The governor of Oyo State, Engr. Seyi Makinde has advised the citizens of Iseyin not to sell their land at a ridiculous price because in the next five years Iseyin land will be greatly appreciated.
According to ODUDUWA NEWS Correspondent, Gov. Makinde promised to ensure that Iseyin is turned to economic nerve of Oyo State through solid minerals.
Makinde made this disclosure today at Iseyin while giving his speech at the ongoing burial ceremony of the late Aseyin.
Makinde who was giving a reply to the statement credited to the President of Oke-Ogun Development Consultative Forum ODCF, Barr. Hamed Raji SAN where he implored Gov. Makinde to appeal to OYSROMA to ensure that some dilapidated roads in Iseyin are repaired to a motorable level.
Makinde said, I would not forget my campaign promise to ensure that Agriculture becomes the mainstay of Oyo State economy with Oke-Ogun becoming its major drive.
He said, he would ensure that tourism which is an important sector in Oke-Ogun is also given a major priority being part of accelerated development he campaigned with before his emergence as the Governor of Oyo State.
Makinde vouched to ensure that Ikere Gorge dam and other tourist centres in Oke-Ogun are given facelift.
The burial ceremony of late Aseyin of Iseyin, Oba Salawudeen Ologunebi, Ajinese II is currently holding in Iseyin District Grammar School.
Dignatories from various places have been seen trooping to the venue of the burial ceremony.
ODUDUWA NEWS Correspondent at the event gathered that stage has been finally set as preparation is in top gear to ensure that the ceremony holds successfully.
Some notable traditional rulers in Oke-Ogun, Alado of Ado-Awaye, Iba of Kishi and Ikolaba of Iseyin are currently at the reserved place for monarch.
Commissioner for Information and Tourism, Dr. Wasiu Olatunbosun, while speaking to ODUDUWA NEWS Correspondent, said, they had been on preparation for the past few days and that there has been collaborative efforts with all stakeholders to ensure successful burial ceremony of the late reverred traditional ruler.
Alado of Ado-Awaye, Oba Olugbile Makuledoye I in his words, said, traditional rulers from various places had come to celebrate one of their own who laid indelible marks in the Oyo State traditional council before his demise.
Security agents were seen stationing their vehicles at the entrance of the venue and major roads in Iseyin to ensure safety of the people and prevent possible break down of laws and order.
The Head of the Oyo Mesi, who is also the Basorun of Oyo, High Chief Yussuf Ayoola, said ten contestants have been shortlisted by the Oyo Mesi, who are the kingmakers, for the stool of the Alaafin of Oyo. The Director of Media and Publicity to the Alaafin of Oyo, Bode Durojaiye, disclosed this on Friday in a statement
Basorun stated that members of the Oyo Mesi would soon meet to deliberate on the next step, which he said would be an Ifa (oracle) consultation to pick the next Alaafin among the shortlisted contestants.
The statement read, “Whoever emerges among the shortlisted aspirants will be the candidate and the next Alaafin of Oyo.
“The state government is not only aware but carried along in all our proceedings before, during, and after the interview period. The state government was ably represented by the chairperson of the Atiba Local Government Area and some officials of the council.
“On the Alapinni matter, he is a member of the Oyo Mesi but presently indisposed. To follow the due process, he needs to be represented in order to keep him abreast of development. He cannot be left out in the scheme of things. Hence, we request his representative. Health is wealth. We wish him a quick recovery.”
“People should watch their utterances and refrain from reckless comments capable of causing an implosion.
“People entrusted with the peace and tranquility of the town should not just rush to the press for mischief. It is better for one to find out about what he or she doesn’t know from the authentic source, than going to the press to cause disaffection.
It was gathered that the Iba Samu of Oyo, High Chief High Chief Lamidi Olayanju, said he knew nothing about the shortlisted candidates.
