Author: oduduwanews

Tinubu has sidelined people who helped him succeed as Lagos governor, says Ndume

Ali Ndume, senator representing Borno south, says President Bola Tinubu succeeded as governor of Lagos because he worked with competent and experienced people.

The lawmaker spoke on Wednesday while featuring on Prime Time, a programme on Arise Television.

“The president had good people around him when he was the governor of Lagos; that was why he succeeded,” Ndume said.

Ado-Awaye youths under the aegis of Ado-Awaye Progressive Youths Movement (A.P.Y.M) have strongly opposed proposed planned conferment of chieftaincy titles on 10 Fulani individuals by the Alado of Ado-Awaye, describing the move as a violation of traditional customs and a threat to peace in the community.

In a press statement issued on Wednesday, January 28, 2026 and made available to Oduduwa News, the group said Ado-Awaye youths were neither consulted nor involved in the process leading to the appointments, stressing that they do not endorse the action.

While acknowledging the importance of peaceful coexistence among different ethnic groups, the youths maintained that chieftaincy matters must strictly follow established traditions, historical practices, and due process.

The group called on the Alado of Ado-Awaye, Oba Rev’d Ademola Olugbile Folakanmi Makuledoye II, to stop the planned installation action and clarify the circumstances surrounding the appointments and to engage key stakeholders, including traditional leaders, community elders, youth groups, and local government authorities, to ensure transparency and harmony.

According to A.P.Y.M, the development could, in the future, lead to claims of indigenous status, a situation they said has raised serious concerns among community members.

They also warned that the appointments have already generated dissatisfaction among various families and groups, which they said could threaten communal peace and stability.

Referencing the prevailing security challenges in Nigeria, including banditry and kidnapping, the group expressed fears that the action could, in the long term, expose Ado-Awaye to similar security risks experienced in some other parts of the country.

As part of their demands, the youths called for the immediate reversal of the chieftaincy appointments, suspension of any proposed second phase of the exercise, and strict adherence to customary laws in future chieftaincy matters.

The group urged residents of Ado-Awaye to remain calm and law-abiding while efforts are made to resolve the issue through peaceful and legal means should the purported planned installation process go ahead.

Nigeria and the Republic of Türkiye have set an ambitious target of $5 billion in bilateral trade volume as Presidents Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Recep Tayyip Erdogan deepened economic, security and diplomatic ties during Tinubu’s State Visit to Ankara on Tuesday.

Speaking at a joint press briefing, President Erdogan disclosed that discussions to raise trade between both countries from the current $2 billion to $5 billion had already commenced. He said the newly established Joint Economy and Trade Committee would be central to achieving the target and expanding Turkish investments in Nigeria.

“At present, our trade volume is about $2 billion. Today, we reaffirmed our commitment to the $5 billion trade volume target and discussed the steps needed. We also agreed to establish a Joint Economy and Trade Committee, which will be instrumental in supporting and expanding our investments in Nigeria,” Erdogan said.

Türkiye currently exports planes, helicopters, machinery, iron and steel, and chemical products to Nigeria, while Nigeria exports crude oil and agricultural products to Türkiye.

Erdogan praised President Tinubu’s economic reforms, particularly in the energy sector, noting that cooperation between Turkish Petroleum Corporation and Nigerian counterparts could yield significant outcomes. He also commended Tinubu’s determination to develop Nigeria, pointing to the presence of several ministers and high-ranking officials in his delegation.

On security, the Turkish leader pledged support for Nigeria’s fight against terrorism, citing Türkiye’s own experience in combating insurgency. He said both countries discussed closer cooperation in military training and intelligence sharing.

“We stand by the friendly people of Nigeria in their fight against terrorism. We are ready to share our country’s significant experience in combating terrorism,” Erdogan said, adding that Nigerian officials would also engage leading Turkish defence industry companies during the visit.

In his remarks, President Tinubu thanked Türkiye for its openness to collaboration and emphasised the importance of building an inclusive economy that supports vulnerable populations.
“What is very important is trade and business with no restrictions, giving opportunity to those who are ready to learn, work and prosper. How do we build an inclusive economy together? How do we reform the economy and involve vulnerable people?” Tinubu said.

He reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to promoting peace and stability across Africa, despite security challenges in some parts of the country, and praised Erdogan’s efforts toward global peace, particularly in Somalia.

At the end of the bilateral meeting, officials from both countries signed nine agreements, including:

Agreement on Cooperation in the Field of Diaspora Policy

Agreement on Defence Cooperation
Joint Declaration Establishing the Economy and Trade Joint Committee

Agreement in the Field of Halal Quality Infrastructure

Cooperation in the Field of Higher Education

Cooperation in the Field of Media and Communication

Cooperation in the Field of Education
Cooperation between the Diplomacy

Academies of both countries’ Foreign Ministries

Cooperation between Türkiye’s Ministry of Social Services and Nigeria’s Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development

The agreements are expected to strengthen economic ties, enhance security cooperation and deepen people-to-people relations between Nigeria and Türkiye.

