Nothing But Fact
Nollywood actor, Kunle Afod, has celebrated veteran actor Ishola Abdulsalam Sanyaolu, popularly known as Charles Olumo Agbako, as he clocks 100 years today (Sunday).
The actor shared a picture of the veteran actor on his Instagram page.
Afod wrote, “Pa Charles Olumo clocks 100 years today. Happy Birthday sir.”
Agbako is famous for acting bad man or violent roles in Yoruba movies.
A former President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Dipo Fasina, popularly known as ‘Jingo,’ has been found.
Earlier it was reported by newsmen that Fasina had been missing since Saturday, July 1, 2023.
Fasina was reportedly travelling to Algeria at the invitation of the Algerian government when he missed his connecting flight from Istanbul, Turkey.
But on Sunday, the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission confirmed that Fasina had been located.
NiDCOM and incumbent ASUU president, Prof. Emmanuel Sodeke, earlier confirmed to PREMIUM TIMES that Fasina’s whereabouts were unknown.
Osodeke however, added that the lecturers’ union was working hard to ensure Fasina’s safe return home.
But in a statement issued by NiDCOM on Sunday afternoon titled ‘Update On The Missing Ex-ASUU President, Dipo Fasina ‘Jingo’, said the academic had been found.
It said, “He has been found.
“The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, in collaboration with the Nig high commission in Turkey, has successfully located Prof Fasina who went missing for a few days at Istanbul Airport while connecting on a flight back home.
“Mr. Fasina, 76, was traveling to Algeria when he was said to have missed his connecting flight from Istanbul, Turkey.
“The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, in collaboration with the Nig high commission in Turkey, has successfully located Prof Fasina who went missing for a few days at Istanbul Airport while connecting on a flight back home.
“A big thanks to the Nigerian Ambassador to Turkey who immediately sent officials to the Airport to physically locate him in the very busy and huge Istanbul Airport.”
Fasina, a polyglot, reportedly speaks Yoruba, English, French, Russian, and Ukrainian. He also reads and translates German and Spanish.
The wife of the Ondo State Governor, Mrs Betty Akeredolu has announced the suspension of activities lined up for her forthcoming 70th birthday celebration. The Ondo First Lady will be 70 on July 20.
There had been criticisms in some quarters about her plans to have a big celebration while her husband is in convalescence and the postponement is believed to be a reaction to the criticisms.
She said in a a Twitter post on Sunday morning that the suspension was a result of circumstances beyond her control.
The tweet reads, “Hello Family and Friends. This is to inform you that all activities lined up to mark my 70th birthday are hereby suspended till further notice due to unforeseen circumstances beyond my control. Sorry for any inconvenience caused by this development. Nevertheless, be assured that I will be celebrated in style upon my return. Thank you for your understanding. I remain Arabinrin a.k.a Ada Owere I.”
In another Twitter post accompanied by a photo of her birthday flyer, she said that as long as there is life, ‘Owambe’ (party) can come at any time.
Governor Akeredolu has been on medical vacation since the 7th of June, 2023.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has emerged as the new Chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
“We will take democracy seriously, Democracy is very tough but it is the best form of government,” he said upon his emergence on Sunday in Guinea-Bissau.
Tinubu succeeds President Umaro Embalo of Guinea Bissau as ECOWAS chair.
Tinubu’s emergence was announced at the 63rd Ordinary Session of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS.
The 63rd Ordinary Session summit was the first engagement of the President within the African continent since he assumed office on May 29, 2023.
Soyinka had described the decision to cancel the festival as “a crime against the cultural heritage of all humanity” and “an assault on civilised conduct”.
He had said the Nigerian constitution guaranteed a freedom of belief, adding that the cancellation would undermine the country’s progress.
But reacting to the position of Soyinka, the monarch said the decision to cancel the ceremony was to prevent crisis.
The Emir described the decision as “proactiveness”, saying it “is necessary to sustain peaceful co-existence in the society.”
