On the 12th of march, 2021, our Correspondent had an Interview with the Students’ Union President of Adeyemi College of Education. In this interview, the President explains that Unionism has gone beyond hooliganism, that student-leaders must know when to apply diplomacy in their dealings with school management, and when to do otherwise. He also explains the reason why he supported Alopay in the last election, hoping that Asefon will live up to responsibility and change the wrong perception people have about NANS because of some of the activities of some leaders in the past, who turned the association to a commercial enterprise. Enjoy Reading OduduwaNews: Can we meet you sir? Ans: I am Ayoola Olamilekan Joshua, by the virtue of political nomenclature, friends and family call me, Baba Ipaye, the Students’ Union President Of the foremost teacher trainee institute in the sub-saharan Africa, Adeyemi College Of Education, Ondo.
OduduwaNews: Sir, as the one time PRO of the Union in which you’re currently serving as the number 1 person, what was the electioneering experience, with the fact that many saw the previous President in which you served with as the Management boy, and worst ever? President Ipaye: I served as the PRO of the Students’ Union, of course, it wasn’t easy because, the executive that I served had challenges, and coming on board as not normal executive but Students’ Union President, so, it was not easy but God has been faithful, very soon, we would be giving the baton to another person OduduwaNews: Immediately after your inauguration, you wrote to the management about the deplorable state of school toilets, few weeks after, you inspected a toilet project sponsored by the school management, how can you explain your relationship with the college management since many view SUG and Management as two parallel line. President Ipaye : Thank you so much. Immediately after my inauguration, we wrote a letter to the college management stating the need for us as Students’ leaders and Management to collaborate our efforts together to make life easier for the students that we are representing, thank God, they swang into action immediately and of course, even what we didn’t ask for was delivered. The truth is this, many don’t seem not to understand that the management are also humanbeings, and of course, Students’ Unionism has gone beyond hooliganism, we are in an era when we have to diplomatically demand for our rights. People seem to see the Students and college management as enemies, but then, one has to be very wise in dealing with them, when it’s time to be angry to show them that what they have done is not good, we surely do, and when it’s time to smile, you don’t get angry, and when it’s time to meet diplomatically, of course, you do that, so, the relationship between us as Students’ leaders and the management has been very cordial. Infact, we see them more as a father, because most of them as the college is concerned are alumnus, so they see us as children, not as Students, so most of the things being achieved would not have been possible without them.
OduduwaNews: Combining Academics with Unionism, how has it been. Is one affecting the other, in short, what’s your motivation? President Ipaye: Combining academics with Unionism has not been easy, it’s easy per say because for my school here, if you want to contest, one of the criteria is at least, you must be on second class upper. You must have atleast have 3.5 cgpa, and of course, we have more than that, though, it has not been easy but there’s always time for everything, there’s time for us to read, and, and there’s time to play Unionism. So, God has been very faithful, and I have been in this game before, I was the PRO of the SU, 2018/2019 academic session, and as at then, my first cgpa in first semester that year I think was around 4.7cgpa, so, it hasn’t been easy, but there’s always time for us to create time for our books and our Academics. OduduwaNews: In the last NANS Election, you supported Alopay, can you tell us the Politics involved? President Ipaye: Apart from the fact that Alopay schooled in my hometown, he had his undergraduate in LAUTECH, and I’m from Ogbomoso, and I know him then, he was one of the contestants, I used to see him as the most qualified. There’s nothing political about my move. One, he sees us, the Students’ Union Senators as an important strata in this game, some of these contestants never deemed it fit to come to our different Institutions. Instead of coming through some leaders that will promise him that they will deliver Adeyemi College of Education votes, he sees himself as someone that’s accessible, nothing Political about my support, when I see somebody like that with good qualities of leadership, reasonably, one has to support that kind of individual.
OduduwaNews: Did you learn any lesson from the election? President Ipaye: Of course, I learned so much from the Election. I learnt that you have to align with the power that be, you know when we got to the election and I saw some things, I was telling my chairman, Asefon will win this Election, looking at the structure of people that are inside the convention ground, you already know who is winning the game. So, we thank God, Alopay is doing fine, our Asefon also is doing fine, they are both willing to serve Nigerian Students, but then, Asefon emerged. OduduwaNews: Is NANS still an a student Association to be proud of? President Ipaye: Yes, NANS is still an association to be proud of, but then, there’s always room for changes. Over the years, we have seen leaders that have taken this association of Students to be a point of revenue for themselves and their families, but then, like I said, there’s room for changes which I believe very soon, we would have leaders who are ready to serve Nigerian Students with all truth and with all their strength, and not because of money.
