President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the appointment of Rtd AIG Hakeem Odumosu as the Substantive Chairman of EFCC.
The approval is however subject to his Confirmation by the Senate.
Mr Odumosu, nicknamed “Tango One” for his skill in flushing out criminals, served as first chairperson of Lagos State Environmental and Special Offences Enforcement Unit (Taskforce) and also the Commander of the State-funded Rapid Response Squad (RRS).
He holds a Law degree, two Master’s degrees and Diploma certificates.
Before his retirement from the police force, he served in several states across the country. In Lagos, he served as operations officer in Isokoko division, Agege; Ketu division; Satellite division; and Area ‘d’ command, Mushin. He also served as chairman of Lagos state task force on environmental and special offences, governor’s offiice, Alausa, Ikeja, among others.
He also served in various capacities in other states including Edo, Ogun, Kaduna, Nasarawa, Oyo, as well as the federal capital territory, Abuja.
During his service years, he won various local and international awards for his commitment to enhancing peace and security in the various places he found himself.
He was awarded by several bodies, organisations and grounds including Lions International; Batco Mandate Group; West African Student Union (WASU); Crime Reporters Association of Nigeria; Institute of Corporate Administration of Nigeria; Island Club; Institute of Public Administration of Nigeria; Junior Chamber International; as well as the Lagos state police command, among others
Wife of the former Governor of Oyo State, Dr (Mrs.) Florence Ajimobi has denied any offer of commissionership slots from Governor Seyi Makinde.
In a statement reacting to an online publication on behalf of Mrs Ajimobi, former Special Adviser, Communication and Strategy, Bolaji Tunji said there was no time that such an overture was made to Mrs Ajimobi.
Godswill Akpabio, Senate President and former governor of Akwa Ibom State, has called on Nyesom Wike, former governor of Rivers State, and his colleagues in the G5 group to establish another faction within the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Akpabio’s aim is to ensure a smooth victory for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 presidential election.
During a thanksgiving reception at Wike’s residence in Rumueprikom, Akpabio expressed gratitude for Wike’s efforts in championing justice in Nigeria. He also acknowledged the G5 Governors, a group of influential politicians within the PDP who opposed the emergence of Atiku Abubakar as the party’s candidate in the 2023 presidential election, instead supporting APC’s Bola Tinubu.
Akpabio stated that he was proud of the G5 members and encouraged them to form another group in 2027 to ensure continued success for the APC. He even suggested expanding the group to include two additional members, making it a G7 rather than a G5.
Akpabio also addressed Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, a member of the G5, praising his leadership and recalling his prediction of Makinde becoming a governor when they first met.
The event was attended by all the members of the G5, including Wike, Makinde, Samuel Ortom (Benue), Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia), and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu). Other notable figures present included Ayo Fayose, former governor of Ekiti State, Umar Damagum, Acting PDP Chairman, and former governors Peter Odili (Rivers), Abdullahi Ganduje (Kano), and James Ibori (Delta).
A PDP stalwart in Ona-Ara LG and One of the leading Chairmanship aspirant in the forthcoming 2023/2024 Local Government elections from Ona-Ara Local Government under the platform of People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in person of Aare Alao Olalekan congratulates Rt. Hon. Abiodun Fadeyi representing Ona-Ara State Constituency in Oyo State House of Assembly.
Aare Alao Olalekan who is currently the Special Assistant on Student, Youth and Sport to Ona-Ara Local Government Chairman was once a National President Emeritus of Federation of Ibadan Students Union (FIBSU) has wished Rt. Hon. Abiodun Fadeyi a very successful tenure while working with him as Ona-Ara Local Government Council Chairman will be a perfect combination.
“Rt. (Hon). Muhammad Abiodun Fadeyi remain the jix breaker as far as Ona-Ara State Constituency is concern, no one has ever enjoy such Grace from God in serving our Constituency two terms consecutively and serving at the capacity of the Deputy Speaker of both the 9th and 10th Assembly respectively in the history of Ona-Ara Local Government” said Aare Alao.
Once again, Congratulations and have a successful tenure, protect the trust that people of Ona-Ara Local Government put in you, while I’m looking forward to work with you as the Council Chairman of Ona-Ara Local Government, Aare Alao concluded.
First of all, congratulations to you on your re-election and induction into the House of Representatives for a second term to represent the interests of the people of Ibadan North Federal Constituency at the National Assembly. It is no doubt that your emergency has been destined to bring back the better Ibadan North.