Olayanju said, “I called Basorun and he told me that he was the one behind the news that 10 persons had been shortlisted. Four of us know nothing about it. When we completed the interview on Thursday, we all agreed that we would meet next Tuesday to do that but hearing that 10 persons had been shortlisted on the radio is news to me. I called Basorun and he told me he authored the news.
“I heard it on the radio that we had shortlisted 10 but I am telling you I am not part of that and I called four of us and they said they did not know anything about it. Agbaakin (High Chief Asinmiyu) told me he was not part of the decision to pick 10 contestants; Akinniku (High Chief Amusa Yusuf) also told me that he was not part of it; Alapini ( High Chief Rasheed Sheu) is indisposed.”
Responding to if the rest of the kingmakers would abide by the shortlisted contestants, he said, “Can you, yourself, abide by such a decision? We don’t know anything about it, we didn’t know when he picked them, so, we can’t abide by such.
“If we agree with him and the remaining contestants drag all of us to court, how are we going to defend what we were not part of?”
The Ooni of Ife, Arole Oduduwa Olofin Adimula Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi Ojaja II, today Friday, September 16 2022 at Ile-Ife, Osun state, unveiled an iconic retail outlet branded OjajaMore, a viable food-chain retail store dealing in groceries and other consumables.
Explaining the initiative at the commissioning ceremony held at the premises of the retail store located at the KM 10, Ife/Ibadan express way in Ile-Ife today, the Ooni stated that the establishment of OjajaMore is in fulfillment of his agelong aspiration to redesign retail activities that will be gainfully driven by the Nigerian youths with a view to creating an enduring legacy for Africa in the global space.
“Today, I am exceptionally fulfilled to unveil the OJAJAMORE, one of the profound and timeless initiatives that I envisioned for the modernization of Ile-Ife, Osun State, and other Nigerian cities. It is a triumph and regeneration of retail economies, a reservoir of seamless opportunities for new agro-commodities markets significantly improving access to B2B value chains, a social sanctuary for groceries and other products, and an iconic global brand name that will leave indelible marks on young people through job creation, resolving commoditization issues, and harnessing the integration of locally built flawless novelty digital transactions.
A rethinking of our approach and values for shopping malls in Nigeria and for Nigerians need to be pioneered and readapted. The vision of OJAJAMORE as an indigenous entity with a modern continental outlook is to play a prominent role in people’s lives as a conduit that provides relatable experiences beyond traditional shopping while driving a robust economic culture. It will broaden the boundaries of business growth, increase efficiency, and incorporate value-added elements that will span a remarkable experience and instill a deeper bond in customers.
The OJAJAMORE is part of my multichannel investment strategies, which will naturally serve the Ife Grand Resort and Industrial Park, the OJAJA Arena (a 3,000-seat multi-purpose event center), the OJAJA Hostel (a 2,000-bed hostel facility at Obafemi Awolowo University), and other iconic facilities that I have built in Ile-Ife and the surrounding communities over the last six years. This was a promise that I made at my historic coronation six years ago, and I will stop at nothing to fulfil the truest vision of Ile-Ife as both a symbol of ancient and modern economic powerhouse”. Ooni said.
The Natural Head of the Oduduwa race worldwide stated that he intends to use the new retail store initiative as his deliberate way of getting youths gainfully engaged.
“This is a job creation for the Nigerian youths. OjajaMore simply means where people (consumers) can pay less and get more. It is a combination of royalty and retail to create a different shopping perspective starting from Ile-Ife The Source. The business is structured to allow personalized shopping to grow the retail business which is grossly underdeveloped in Nigeria due to reasons which include proliferation of neighborhood stores and unorganized markets among others.
“While in Johannesburg about 15 years ago on a business visit, I saw so many retail stores, I thereafter realized that as big as Nigeria was and still is, there are only five (5) major malls with no single one in my hometown Ile-Ife that is refined, classy and affordable.
“Like we have names of people branded into companies like this in developed countries, I initiated this project to build the confidence of our younger ones in productive business and investment activities. Youths are the real drivers of economic growth.
