his platform can translate into effective representation at the Senate.

Ultimately, the contest should be about more than where a candidate comes from or which political platform he or she represents. Oyo North needs a representative capable of connecting Oke-Ogun and Ogbomoso, attracting meaningful federal interventions, supporting education and agriculture, empowering young people and creating opportunities across the senatorial district.

The electorate will therefore have the opportunity to weigh different personalities, records, political platforms and visions for the future. Fatai Buhari may have raised the bar; the question now is who will inherit the responsibility of meeting it and potentially raising it further.

Oyo North has the cap. The people will decide who wears it.

The All Progressives Congress (APC), in Oyo State has described Governor Seyi Makinde’s presidential project as a script packaged to create an avenue for him to escape from the country before May 29, 2027 in his desperate bid to evade justice in view of many alleged cases of graft and abuse of office hanging on his neck.

Makinde, who is in his second and final term in office as the Executive Governor of Oyo State, is the presidential candidate of the Allied People’s Movement (APM) in the 2027 general elections, daily squandering resources of Oyo State on random political activities.

In a statement issued at the weekend and made available to journalists in Ibadan by its Publicity Secretary, Olawale Sadare, Oyo APC faulted the reported declaration of Monday (September 21) as a public holiday in the state, so as to popularize a musical concert organized to entertain some fun-seeking youths in Ibadan, describing the development as an abuse of office by the governor.

“Many political watchers have been wondering how an accidental governor like Seyi Makinde would dream of becoming a president at a time when a master of the game has his hands on the lever. Some pundits have also described Gov. Makinde’s tall dream as a mere show of comedy since it is devoid of any substance, clear-cut strategy and seriousness on his part as a contestant.

“Meanwhile, we can authoritatively inform the whole world that Makinde is only out to hoodwink Nigerians, distract the anti-graft agencies which are on his cases and also secure an escape route from the country anytime from January 1, 2027. We are working on the details of his plans even as relevant security agents are already on red alert because he (Makinde) will be made to answer for all his atrocities since he was sworn in as governor in May 2019.

“False asset declaration, diversion of local government council funds, contract sum variation, money laundering, land grabbing, sponsorship of violence, illegal sale of government properties, collection of fraudulent loans, contempt of the court and disobedience to court orders among other crimes are too weighty to be swept under the carpet. The governor and the handful number of individuals who are liable to prosecution over these cases know what lies ahead of them and this explains why they want to run away before May 29, 2027.

“After he had played an inglorious role in the relegation of the PDP, Makinde made it to a colourless APM and he hijacked the party’s presidential ticket. The same APM was roundly beaten in the by-elections held in six different constituencies across the country over the weekend as it can only boast of a few members in Oyo and Bauchi states out of the 36 and the FCT. How then can Makinde contest and win presidential election in the country under the unpopular political party?” APC queried.

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has spoken about the historical significance of tribal marks among the Yoruba people, explaining that the traditional markings were once used as a means of identification.

Obasanjo made the remarks while speaking on the Curious City podcast, where he explained that tribal marks served an important purpose in identifying people who belonged to the same community, particularly during periods when people were captured and sold into sl@very.

According to the former president, the markings made it possible for people to recognise members of their own communities even after they had been separated from their homes.

“Tribal marks in those old days were used so that people, even when they were sold into slavery, could identify their own people. That is the purpose of tribal mark.”

Obasanjo also spoke about the presence of tribal marks among Yoruba men in those days, making a remark linking the absence of such markings to poverty.

“If you are a Yoruba man and you don’t have tribal mark, you must be very poor, because you no get money to make mark.”

The Senator Sharafadeen Alli Campaign Organisation has hit back at Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde following the governor’s recent remarks about the professional credentials of the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate ahead of the 2027 election. The campaign organisation accused Makinde of attempting to discredit Alli rather than defending his administration’s record.

In a statement signed by its Director of Media and Publicity, Bisi Oladele, the organisation questioned Makinde’s record as an engineer, particularly over the state’s streetlighting project. It alleged that more than N250 billion had been spent powering streetlights with diesel generators, describing the arrangement as evidence of what it called poor planning and questionable use of public resources. The figure was presented by the campaign organisation and has not been independently verified.

The group also criticised the renovation of the Lekan Salami Stadium, Adamasingba, Ibadan, alleging that despite an investment of more than N5 billion, the facility was unable to meet requirements for Shooting Stars Sports Club to host certain continental fixtures. It questioned the quality and certification of the renovation and asked what the state government had achieved with the expenditure.

