Author: oduduwanews

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Movement Restrictions In Ijebuland As Alagemo Festival Begins July 4

The people of Ogun State and other States have been cautioned of their movement to and fro Ijebuland as the 2023 Edition of the Agemo Festival is to hold between 4th & 5th July, 2023.

This according to a statement obtained by ODUDUWA NEWS on Saturday evening which reads in part:

“This is to inform the general public that the 2023 Edition of the Agemo Festival is to hold between 4th & 5th July, 2023.

“Please mind your movement for those days, especially the Agemo routes in Ijebu areas.

“Anywhere you hear “Ekeee, Obiren m wo, Iku Aye”. Don’t joke with it. Speak with your two legs.

May God be with us”.

AGEMO festival is a masked and masquerade festival traditionally held in many Yoruba cities but more popularly link with ijebu people of ogun state. The festival and accompanying rituals are celebrated to honor the spirit of Agemo deity, who is believe to be a protector of children and who safeguards ijebus future.

The festival is linked with the traditional african religion in particular the parties of Agemo cult and as such issues like restriction of movement during certain period of the festival is no longer new.

No woman is allowed to look at the Agemo when coming into Ijebu Ode and going out of the ancient town during the festival annually. Sixxteen Agemo masquerades from different villages proceed to their shrine at Imosan, via Ijebu Ode on annual pilgrimage.

Each Agemo carries items such as feathers by some Agemo followers. It is considered as taboo for a woman to see the Agemo masquerade during their pilgrimage, the Agemo masquerade stops to receive gifts and offer prayers to residents.

At imosan, the masquerades receive additional gifts sent by the Awujale, they spend three days at the Agemo shrine performing traditional religious rites and appeasement of the Agemo deity.

It is a doctrine believe among the people to have cultural significance and divine authority passed from generation to generation. Agemo is an annual festival in ijebuland that dates back to several centuries and consistently held in the month of July to usher in the new yam season.

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Another chef, Adeola eyes Hilda Baci’s title, begins 150-hour cook-a-thon

An Ondo chef identified as Adeola Adeyeye has begun a 150-hour cook-a-thon in an attempt to break Hilda Baci’s Guinness World Record for the longest cooking marathon of 93 hours and 11 minutes.

This is coming after another Nigerian chef, Adeparusi Damilola aka Chef Dammy embarked on a 120-hour cook-a-thon in Oye Local Government Area of Ekiti State.

Adeyeye began the cook-a-thon on Friday, June 30, 2023, in the Ile-Oluji/Okeigbo Local Government Area of Ondo State and is scheduled to conclude on Thursday, July 6, 2023.

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Osun Eid Prayer Ground Clash: MURIC Faults Gov Adeleke

The Muslim Rights Concern ((MURIC) has warned politicians in Osun State against desecrating the Muslim prayer ground. The warning came after the clash between the state governor, Ademola Adeleke and Senator Ajibola Bashiru at the Oshogbo Muslim prayer ground yesterday, Wednesday, 28th June 2023.

The Executive Director of MURIC, Professor Ishaq Akintola, who spoke on Thursday, 29th June 2023, described the incident as a show of shame.

He said: “A clash occurred at the Muslim prayer ground, Oshogbo, yesterday, Wednesday, 28th June 2023 between Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State and a prominent senator, Ajibola Bashiru.

“Senator Ajibola Bashiru allegedly arrived at the Muslim prayer ground, Osogbo, earlier than the governor. Reports say he sat on the reserved front-row seat but a protocol of Adeleke approached to inform him it was the seat kept for the Governor.

He changed his seat to another front-row seat, which the protocol still opposed. In our opinion, that was the first wrong step and it was taken by the governor’s protocol.

“We strongly believe that a senator is also a distinguished personality who should not be disgraced at such a public function. Therefore the governor’s protocol should have allowed him to use the second seat occupied by him. Our sincere position is that the senator had respected the governor by leaving the seat which the protocol claimed was reserved for the governor.

“There was no need for the governor’s protocol to insist that the senator should leave the front row completely. The governor’s protocol was overzealous and he threw diplomacy to the winds. It was at that point that the wrong step was taken. A senator is not a Mr Nobody. He should have been accorded his respect as well particularly since he had respected the office of the governor by leaving his (the governor’s) seat.