OduduwaNews: What do you think President Asefon should do differently? President Ipaye: Everybody is waiting for him to do the needful, NANS over the years, we have witnessed leaders that are money oriented and seeing someone like Comrade Asefon, everyone is looking ad waiting patiently for a change, so, I expect him to see that and work towards that, I believe with some of the things he has done over the past few months in Office, he’s worth emulating, and I hope he will succeed in Jesus name.
OduduwaNews: You just said in Jesus Name. You must be a religious person, what’s it like combining religion with Unionism permutations? President Ipaye: God is number one, that’s why in everything I do, I put God first. If God is before us, who can be against us, this is not religion, it’s about personal belief, that whatever I do, I put God, be it Academics, political or what a view, God is the number one.
OduduwaNews: Is there anything you want the public to know about you, your Association or your school? President Ipaye: Yes, I’m a rotaractor, i love reading and probably, i love teaching too OduduwaNews: Any other message to the Nigerian Youth on Students’ Unionism? President Ipaye: Stay focused!!! Remain steadfast and stand for the truth defending the interests of the students at all time OduduwaNews: Any message for Nigerian Government, on the poor funding of Education? President Ipaye: There is always need for the government of the day to stand for what is right, Education is the bedrock of a sane society and the sector seriously needs urgent revitalization , the government should please use their good office to implement and see to the betterment of our educational system as this is the only way to bring about societal changes and development.
In a circular made available to OduduwaNews and signed by the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Instructed the Caretaker Chairmen to hand over to the Heads of Local Government Administration in their respective Councils pending the assumption of offices by elected officials.
In the circular dated 17th March, 2021, the Commissioner said the decision was taken so as to ensure continuity in all the Local Government Councils in the State.
“Consequently, the Heads of Local Government Administration are hereby directed to take-over the administration running and day to day operations of their respective Councils, effective from Friday, 19th March, 2021, pending the assumption of offices by elected officials.
…says item should be delisted from Exclusive legislative list
…’ Oyo Govt ready to unlock potentials in Mineral resources,’ he says
Oyo State Governor, ‘Seyi Makinde, on Tuesday, called for a review of the exclusive legislative list of the Federal Government in the 1999 Constitution so as to delist the control of mineral resources from the list. The governor, who spoke during a courtesy visit on him by the Minister of State for Mines and Steel Development, Dr, Uchechukwu Ogah as well as while attending the opening ceremony of the 56th Annual International Conference and Exhibition of the Nigerian Mining and Geosciences Society (NMGS) in Ibadan, said that Oyo State was ready to partner with the Federal Government to develop the solid minerals sector in a bid to boost revenue generation.
While addressing participants of the annual conference, Makinde said that it was important that the control of mineral resources be delisted from the exclusive legislative list so as to help unlock the potentials of the sector for economic growth.
He said that the state would readily support the national aspiration on the mining sector‘s commitment to the development of the sector and informed the provision of two hectres of land for the international gemstone market in the Akinyele area of the state.
A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, explained the readiness of Makinde’s administration to join hands with the Federal Government to develop the international gemstone market located in Ibadan, the state capital.
He added that if mineral resources are well-harnessed, the country can potentially improve its revenue generation.
Makinde said: “Mineral development and exploration are currently placed on the exclusive list of the Nigerian Constitution.
This has retarded the development of the sector and eliminated direct state and local people’s participation.
“We know what this means in real terms: the state and the people have to wait to get a share of their natural resources instead of being the ones to share them.
“Well, the good news is that recently, Zamfara State was allowed to mine and own its gold deposits. It signals that it is time to again push for resource control for all states. As a matter of fact and urgency, here in Oyo State, we call for the delisting of the mineral resource ownership and development from the exclusive list.”
At the 56th annual conference of the society, held at the University of Ibadan International Conference Centre, Ibadan, where the governor was conferred with a Fellowship of the Society, Makinde said that the decision to host the conference falls within his government’s agenda to diversify the economy.
He said: “We are here to support the national aspirations and that is why when the Executive Chairman of the Oyo State Solid Mineral Development Agency, Biodun Oni, and the Honourable Minister came and said we should give land for the gemstone market, we urgently moved ahead to do that.
