Nothing But Fact
The Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland, Gani Adams, has tied the knot with an ex-beauty queen from Delta State, Joy Onojaife.
The duo tied the knot in a private ceremony in Lagos on Saturday.
Joy is the daughter of Lagos-based architect, Lucky Onojaife, according to her biography shared on the Oodua Facebook page on Sunday.
The former Miss Delta is a graduate of Physiology from the Delta State University.
Former deputy national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Bode George, has said the party cannot field a northerner as its presidential candidate in 2027.
Politics Nigeria recently reported that presidential candidate of the PDP in the last election, Atiku Abubakar, had commen moves to relaunch his ambition ahead of 2027.
But addressing journalists in Lagos on Monday, the PDP chieftain alleged that Atiku’s ambition was responsible for the party’s poor outing in 2023.
“I don’t really understand the rhetorics in some quarters these days that a member of the party from the north is strategising or plotting to return as the presidential candidate of our party in 2027,” George began.
“A northerner cannot be the presidential candidate of our party in 2027, pure and simple. The earlier some members pushing this agenda know this truth, the better for our collective sanity.
“To think of a Northerner as our saviour in 2027 is a joke taken too far.
“I cried loudly before the last general election that we cannot shut out the South from our strategy and hope to win. Two Northerners emerged as our presidential candidate and national chairman. We all saw the outcome.
“I can boldly say that those who supported that idea gave the opportunity for Tinubu to become the president today and a repeat of that fiasco will lead to the end of PDP in 2027.
“I want to alert Nigerians that the primitive agenda that led to the PDP losing the February 25, 2023 presidential election is rearing its ugly head again.
“I want Nigerians and PDP members to know that Chief Olabode Ibiyinka George, one of the founding fathers and a former Deputy National Chairman of our party, is not anti-party and will never do or say anything against the interest of this party but I abhor and hate injustice at any level.
“I have no iota of tribalism in my blood. I stand to fight for inclusiveness for all Nigerians in the political process of this country and especially in this party where some of us have suffered great injustice for the fight of equity and justice for all.
“As leaders of the party, we must not pander towards ethnic affiliation because PDP is the only true national party. The APC is just a mere collection of strange bed fellows.”
George noted that some governors are against the plot to return a northerner as PDP presidential candidate in 2027.
“How can we go into the 2027 election season with this type of division and expect to win the presidential election? Unless we are united, unless we have fairness, equity and justice in our system, the party and the country are heading nowhere.
“In the build up to the 2023 presidential elections, I was shocked about the quality of response from some of our members, so divisive and arrogant.
“All the party elders saying then that the National Chairman should not resign, where are they today,” George queried.
Mustapha Sherif, a recently employed teacher in Oyo State, spearheaded a significant initiative valued at ₦4.6 million through the non-governmental organization (NGO) Prime Career. Focused on uplifting the Kishi Community, this transformative project unfolded at Ariwajoye High School in Sooro, Kishi, presenting a substantial boost to educational resources and opportunities.
At the core of the initiative was the provision of essential “Back-to-School Kits” for students, fostering a conducive learning environment. With support from Prime Career Group (UK), led by Mr. Segun Moses Bayere, the project successfully delivered chairs, uniforms, school bags, sandals, and other necessities to every student at Ariwajoye High School, located in Sooro Village area of Kishi in Oyo State. The ₦4.6 million project, executed on December 5th, 2023, emerged as a beacon of hope for the community.
Mustapha Sherif expressed gratitude for the opportunity to lead this impactful initiative. He extended acknowledgments to Prime Career Group (UK), community leaders, parents, and well-wishers who played crucial roles in the project’s success. Sherif recognized the visionary leadership of Oyo State Governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde, and Deputy Governor, Barrister Bayo Lawal, for creating an enabling environment for positive change in the state’s education sector.
The success story of the ₦4.6 million project underscored the importance of collective efforts. Mustapha Sherif highlighted collaboration among the entire staff of Ariwajoye High School, local leaders, and representatives from Kishi Progressive Union and other associations as instrumental in achieving the project’s goals. The occasion served as a testament to the impact achievable through unity and shared purpose.
Mustapha Sherif emphasized that government financing alone cannot meet all educational needs, urging communities and NGOs to contribute actively. As his transformative project leaves a lasting imprint on the Kishi Community, the future holds promising prospects for continued development.
Billionaire businessman, Femi Otedola, has described the Dangote Refinery as the “8th wonder of the world”, saying it will champion Nigeria’s energy security.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Sunday, Otedola said the refinery promises economic transformation for Nigerians and generations to come.
