Author: oduduwanews

A former House of Representatives Member and candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the last National Assembly election in Ekiti state, Hon. Bimbo Daramola has said that the impressive performance and leadership qualities of the State Governor, Mr Biodun Oyebanji could be a veritable platform that would induce his return to APC.

Daramola, who scored the incumbent Governor Oyebanji high on his people-oriented policies and programmes, infrastructure development and ability to bond with the people, said Ekiti people across political party lines are already applauding his leadership and governance styles.

Hon Daramola stated this on Friday when he paid Governor Oyebanji a courtesy visit at the Governor’s office, Ado- Ekiti. He said the Governor has made the rank and file of the state proud through his exemplary leadership, adding that he may consider a comeback to the All Progressives Congress ( APC) based on the Governor’s track record and leadership style.

He also disclosed that all the things he would have done if he were elected Governor were already being carried out effectively by Governor Oyebanji, adding there was no reason he should not support the Governor to succeed in his drive to reposition the state towards shared prosperity to the people.

“Oyebanji is one Governor who has made us proud and everybody across the length and breadth of this country knows that if I say anything I believe in it. He has shown clearly that there is a track, there is a direction that we are going in this state. The strength of his leadership is the ownership by the people and everywhere he goes, you hear vibes that this Governor is doing well. And if a Governor is doing well in my state, I need to come and say, Governor, well-done. Keep on track.

“No doubt about it, he has given an inspiring leadership and if he has inspired t

Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State has restated his administration’s commitment to the fight against cultism and related criminal activities, warning that Ogun under his watch will not be a safe haven for cultists and their sponsors.

He equally threatened that his administration would not hesitate to bring down the full weight of the law on anyone caught engaging in cultism as well as individual backers, no matter highly placed

Abiodun, who expressed worry over the spike in cultism activities in some parts of the state, gave the warning in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Kunle Somorin, on Thursday.

“I want to once again sound this note of warning to those engaging in criminal activities such as cultism, kidnapping, ritual killings, armed robbery, among other nefarious activities, that this administration will be decisive in bringing down the full weight of the law on those who perpetuate these crimes.

“Ogun State is known for peace as we have been adjudged the most peaceful in the country. We are not only the industrial capital of this country, we are also the religious and educational capital, and so anyone who disrupts the peace the state is noted for would be regarded as a saboteur and will be treated as one.

“I want to again reiterate that any house that accommodates hoodlums and criminals will not only be confiscated, but will be pulled down. We will find them, smoke them out and hand them over to the law enforcement agencies for prosecution according to the laws of the land.

“To this end, I appeal to landlords to scrutinize those they intend to lease or rent their property to ensure they are of good character, while parents and guardians on their part should warn their children and wards to desist from criminal activities”, the governor stated.

Abiodun who underscored the importance of peace in any society, said his administration in the last four years, has embarked on industrial drive both in and outside the country, to bring in more investors to invest in the state, adding that his government would not close its eyes and watch these efforts turn to waste as a result of criminal activities.

The governor emphasized that his administration would continue to empower the security agencies in the state to carry out their constitutional duties of protecting lives and properties, calling on the people to report crimes and criminal activities in their areas to the police or any law enforcement agency for necessary action.

The Executive Governor of Osun State, Senator Ademola Adeleke on Friday warmly felicitated with the Ataoja of Osogbo, His Royal Majesty, Oba Jimoh Olanipekun Oyetunji, Laroye II, on the occasion of his birthday, joining family, friends and well-wishers across the globe to celebrate an exceptional traditional leader, who exemplifies service to humanity.

Governor Adeleke in a congratulatory message signed by his Spokesperson, Mallam Olawale Rasheed, commended Oba Olanipekun for his endearing contributions to the peace and progress of Osun State and Nigeria as a whole.

The Governor acknowledged the frontline monarch’s transformational leadership, which evidently manifests in the infrastructural and economic upscale that Osogbo enjoys since he assumed the stool of the ancient town, praising Oba Olanipekun’s devotion to the promotion of culture and traditions.