“We have started from Ile-Ife because charity begins at home, from here we will cover the entire South West and Nigeria with a chain of over 100 stalls within the next 24 months. It will be first of its kind in Nigeria and the continent of Africa.
“Beyond grooming young minds and serious minded youths in retail business, this initiative will offer over 100,000 direct and indirect employment to our youths across the country, thereby contributing in no small means to human development and capacity building. That’s my target” The Ooni said.
On what Nigerians stand to benefit from patronizing the new outfit, the MD/CEO. of OjajaMore, Mr. Benedict Orioye explained that high-powered technology will be deployed to ensure that customers are treated with respect and royalty as part of value for their money, beyond what is obtainable in similar outfits nationwide.
Orioye said, “Our focus is to have local content as items making up of at least 70 percent of items to be sold here, this is why we are dueling mostly on the farm market. Everything you can think of in the farm will be sold in OjajaMore with decent packaging in line with global standard operating procedure for food handling.
“Aside from fresh and healthy farm produce, the mall will be filled with other retail items as obtainable in other malls around the world but blended with royalty. Our goods are going to be affordably cheap and environment friendly as we have concluded plans to partner the university communities around us to ease the stress of students and other low income earners in shopping.” Orioye said.
In keeping with his unorthodox shift, the Ooni has said OJAJAMORE will be guided by the young people, as they are heroically dedicated to one Nigeria whose greatness and prosperity they are inextricably connected to. As a result, he has intentionally entrusted some of his initiatives and projects to some of Nigeria’s brightest young people. It will be recalled that monarch had on the day of his official coronation in December 2015 dedicated his reign and the throne to the youth. This has consistently seen him engage the youths meaningfully in all his projects and programs both businesses and NGOs.
Apart from Orioye Benedict Gbayisemore, a one time local fisherman from Ilaje Ese Odo area of Ondo state who was appointed MD/CEO of the OjajaMore by the Ooni having discovered him as a well educated and super versatile young man with a Bsc Physics from Obafemi Awolowo University and currently studying for his MSc Business Admin at the University of Ibadan, the super dynamic monarch has also given an array of other brilliant and multi-talented Nigerian youths gainful job opportunities with a lot of them performing creditably well in their various engagements.
Makinde Covenant(DJ Smith) from Ile-Ife, a 3 hundred level student of Dramatic Arts at Obafemi Awolowo University is the one in charge of YAKOYO AFRIKANA an African restaurant which occupies the Gallery section of the OjajaMore established to promote the African heritage using the aspect of our diverse local food and cuisines. There are several other Nigerian youths who have benefited from the Ooni’s G2G platform which he created 4 years ago to drive his Grass-To-Grace aganda for the youths.
A graduate of Obafemi Awolowo University, Oluwaseun Victor Badejo from Ile-Ife is handling OJAJA PARK, a 25 billion naira model city project in Akure while a 30 year old Kamarudeen Adefajo an indigene of Modakeke-Ife with an HND architecture is the one in charge of OjajaMews, another multibillion housing estate project located at Osogbo in Osun state.
A graduate of Osun State Polytechnic who is fondly called Engineer Fisayo has been made to carry out several successful constructions of the Ooni’s projects like the Ife Grand Resort and Industrial Park, the 3000 seaters multi-purpose event center called OJAJA ARENA, a 2000 bedded hostel facility OJAJA HOSTEL at the Obafemi Awolowo University, the OjajaMore all in Ile-Ife.
Former president of National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) Comrade Bello Shagari from Sokoto state is the MD/CEO of Royal African Young Leadership Forum (RAYLF) a platform set up by the Ooni in 2018 for showcasing and celebrating the talented young leaders who are already great but untapped assets for Nigeria. he studied Business Information Systems & Information Technology Middlesex University, London.
Barrister Habeeb Whyte from Abeokuta, a Law graduate of the University of Ilorin is the MD/CEO Olofin Products Ltd. an Ooni’s company Packaging everyday agricultural products for sale locally and exports.