The Oyo State House of Assembly on Tuesday adopted the report of its Committee on Ethics and Privileges, which indicted Hon. Ibrahim Aremu Shittu, Member representing Saki West State Constituency, over a viral video in which he made allegations considered defamatory and damaging to the integrity of the Legislature.

However, despite accepting the Committee’s report and all its recommendations, the House rejected the apology tendered by Hon. Shittu and referred the matter back to the Ethics and Privileges Committee for further disciplinary recommendations.

The Ethics Committee had been mandated to investigate the viral footage following a resolution of the House on Tuesday, January 20, 2026.

Hon. Shittu was alleged to have publicly accused the Majority Leader, Hon. Sanjo Onaolapo (Ogbomoso South), of receiving bribes from the Chairman of Saki West Local Government, while also casting disparaging remarks on the Speaker and the House proceedings.

Presenting the report, Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Gbenga Oyekola, said both lawmakers appeared before the Committee on Thursday, January 22, 2026.

The Committee reviewed legislative instruments, oath of office documents, and the viral video footage, ensuring that due process and principles of natural justice were fully observed.

According to the report, Hon. Shittu’s statements were reckless, unfounded, and capable of undermining public confidence in the Legislature.

The Committee found that the allegations lacked credible proof, infringed on the rights and privileges of the Majority Leader, and brought the House into disrepute.

While reacting to the report, Hon. Shittu admitted that he made reckless and unfounded claims in the viral video which were disparaging to the personality of the Majority leader.

Lawmakers from both parties contributed to the debate.

Hon. Luqman Jimoh (Oorelope), representing the APC caucus to which Hon. Shittu belongs, tendered an apology on behalf of the party and appealed that the House tendered justice with mercy, while Hon. Sola Owolabi (PDP) also pleaded for leniency.

However, other members in their contributions faulted the apology made by Hon. Shittu, describing it as insincere and lacking genuine remorse.

Consequently, a Motion was moved to reject his apology.

The Motion was duly seconded, prompting the Speaker to rule on the matter.

Following deliberations, the Speaker ruled that Hon. Shittu’s apology be rejected, citing its inadequacy and lack of genuine contrition.

The House thereafter referred the matter back to the Ethics and Privileges Committee for further recommendations on appropriate disciplinary action.

In the report, the Ethics and Privileges Committee cautioned members against making unverified public allegations that could damage the reputation of the Legislature, with the assurance that future infractions would attract stringent disciplinary measures.

Osogbo, Osun State

The Gbenga Hashim Solidarity Movement (GHSM) has emerged as one of the most influential groups likely to shape the outcome of the next gubernatorial election in Osun State, thanks to its popularity, grassroots reach, and mobilizing capacity, according to Alhaji Abass Olaniyi, Southwest Coordinator of GHSM and a PDP stakeholder.

Speaking on the Lero Temi podcast with Mukhtar Ajelogbon, Olaniyi said the group has not yet decided which candidate to support, noting that the PDP has not officially produced a candidate for the race.

However, he made it clear that the APC candidate is “not an option”, signaling the group’s strong stance against the ruling party.

GHSM’s influence, according to Olaniyi, stems from its ability to mobilize voters across the state, engage grassroots networks, and leverage its broad popularity to influence party decisions.

On the national political stage, Olaniyi predicted that President Tinubu’s defeat in 2027 will begin in Osun State, reflecting the strategic importance of the state in shaping both state and federal electoral outcomes.

“GHSM has consistently played a decisive role in elections where we have been engaged. Our focus is to ensure that the PDP presents a credible, unifying, and popular candidate who can win the confidence of the people,” he said.

The statement underscores GHSM’s growing relevance in the Southwest and signals a critical period of decision-making for Osun’s political landscape ahead of the 2027 elections.

A Nigerian medical doctor, Okeho-born Festus Babarinde, has attributed his selection for the 2025 Martin Luther King Jr Community Service Award in the United States to his long-standing commitment to training medical doctors, strengthening healthcare systems, and supporting underserved communities.

Babarinde, who spoke in an interview with Diaspora Tales, said the honour reflects years of deliberate work in capacity building and community service, rather than a single standout achievement.

He received the award at the 44th Annual Dr Martin Luther King Jr Commemoration Ceremony, held at the Chevy Chase Auditorium, Johns Hopkins Hospital, on the East Baltimore campus. The annual event celebrates individuals whose work reflects the ideals of service, equity, compassion, and social justice championed by the late American civil rights leader.

He was honoured alongside professors and senior research fellows from the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine in recognition of his exceptional contributions to community health and human capacity development in both Nigeria and the United States.

According to Babarinde, the award was not tied to one project but to a sustained record of community-focused interventions.

“I believe the award recognises a consistent commitment to service, leadership, and impact across clinical care, medical education, and allied health training both in Nigeria and the United States,” he said.

He explained that he founded The Concept Academy, an educational platform that has trained doctors across more than 13 countries for the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE). The platform also offers free classes to less privileged candidates preparing for the examination.