“I heartily felicitate with the Ataoja of Osogbo, HRM Oba Jimoh Olanipekun Oyetunji, Laroye II, on this grace of a new age. On this occasion, I join people across race and tongue to note Oba Olanipekun’s incredible attitude towards nation building, particularly the passion he puts to pursuing the progress of Osun State,” the statement noted.

While saluting the Ataoja for his sustained efforts in entrenching peace and developments in his domain, Governor Adeleke added that “he remains inspired by Oba Olanipekun’s sense of purpose to his people and will always treasure his valuable contributions to the promotion of the traditional institution.”

Governor Adeleke prays for God’s sustained guidance and strength for Oba Olanipekun in furtherance of rendering qualitative service towards the peace and growth of not just Osogbo, but Osun State as a whole. Signed: Mallam Olawale Rasheed, Spokesperson to the Executive Governor

The people of Oke-Ogun, under the aegis of National President of Oke-Ogun Development Consultative Forum (ODCF), have congratulated the first Oba of Ogombo in Lagos State, Oba Abiodun Muslim Ogunbo, who was installed by the Lagos State government recently.

The Ogombo kingdom in Eti Osa local government has boundaries with popular Lagos areas like Ajah, Sangotedo, Okun Ajah among others and the founders of the kingdom sojourned from Saki in the Oke-Ogun area of Oyo State to Ogombo in Lagos in the 17th century.

The National President (ODCF), Barrister Ahmed Raji in a media statement obtained by newsmen at Iseyin on Friday, said the people of Oke-Ogun were happy that the region has positively impacted the whole world with sons and daughters who have lived their lives to better humanity, saying that with the emergence of Oba Abiodun Ogunbo as the King of Ogombo Kingdom, developmental strides would follow.

“We, the people of Oke-Ogun are happy that our people all over the world are sources of good and admirable news, speaking specifically of the newly-installed, first Oba of Ogombo Kingdom, Oba Abiodun Muslim Ogunbo, whose fore-bearers migrated to Lagos from Saki in our Oke-Ogun area.

“We believe the emergence of Oba Abiodun will bring positive global attention to Ogombo Kingdom as Oke-Ogun region and its people progress, we also pray that the King will live long on the throne.”

The legal luminary appreciated the government of Lagos State for making the installation of Oba Abiodun Muslim Ogunbo seamless, saying the support given to the ruling house will bring about further progress to the State.

The Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) has alerted consumers within its franchise area of an imminent blackout from next month over backlogs of unpaid bills.

The IBEDC, a power distribution company, said it was planning to disconnect its feeders from the national grid due to poor remittances.

Consumers to be affected by the development are those in Kwara, Ogun, Osun, Ibadan, Oyo and parts of Kogi, Ekiti and Niger states.

A statement signed by the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the company, Engr. Kingsley Achife and made available to newsmen in Ilorin said the move might result in power outages to customers within the IBEDC franchise areas.

As a revenue collection arm of the electricity value chain, IBEDC sells and distributes electricity generated by the generation companies.

Husband who killed his wife at Abeokuta Road Ijebu Ode has been apprehended and in Police custody at State Command Abeokuta Ogun State.

The deceased family has been playing along with the suspect who killed the woman that she is not dead yet and still in hospital.

Fortunately he believed after a lot of stress in tracking him which didn’t work out,so he promised the deceased brother that he would show up on Monday 1st of May thinking the deceased is still alive at hospital.

He showed up on Monday and the deceased families met with him and tell him to move to hospital, unknown to him he was drove to Police Station and the suspect has been transferred to state command in Abeokuta.

Ifasoji Ayangbesan, a 35-year-old suspected ritualist, who was arrested for allegedly killing and dismembering one Oyindamola Adeyemi, on Wednesday explained how he bought two human legs at the rate of N20,000.

Ayangbesan who was accused of bribing policemen with N1 million to evade arrest, was paraded alongside other 12 suspects at the state Police command Headquarters, Eleweran, Abeokuta.

He, however, denied taking part in the killing of the victim who was reportedly murdered on January 28, 2023.

Speaking during the parade, Ayangbesan, who is a resident of the Iloti axis of the Ijebu-Ode local government area of Ogun, claimed that he was a herbalist and not ritualist.