In retrospect to 2019: It will be recalled that the constituents who dedicated their legitimacy to you and voted in your favor to represent their interest at the Green Chamber of the National Assembly for four years term. This single act has been of help for you to be able to defeat the then incumbency of Hon. Abiodun Awoleye who represented the constituency between the year, 2011 to 2019.
Sir, have you ever asked yourself, “What has claimed you the massive support to have been able to defeat the incumbent which is so hard to have happened in this Ibadan North?” There is no other reason that you were given the chance to be more impactful, you are trusted to bring and facilitate more development to the constituency. Has this come to the light of the day?
Mr. Honourable, as it is known, it is so obvious that you are yet to deliver the expected mandate on which you were elected, which part of it is law-making, representation, and oversight functions of the Government and thereby looking after the interests of the people.
In the cause of the last four years in question, Ibadan North has been denied the above. Sir, no one could have believed any foresight that the elected Ibadan North does not make a voice, initiate bill, and passage of the law for four years at the Green Chamber and National Assembly at large.
Has you been re-given the mandate again, I make it a sensible reason to forward the below useful suggestions to you as a constituent and patriot citizen on behalf of the entire constitutes since “We cannot be mere consumers of good Governance, we must participate; we must be co-creators” has said by Rohini Nilekani.
Law Making: This is your chief function as a legislator, you are expected to initiate bill(s) that will be passed into the constitution as a law that will facilitate and demand for eve developmental projects for the constituency and the entire country at large.
Urban Renewal Projects: It is expected of you to lobby for Urban renewal projects that will help to promote the rehabilitation and preservation of buildings, and improvement of the local places, architectural centers, cultural centers, or historical interests.
Education: What can we compel an educated society with? I guess nothing. So, in driving the constituency, the impact of education be it formal or informal must not be overlooked by you, Sir. Our people still need to be regularly educated on the Government process and functions, while the formal primary and secondary schools need not be put in exclusion as well. Most of our schools are not conducive to learning because of the bad state many of them are in. Imagine our promising leaders learning under the block of classrooms that were unroofed with a lack of chairs and desks. I believed this is not worth it. You will also need to help in giving education endorsement to indigents’ brilliant constituents at various tertiary institutions. Sir, do remember that “the foundation of every society is the education of its youth.”
Health: The health services in the constituency needs urgent attention because most of the existing health centers are not well equipped with the needful facilities, and this has caused more harm than good. Some of these health centers need renovation and new ones are to be built as the need of it might be. Sir, the constituency needs to enjoy all the proposed programs planned for them, including Health welfare which matters.
Youth Empowerment and Engagement: The young people of the constituency need to be properly empowered as the saying “an idle hand is the devil’s workshop.” So, our young people need to be empowered and trained in different means and aspects in terms of getting training in various vocational skills, enlightening them on leveraging the opportunities that lie in the digital space within some designated duration of time to get them engaged and be on their path of relevance and significance and as well as helping them to get established with basic practicing equipment for those that have the passion of venturing into businesses.
Sir, do well to help make use of your good office in the restoration of the glory of Ibadan North Skills Acquisition Centre, Yemetu Alaadorin, Ibadan. We look unto you, Sir. This Ibadan North Skills Acquisition Centre of Learning has produced a lot of great artisans in the society even beyond the constituency which is on a dead road with the way it was being run then. This same center has been of help to reduce social vices among young people and prepared them for a better society. Moreover, this same constituency has been blessed with “highly cerebral young individuals” who have contributed to the timely progress of the constituency in no small measure. This set of young people can be engaged in helping to carry out some of the constituency programs and projects since they know the nooks and crannies of it.
Town Hall Meeting: The town hall meeting will serve as a place where you as a representative of the people will be able to meet the constituents to report your stewardship and serve as an avenue for the constituents to rub minds together with you, make their opinion known and give resolutions. This will bring in visible leadership, reinforce culture and values, receive important updates, and give constituents a sense of belonging which will help to foster and strengthen the representation.
Constituency Office: There is a need for a well-accessible constituency office where the constituents can seek information and place observations.
In rounding off this piece, I urge you, Sir, to take a good advantage and look into all penned with a good mind which will be of help in no small measures for better representation this time around if they can all be taken into consideration and actions.