Gambari in statement issued on Friday through his spokesperson, AbdulAzeez Arowona, said the decision was taken to avert situations that might lead to “reprisal attacks by sympathisers or promoters of such belief (Isese festival) in other parts of the country”.
He added that the priestess had lived “harmoniously” in the town for years “until she decided to go beyond her boundaries”.
“In order to set records straight, Professor Wole Soyinka tends to be economical with facts, forgetting that war is nobody’s want,” the statement said.
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“As he decided to settle with a factor that is capable of causing chaos in the society, if not quickly averted.
“This is to prevent crisis and not waiting until it erupt because the cost of managing crises cannot be equated to the wisdom or courage required to prevent it.
“Such proactiveness is necessary in order to sustain peaceful co-existence in the society. It is therefore surprising to hear that the position of Professor Soyinka is identical to someone who does not consider what might transpire if the programme was hosted.
“It may result to issues which could also lead to reprisal attacks by sympathisers or promoters of such belief (Isese festival) in other parts of the country.
“There are many non-indigenes in Kwara who are serving and retired, including business owners who have vowed to move their families to the state due to the peace and harmony enjoyed therein.
“Yeye Ajesikemi also confirmed that she has been living harmoniously in Ilorin for many years, not until she decided to go beyond her boundaries,” the statement partly read.
The Oke-Ogun Council of Obas has thrown weight behind one of the illustrious sons of Oke-Ogun, Barrister Raji Ahmed SAN who was said to be nominated for ministerial appointment by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Recall, ODUDUWA NEWS had earlier reported how the legal luminary, Ahmed Raji SAN was tipped for ministerial appointment.
The Oke-Ogun traditional rulers in a statement made available today to ODUDUWA NEWS through their lawyer, O.K. Abimbola Esq, urged the public to discountenance the unpleasant and negative remarks which have been flying around the social media in respect to the rumoured nomination of Alhaji Ahmed Raji SAN as a Minister of Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The Council posited that Raji Ahmed SAN is a good representative of Oke-Ogun and that, despite the fact, that he is not a card carrying-member of any party, he has supported all political parties to bring development to Oke-Ogun and as such he is best fit to represent Oyo State as Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The Council also used the occasion to implore the public to be wary of the antics of political jobbers who out of their mischief and sinister plot want to prevail on the President Bola Tinubu to disqualify Raji Ahmed SAN from being the Minister because the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola is also from Iseyin, the same town Raji Ahmed hails from.
The council in its statement quoted as thus: “the issue of being an Iseyin born is not relevant in his appointment, as the said appointment is not political but professional appointment and that the CJN, Olukayode Ariwoola of a learned jurist who has reached the pinnacle of his career cannot be used as a basis to disqualify Ahmed Raji SAN. Sunday Dare was a Minister when Fatai Buhari was a Senator both from Ogbomosho.
“The Council of Obas and Chiefs hereby declare their unwavering support to Ahmed Raji as he is a philanthropist and a senior member of the Nigerian Bar Association NBA and going by zonal rotation, the next ministerial appointment should be from Oke-Ogun zone. Oyo zone had produced Alhaji Haruna Elewi, Ibadan Zone had produced Chief Richard Akinjide, Professor Taoheed Adedoja, Elder Wole Oyelese and Jumoke Akinjide, and Ogbomosho zone had produced Sunday Dare. Therefore the appointment of Ahmed Raji SAN as Minster is meritorious and highly deserved”.
The council therefore urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to discountenance the campaign of calumny against his proposed appointment as Minister of Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The veteran actor, Alapini has been gifted a car by a fan based in Europe after crying out for help.
A fan identified as Lekan Enuope had earlier vowed to get a new Toyota Sienna for Alapinni during a fund raising live video organized by Kamo state.
Kamo state had earlier raised #3.7million before Lekan called to shoulder the responsibility of getting a car for Alapinni.
Kamo has however made it known during a live video monitored by ODUDUWA NEWS on Saturday, July 8, that the money will be shared between the duo of Lalude and Alapinni for renovation of their houses. Adding that Alapinni will be getting the largest share of #2million while his friend, Lalude will get #1.7million.
