Presidential candidate of the Accord Party, Dr. Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, has paid a condolence visit to the family of late civil rights leader and labour activist, Comrade Bolakale Salihu, popularly known as CB.

Hashim visited the deceased’s family at Ikokoro Compound, Ilorin South Local Government Area of Kwara State, where he commiserated with members of the family, friends and associates of the late activist.

Comrade Bolakale was a prominent human rights activist, labour unionist and civil rights campaigner in Kwara State.

He was a leader of the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR) and was actively involved in civic and democratic advocacy in the state.

He was also associated with Kwara Must Change (KMC), Kwara’s prominent pro-democracy and civic advocacy organisation, and played a leading role in the Otoge political movement, which became a defining chapter in the state’s democratic and political history.

Beyond Kwara, Bolakale was connected to organised labour and the wider civil society movement. He was associated with the Joint Action Front (JAF), the Lagos based pro labour civil society coalition that has historically worked alongside organised labour and participated in Labour and Civil Society Coalition (LASCO) activities.

Bolakale was also a close associate of the late Comrade Biodun Aremu, popularly known as Aremson, a Marxist Leninist thinker, socialist fighter and “organic intellectual” whose decades of activism were closely associated with workers’ rights, democratic struggles and Nigeria’s progressive civil-society movement.

Aremu was a prominent figure in the Nigerian labour and civil society space and served as a leading figure in the Joint Action Front. His relationship with Bolakale reflected the wider connections between activists in Kwara and the national labour and pro-democracy movements.

Bolakale was also a staff member of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Ilorin Airport, combining his professional career with longstanding involvement in human rights, labour and democratic activism.

His death has therefore been widely regarded by associates as a loss not only to his family but also to the broader community of human rights defenders, labour activists and pro-democracy campaigners with whom he worked.

During the condolence visit, Hashim paid tribute to Bolakale’s commitment to public service and civic activism, while commiserating with his family and associates over his passing.

The visit also brought together members of the activist community who had worked with Bolakale across different periods of Kwara’s civic and democratic struggles.

Hashim was received by Bolakale’s uncle, Justice Toyin Kawu, who was class mate with Gbenga Hashim at school of basic studies, Ilorin.

For many of his associates, “CB” represented a generation of activists whose engagement with public affairs extended beyond electoral politics into the defence of human rights, workers’ interests, democratic participation and accountable governance.

Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, popularly known as YAYI, and his wife, Mrs. Temitope Adeola, on Friday joined the family and hundreds of sympathisers and fans at the 40th-day prayer for the late Alhaji Hazzan Taiwo Ogogo in Ilaro, Yewa South Local Government Area of Ogun State.

The solemn Islamic prayer, held at the Asade Agunloye Pavilion, Empire Ground, brought together family members, friends, colleagues, political leaders and well-wishers to honour the memory of the late thespian icon and pray for the peaceful repose of his soul.

The gathering also witnessed the participation of Muslim and Christian clerics, who offered prayers and messages of condolence to the bereaved family. The event provided an opportunity for the community and admirers of Ogogo to reflect on his contributions to the entertainment industry and his enduring legacy.

Senator Adeola reaffirmed his commitment to preserving and immortalising Ogogo’s legacy, assuring the family of his continued support and solidarity. He described the late actor as a personality whose contributions would continue to be remembered by generations to come.

Among dignitaries at the ceremony were the Minister of State for Health and Social Services, Dr. Kunle Salako; Sheikh Sugar; Ami Olohun; Alhaji Ibrahim Dende Egungbohun; as well as several serving and former government officials at the state and federal levels.

The 40th-day prayer marked another significant moment for the family as relatives, colleagues, religious leaders and admirers gathered to honour the late Ogogo and offer prayers for his eternal rest.

Two persons were confirmed dead on Friday in Osogbo, Osun State, following a clash involving suspected members of rival cult groups.

The incident occurred at a lounge in the Owoeba community, along the Osogbo–Ilesa Road, at about 5 p.m., when the victims were attacked by yet-to-be-identified assailants.

A resident of Owoeba, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the victims were drinking at the lounge when the attackers arrived.

“We heard gunshots and noise in the afternoon. The deceased were with some people drinking when the assailants arrived. They engaged in a fight before the two men were eventually subdued and killed. One of them was hit on the head and died on the spot,” the resident said.

“One of the deceased was called ‘Small Rugged’. We later saw a police van that came to evacuate the bodies.”

Pictures obtained by our correspondent showed one of the victims lying lifeless in a pool of blood with an open wound on his head.

A police van conveying two corpses was also sighted along Station Road, Osogbo, on Friday evening.

The resident added that the Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Zungura, had directed tactical teams to move to the area and apprehend those behind the attack.

Parents of 20 prospective National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members abducted while travelling from Oyo State to their respective orientation camps have raised the alarm over a ₦1 billion ransom demand by their captors, who reportedly gave them 24 hours to pay or risk the lives of their children.