“By meeting our requirements for all refined petroleum products, it will champion energy security and independence for our nation and act as a catalyst for a new era of prosperity for the subcontinent. It promises economic transformation for Nigerians today and for generations to come,” he wrote.
The refinery sited in Lagos and owned by Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, is said to have commenced operations with 350,000 barrels a day.
The refinery recently received its first one million barrels of Agbami crude grade, which represents the first phase of the six million barrels to be supplied to the refinery by several suppliers.
Congratulating his “bestie”, Otedola described Dangote as a visionary patriot.
He said the refinery is “much more than just an industrial milestone; it’s a testament to the visionary leadership and relentless pursuit of excellence of one of Africa’s finest and most dogged patriots”.
“I had a front-row seat as this vision was conceptualized and took shape. And I am familiar with the sleepless nights you’ve had to work through over the last decade to bring this dream to fruition.
This refinery is a beacon of hope for millions of Nigerians and Africans. It is also at the vanguard of championing environmental sustainability,” Otedola said.
The Oyo State Secretary of Traditional Religion Worshippers Association (TRWA), Dr. Fayemi Fatunde Fakayode has expressed reservation against Africans bearing foreign names, saying the names have no correlation to the circumstances of their births and how they will succeed in life.
He claimed that the best names that bring fortunes to a child is his or her ancestral names, as it is easy to seek the right path to successful life when divination (Ifa) is consulted.
The Ifa priest said this on Sunday evening during the installation ceremony of Iyanifa Fajemirola Ifetayo Fakayode, an African-American formerly known as Mrs Dawn Millings-Obidiebube as Yeye Gbawoniyi of Ijo Imole Olodumare Agbaye, at the Olodumare’s Temple of Light International, Old Oyo Road, Alade Town, Ibadan.
The Ifa priest emphasized the need to consult divination and make appeasement to individual’s spiritual identity (Ori), which is made possible with unique Yoruba names given to the concerned person after birth.
He claimed that the people seeking wealth and healthy living from other means than their unique spiritual being (Ori) are doing so in vain until they make appeasement to their own spirit.
“African names, especially Yoruba names have uniqueness and very significant to how we live our lives, they are like the purveyors of good or bad to the bearers, which is why Yorubas check the divine path of each new born baby in connection with his or her name.
“This name is the way by which divination is sought whenever the individual is having any problem in life and it is the essence of why Yoruba people overcome their travails by appeasing their ‘Ori’, which is their unique spiritual identity.
“So many problems that Africans or Nigerians have are not suppose to be problems for them if they identify themselves with their names and uniqueness to their existence in life, it is also necessary in picking leaders for a people, their names tend to reflect in their performances,” Fakayode stated.
He enjoined parents to pick Yoruba names that have significance on the birth of their children and easy to relate with as the children grow in life, saying foreign names contribute towards misfortunes to most African people.
Speaking on the installation of the African-American, Iyanifa Fajemirola Ifetayo, formerly Dawn Milling as Yeye Gbawoniyi of Ijo Imole Eledumare Agbaye, Dr. Fakayode said he was happy that most Africans whose forbearers were taken to America and Europe during slave trade have been tracing their ways back to Africa and their traditional religion.
He reiterated the need for Yoruba people to look inward for solutions to social, economic and leadership crisis that have been bedeviling their land.
He also called for visa-free policy for Africans in the diaspora, as according to him, the connection of birth and blood will make them make Africa their home and invest their wealth at home.
Iyanifa Fajemirola Ifetayo Fakayode is a lover of African culture and had her Ifa initiation in 2012 in Ibadan and has always shown interest in African tradition and festivals.
She established the Ifa/Orisa Collective Inc., an organization that provide educational experiences for Americans interested in learning about Ifa divinity.
In her words, Iyanifa Fajemirola Ifetayo Fakayode called on Africans to appreciate their own tradition and culture against those of foreigners, as according to her, Yoruba tradition has been established to be the best among others in the world.
“Is it the unique Yoruba language, the culture or tradition that you want to put beside those of Europeans and Americans? It is not possible, you can see that Yoruba is the best in all ways of life,” she eulogized.
Yoruba poet, writer, artiste and religious leader, Alhaji Olanrewaju Adepoju, is died.
Adepoju died on Sunday 10 December, 2023 in his home in Ibadan.
His son, Adejare Adepoju, broke the news in a brief announcement on Sunday, saying “Baba has gone to rest.”
Adejare Adepoju said the sad incident occurred at about 7pm.
He was 83 years old.
As the preparation for the coronation of Aseyin of Iseyin began few days ago, the palace has witnessed series of events from various religious bodies.