A former governor of Oyo State, Rasidi Adewolu Ladoja was on Friday absent when the Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Lekan Balogun elevated eleven (11) High Chiefs in the ancient city to the position of Obas.
There are eleven local government areas in Ibadan being supervised by eleven High Chiefs in the Olubadan succession lines.
The Olubadan had earlier announced his plan to elevate the High Chiefs to the position of Obas.
According to the monarch, the eleven High Chiefs would be addressed as Obas henceforth.
Our correspondent, however, reports that the former governor, Rasidi Ladoja who is the Otun Olubadan of Ibadan was absent at the ceremony held at Mapo Hall on Friday.
All other ten High Chiefs who have been elevated to Obas were present at the ceremony.
Those who have been crowned and presented staffs of office include the Balogun of Ibadan, High Chief Owolabi Olakulehin, Otun Balogun, High Chief Tajudeen Ajibola, Osi Olubadan, High Chief Eddy Oyewole Foko and Osi Balogun, High Chief Lateef Gbadamosi Adebimpe and Ashipa Olubadan, High Chief Abiodun Kola-Daisi.
Others are; Ashipa Balogun, High Chief Kolawole Adegbola, Ekerin Olubadan, Hamidu Ajibade, Ekerin Balogun, High Chief Dada Isioye, Ekarun Olubadan, High Chief Adebayo Akande and Ekarun Balogun, High Chief Abiodun Dauda Azeez.
The event was attended by the state governor, Seyi Makinde.
Other dignitaries at the event include former Deputy Governor and PDP Deputy National Chairman, Taofeek Arapaja, former Deputy Governor, Hamid Gbadamosi and Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Adebo Ogundoyin.
Makinde while speaking, noted that the consenting authority is the Olubadan and not the governor.
He added that the elevation was in line with what the people of the ancient city requested.
Makinde said, “We are here for one thing, the Olubadan of Ibadan is crowning his High Chiefs as Obas. It is not the government that is giving the High Chiefs crowns. I am not aware of the crown. I am not in the line. What is happening today is internal.
If the royal father said there is a need for reform, me, as the governor, I will support them. Out of the 11 High Chiefs we have in Ibadan, 10 of them have been crowned today. Even in a democracy, the majority will have its way and the minority will have their say and we have had them, anyone that is not satisfied can go to Court.
“The consenting authority today is the Olubadan and not the governor. Those who go to Court will waste their time. What the people want, we have done it for them. I want to charge the new Obas to do good to their people. I thank all my people in Ibadan. Thank you”.
Ekiti State Government has prohibited the staging and hosting of an event tagged: “Kiss-A-Thon in the state.
The government in a letter conveyed through the state Ministry of Arts, Culture and Tourism to State chapter of Hoteliers Association warned them against holding such event.
A flier obtained by journalists in Ado Ekiti, the state capital yesterday, about the event has the inscriptions “SUGARTEE KISS-A-THON: 3-Day Kissing Marathon Date: July 7th – July 10th. In an attempt to break the Guinness World Records for the longest kissing marathon”.
The letter signed the state tourism director, Mr Adebanji Adelusi on behalf of the ministry Permanent Secretary, Dele Ogunsemoyin described such event as absurd and immoral. The organizers and whosoever that is willing to participate in such risk 3-year jail term.
The letter reads, “The attention of the State Government has been drawn to a planned hosting of ‘Kiss-a-thon’ in Ekiti State.
“According to information at the disposal of this Ministry, kiss-a-thon, a 3-day kissing marathon event, has been scheduled to hold on 7th of July, 2023 at one of the hospitality outlets in the State.
Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka has blasted the Emir of Ilorin, Sulu Gambari for having the effrontery to cancel Isese Festival, saying he committed a crime against cultural heritage of humanity.
Soyinka, in an open letter to the Emir on Thursday, said it was sad to see the ancient city of Ilorin, a confluence of faiths and ethnic varieties, reduced to this level of bigotry and intolerance, manifested in the role of a presiding monarch.