“So, we will work together to ensure that it is developed rapidly. “I must also mention that Ojoo (Ibadan) is probably where prices of most minerals are determined for Nigeria. It is an underground market but we want them to come into the open, trade freely and pay necessary taxes to the government.
“So, I will ask that the ministry should work with us to develop the market and we are ready to do everything possible to ensure it takes off as quickly as possible.” He added: “This administration is standing on four major pillars; education, security, health and expansion of our economy.
Hosting of the International Conference actually falls within the expansion and diversification of our economy, which also ties into the national aspiration of diversification of the economy.
“Oyo State is blessed. The diversification of our economy is also broken into three broad areas based on the comparative advantage that we have in Oyo State. We are looking at agriculture and agro-processing simply because Oyo State has a landmass of about 29,000square kilometres.
“The same thing with infrastructure. We are located 110km outside of Lagos. If you are going anywhere in the Northern part of the country and you have to go by road, you must pass through Oyo State. So, we are out there, and if our infrastructure targets our economy, we believe a lot of people will come, and we can utilize that to expand our economy.
“Also, we believe that if we have to move away from oil, solid mineral development is an area that should assist us to wean us from just waiting for oil money to come from Abuja.”
The governor maintained that the present administration in the state has provided a conducive environment for all the investors to thrive, saying the state has a framework that is designed to make our state a mining destination that is attractive to local and foreign investors.
“For the mining sector, we have a framework for the systematic development of our mineral potentials. It is designed to make our state a mining destination, attractive to local and foreign investors.
“Our people from the Pacesetter Mineral Development Company (PMDC) and the Oyo State Mineral Development Agency (OYSMIDA) are present here today. They are ready to talk to you about this framework but let me lead by saying we have three entry levels for investors.”
Governor Makinde explained that if the natural resources that are available in the state can be tapped, it will enhance the economy of the state.
Earlier, the Minister of State, Mines and Steel Development, Dr. Ogah, said he was in the state on a working visit to attend the 56th Annual International Conference of the Nigerian Society of Geoscientists and Exhibitions, held in Ibadan.
He said the courtesy visit was to greet the governor and share with him some worthwhile thoughts that impact positively on mutual interests of his (Makinde) government and the Ministry of Mines and Steel Development.
Ogah tasked the Oyo State Government on the need for both governments to cherish and sustain mutually beneficial partnership on mining development.
He noted that Oyo State is richly endowed with different types of mineral resources in commercial quantity and grade in several locations across the state.
The minister, who appreciated the state government for the donation of two hectares of land for the gemstone market, pointed out that the development showed commitment to enhancing the development of the solid minerals sector and increase the Internally Generated Revenue, IGR of the state.
According to him, these minerals are being explored and exploited by different mining companies including precious stones such as tourmaline, aquamarine, Amethyst, agate, garnet, crystal quartz etc. He said: “Our primary goal is to use the industry as a springboard for the generation of well-paying jobs for our teeming unemployed youth population; creation of wealth and empowerment of our rural communities; enhancing government revenue-generating capacity; supply of mineral raw materials for industrial and economic development; and increasing foreign exchange earnings for the country,” he explained.
Similarly, while declaring the opening ceremony of the conference open, President Muhammadu Buhari, who was represented by the minister of state said his administration is committed to diversifying the nation’s economy away from dependence on oil and gas, using mining and agriculture sectors as viable options.
He added that his administration will continue to engage professional bodies in the development of Nigeria, adding that the centrality of the development of the mineral and energy sectors in the rejigging of the nation’s economy had necessitated the roll-out of a series of policy initiatives aimed at ensuring the economic growth of the country.
It was an exciting moment in Igboho town, as the Medical Director of the General Hospital Igboho, Dr Oluwatunmise Adeagbo receives donation from an Indigene of the town.
The donation includes hospital equipments and other usable items that will improve the delivery of service.
While receiving the donation from the donor, Alhaji Najeem Ajila, the Medical Director, Dr. Oluwatunmise Adeagbo appreciate him for his kind gesture and his interest in the development of the town.
Dr. Adeagbo made it clear that the donation came in at the right time, as it coincide with his 4th year anniversary in office as the Medical Officer in charge of the hospital.
In this remark, the MD said “On behalf of the management of Oyo State Hospital board, and Management of Igboho General Hospital, we appreciate Alhaji Najeem Ajila, a philanthropist for these donations. These items came in at the right time, and our appreciation can’t be measurable, our appreciation also goes to the facilitator, Hon. Mukthair Sekoni who is a former House of Representative Member and currently, a member of the Oyo State Hospital Management board.”