The campaign organisation further defended Alli against Makinde’s earlier comments questioning his experience as a lawyer. Oladele described the governor’s remarks as evidence of “ignorance” and “bitterness” over the possibility of Alli succeeding him in 2027. The organisation also accused Makinde of repeatedly mentioning Alli in his public engagements, saying the frequency showed the senator had become a major focus of the governor’s political attention.

The Oyo State Government has, however, defended the projects. Makinde’s Special Adviser on Media, Sulaimon Olanrewaju, said the use of generators for streetlights was necessitated by unreliable electricity from the national grid, while noting that the government had built a 5MW solar plant being upgraded to 12MW. He also defended the stadium renovation, saying further upgrades were being carried out to meet evolving international standards.

The Governing Body of Jehovah’s Witnesses has announced a major adjustment to the organisation’s long-standing position on blood, allowing individual members to decide according to their personal conscience whether to accept or donate four major blood components. The change was announced on Friday, September 18, 2026, from the organisation’s World Headquarters in Warwick, New York.

Under the revised policy, Jehovah’s Witnesses may personally decide whether to accept red blood cells, white blood cells, plasma or platelets derived from another person’s blood during medical or surgical treatment. Members may also decide whether to donate blood specifically for the purpose of having its components or fractions used in the treatment of another person.

The organisation, however, stressed that the adjustment does not amount to an approval of whole-blood transfusions. Its long-standing religious position against transfusion of whole blood remains unchanged, with the organisation continuing to base the teaching on the biblical command to “abstain from blood.”

Jehovah’s Witnesses said the decision concerning the four primary components is now a matter of individual conscience because, in its interpretation, the Bible does not specifically address whether these components from another person should be accepted or donated. The organisation said members should prayerfully consider their circumstances and make decisions that allow them to maintain a clear conscience.

The latest development follows another significant clarification announced by Jehovah’s Witnesses in March 2026, when the organisation said members could personally decide whether to have their own blood removed, stored and later returned to them during medical or surgical procedures. The September decision therefore represents a further expansion of individual choice concerning blood-related medical care, while the prohibition on whole-blood transfusions remains in place.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has said Nigerians are already benefiting from lower transportation costs in several parts of the country following the deployment of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) and electric-powered public transport services.

Tinubu made this known on Saturday while giving an update on the National Affordable CNG Transit Programme, saying the Federal Government and state governments were working to ensure that the savings from cheaper energy are passed directly to commuters through reduced fares.

The President said the initiative followed his August 27 meeting with the 36 state governors, after which an implementation committee was established under the Nigeria Governors’ Forum. He said the government’s target is for more Nigerians to begin experiencing measurable reductions in transportation costs from October 1, 2026.

Tinubu cited several examples of existing fare reductions across the country. In Oyo State, he said CNG buses deployed to Pacesetter Transport reduced the Lagos-Ibadan fare from about ₦8,000 to ₦3,200 during the initial deployment.

He also said CNG and electric transport services in Borno were carrying passengers for between ₦50 and ₦100 on routes where commercial operators charged between ₦300 and ₦600. In Kaduna, he said 100 CNG-powered buses were providing free transportation on major routes and had carried about 3.2 million passengers in their first year, saving commuters more than ₦3.5 billion.

According to the President, transport fares have also fallen in other locations. He cited a reduction from ₦8,000 to ₦4,000 in Adamawa, ₦2,500 to ₦1,500 on the Enugu-Nsukka route, and reductions on several Abuja commuter routes, including Area 1-Gwagwalada from ₦1,500 to ₦900 and Nyanya from ₦700 to ₦420.

Tinubu said more than 120,000 vehicles have already been converted to CNG, with over 400 certified conversion centres and more than 90 CNG refuelling stations currently operating nationwide. He urged state governments to accelerate the deployment of CNG buses, vehicle conversions and supporting infrastructure ahead of October 1.

The President also maintained that the government would not return to the petrol subsidy regime, arguing that Nigeria should instead expand alternative energy sources and reduce its exposure to fluctuations in global petroleum prices.

“These are not projections. Nigerians are already experiencing these savings,” Tinubu said, while urging states to work with transport unions and commercial operators to ensure that lower energy costs translate into lower fares for commuters.

The announcement comes amid continuing concerns over the cost of transportation and rising petrol prices. Recent reports from Abuja, for instance, quoted civil servants as saying increased petrol prices had pushed up their daily transportation expenses.

The Federal Government is therefore targeting wider implementation of the affordable CNG transport programme from October 1, with the stated objective of making cheaper transportation available to more Nigerians.