“The truncation of a people’s traditional festival is a crime against the cultural heritage of all humanity. Year after year, the Ramadan has been celebrated in this nation as an inclusive gathering of humanity, irrespective of divergences of belief.
“Not once, in my entire span of existence, have I encountered pronouncements by followers of any faith that the slaughtering of rams on the streets and market places is an offence to their concept of godhead. Vegetarians hold their peace. Buddhists walk a different path. Prior to Ramadan, non-Moslems routinely join in observing the preceding season of fasting as a spiritual exercise worthy of emulation,” he said.
Soyinka said he recalled for instance how a procession of Corpus Christ was once attacked, some killed, by a brood of Muslim fanatics, for daring to process along the streets of that same Ilorin, lamenting that such abominations had become routine, as community is sacrificed to bigotry.
The Nobel Laureate added: “Your Royal Highness, it is conduct like this that has bred Boko Haram, ISIS, ISWAP and other religious malformations that currently plague this nation, spreading grief and outrage across a once peaceful landscape, degrading my and your existence with their virulent brand of Islam.
“It is conduct like this that has turned, before our very eyes, a once ecumenical city like Kaduna into a blood-stained mockery of cohabitation. It is conduct like this that makes it possible for a young student, Deborah, to be lynched in the very presence of armed police, on mere allegation of having belittled the image of a revered prophet. It is action of this nature, perpetrated in obscure as well as prominent outlets of the nation that turns a young generation into mindless monsters, ever ready to swarm out and kill, kill, kill. Simply kill for the thrill of it, but under presumption of religious immunity.
“It is conduct like this that then nerves one extremist to wake up one day in a Scandinavian country, publicly announce his intention, and proceed to make a bonfire of copies of the Qur’an. Reprisals follow, equally mindless, trapping humanity in an ever-ascending spiral of costly but gleeful violence.”
He decried that the African continent had endured centuries of disdain and despoilation at the hands of alien religions – Christianity and Islam at the forefront.
Soyinka stated that both religions had been sanctimoniously deployed as justification for unspeakable atrocities, for the dehumanization of the black race.
“Do I need to teach you your own history, or is it that you prefer to forget? To encounter, in this century, a convert to alien spiritual dogma, appropriating the cloak of piety to impede the observation of our antecedent spirituality is not just racial treachery but an assault on civilized conduct as a universal aspiration of humanity, where every discovery, every new encounter usher in new propositions of enlightenment.
“Humanity builds on the past, preserving alternatives of world views, not destroying that past which, in any case, is indestructible. Your conduct is an affront to my sense of racial being, and that holds true for millions beyond these national and continental borders, stretching into the Americas and the Caribbean.
“There you will still encounter ISESE and allied spiritualities. There, ISESE still exerts its hold on the human spirit. Visit Brazil, go to Columbia, explore Cuba, and be humbled by the tenacity of this spirituality among the descendants of black humanity,” he said.
Soyinka stressed that even the sturdiest of thrones crumbled and that long after “you and I are gone, generations will continue to endure the effects of present anomalies, pretensions, hypocrisies, will continue to harvest the bitter fruits of the seeds of discord being sown by their forebears.”
He urged the monarch to rein in those agents of division, of triumphalist intolerance, such as the Majlisu Shabab Ulamahu Society.
The Nobel Laureate stated that there is a thin line between power and piety, urging Gambari to call Yeye Ajasikemi OIokun Omolara to his side, make peace with her and make restitution whichever way he could for this grievous insult to “our race.”
“We know the history of Ilorin and the trajectory of your dynasty – but these are not the issues. The issue is peaceful cohabitation, respect for other worldviews, their celebrations, their values and humanity. The issue is the acceptance of the multiple facets of human enlightenment.
“The greatest avatars that the world has known were not without human frailties, flaws, and errors of understanding. You are NOT Omniscient. And you are not Omnipotent,” he said.
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