As a leader, kindly remember that in democracy, leaders are elected to lighten the burden for the people, and give freedom, choice, and equity to ensure good governance by not deceiving the citizens. Do well not to render them hopelessly and helplessly, Sir. You are helped by God in your tenure..Amen!
Once again, accept my congratulations on your re-election and induction as a member of the House of Representatives, Ibadan North Federal Constituency in the 10th Assembly. Sir, please be a positive leading voice. Our voice should be your action!
Thank you.
I remain Folorunsho A. Apanpa. I am writing from Ward 4, Ibadan North Local Government.
If you will love to reach out to me, kindly contact +2349157289279 or folorunshoapanpa@gmail.com
Note: As of the time of writing this piece, I am neither owned by any affiliate political parties nor individuals, rather I am a patriot and a promising democrat.
Women, Peace and Security is a global issue championed by the United Nations Security Council as published in many of her different resolutions to prioritize girls and women in all areas relating to their peace, security and development. This is to give girls and women chance to actively participate in peacebuilding processes especially where there is war and other activities that can endanger their life.
In an attempt not to leave Nigerian girls behind in active participation in all peacebuilding processes, the duo of West Africa Network for Peacebuilding-Nigeria (Oyo State Chapter) and a foremost peacebuilding organization in the South West Region, Kazeem Olubunmi Isolagbenla Foundation through a joint initiative launched the first ever Women, Peace and Security Project “SHE 4 PEACE” in Ibadan to mark this year’s children’s day. Project SHE 4 PEACE is targeted at bringing girls (in senior secondary schools) into the ideals and principles of Women, Peace and Security by catching them young. This understandably will equip them with adequate knowledge and effective skills to live a peaceful life and co-exist with others in the society peacefully. In his welcome remarks, the Chairman of Ibadan Development Centre (the host organization) Don Micheal Adeniji congratulated the two organizations that initiated the project and all the participants, he noted that ‘there is no better time than now to integrate our girls into the ideals of peacebuilding knowing fully well the challenges girls and women are facing in our societies. He therefore, called on governments and every other stakeholder to prioritize the issues of girls and women by making policies and creating activities that will empower them to live meaningful life.
The Project Coordinator, Kolawole Amusat-Gbenla highlighted the objectives of the unveiled “SHE 4 PEACE” Project to include building capacity of girls to be able to identify their rights, speak out at all times when necessary especially when abused in any form or molested, and empower them to advocate for their rights. He added that the project is targeted at raising about 2000 Women, Peace and Security Advocates in secondary schools within six months. Also speaking at the event was Dr. Bolanle Omidiji, the Zonal Coordinator, WANEP-Nigeria (South West Zone), she emphasized the importance of parents being good examples of Peace Ambassadors at home which children can emulate. She added that WANEP-Nigeria will continue to play remarkable roles as leading peacebuilding network in Nigeria. The representative of Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Inclusion Barrister Adetayo Ayoade appreciated the organizers of the event and commend their efforts for prioritizing issues of girls and women in their programmes. He therefore pledged the Ministry’s unflinching supports to the laudable project.
Other dignitaries at the event include representatives from Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps(NSCDC), National Emergency Management Agency(NEMA), Nigeria Police, Oyo State Road Transport Management Agency(OYRTMA) and presentations were made by Whole Planet Initiatives and Society for Peace Studies and Practice. Student from different secondary schools also were in attendance.
Lagos State has made visible progress in the last 24 years, with successive governments bringing innovation and creativity to governance with the new President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s imprimatur. And I pay special tribute to all of Nigeria’s successive leaders. Our country is a work in progress. The unfinished business necessitates a level of competence and statecraft that no inexperienced person can provide. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is a competent and tested public administrator with solid private sector experience; a passionate and excellence-driven leader with an unshakeable sense of mission and commitment to the dream of A Greater Nigeria.
I know he is eager to serve and eager to build on the successes of the last 24 years. He doesn’t need an instruction or operating manual. As a result, I voted for him! Please note that I am not a partisan politian but fully BATIFIED!
After listening to him recently, I understand his vision is to transform Nigeria into the African continent’s leading global destination for prosperity. His mission is to restore and honour our cherished traditional values of justice and equity, integrity, and hard work; to responsibly address the plagues of corruption, ethnic discrimination and their destructive consequences; to renew and increase our economic strength; to empower our people to live well; and, in general, to massively develop and modernise our public infrastructure.