“Unlike in other places of worship, no front rows are reserved for any individual inside mosques because all are equal in Islam. The Glorious Qur’an 49:13 says, ‘Oh mankind, We created you from a single male and female and made you into nations and tribes so that you may know each other. The most honoured among you in the sight of Allah are the most righteous and Allah has full knowledge of what you do.’

“Even Prophet Muhammad asserted clearly, emphatically and authoritatively that all men are equal. ‘You are all equal’, he said, ‘like the teeth of a comb. There is no difference between an Arab and a non-Arab except by righteousness (taqwah)…’

“Therefore there is nothing wrong if both the governor and the senator are on the front row. There is nothing like entitlement to front-row seats in Islam. The president, the governors, senators, etc may be given the front rows just for security reasons. Neither does Islam entertain an imperial mentality inside the mosque or on Muslim prayer grounds.

“What happened yesterday at the Muslim prayer ground in Oshogbo was a show of shame. It is also a security lapse because the state security apparel should have foreseen that ugly development and made adequate provision for it. There would not have been a clash if the governor’s protocol and the state’s security apparatus had worked together on the arrangements and taken strategic positions before the arrival of worshippers.

“MURIC condemns this manifestation of political Islam in a negative form. Governor Adeleke should not have left the prayer ground if he was there to worship Allah, no matter what happened. Adeleke should tell us loud and clear where he belongs. All politicians should drop their political garbs in their party secretariat. They are brothers and sisters once they enter the prayer ground as Muslims if indeed they truly belong to the Islamic faith.

“Politicians in Osun State should not desecrate the Muslim prayer ground again. They should not use political differences to permeate and consequently rupture the fabrics of the Muslim community.”
The Muslim Rights Concern ((MURIC) has warned politicians in Osun State against desecrating the Muslim prayer ground. The warning came after the clash between the state governor, Ademola Adeleke and Senator Ajibola Bashiru at the Oshogbo Muslim prayer ground yesterday, Wednesday, 28th June 2023.

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Makinde Appoints Operation Burst DG, 11 Others As SSAs, SAs

Governor Seyi Makinde on Friday approved the appointment of Col. Oladipo James Ajibola as the Director-General, Operation Burst.

The Governor also approved the appointments of Mrs Bosede Sodiq as Senior Special Assistant (Broadcast Media), Mr Kehinde Oluwaseyi Ogunsanya as Senior Special Assistant (Economic Planning) and Mr Moshope Adebayo Akande as Senior Special Assistant (Information Communication Technology (ICT).

Other appointments made are listed below:

(1) Mr Albert Adebowale Ogunyemi : Special Assistant (Photographer) to the Governor

(2) Mr Otuowho Jesse Onoriode :Special Assistant (Photographer 2) to the Governor

(3) Mr OYEBODE BABATUNDE -: Special Assistant (Transport) to the Governor.

(4) Mr Adeyanju Daniel Akinloye – Special Assistant (Transport 2) to the Governor;

(5) Mr Moses Adebayo Alao as Special Assistant Print Media;

(6) Mr Fisayo Daramola as Special Assistant Digital Media;

(7) Mr Ogunbowale Oladayo Olajuwon as Special Assistant Communication; and

(8) Mr Ademola Aderinto as Special Assistant Environment. .

This was contained in a letter signed by the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Otunba Segun Ogunwuyi.

According to the letter, the appointment is with immediate effect.

The governor, while congratulating the new appointees asked them to see their appointment as a further call to service and urged them to discharge their duties with absolute loyalty, dedication and diligence.

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Oyo Gets New Commissioner Of Police, Ayinde Hamzat

Adebola Ayinde Hamzat is replacing Adebowale Williams as commissioner of police in Oyo State.

The immediate past CP, Adebowale Williams, who was recently promoted assistant inspector general of police, had last Friday assumed duty as the 32nd AIG in charge of Zone 7 headquarters, Abuja.

The appointment was made known in an approval issued by the Police Service Commission.

In a statement, the police listed the newly appointed State Commissioners of Police as; Godwin Aghaulor now CP Borno State Command;

Adelesi E. Oluwarotimi, CP Kwara State Command;

Adebola Ayinde Hamzat, CP Oyo State Command;

Augustina Ogbodo, CP Ebonyi State Command and Samuel Titus Musa, CP Kebbi State Command among others.