Through the academy, Babarinde developed a simplified, concept-driven approach to teaching medicine for high-stakes examinations, emphasising clinical reasoning, pattern recognition, and systems thinking rather than rote memorisation.

He noted that the model has helped many international medical graduates overcome structural and educational barriers to medical licensure.

Currently an intern at the Johns Hopkins Howard County Medical Center and a Master of Public Health candidate at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Babarinde said his stay in the US has been less than a year, stressing that the award largely recognises work carried out over several years in Nigeria.

“My time in the US has helped me scale some of these initiatives, particularly in medical education, and has given me stronger tools in leadership, quality improvement, and health systems management,” he said.

“This is about representation. It shows what Nigerian and African professionals can contribute globally when local service is combined with global engagement.”

He added that the recognition was made possible through the support of colleagues, mentors, students, and communities who share his commitment to service-driven leadership.

“This is not just my story. It reflects the collective effort of everyone who has worked with me and believed in service,” he said.

The event which started yesterday, graciously hosted by Governor, His Excellency Engr. Seyi Makinde, brought together eminent personalities, leaders and well-wishers to celebrate five decades of growth, unity and resilience.

.A major highpoint of the Opening Ceremony was the cutting of the 50th Anniversary Cake, symbolizing unity and collective pride.

This was followed by a colourful moment as the Governor and other dignitaries released anniversary balloons into the sky, signifying hope, renewal and the bright future ahead for Oyo State.

The event was hosted at the International Conference Centre, University of Ibadan and a lecture slated to hold at the same venue tomorrow.

The Oyo State Police Command has confirmed the killing of a police inspector during a rescue operation for a kidnapped victim in Oyo West Local Government Area of the state.

The incident occurred in the early hours of Sunday at Olorunda Village, Ojongbodu, where suspected kidnappers invaded a residence and abducted a man identified as Haruna Lawal. The attackers also fled with the victim’s motorcycle.

According to a statement issued by the Police Public Relations Officer, Adewale Osifeso — sorry — Olayinka Ayanlade, the command received a distress call at about 2:10 a.m. from a woman identified as Alimot, reporting that armed suspects had stormed her brother’s home.

Police operatives were immediately deployed to the area on the directive of the Commissioner of Police, Femi Haruna. The swift response and aggressive search of surrounding bushes forced the kidnappers to abandon the victim and flee as patrol vans advanced with sirens. Lawal was subsequently rescued alive.

However, during the operation, a police inspector was killed while bravely confronting the assailants. Preliminary investigations indicate that some of the suspects sustained gunshot injuries. A manhunt has been launched to track and arrest the fleeing attackers.

The rescued victim sustained a head injury during the attack and was rushed to the General Hospital in Oyo town, where he is currently receiving medical attention. The police command described the rescue as a reflection of its commitment to protecting lives and property, adding that investigations into the incident are ongoing.

A civil society group has dragged the Minister of Power, Mr. Adebayo Adelabu, and the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Plc. (NBET) before the Federal High Court in Abuja over the alleged failure to account for ₦128 billion in public funds.
The group, in a suit filed last Friday and marked FHC/ABJ/CS/143/2026, is seeking an order of mandamus compelling the Minister and NBET to explain the whereabouts and use of the alleged missing or diverted funds from the Ministry of Power and NBET.

According to the plaintiffs, the allegations are contained in the latest annual report released by the Auditor-General of the Federation on September 9, 2025, which reportedly flagged serious financial irregularities in the power sector.

They argued that corruption has continued to undermine Nigeria’s electricity supply, linking it to the frequent national grid collapses. The group noted that Nigerians recently experienced the first grid collapse of 2026, plunging many parts of the country into darkness.

In the suit, the group is also asking the court to compel Mr. Adelabu and NBET to disclose detailed records of how the ₦128 billion was allegedly spent, including dates of disbursement, names of beneficiaries or contractors, and their registered business names and addresses.

The group said Nigerians are bearing the brunt of what it described as “widespread and grand corruption” in the power sector, stressing that there is strong public interest in ensuring transparency and accountability.

They added that granting the reliefs sought would help curb corruption in the sector, address persistent transmission failures, and improve Nigerians’ access to stable and uninterrupted electricity supply.

Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has criticised President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima over the newly implemented tax administration law, saying the current federal leadership has made it difficult to “speak truth to power.”

Speaking in Ibadan at the 60th birthday celebration of cleric Samson Ajetomobi, Makinde said he misses the governance style of the late former President Muhammadu Buhari and former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, whom he praised for being open to consultation and differing opinions.

The governor recalled how Osinbajo’s intervention during a National Economic Council meeting in 2020 influenced his decision not to impose a full COVID-19 lockdown in Oyo State, describing it as an example of inclusive leadership and balanced decision-making.

Makinde contrasted that with the Tinubu–Shettima administration’s handling of the tax reform bill, noting that calls for broader consultation were ignored. He added that despite a recent closed-door meeting with President Tinubu, he remains in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).