His administration, I believe, will not tolerate crime and criminality in our society. His priority will be massive job creation for our people through rapid industrialisation; attracting large businesses and making smart investments in technology to unlock huge opportunities in our maritime and tourism sectors, as well as agriculture.
Our civil service will be exceptional in terms of motivation, benefits, and service delivery. He intends to make significant investments in improving our healthcare, educational, and transportation systems, as well as addressing housing deficit and restoring the lost glory of the old ones.
Many Nigerians are in a hurry to create a new Nigeria. Let’s work together with President Tinubu for a Greater Nigeria.
I beseech Almighty Allah to strengthen him.
Congratulations and best wishes, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR.
God bless us all!
Tunji Oladejo is the Director of Ibadan University Press (Publishing House). Saturday, 29 May, 2023.
I stand here before you today, to formally declare my intention to contest for the position of Councillor Ward 1 Egbeda Local Government, under the umbrella of our great party,PDP.
I believe that effective representation and dedicated service are crucial for the growth and development of our community, and I am committed to working tirelessly to bring positive change to our ward.
Motivated by a deep passion for community welfare and a desire to contribute meaningfully to the lives of our residents, I offer myself for the position of Councillor in Ward 1 of our great Local Government.
My political background has equipped me with the skills necessary to navigate complex situations and advocate for the needs of our ward effectively. I am confident that my leadership abilities, coupled with my strong communication and problem-solving skills, makes me a suitable person to represent the interests of our diverse community.
In 2019 I was the collation officer for our great Party PDP in ward 1 and also a collation officer for local Government election in 2021. In 2023 general election I was the Director of Campaign, DG in ward 1 and also a member of house to house campaign constituted by His Excellency Engr Oluseyi Abiodun Makinde that contributed greatly to the re-election of our Governor.
I am excited about the opportunity to serve as Ward Councillor and work towards building a stronger, more vibrant community. I am committed to upholding the values of transparency, accountability, and integrity.
After due consultations with stakeholders comprising of Party Leaders, Party Excos, youths and women, political groups and forums as well as party structures, I find it extremely important to formally declare my intention to contest for the position of Councilor.
Lastly, the exemplary leadership of our Governor is a motivating factor for me, as I believe that my agenda fall under the Omituntun 2.0 Sustainable Development which will receive great support for implementation.
GOD BLESS WARD 1 PDP
GOD BLESS EGBEDA LOCAL GOVERNMENT
GOD BLESS ALL OUR LEADERS
GOD BLESS OYO STATE
Hon. Adio Babatunde Quzeem Councillorship Aspirant,Ward 1 Egbeda Local Government.
FAREWELL SPEECH BY HIS EXCELLENCY, MUHAMMADU BUHARI, PRESIDENT AND COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF, FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA
My fellow Nigerian brothers, sisters and friends of Nigeria.
I address you today, in my last assignment as a democratically elected President of our great and well-endowed nation, with a deep sense of gratitude to God, a great deal of appreciation to the Nigerian people and a modest sense of fulfilment.
Today we mark and celebrate another peaceful transition of power from one elected government to another in our steady march to improve and sustain Nigeria’s democracy.
This year we witnessed the most keenly contested Presidential Elections since the first Republic and this demonstrates that our democracy is getting better and more entrenched with each election.
We must as a nation improve and sustain gains we make in the electoral process, on an incremental basis for Nigeria to take its rightful place among Nations.
Our democracy provides for, allows and encourages seeking redress for perceived injustices, enabling some candidates and political parties that did not agree with the results to go to court.
Irrespective of the outcome of the various cases, I urge all parties involved to accept the decision of our courts and join hands to build a better Nigeria.
I salute the doggedness and resilience of all the Presidential Candidates and their political parties for believing in our judicial system by taking their grievances with the election results to court.
In the course of the campaigns, we had argued and disagreed on how to make Nigeria better but we never disagreed or had any doubts that Nigeria has to be better.
As your President, I call on all of us to bring to bear the strength of our individualism, the power of our unity, the convictions of our beliefs to make Nigeria work better and together with one spirit and one purpose.
To my brother, friend and fellow worker in the political terrain for the past ten years – Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu -, I congratulate you on the realisation of your dream, which was propelled by a burning passion to put Nigeria amongst the leading nations of the world.