The affected parents made the disclosure on Saturday when they visited the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, at his private residence in Bodija, Ibadan, alongside the Oyo State Commissioner of Police, Olugbenga Abimbola, and the Aseyin of Iseyinland, Oba Sefiu Adeyeri, to seek urgent intervention for the safe release of the victims.

The 20 graduates were reportedly travelling from Ibadan to their NYSC orientation camps on Thursday when gunmen ambushed the two buses conveying them along the Owerri-Onitsha Road in Umunoha, Imo State. The abductors were said to have demanded ₦50 million for each victim, bringing the total ransom to ₦1 billion.

Speaking on behalf of the affected families, Alhaja Akande and Oyebola Akande said the kidnappers had been contacting them through the mobile phones of the abducted prospective corps members, threatening to harm them if the ransom was not paid within the stipulated period. They lamented that the families could not afford such an enormous amount and appealed to the Olubadan to intervene. “There is no way we can raise such an amount at this period. Baba, kindly assist us. Don’t let them kill our children,” they pleaded.

Responding, Oba Ladoja assured the distressed parents that efforts were underway to secure the victims’ safe release, expressing confidence in the capacity of security agencies to handle the situation. He said the police were working round the clock and promised to relay relevant information to the families as developments emerged.

The Oyo State Commissioner of Police, Olugbenga Abimbola, disclosed that he had been in constant communication with his Imo State counterpart, Audu Garba Bosso, since the incident occurred. He said the Imo police commissioner had assured him that the abducted graduates would be rescued unharmed, although he did not disclose details of the ongoing operation or whether any ransom had been paid.

Meanwhile, security agencies have intensified efforts to rescue the victims, with the Imo State Commissioner of Police reportedly confirming that operatives had used drones to locate the suspected camp where the remaining abductees were being held. However, the rescue operation was said to have been delayed by intelligence reports indicating that the camp had been planted with improvised explosive devices (IEDs). The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, has also deployed the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of Operations, Shehu Nadada, to Imo State to coordinate the search-and-rescue operation.

The Ekiti State Government has commenced the deployment of 15 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses as part of measures to reduce transportation costs and ease the financial burden on residents.

Governor Biodun Oyebanji flagged off the buses at the premises of the Ekiti State Transportation Agency in Ado-Ekiti, describing the deployment as the pilot phase of a broader initiative aimed at making public transportation more affordable and accessible. The buses were donated to the state by the Federal Government.

Oyebanji said the administration was targeting a 50 per cent reduction in transportation costs, urging transport unions to ensure that the savings achieved through the use of CNG are passed directly to commuters. He said the initiative was part of efforts to cushion the impact of transportation costs on residents and respond to the Federal Government’s directive to state governments to explore measures for reducing fares.

The governor, who was accompanied by Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, expressed appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for providing the buses. He said the intervention would help reduce the transportation burden on residents, while assuring that the state would work towards expanding the fleet to reach more commuters.

According to the Director-General of the Ekiti State Transportation Agency, Tajudeen Akingbolu, routes have been mapped out for the buses to operate between Ado-Ekiti and major cities including Lagos, Ibadan, Onitsha and Abuja. The service is expected to provide more affordable interstate transportation while helping to ease the pressure of high transport fares.

The flag-off coincided with activities marking Nigeria’s 66th Independence Anniversary and the 30th anniversary of Ekiti State. The state government said the CNG bus scheme would be expanded as part of its broader efforts to improve affordable public transportation and reduce the cost of movement for residents.

Former Rivers State Governor and African Democratic Congress (ADC) vice-presidential candidate, Rotimi Amaechi, has said he would withdraw from the party’s 2027 presidential ticket and campaign for President Bola Tinubu if petrol sells for ₦600 per litre.

Amaechi made the statement on Friday, October 2, 2026, during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today, while reacting to President Tinubu’s Independence Day address and the administration’s economic policies.

The former Minister of Transportation questioned the President’s declaration that Nigeria had entered an “age of prosperity”, asking whether Nigerians were already experiencing reductions in the cost of living. He pointed particularly to the price of petrol and its impact on transportation and other household expenses.

Amaechi challenged the administration to demonstrate the claimed improvement by reducing the pump price of petrol to ₦600 per litre. He said he was prepared to personally visit a filling station the following morning to verify the price.

“If fuel has come down to 600, I will campaign for President Tinubu,” Amaechi said, adding that he would withdraw as Atiku Abubakar’s vice-presidential candidate if the condition was met.

The statement comes amid an ongoing political and economic debate over petrol pricing and subsidy policy ahead of the 2027 general election. Atiku has proposed a form of support for domestically refined petrol aimed at lowering pump prices, while the Tinubu administration has defended its decision to end the previous petrol subsidy regime and has promoted alternatives such as compressed natural gas and other measures intended to reduce transportation costs.

Amaechi is currently the running mate to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar on the ADC presidential ticket. His remarks therefore add a notable dimension to the continuing debate between the competing economic approaches being presented by the political camps ahead of the 2027 election.

The Lagos State Government has received 20 additional Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses as part of efforts to strengthen public transportation in the state.

The buses were handed over to the state government on September 30, with Commissioner for Transportation Oluwaseun Osiyemi stating that the vehicles would contribute to improving public transportation services.