Senator Sharafadeen Abiodun Alli, the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate for the 2027 Oyo State election, has been elevated from Ekarun Balogun Olubadan to Ekerin Balogun Olubadan of Ibadanland by the Olubadan, Oba Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja.

Alli, who represents Oyo South Senatorial District in the National Assembly, announced the elevation in a statement on Saturday, expressing appreciation to Oba Ladoja and members of the Olubadan Advisory Council for the confidence reposed in him.

The senator was, however, absent from the elevation ceremony held at the Olubadan Palace, Oke-Aremo, Ibadan, as he is currently in the Holy Land performing the Islamic pilgrimage of Umrah. He said he used the opportunity to pray for Ibadanland, Oyo State and its people.

Alli also expressed appreciation to traditional rulers, Mogajis, Baales, political associates, friends and members of the Olofiere family who represented him at the ceremony.

Reacting to the elevation, Alli described the new position as more than a ceremonial title, stressing that advancement in the Ibadan traditional institution comes with increased responsibility to the people.

“A step up in rank is a step up in responsibility,” Alli said.

He pledged to continue contributing to the peace, unity, progress and development of Ibadanland and Oyo State, while linking the new traditional responsibility to his broader Oyo AHEAD vision.

The elevation places Alli on the Ekerin Balogun rung of Ibadanland’s Balogun chieftaincy line. The Ibadan traditional system operates through two major lines—the Otun (civil) line and the Balogun line—with Ekerin Balogun ranking above Ekarun Balogun.

The development comes as Alli, a serving senator, prepares for the 2027 Oyo State governorship contest on the APC platform. His political role and traditional position therefore place the latest elevation within both the traditional and political landscape of the state.

Alli said he received the honour with humility and renewed commitment to service, declaring that the elevation represents a fresh call to contribute to the advancement of Ibadanland and Oyo State.

Seyi Makinde, governor of Oyo and presidential candidate of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), has accused the administration of President Bola Tinubu of running a “voodoo economy”.

Makinde spoke on Friday while addressing civil servants at the government house in Agodi, Ibadan, the Oyo state capital, after returning from his annual leave.

The governor said the old N18,000 minimum wage during the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan could buy more than the current N70,000.

A tortoise known as Baba, which the Alaafin’s Palace in Oyo said had lived for about 420 years, has died after a brief illness.

The ancient tortoise reportedly died on Monday after falling ill and stopping eating. The palace later buried Baba within its premises.

The Director of Media and Publicity to the Alaafin of Oyo, Bode Durojaiye, announced the death in a statement issued in Ibadan on Thursday.

According to the palace, Baba was more than a palace pet, having become part of the oral history and cultural heritage associated with the Yoruba people and the ancient Oyo Kingdom.

Durojaiye said oral history traced Baba’s origin to Oyo-Ile, the ancient capital of the old Oyo Empire, from where the tortoise was reportedly brought to the present-day palace in Oyo town.

The tortoise was said to have been cared for by successive Alaafins and inherited as part of the historical relics associated with the palace.

The palace also said Baba became a notable attraction for visitors, with people travelling to the palace to see the tortoise because of its reported age, size and unusual history.

Two palace officials were reportedly assigned to care for Baba. Its diet included watermelon, corn pap wrapped in leaves and grass.

The palace described Baba as an “ageless companion” to the Alaafin institution and said its reported longevity enabled it to become a symbol of continuity between different generations of the Oyo Kingdom.

“In Oyo, Baba was regarded as the oldest indigene. It was the Alaafin’s most cherished pet. The monarch met it in the palace, while Baba was nourished by a succession of kings,” the palace said.

The name Baba, meaning “father” in Yoruba, was reportedly adopted because of the respect attached to the tortoise’s supposed age.

The palace said Baba fell ill on Monday and stopped eating before dying later that day.

“Baba fell ill on Monday, just a little sickness and couldn’t eat anymore. Then, he died. Just like that,” the statement said.

Baba’s reported age, however, has not been independently verified. Reports indicate that the 420-year figure is based on palace oral history rather than a documented birth record or scientific age determination.

Nevertheless, the death has drawn attention to the tortoise’s longstanding cultural significance at the Alaafin’s Palace and its role as a living link to stories surrounding the old Oyo Empire.

The palace also connected Baba’s symbolic importance with Yoruba cultural beliefs concerning the relationship between the living, the dead and the unborn, referencing Wole Soyinka’s Death and the King’s Horseman.

With Baba’s death, the Alaafin’s Palace has lost an unusual historical attraction that, according to the palace, had survived generations of monarchs and become an enduring part of Oyo’s oral tradition and heritage.

**Goodnight, Baba.**