The donations received includes; 25 mattress materials, 25 pillows, 2 wheel chairs, 2 Nebulizers Pulse oximeter, Stethoscope and Sphygmomanometer.
The Medical Director explain the impact those equipments will make in improving the hospital service delivery and also help the hospital to strengthen efficient healthcare delivery. “At a time, for over two years in the town, there’s no hospital with a well functioning oxygen tank, this equipment and other items here will go along way in helping this hospital in providing a top-notch medical service to residents of this community and beyond” he said.
Dr. Oluwatunmise Adeagbo also thank God for the grace he has been enjoying, as today, 10th of March 2021 marks his 4th year anniversary as the Medical Director and Medical Officer in charge of the General Hospital Igboho as he said that his committment in ensuring that people of that region enjoy good health and have access to good health care will continue to be his priority.
In another reaction, the staff and other workers of the hospital felicitates with the MD, and describe him as a good team leader. “Ever since he has been posted to this hospital, we have been enjoying good relationship with him, his leadership charisma is second to none, likewise his professionalism in the discharge of his duties, we wish our MD many more productive years in service.”
The MD also extend his appreciation to other dignitaries present during the presentation, which includes, Alepata of Igboho, Oba Joel Olawuwo. Chairman, Ifelodun Omo Igboho ably represented by his Deputy
Signed: Dr. Oluwatunmise Adeagbo Head & Medical Director, General Hospital Igboho 10/03/2021
*’Police have given assurances on thorough investigation’
Governor of Oyo State, ‘Seyi Makinde, has declared that his administration will do everything possible to prevent miscarriage of justice on the recent arrests of some members of the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC) and an alleged ethnic warlord, Iskilu Wakili, in Kajola area of Ibarapa North Local Government.
Governor Makinde, who stated this on Monday in Ibadan, appealed to residents of the state to remain calm and to refrain from ethnic profiling.
A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, quoted the governor as saying that the Commissioner of Police, Oyo State Command, CP Ngozi Onadeko, has already given the assurance that a thorough investigation would be launched into the security situation.
He also urged the people to have trust in government, as it will continue to work in the interest of the people of the state, with a view to ensuring that there is no miscarriage of justice.
The governor noted that his government will do everything within its power to ensure that only those found wanting or those who have broken the law would be dealt with in accordance with the law of the land.
He said: “Let me also talk about the issue of security, which is also germane. I am aware of what is going on at Kajola in Ibarapa North Local Government Area of Oyo State.
“I will like to use this opportunity to tell our people that the government is doing everything within its power to ensure that there is no miscarriage of justice. Anyone that is found wanting or has broken the law, irrespective of their ethnic background or religion, would be dealt with in accordance with the law of the land.
“People should not go into overdrive. I have asked the Commissioner of Police to see me today and I have been given the assurance that they will do a thorough investigation into the security situation in the area.
“I also want to appeal to our people to be calm and refrain from ethnic profiling. Let us have trust in the ability and capacity of the people saddled with the responsibility of maintaining law and order within our state. It is the government that we have put in place and it will continue to work in the interest of the people of the state.”
Governor Seyi Makinde implemented the judgement delivered by Justice Taiwo on 5th Oct 2018 reinstating Oba Sunday Bolawaye as the Onilala of Lanlate after years of legal tussle.
Presenting the staff of Office to the reinstated Onilala of Lanlate Oba Sunday Oladejo, Governor Seyi Makinde stated that the presentation is a further confirmation as the father of all in the ancient town.
While the wearing of beaded Crown was performed by the Alaafin of Oyo Oba Lamidi Adeyemi III, who was represented by Iba Saamu of Oyo, Iba Lagunna of Oyo Town accompanied by other royal fathers and Chiefs.
Governor Seyi Makinde urged the Monarch to bring his rich experience and influence to bear in the promotion of rich yoruba culture and peace in his domain.
Governor Seyi Makinde who was represented by the Commissioner for Local governments and Chieftaincy matters Chief Bayo Lawal stated that the present administration is seriously committed to seeking ways and means of enhancing the dignity and honour of Obas and Chiefs.