You have indeed worked for this day and God has crowned your efforts. I have no doubt that your passion for excellence, reliance on competence, fairness in relationships, commitment to equity, loyalty to the country and desire for Nigeria to be globally relevant would come through for you, under God’s guidance, as you lead our country to levels higher that I am leaving.
You are the best candidate among all the contestants and Nigerians have chosen well.
The last eight years have been an exciting experience in my desire and commitment to see a Nigeria in which public goods and services are available, and accessible within a united, peaceful and secure nation.
Fellow Nigerians, on the strength of your overwhelming support for me and my political party, I started this journey with a great deal of promise and expectation from you. I never intended to be just politically correct but to do the correct things that will make meaningful impact on the lives of the common Nigerian.
This high expectation was not misplaced because, like the ordinary Nigerian, I had grown tired of watching the country progressively moving away from the path of correctness.
To ensure that our democracy remains resilient and our elected representatives remain accountable to the people, I am leaving behind an electoral process which guarantees that votes count, results are credible, elections are fair and transparent and the influence of money in politics reduced to the barest minimum. And Nigerians can elect leaders of their choice.
We are already seeing the outcome of this process as it provided an even playing field where persons without any political God-Father or access to money defeated other well-resourced candidates.
The Nigerian economy has become more resilient due to the various strategies put in place to ensure that our economy remained afloat during cases of global economic downturns.
You would all recall the supply chain disruptions and economic downturn that the world witnessed between 2020 and 2022 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The deftness of our response to the pandemic still remains a global best practice.
Furthermore, we increased the ability of the poor and rural Nigerians to earn a living, provided more food for millions in our villages and gave our women opportunities to earn a living.
Young men and women in urban centres were also supported to put their skills into productive use. Our administration also provided an enabling environment for the private sector to engage in businesses for which their return on investments is guaranteed.
The private sector proved a strong partner in our drive to build a resilient and sustainable economy as evidenced by the growing number of turn-key projects in various sectors of the economy.
In the course of revamping the economy, we made some difficult choices, most of which yielded the desired results. Some of the measures led to temporary pain and suffering for which I sincerely apologised to my fellow countrymen, but the measures were taken for the over-all good of the country.
Mindful of the need to ensure adequate infrastructure to drive economic growth, we completed age-long projects and processes notably amongst which are the Petroleum Industry Act, completion of some power projects, completion of the second Niger bridge and various important roads linking cities and states.
Our battle to ensure that all Nigerians live in a safe and secure environment has achieved considerable results. As I complete my term in office, we have been able to reduce the incidences of banditry, terrorism, armed robbery and other criminal activities considerably.
To sustain the gains made so far, I call on all Nigerians to be more vigilant and support the security agencies by ensuring that our values defined by being your brothers’ keeper govern our actions.
Up-till now, I still grieve for our children still in captivity, mourn with parents, friends and relatives of all those that lost loved ones in the days of the senseless brigandage and carnage. For all those under unlawful captivity our Security Agencies are working round the clock to secure their release unharmed.
Fellow Nigerians, you know how dear the desire in my heart is, to rid the country of corrupt practices that had consistently diminished our efforts to be a great country.
I did pursue this commitment relentlessly, in spite of the expected push back. I am happy that considerable progress had been made in repatriating huge sums of money back to the country and also taken over properties illegally acquired from our common wealth.
To improve service delivery, we began the implementation of a number of reforms aimed at producing an Efficient, Productive, Incorruptible and Citizen-oriented (EPIC) Federal Civil Service and the results are beginning to show.
On the international scene, Nigeria’s influence continues to grow as exemplified by notable Nigerians occupying headship and leadership positions in renowned global bodies.
Our democracy is built on and continues to thrive on the principles of separation of powers. The leadership and members of the National Assembly deserve my appreciation for their patriotism which did not detract from their roles as a check to the executive arm.
I also want to use this opportunity to express my appreciation to a good number of Nigerians who provided their support and encouragement to help me navigate the exciting journey in moving Nigeria forward.
I cannot and will not forget the millions who prayed for me during my illness in my first term of office. I am constantly praying for you and for Nigeria to thrive in peace.
As I retire home to Daura, Katsina State, I feel fulfilled that we have started the Nigeria Re-Birth by taking the initial critical steps and I am convinced the in-coming administration will quicken the pace of this walk to see a Nigeria that fulfils its destiny to be a great nation.
I am confident that I am leaving office with Nigeria better in 2023 than in 2015.
I thank you all. And may God Bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
