Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde , has appreciated all youths and parents in Oyo State for ensuring peaceful demonstration across the State against hunger and hardship raging the Country.
The Governor expressed his gratitude in a statement by the State Commissioner for Information, Prince Dotun Oyelade, following the sustenance of the peaceful protest which has entered the third day since it began on Thursday 1st of August.
The statement recalled that Governor Makinde was among the first set of leaders across Nigeria to publicly embrace the constitutionality of the #EndHungerProtest with an admonition that the Protest must be peaceful to achieve the desired result.
The Oyo State Governor further appealed to Nigerians to be law abiding and ensure that their agitation is without rancour and incitement throughout the period.
The Governor praised the people and most especially the youths for keeping their end of the bargain as they expect the federal government to make life better for all and sundry.
Governor Seyi Makinde equally called on Nigerians in States where various degrees of violence have been recorded during the protest to allow peace to reign as the search for good governance continues.
The Ogun State Government, on Saturday, described as a total fabrication the claim that Governor Dapo Abiodun called Nigerians sore losers over the ongoing #EndBadGovernance protest.
Rather, it said, the governor was talking about certain losers of the 2023 elections who were cashing in on the dissent of Nigerian youths to destabilize the country, adding that the chaos that greeted the protest in several parts of the country had vindicated his position.
It stated that nowhere in the referenced interview with Channels TV did the governor suggest, even remotely, that ordinary Nigerians ventilating their grievances over the economic situation in the country are sore losers, adding that the governor is well known for his deep appreciation of Nigerian youths, students, and workers, whom he has always held in the highest esteem and spoken about in glowing terms.
This was made known by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Publicity, Hon. Kayode Akinmade, in a statement made available to newsmen in Abeokuta on Saturday.
The statement added that only on Friday, the governor lauded Ogun residents, particularly the youth, for shunning violent protests and conducting themselves in an exemplary manner, assuring that his administration remained committed to their happiness.
It stated that the governor was not only willfully and maliciously taken out of context in his characterization of certain political opponents of President Bola Tinubu using the ongoing hunger protest to feather their own nests, but is now also being persecuted by the same individuals through sponsored attacks on his person and office.
The statement added: “The claim that Governor Abiodun insulted ordinary Nigerians is spurious, malicious, and lacks any rational basis. Elementary rules of language indicate that the meaning of an expression resides in its context: Governor Abiodun could not have been referring to ordinary Nigerians as the sponsors of a faceless and leaderless protest.
“While Governor Abiodun did indeed mention sore losers, he was clearly emphasizing irredentist opposition leaders who do not wish the administration well, urging them to prepare for the 2027 polls instead of mindlessly discrediting every government policy just to excite passions and incite people against the government.
“To stretch his use of the word ‘Nigerians’ beyond its intended referents in this context is, therefore, to engage in intellectual fraud and plain mischief.
“Governor Abiodun has the utmost respect for the protesters, and he has made that clear on many occasions.”
As the #EndBadGovernance nationwide protests entered the second day, Human Rights Lawyer Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa SAN has asked youths to immediately suspend the demonstrations.
Adegboruwa is one of the lawyers of the Take It Back Movement, one of the groups participating in the nationwide protests.
He regretted deaths and losses recorded during the demonstrations, saying it was not the goal of the protests.
Recall the Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) had on the eve of the protests on Wednesday urged the organisers to reduce the 10-day action to one day.
The lawyer in a statement obtained by The Nation on Friday, said: “Though the intention of the organisers was to achieve peaceful and well-coordinated protests, it would seem that fifth columnists and some angry persons infiltrated the ranks of the protesters to derail their laudable mission.
Muslims participating in the ongoing #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria protest in Osun State observed Juma’at Prayer at the Ola-Iya Underbridge in Osogbo on Friday.
This was revealed in photos and videos shared on social media.
The protesters conducted their prayers right at the protest venue at Ola-Iya underbridge in Osogbo.
They were surrounded by other protesters and security officers while praying.
Nigerians began the #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria protest on Thursday to draw the government’s attention to the hardships faced by citizens.
Christopher Musa, chief of defence staff (CDS), Friday promised that the Nigerian army will take action if the ongoing protest escalates.
Musa disclosed this while fielding questions from journalists as regards the level of violence recorded so far in the country.
Since yesterday, Nigerians have been protesting against hardship, hunger, and other socio-economic stress in the country.
Taking advantage of the situation, hoodlums on Thursday hijacked the protest to vandalized and loot people’s properties.
Reacting to the situation Musa said that the military is at alert and fully prepared to take action if the protest escalates.
Recall that the Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar has commended the National Council for Civil Society of Nigeria for not participating in the ongoing protests.
He highlighted the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s numerous initiatives that will turn the economy around for the benefit of all Nigerians.
“He is just one year in office and he has done very well and I know that with these initiatives, we will soon start to see the positive results.”
In commemoration of Oduduwa News 4th anniversary, and in further demonstration of our commitment to the promotion of education and academic excellence, the media house has awarded jamb forms to some selected students of Ado-Awaye in Iseyin Local Government.