Earlier in his remarks the Caretaker Chairman of Ibarapa East Local government Olugbenga Obalowo said the administration in the local government will continue to give respect to royal institutions. In his remarks the newly Crowned Monarch Onilala of Lanlate His Royal Majesty Oba Sunday Bolawaye Oladejo stated that the stool will continue to champion peace,togetherness, and Coperation in Ibarapaland. Some Sons and daughters of Lanlate including the lawmaker representing Ibarapa East / Ido federal Constituency in the house of Representatives and others from Ibarapaland present at the presentation of Staff of Office and Beaded Crown laud the present administration in Oyo state for allowing judiciary to be the last hope of the common man by implementing the Judgment concerning Onilala Stool.
The news last week that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had begun a probe into the finances of former governor of Lagos State and All Progressives Congress (EFCC) strongman, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, literally shattered the Nigerian political airwaves. In the news, the EFCC reportedly wrote a letter to the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) asking it to furnish the commission with details of Tinubu’s assets declaration form. Dated November 6, 2020, marked CR/3000/EFCC/LS/Vol4/322 and signed by its then Zonal Head, Abdulrasheed Bawa who is now the EFCC chairman, media reports had it that the renewed probe was predicated on petitions written against Tinubu under the chairmanship of Ibrahim Magu which he swept under the rug. Chief among the allegations in the petition was that of Alpha Beta, a company allegedly owned by the ex-governor. Tinubu’s alleged ownership of sundry properties and concerns, among a plethora others, donned the said petition.
By “shattering political airwaves,” I meant that the politically naïve were taken aback by this turn of events. In virtually all the states of Nigeria, the periodic rat race for 2023 has begun and only the fittest can survive the heat. We are entering Nigerian politicians’ own masquerade festival season and its insignia of festivity – multiple coloured dresses – is beginning to appear. Anyone in possession of a political binocular microscope which can see through the recess of the fetid minds of the Nigerian politician would predict with oracular certainty that Tinubu’s mess has begun and can only witness a metastasis.
In the mind of the Nigerian politician, all that is foul is fair. A Nigerian politician’s desperation for power is so pervasive that it can be likened to that of a man driven to the point of killing his mother and roping his father for it. Scruples, ethos and dignity are easily sacrificed in political permutations while, all things taken into consideration, it will seem that those whose hearts are carapace-hard and incapable of empathy and sympathy operate at the highest echelon of political decision-making. Ancient ethos of requiting good for good easily becomes a sacrificial lamb when the Nigerian politician’s political calculus and permutations are in full swing.
It was all the above pieced together, added to the austere national good that inheres in it, which formed part of the rationale for the previous pieces I wrote on Tinubu’s touted aspiration to become the president of Nigeria. With an understanding of the mindset of those who make political decisions in Nigeria, it was not difficult to appear like a Nostradamus on the projected travails of a man who, in close to 22 years of Nigeria’s Fourth Republic, has gradually grown to become a power octopod.
At the risk of sounding patronizing, no 1999 Class of politician has acquired Tinubu-type huge political muscles, majesty and political bravura in Nigeria. The culmination of his grits manifested when, in 2015, he literally single-handedly ensured the emergence of severally-scorned-at-the-polls Muhammadu Buhari as president of Nigeria. A source once told me that, on the announcement of Buhari as president, Tinubu was so literally intoxicated at the outcome that he announced to some group of people that what that meant was not only that all corporations and institutions of Nigeria were in his pocket but that Nigeria herself had thenceforth began to oscillate right on top of his thumb. As vast as he is about the temperature of power and power politics in Nigeria, never did it occur to him to factor into the equation the understanding that, requiting good with blood-curdling wickedness was the genetic component of Nigerian political chess-gaming.
During this time, the most potent weapon for Tinubu to achieve whatever he wanted as a political aspiration in a larger Nigeria was to, like Chief Obafemi Awolowo, tighten his hold on his western Nigerian base, become Awo-ly consequential therein and use this hold to secure a negotiation on administering the rest of Nigeria. Unfortunately for him, gradually, he lost grips of his base, so much that, if an election is conducted in Yorubaland today, Tinubu can scarcely win two states to his side.