He said he only obtained the legs from his friend Lukman, who he claimed to have exhumed the body part from a cemetery.

He said, “I bought two fresh human legs, but I was not involved in the murder of the victim. I was approached by my friend, Lukman, who told me he had a pair of legs to sell. Though I told him I did not need them, he convinced me to use them for ritual to better my life, and I agreed.

“I, however, told him I did not know how to make money rituals as I was not taught that as a traditionalist. He then referred me to his friend from Oye, popularly known as Egbeji in Isiwo.

“After I was taught how to go about it, I burnt the legs and kept them in my house with plans to complete the ritual when I returned from Ajah because I had a job to do there.

“However, my daughter called me while I was at Ajah that the police had come to the house looking for me. So, I later sneaked in and took away the burnt legs so that I would not be caught with any evidence because I heard that Lukman had been arrested and he had mentioned my involvement in the case.”

On the allegation of bribing police, Ayangbesan said that a lawyer had instructed him to provide N10 million to secure his release, but he was only able to gather N1 million.

He said, “I did not offer the police any bribe. When I heard that the police were on the lookout for me, a lawyer told me to get N10 million to set myself free, but I told him I could not raise the money. However, I was able to raise N1 million. Unfortunately for me, the lawyer claimed that I had informed someone about him asking me for money. He then instructed me to place the money in front of him and he took a picture, and then I was arrested. I never offered police money.”

Other suspects paraded include five suspected cultists, eight armed robbers, and one serial killer from Abeokuta and its environs.

While parading the suspects, the Commissioner of Police in the state, Olanrewaju Oladimeji, said the arrest was a result of a joint strategic effort to deal with criminal elements in the state after he was briefed about the crime situation in the state.

President-elect Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has promised to work evenly for the country without marginalising any part in areas of development.

Asiwaju Tinubu, who is due to be inaugurated as president on May 29, said this Wednesday in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.

The president-elect is on a two-day visit to the state to inaugurate projects executed by the Nyesom Wike administration.

“I will not marginalise any region, but will leave legacy projects across the length and breadth of Nigeria,” he said at the opening of Rumuokwuta/Rumuola Flyover Bridge.

Tinubu praised Governor Wike for the development strides in Rivers State, particularly for the 12 flyovers constructed across the capital city, saying posterity would kindly remember him.

He said with his accomplishments in the state, Nigeria would need the outgoing Rivers governor in higher capacities.

On the political front, Tinubu thanked Wike and the people of Rivers State for their support for him.

He said he was in the state in line with the promise he made during the campaigns in Rivers, saying “if you make a promise, you keep it.

“I will never forget the pivotal role the great and wonderful people of this state played in my victorious campaign to become the next president of this country. You have my eternal gratitude.

“In His Excellency, Governor Wike, I see a man of principle. He took a principled stand that the presidency should be retuned to the South; and he had the courage to stand by his convictions, not minding whose ox was gored.

“He is, indeed, a man of great integrity. He did not choose to serve his own interests, rather, the interests of the nation and the people of Rivers State. I thank him for his selfless leadership,” he added.

In his speech, Wike said the invitation for Tinubu to commission projects in the state was a fulfilment of promise made during the President-elect’s campaign visit to Rivers.

He expressed appreciation to Tinubu for agreeing to visit Rivers State and perform the commissioning.

Wike, who threw jibes at the leadership of his party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), applauded the election of Tinubu which, he said, had shamed naysayers.

The event was attended by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila and Governors Abubakar Badaru (Jigawa), David Umahi (Ebonyi), Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq (Kwara), Seyi Makinde (Oyo) and Hope Uzodinma (Imo).

Others were former governors Dr Peter Odili (Rivers), Chief Bisi Akande (Osun), Chief James Ibori (Delta), Dr Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti), Chief Timipre Sylva (Bayelsa) and Chief Ayo Fayose (Ekiti).

Others in attendance include governor-elect of Rivers State, Mr Sim Fubara, Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Mr Sunday Dare, Mr Dele Alake and Alhaji Kashim Ibrahim Imam, among others.