The Commission also applauded the acting Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun for adhering to its latest Policy on gender sensitivity as recommended by the PSC.

However, the commission says it expects the Acting IGP in his subsequent proposals to include more Officers of North East and South East geopolitical zones that are yet to record the benchmark of 15 percent as decided at its last Plenary Meeting .

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Weeks After Tinubu Sacks Army Chiefs, Over 100 Senior Military Officers To Resign On Monday

The Defence Headquarters has directed all Senior officers with “seniority on commission “above Nigerian Defence Academy Regular Course 39 to proceed on voluntary retirement. This development comes on the heels of the appointment of the new service chiefs by President Bola Tinubu. The notice of resignation was made known in a statement from the Defence Headquarters signed on Monday by Maj-Gen. Y. Yayaha for the Chief of Defence Staff.

“I am directed to respectfully request services to direct all officers with seniority on commission above that of Nigerian Defence Academy(NDA) regular course 39 to submit their applications for voluntary retirement from service with immediate effect,” the statement reads in part:

“I am to add that affected officers are to submit their applications to their respective service headquarters no later than on Monday, July 3, 2023.” According to military tradition, senior officers are unlikely to take orders from their juniors, thus the new appointments necessitate the compulsory retirement of about 100 top officers, including Generals, Brigadiers-General, Air Vice Marshals, and Admirals in the Nigerian Army, Navy, and Air Force from the Force.

The affected senior officers who are expected to file in their voluntary retirement are officers above the NDA regular course 39, however, the new Chief of Defence Staff, Major General Christopher Musa is a member of 38 regular courses, the Chief of Army Staff, Major General Taoreed Lagbaja, the Chief of Naval Staff, Rear admiral, Emmanuel Ogalla, and the Chief of Air Staff, and Air Vice Marshal, Hassan Abubakar are members of 39 regular course.

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Subsidy Removal: Gov Adeleke Rolls Out Plans For Palliatives In Osun

The Executive Governor of Osun State, Senator Ademola Adeleke has disclosed plans by his government to launch palliatives to cushion the impact of subsidy removal, declaring his administration’s readiness to make life easy for residents of Osun state.

Former Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola and other stakeholders of the party also commended the Governor for robust performance and delivery of good governance in the last seven months.

The Governor made the disclosure at a stakeholder meeting of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at its party’s office in Osogbo on Friday, stressing his conviction to run a government that bring smile on the faces of the people.

Governor Adeleke who appreciated leaders of the PDP for their support since assuming office, noted that his administration has been working in line with “our election promises and the agenda of the party.”

While detailing projects and interventions implemented so far recorded by his government in the health, education and public infrastructure renewal, Governor Adeleke said the PDP-led government in the state has achieved what the APC failed to do under seven months.

“We are implementing programmes and projects in education, health and infrastructures: what the APC could not achieve in four years, we have achieved in under seven months,” he declared at the meeting.

“We have positioned the public service, build roads, bridges and channelisation. We have commenced payment of salary and pension debt.

“Your (PDP) government has launched the Osun digital economy agenda. Abandoned projects are being completed. Your government is beating old governance records within so short a period,” he stressed.

Speaking on plans to cushion the impact of fuel subsidy removal on Osun populace, Governor Adeleke pointed out that “We (Osun Government) will soon introduce public transport buses. We are working on adjusted work hours and days. We want to make live easy and enjoyable for our people.”

Governor Adeleke went on to assure party leaders and members that he will run an inclusive government that leaves no one behind, adding that “We will all be accommodated. We will be fair to all.”

“I appreciate your support then and now. This is your government. We shall all realize the fruits of our labour,” he said.

Stakeholders’ Commendations

Governor Oyinlola in his message at the meeting recalled the initial skepticism on the governorship of Governor Adeleke and posited that under seven months the Governor has proved skeptics wrong.

He noted the superlative performance of the Governor which he said aided the electoral fortunes of the party at the state and national elections.

“Governor Adeleke has surprised even his worst critics. His performance impresses all and it has strengthen the party and the state. We commend the Governor and his team”, the former Governor who speaks for other stakeholders noted.