Corruption in Nigeria is indeed hydra-headed. Many analysts have imputed a genetic drift into it. Scholars have also submitted that Nigeria would continue to be the laughing stock of the world, even as it witnesses regression in all departments of statehood, until that national leeching spirit is exorcised. With this as the background, asking the EFCC not to do its constitutionally-assigned duty of smoking out malefactors, will tantamount to seeking nourishment and flourish for evil to continue its imperious reign in Nigeria. However, the modus operandi of this EFCC searchlight on Tinubu appears very shroudy and bears every imprimatur of politics. Exchanged in hushed tones and whispers, information that Tinubu’s hold on its erstwhile chairman Ibrahim Magu, is akin to that of a Mandarin, has been oscillating in the public domain for a while now. It was even said that, aware of their incestuous dalliance, Buhari and his power apparatchik deliberately refused to confirm the Maiduguri-born cop’s tenure as substantive chairman of the commission as a way of exhibiting their disdain for Tinubu. Nigeria’s Attorney General, Abubakar Malami, is the legal anvil through whom the legal aspect of the equation is baked and served. So when the EFCC boss began to go through his long-winding travails that eventually led to his exit, those who were knowledgeable about power equations said that it was the first omen that the scaly hands of the Nigerian power establishment was on its way to getting the Lagos political principality. There was no way they could get Tinubu without first demolishing his hold which Magu approximated and an anti-corruption czar who is the establishment’s lickspittle surely appears a fitting icing on the cake to dismantle the Tinubu stronghold.
If the highly touted familial relationship between Malami and Bawa, newly appointed EFCC chairman, has any modicum of truth in it, then it may be justifiably said that Bawa’s main assignment could be to achieve the Buhari click’s end result of smoking out Tinubu. The desperation to push through the candidacy of the 40-year old young man and the apparent frenetic drive to adjust his eligibility cadre are pointers to this effort. Bawa had just spent 16 years in the commission. As a starter, what structured public service job would anybody do for just 16 years and would have acquired enough depth to sit at its zenith? A last-minute shoring up of Bawa’s service cadre was curiously, and with cheetah speed, done before his appearance at the senate. An implementation of the Justice Ayo Salami panel’s alleged recommendation that police officers should be stopped from heading the commission was also haphazardly pushed through. The question is, is the white paper of the panel’s report out? If it is not out, was it not putting the cart before the horse to implement a recommendation before its white paper is out? The last we heard of the Salami-led judicial panel of enquiry report was that President Buhari had set up a four-man committee to review it.
Also in the news was that the committee would be saddled with producing the White Paper on the probe report whose main recommendation was the removal of Magu. Garba Shehu, the president’s aide, confirming this sequence, had said that “the judicial panel made wide-reaching recommendations which must be carefully studied and acted upon. A White Paper committee is working on the report.”
Again, the ongoing party re-registration being conducted by the APC is a direct rough tackle of Tinubu’s suzerainty in the party. The earlier registration was said to have had been his brainchild which he owned, including the company which conducted it, which was his proxy. He deployed this register to his advantage, especially in states of the country conducting governorship party primaries mid-season in the last few years. By asking for a fresh registration, party faithful know that it is an indirect jab against and vote of no confidence on Tinubu’s control of the party, again by the cabal that is remote-controlling the present Tinubu’s travails.
The major reason why the presidency wants Tinubu roasted is unclear. Could it be revenge for alleged accusation of him sponsoring the EndSARSriot of October 2020? Tinubu and his lieutenants have spiritedly denied complicity in the allegation. If you look at the date of the correspondence of the EFCC to the CCB, you will realize that the state sprung into action to nail Tinubu barely a month after that seismic riots. Could it also be an attempt to cut the wind off his presidential ambition’s sail by putting EFCC spanners in the works? Already, actions have sprung up towards that presidential bid. A Southwester group, SWAGA, has been meeting in all the states of the west to give life to the aspiration and some northern states have been receiving lobbyists who promote the said Tinubu aspiration. What is however indubitable about this is that the attempt to probe Tinubu is a ooze out of the struggle for control of political space and the presidency is wielding its coercive cudgel to teach the Lagos political czar a lesson of his life.
If the second scenario was the enabler of the Tinubu hunt, it stands against reason that the Lagos octopod himself would not have gauged the resentment of the presidency to his presidential bid before now. There is no doubt that Tinubu made a fatal calculation in misreading the disposition of the people he backed for the presidency in 2015 to him. It is apparent that they are disdainful of him and believe he is worse than a pig in the mire. He was a whiff lucky to have had this pall now hovering over his head delayed for over six years of the Buhari presidency. Just about six months into Buhari being in office, the push to neutralize Tinubu began. The proposal to liquidate him was published as an opinion piece in the Sun newspaper of this period, with very scary propositions to get him probed. So many disparaging comments were made about his person that bordered on the libelous, with the conclusion that he be sacrificed by Buhari, not minding that he played a very significant role in the president’s election.