Yesterday, some traditional worshippers (Isese adherents) held a special Iwure programme as part of the coronation programmes for the new Aseyin of Iseyin land, Oba Sefiu Oyebola Olawale Adeyeri III.
The new monarch will be given a staff of office by the State Government on the 14th of December, 2023.
Many guests from political functionaries, traditional rulers and business women and men are expected to grace the occasion. The renowned Fuji musician, Saheed Osupa has been contracted to perform at the event.
By Ismael Taiwo
The former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Professor Ibe Kachikwu has called on Nigerian leaders to look inward and diversify Nigeria’s economy from over reliance on oil as the future of the hydrocarbon in the next 30 years cannot be guaranteed.
The ex-Minister made this known last week Thursday while he was delivering a lecture at a special seminar organized by the Centre for Petroleum, Energy Economics and Law, a research institute and advanced learning Centre in Energy and Petroleum resources at the University of Ibadan.
The theme of the special seminar series tagged “Nigeria Energy Policies: Energy Transition; Domestic Crude Obligation; Oil Subsidy; PIA” was held at Subomi Balogun Conference Hall, University of Ibadan Hotel.
Ibe Kachikwu said, Nigeria and other African countries cannot be left behind in the global demand for an end to burning of fossil fuels, hence, there is need for frantic effort to explore other mineral resources.
“There has been a global outcry to phase out fossil fuels and this has been a major concern for oil producing countries.
“At the ongoing COP28 in Dubai, the ongoing debate has been centered on eradication of burning of fossil fuels as some developed countries most especially in the Western world have been agitating for a green energy and if Nigeria and other African countries fail to realize the need to look inward and diversify the economy from over reliance on oil, we may have to face dire consequences of our inability to make hay while the sun shines.
“Nigeria and other African countries are blessed with large deposit of uranium and other solid minerals which could be used to develop our economy but we have not been tapping from these enormous resources”.
He also used the occasion to highlight some of his achievements while he was in office as the Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria which included the drafting of a famous Petroleum Industry Bill PIA, dialogue with global players in the oil industry to ensure a sustainable oil pricing, and other reformations in the oil and gas sector of Nigeria’s economy.
He called on government to fund Centre for Petroleum, Energy Economics and Law of the University of Ibadan as the institute is made up of several experts who can come up with a robust research and model that can help Nigeria to achieve a sustainable energy development.
Among those who graced the occasion were the former Director of the Centre for Petroleum, Energy Economics and Law who is now the President of Nigerian Economic Society, Professor Adeola Adenikinju, the Principal Investigator of the Centre, Prof. Akin Iwayemi, ex-Director of the Centre, Prof. O. E. Olubusoye, the incumbent Director of the Centre, Prof. A.O. Falode, Prof. P.C. Obutte, former National Treasurer of ASUU, Prof. Abiodun Aremu, other staff members of the Centre, as well as the 2023 postgraduate students of the Centre among several others.
The Ogun State Government has declared a N50 million reward for individuals providing information that leads to the apprehension of the perpetrators responsible for the killing of Mr. Taiwo Oyekanmi, the former Director of Finance and Administration attached to Governor Dapo Abiodun’s office in Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta. The 51-year-old Oyekanmi was fatally attacked by gunmen at the Kuto Flyover Bridge on Wednesday, November 29.
The incident occurred as Oyekanmi, along with two others, was returning to the Governor’s Office with a substantial amount of money reportedly withdrawn from two major commercial banks in Abeokuta. The armed assailants intercepted the group, resulting in the tragic killing of the chartered accountant, who hailed from Ifonyintedo, and the theft of the significant sum.
Governor Dapo Abiodun expressed deep sorrow over the loss of the senior civil servant, emphasizing the profound impact on the cabinet. He pledged an unwavering commitment to ensuring that the perpetrators face justice.
In a statement released on Friday, the state government officially announced the N50 million cash reward for anyone providing information crucial to the arrest of the individuals involved in the killing. The government assured that the information provided would be treated with the utmost confidentiality.
Broadcasting company Multichoice has jacked up the prices of its offerings in Nigeria days after announcing a $72m loss in its financial statement for the third quarter of the year.
Checks on the company’s reviewed price list showed a 20 per cent per cent hike in the company’s packages across the board.
With the latest price hike, the DStv Premium package increased by 20.4 per cent from N24,500 to N29,500. Similarly, the DStv Compact+ has gone up by 19.2 per cent from N16,600 to N19,800 while the Compact package increased by 19 per cent, from N10,500 to N12,500.
The Comfam package moved up by 19.2 per cent from N6,200 to N7,400. The latest hike made it the second time the company would implement an upward review of prices within a six-month period.
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