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Nigerian Man Stabbed To Death By ‘Side Chick’ He Brought To His House After His Wife Travelled

Nigerian Man Stabbed To Death By Side Chick He Brought To His House After His Wife Travelled

The deceased has been identified as Israel Ahinda and it was gathered that the incident happened at Ewekoro area of Ogun state.

Israel had invited his side chick, Alice, to his house after his wife travelled for the Ileya holiday.

They however got into an argument on Tuesday night, leading to the lady stabbing him on the neck with a knife.

He was rushed to two hospitals where he was pronounced dead.

The lady has now been arrested and is currently being held at Ifo police station.

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Emilokan: I invoked spirit of freedom in Ogun, says President Tinubu

The President, Bola Tinubu, on Thursday, said he invoked the spirit of freedom during his electioneering in Ogun State.

He said during the campaign season, some of his popular statements that resonated with Nigerians and his supporters were used to invoke the spirit.

The former Lagos State governor said the hardship that accompanied the Central Bank of Nigeria cash swap policy during the electioneering period forced him to invoke the spirit of freedom in the South West state.

“I invoked the spirit of freedom in Ogun,” the president said while speaking at the palace of Awujale and paramount ruler of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona, in Ijebu Ode.

He added, “It is a homecoming and I owe so much to all of you and there is so much to thank you for. Because of the way you have taken me and the way you’ve responded to me, all I can say is thank you.

“To many of you, thank you for being there for me and being there for the country. You demonstrated so much loyalty, so much commitment and voted at a very crucial time.

“Your monies were confiscated. The cash swap didn’t work. It was terrible then. I realised that and I came to Ogun State to invoke the spirit of freedom for which we are noted for.

“I invoked that spirit twice. The spirit of Baba (referring to Awujale). The spirit of Baba – Emi l’okan (it’s my turn), that’s Baba. The spirit for being blunt and that is him.

“And the second spirit is that of money (Naira scarcity), ‘ama dibo ama wole’ (we will vote and we will win) even if there is no money. And that, ever since, has been the spirit that is driving me to serve.”

We had early reports that Tinubu had on June 3 set the social media on fire when he vented his frustration during a presidential campaign in Abeokuta, saying it was through his efforts that the ex-President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), made it to Aso Rock after failing thrice.

It was during the event that he blurted out his now famous quote, “emilokan” (It’s my turn).

“It is my time. I’m educated. I’m experienced. I have been serving people for a long time. Bring me the presidency, it is my turn,’’ Tinubu had insisted.

He also pointed at Abiodun whom he described as ‘Eleyi’ absentmindedly as one of the products of his political hard work.

“Look at this one (Eleyi) seated behind me, Dapo, he wouldn’t have become governor without my support,” Tinubu had stated.

Tinubu made the statement while addressing the APC delegates in Ogun State.

His outburst evoked mixed feelings from Nigerians, with many loyalists of the party including the National Chairman, Abdullahi Adamu, saying the remarks were meant to slight the president and Ogun State governor.

Also, in reaction to the new naira scarcity and fuel shortage which provoked riots across the country, Tinubu accused unnamed powerful persons of masterminding the crisis to shoot down his aspirations. His ally, Governor Nasir El-Rufai, affirmed that some Presidency officials, including the Central Bank Governor, Godwin Emefiele, were working against Tinubu.

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Veteran Nollywood actress, Sidikat Iyabo Oko, is dead

Veteran Nollywood actress, Sidikat Odunkanwi professionally known as Iyabo Oko, has reportedly passed on.

Her daughter, Bisi Aisha, announced on Facebook , saying that the actress died on Wednesday evening.

She wrote “May ur soul Rest In Peace mummy”, .
Actress Foluke Daramola-Salako also confirmed her death. On her Instagram page, Daramola-Salako wrote: “and finally we lost her.. rip Iyabo Oko, we did our best but God knows best”

Before her demise, the 61-year-old actress battled with ill-health which caused her to take a long break from the movie scene.

Sidikat had stage names such as “Iyabo Oko” “Apoti Aje” Sisi Mama”.

Last year, one of her daughters, Olamide, disclosed that her mother was diagnosed with ischaemic stroke about five years ago but kept her health issues away from the public.

Yoruba Nollywood stars including Foluke Daramola, Iyabo Ojo, Bolaji Amusan, Mercy Aigbe and Biodun Okeowo, others assisted financially in the past.

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