That fatal misstep of queuing behind Buhari led to a flurry of other missteps. The most cataclysmic of these was his sudden aloofness to the interests of his people. As the Buhari government’s policies became anti-people, Tinubu’s hands were tied to government and against his people. For instance, while the Yoruba agonized over the killing of Mrs. Funke Olakunrin, daughter of Afenifere leader, Chief Reuben Fasoranti, by people suspected to be Fulani herdsmen, Tinubu stormed the Akure home of the Yoruba leader and poured vitriol on the wounds of the people. “I don’t want to be political, but I will ask, where are the cows?” he had asked sarcastically, apparently deflecting arrows that pointed at the Fulani cow herders.
At several other junctures where his people felt the agonizing pinch of Buhari’s inhuman policies, mum was the word from Tinubu. On the sparse occasion that he spoke, he went so off-tangent that you would wonder how political aspirations can diametrically push people off the path of their people. The final nails on the coffin were Tinubu’s stance on the EndSARS protest which was again, a bonding with the Buhari government. So also was his loud silence on the recent spate of killings and kidnappings in his Southwestern home states.
Last week, at the commissioning of the 1.4km Lagos Agege/Pen Cinema flyover, Tinubu again lapsed into his proclivity for absurd and off-key thinking and got deserved flaks from Lagosians for his unfeeling remarks. While thanking Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for “not letting us down,” Tinubu pilloried his predecessor, Akinwumi Ambode, the visioner who envisioned the flyover project he had come to celebrate. If Ambode had not dreamt that dream, many wondered what the celebrant-in-chief would have had to celebrate. It is typical Tinubu to always sing at the feet of the deity that recently feeds his esophagus.
Having said the above however, the Buhari government would be making its own most fatal mistake if it thinks that it could demonise, criminalise and liquidate Tinubu by stealth due to his rumoured attempt to run for the presidency. Or for any politically motivated reason whatsoever, clothed with an apparel of running foul of the law. If he thinks the Yoruba will clap for him while he drags Tinubu in the mud, he has a think coming. He will face the stiffest opposition to this act from Yorubaland. At a moment like this when Nigeria has become this divisive, so much that any small tinder could make it explode, singling Tinubu out from the crowd of those pillaging Nigeria, among whom are multiple of northern rogues who have continually profited from the laxity of our system, will make a hero out of him and quicken the final explosion of Nigeria.
Historically, Yoruba always stand behind the weak, at the expense of the strong. The famous Yoruba folklore of Tortoise and his In-law explains the attitude of the people to masters of the brawn that Buhari is trying to fashion himself from. Tortoise’s In-law had committed an infraction against him and as recompense, he had his hands and legs tied and, to put him to proper shame, had him tied to a tree where farmers going to their farms could see him early in the morning. As they saw him and asked Tortoise what his In-law’s err was and he told them, they were livid against Tortoise’s In-law. However, upon their return in the evening and still seeing the In-law in the same state, their anger turned against Tortoise. They prefixed their about-turn anger at him on what the wily animal would have done to the malefactor if he was not his in-law. This is represented in the Yoruba phrase, ototo yi, ana ijapa! When they are at the crossroads, the type that the Buhari government wants to place southwest, with his harangue of Tinubu, Yoruba also remember that Janus-faced wise-saying that Omo eni o ni se’di bebere ka fi ileke si’di omo elomin, translated to mean, parents will always be on the side of their child, no matter their imperfection.
Yoruba did same for MKO Abiola who in the Second Republic, because of the promise to make him president in 1983, turned full circle against his people and used his Concord newspaper as weapon to demonize Chief Obafemi Awolowo. It was the same stance they took when General Sani Abacha sentenced General Olusegun Obasanjo to death over what later panned out as a phantom coup. Even Professor Wole Soyinka, in spite of his highly-burnished dislike for the Owu-born General, and many Yoruba human rights activists, fought stridently to wriggle Obasanjo off the Kano General’s maniacal grips.
The Buhari government and Tinubu himself should accept that they are both Frankenstein monsters to each other. They are both each other’s 2015 mutually destructive inventions. Frankenstein’s monster, you will recall, is a creature, a fictional character in the 1818 novel The Modern Prometheus, written by Mary Shelley. She had compared the scientist who created the monster, an 8 feet tall and “terribly hideous” character in his laboratory, Victor Frankenstein, to Prometheus. While Prometheus moulded humans out of clay and imbued them with fire, Frankenstein’s ambiguous human being attempted to fit into the human society and when it was shunned, killed Frankenstein in the process. I hope the self-styled Mai Gaskiya is listening.