The donation and award of jamb forms was announced by the Publisher during the Ado-Awaye Youth Quiz Competition for Senior Secondary School Students which was held on the 4th of July, 2024.
You will recall, that it has become a tradition of Oduduwa News in giving back to the society annually, most especially the indigent students, as over 100 students were given books, clothing materials and literature textbooks last year during their 3rd year anniversary.
Beyond serving the public with timely, and undiluted information, Oduduwa News is also committed to promoting an all inclusive education for everyone, irrespective of local or economic background.
The Publisher, Comrade Ismael Taiwo MNIM while speaking on behalf of the media house, charged the students to be an ambassador of change and maximise the opportunity that education has to offer.
He used the occasion to call on well meaning Nigerians to invest heavily in education and support the downtrodden in our society as government alone cannot do it.
The anniversary of the news outlet usually comes up every 26th of July and the first two years was used to hold symposium and other educative programmes where veteran journalists and important dignitaries were invited to speak on topical issues in our society.
The Department of State Security Service DSS has indicted a domestic staff of former Deputy Vice Chancellor of Ekiti State University, Prof. Olorunfemi Olaofe.
The DSS statement reads, “The Department of of State Service (DSS), Ekiti state command in collaboration with other security agencies in the state wishes to alert the general public on the uncovering of the gruesome murder of Olorunfemi Olaofe (Prof).
“This was occasioned by the planned kidnap of Olaofe (Prof) by a gang of about seven suspected kidnappers at his residence, located at plot 12, 15th avenue, federal housing phase II, Ado Ekiti on 9th July, 2024.
“Investigation activities revealed that the kidnap incident was masterminded by the domestic staff, who invited others in carrying out the dastardly act.
“However, further investigation by the operatives of the command led to the discovery of Olaofe’s remains buried in a shallow grave at a farm settlement along Airport Road, Ijan-Ekiti.
“However, the case will soon be transferred to the State Police Command for prosecution having established a case of homicide”.
The Lagos State Government has dissociated self from a post by LagosPedia, a social media handle on X (formerly Twitter) that calls on the Igbo to vacate Lagos and Southwest of Nigeria and brace up for a massive hashtag #IgboMustGo protest from 20th to 30th August, 2024.
The Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sango-Olu made it known yesterday via a statement shared on his Twitter handle as read in part:
“The Governor and indeed, Lagos State Government wish to distance themselves from the reckless, divisive and dangerous rhetoric, saying Lagos remains home to every Nigerian citizen regardless of their ethnic nationality.
“Governor Sanwo-Olu views the post as not only reckless and divisive but an attempt to sow a seed of discord between the Yoruba in the Southwest and other tribes, especially those who have made Lagos their permanent place of abode.
“The Governor appeals to Lagosians not to allow any person or group of individuals to create tensions in the State, calling on the security agencies to promptly investigate those behind the handle and bring them to justice.
“Mr. Governor enjoins Lagosians to ignore the post and any post of that nature, promising to double his efforts towards ensuring lasting peace in the State”.
Lagosians have gathered across the cities to protest against what they tagged #BadGovernance amidst the prevailing economic crisis in the country.
Protesters were seen chanting anti-government songs in Alausa, Ikeja among several other places in Lagos.
Our correspondent reliably gathered that the peaceful protests are currently ongoing in Sagamu, Ijebu-Ode areas of Ogun State despite court orders to restrict the protest to certain areas of the State.
Courts have limited the nationwide protests to four locations in three senatorial districts of Ogun State.
Oduduwa News gathered also that protest currently ongoing as youths, artisans and frustrated Nigerians are staging protest in Iwo-Road with a lot of placards with various anti-government inscriptions.
The nationwide protests against hardship and hunger are being organized by Nigerians frustrated by the worsening economic situation and high cost of living in the country.
Lagos Police has confirmed arrest of two armed men on Agoro Street, Mushin.
This was contained in a statement made available by Public Relations Officer of the state Police, David Hundeyin shared on his X handle as read in part:
“ Thank you, Lagosians for the timely information. Together, we can overcome insecurity.
This morning at about 1am, responding to a distress call about the presence of armed men on Agoro Street, Mushin, our tactical team based in Surulere swiftly moved in and arrested Sherrif Mustapha ‘m’ aged 42 and Suturat Lateef ‘f’ aged 28 while one other escaped.
The suspects led the police to 1, Moshalashi Street, Mushin where the following were recovered:
Two (2) AK 47 rifles
One (1) K2 Assault rifle
One (1) Red Rufer rifle
Three (3) pump action rifles
Two (2)locally made single barrel pistols
Five (5) magazines
Fifty seven (57) live cartridges
Seventy (70) 5.56 live ammunition
Twenty seven (27) 9mm ammunition
one (1) expended 5.56 ammunition
One (1) dagger
Three (3) walkie talkies
Nine (9) international passports
Investigation is ongoing!
If you see something, say something. Security is everyone’s business”.