The development comes amid continuing efforts by Lagos authorities to expand mass transit options and increase the use of CNG-powered vehicles in the state’s transportation system.

Oyo, Lagos, Ondo Governors Call for Unity, Tolerance on Independence Day
Governors in Oyo, Lagos and Ondo States have called on Nigerians to strengthen national unity, promote peaceful coexistence and remain committed to democratic values as the country marked its 66th Independence Anniversary.

The governors, in separate messages to mark Nigeria’s Independence Day on Thursday, October 1, 2026, urged citizens to look beyond ethnic and religious differences and contribute to the development and stability of the country.

In Oyo State, Governor Seyi Makinde, represented by his deputy, Bayo Lawal, made the call during the Independence Day celebration at the Lekan Salami Sports Complex, Adamasingba, Ibadan. Speaking on the theme, “Dealing Decisively with Insecurity, Banditry and Terrorism Through Community Participation, Awareness and Policing,”

Makinde said the sacrifices of Nigeria’s founding fathers should inspire citizens to remain committed to nation-building.
The governor stressed the importance of upholding democracy and the rule of law while confronting insecurity and other socioeconomic challenges. He also urged Nigerians to regard the country’s ethnic and religious diversity as a source of strength rather than division.

Makinde further highlighted developments recorded in Oyo State since 2019, citing interventions in education, healthcare, security, infrastructure, sports and business. Among the initiatives mentioned were the Amotekun Corps, road projects, expansion of public facilities and the Light Up Oyo initiative.

The Independence Day celebration in Ibadan featured a march-past, cultural displays and other activities attended by government officials, traditional rulers, religious leaders and residents. The governor congratulated Nigerians on the anniversary and called for continued cooperation and peaceful coexistence in the interest of national development.

The Imo State Police Command has rescued 10 victims following an attack on two buses conveying prospective National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members and other passengers travelling from Ibadan to the South-East and South-South.

The incident occurred on Thursday along the Owerri–Onitsha Road near Umunoha, where suspected armed men attacked the two buses. According to the police, the buses were travelling from Ibadan to Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, and Bende, Abia State, respectively.

Police spokesperson, DSP Henry Okoye, said tactical teams and other security agencies responded swiftly, leading to the recovery of the two buses and the rescue of 10 victims at the scene. The rescued victims were said to be safe and receiving necessary attention.

The police said the exact number of persons abducted was still being verified, while coordinated search-and-rescue operations and intelligence-led tracking were continuing to locate other victims and apprehend the attackers. The affected section of the highway has also been reopened to traffic, with security personnel deployed to protect commuters.

Earlier reports had put the number of abducted corps members at about 20, but the police have cautioned that the exact number of abductees is yet to be established. Therefore, the confirmed figure at this stage is that 10 victims have been rescued, rather than that all 20 corps members have been rescued.

By Oduduwa News

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has declared that Nigeria has reached a major economic turning point, saying the country has moved beyond the difficult phase of economic reforms and is now entering what he described as an “age of prosperity.”

Tinubu made the declaration in his Independence Day address to Nigerians on Thursday, October 1, 2026, as the country marked its 66th anniversary. The address, titled “From Reform to Prosperity,” focused on the administration’s economic reforms and its plans to translate the gains of those reforms into improved living standards for Nigerians.

According to the President, the past three years were largely devoted to correcting what his administration regarded as deep-rooted economic distortions. He said the reforms had been difficult and had imposed significant hardships on citizens, but maintained that the government had now laid the foundation for a more stable and productive economy.

“The age of reform has done its work. Now begins the age of prosperity,” Tinubu said, stressing that the government’s central economic objective had shifted from correcting the country’s economic direction to achieving “shared and widespread prosperity.”

The President identified reducing the cost of living as a major priority of the next phase. He said the government would work to reduce the cost of producing and transporting goods through increased agricultural production, mechanised irrigation, improved access to seeds and fertiliser, better storage and transportation infrastructure, as well as investments in roads, railways and ports.

Tinubu also placed job creation, industrial expansion and opportunities for young Nigerians at the centre of the new phase, saying Nigeria’s large youthful population should become an engine of production and economic growth. He said improved electricity supply, infrastructure and a business environment that encourages fair competition would help bring down production costs and ultimately reduce prices.

The President also defended the economic reforms introduced since 2023, including the removal of petrol subsidy, arguing that the measures were aimed at addressing underlying structural problems rather than merely treating their symptoms. He warned against returning to what he described as unsustainable subsidy arrangements.

Tinubu acknowledged that the road ahead would still require discipline and sustained economic growth, but expressed confidence that Nigeria had “corrected its course.” He described the country as having “passed through our own Red Sea” and called on Nigerians to look forward rather than back.

He said the ultimate objective was to build a Nigeria where prosperity is broadly shared, children can aspire beyond the circumstances of their birth and the country’s vast economic potential is reflected in the everyday lives of its citizens.

“Our destination is in sight. Our foundations are strong. Our direction is clear,” the President said, as he urged Nigerians to move forward together.