The Ibadan Prime Youth Forum, which is the youth annex of Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes, CCII, between the age of 25 and 40years on Friday Congratulate his Imperial Majesty, Oba Saliu Adetunji Ajeogunguniso 1, the Olubadan of Ibadan Land on his 5th Coronation Anniversary.
You will recall, that the Monarch was installed as the 41st Olubadan of Ibadan Land on the 4th of March, 2016.
In his congratulatory message, the Acting Coordinator of the Forum Dr Oluwatunmise Adeagbo thank God for sparing the life of the monarch until this moment and wish the monarch many more sound health on the throne. “On behalf of the Ibadan Prime Youth Forum, I wish to extend our felicitation to his Imperial Majesty, Oba Saliu Adetunji for on his 5th year coronation anniversary, over the years, Kabiesi has demonstrated high level of leadership, his uncommon wisdom in managing the affairs of the throne still remains a mystery to many, we his sons and daughters are proud of him”
Speaking further, the coordinator also described the Monarch as a precious gift to the city and country at large, and prayed that God will grand the monarch long life in sound health.
“Kabiesi is not only resourceful to Ibadan land, he’s a blessing to the entire Country, and we can only pray for long life in sound health for baba”
SIGNED: Dr. Oluwatunmise Adeagbo Acting Coordinator, IPYF 5th March, 2021
A youth Progressive group of peoples Democratic party in Oriire LG area of Ogbomoso, frown and raise alarm over a Candidate imposition, perceived to be Injustice.
The group in a statement made available to OduduwaNews On Thursday expressed concern on the recent imposition of a Candidate over the interest of the People.
Read the full statement;
If at all one will surrender himself as a political tool to those at the corridors of powerful, it would have been better to be a valuable tool, not one whose activities will fuel chaos in the party.
The purported rumor that went viral on different social media platforms yesterday has exposed the plot by some greedy leaders to impose one Mr Alabi Micheal Olateju as a Chairmanship Candidate in Orire local government.
As part of their strategies to have their way in the forthcoming LG election, we realise that Mr Alabi suddenly turn to a Chairmanship Candidate after everyone is aware of his aspiration for councilor in ward 7 of Orire local government. An impunity of highest order in our party( PDP) that portray injustice, indiscipline and disrespect to the party ethics.
The predominant issues raising concern for the entire party members of Orire local government PDP Chapter remain imposition, impunity during the recently concluded Congress and Insecurity during the LG election exercises.
An injury to one is an injury to all, we won’t fold our arms, watching individual or groups to push the party beyond the edge, there is a very urgent need to correct a lot of abnormalities in Orire local government Chapter of PDP.
As a progressive youth group of the party, we firmly stand against any form of imposition and we equally respect the aspiration of all contestants who has work tirelessly day and night in preparation of the Primary Election. This is a situation that has to be brought to an end and we are sending a strong warning to anyone who is hiding beneath a veneer of some status, whether official in terms of Official capacity or traditional to ensure caution in their imposition plans.
OUR CANDID ADVICE
We implore Mr Alabi to kindly withdraw from any acts that might have a negative impact on his political career as such plot of imposition on us can not stand to see the light of the day.
Our displeasure is within the confines of legitimacy and legality, we urge the leadership of the party to see to this and make necessary amendment where necessary.
Courtesy: ORIRE LOCAL GOVERNMENT PDP YOUTH PROGRESSIVE GROUP.
‘Kayode who was appointed by Sen. Ajadi Isaac led Federation of Oyo State Students’ Union, National Senate made his decision known through the resignation letter he submitted to the office of the Clerk, dated 4th March, 2021.
You will recall, that he was appointed to lead the Senate Media Team alongside four other members who were appointed on the 26th March, 2020. In the letter he send to the Clerk, ‘Kayode, appreciates the Senate Arm for given him the opportunity to be part of the Journey till the time he decided to quit.
The letter reads “Following my appointment as the Media Head, Federation of Oyo State Students’ Union, National Senate Media Team on the 26th March, 2021, I hereby wish to inform your Honorable office, of my decision to quit as both the Media Head to the Senate Council, and the proposed Summit Committee.”
“I appreciate the opportunity given to serve our dear Union for the time been, and I look forward for more robust relationship in the future.