One of the Ooni’s Personal Assistants, Tomisin Olawale a graduate of Carleton University, Ottawa, Canada was also recently appointed as Director of Olofin Microfinance Bank, a one-time Ife Community owned bank which has just been succoured by the Ooni for resuscitation. An award winning Inya Sarah Lawal, who coordinates his “Women Owned Micro Businesses” (WOMB).
Others include Olusola Owonikoko, who runs the Royal African Foundation (RAF), Ibidapo Fashina, who runs the Royal African Medical Outreach (RAMO), According to the dynamic king, these young men and women, like millions of others, are a microcosm of his royalty, woven into the fabric of our modernization and industrialization even as history weighs heavily on their shoulders.
While inviting individuals, groups, government and other corporate organizations in Ile-Ife and its environs to join him in the daily patronage of the iconic OjajaMore, the African foremost who doubles as Co-chairman, National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria(NCTRN) monarch admonished government and well meaning Nigerians to always consider the Nigerian youth as the best partners in progress for the economic liberation of the country.
A poll conducted by NOI Polls in early September has revealed that the 2023 presidential election is a three-horse race between the candidates of the Labour Party, Mr Peter Obi; All Progressives Congress, Mr Bola Tinubu; and Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar, with Obi having an edge.
The APC Presidential Campaign Council has, however, rejected the polls describing it as “irresponsible, unscientific and biased.”
Also, the Atiku Campaign Organisation faulted the process and results of the poll, saying it lacked basics of a poll.
The poll, which was commissioned by Anap Foundation, showed that while both Tinubu and Abubakar were tied in the second position with 13 per cent each, Obi had 21 per cent with Dr. Rabiu Kwankwaso of the New Nigeria Peoples Party polling three per cent.
According to a statement issued by Anap Foundation and signed by its chairman, Mr Atedo Peterside on Thursday, “The results showed a significant lead for Mr. Peter Obi with 21 per cent of voters proposing to vote for him if the presidential election were to be conducted today; and 13 per cent each proposing to vote for Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Alhaji Atiku Abubakar who are both tied in second place. Dr. Rabiu Kwankwaso was a distant fourth with 3 per cent of voters proposing to vote for him.
“Mr. Peter Obi’s 8 percentage point lead at this early stage is significant, but not sufficient to separate him completely from a leading pack of candidates scoring 21 per cent, 13 per cent and 13 per cent respectively.”
The statement added “Undecided voters and those who prefer not to reveal their preferred candidate add up to a whopping 32 per cent and 15 per cent respectively. The gender split of undecided voters shows that 39 per cent of women are undecided versus 27 per cent of male voters.”
Anap Foundation also stated the September 2022 Polls were inconclusive in terms of establishing a clear winner, as the undecided voters were large enough to turn the tables. “However, Anap Foundation has concluded that the trends are clear enough to establish the front runners and so our subsequent polls will concentrate on the four leading candidates only.”
In a statement signed by the Director of Media and Publicity of the APC Presidential Campaign Council, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, on Thursday, the ruling party. said it was unperturbed by what it described as ‘dubious NOI polls’.
The statement reads further, “The attention of the APC Presidential Campaign Council has been drawn to a poll conducted by the NOI Polls which made wild and incredible permutations on the presidential elections.
“We are unperturbed by these dubious and unreliable statistics because our research shows that NOI Polls have been off the mark at critical election periods in recent times.”
It added: “We know, as a matter of fact, the owners of NOI and where their political interest lies and wish to advise NOI to stop polluting the political system with irresponsible, unscientific and biased polling so that we don’t expose the puppeteers pulling its strings.”
The PCC said the ruling party was putting every necessary machinery in motion to win the presidential elections with a margin that would be too wide to contest.
It said the party’s candidate, Bola Tinubu recorded the highest votes of a senator across the country under the Social Democratic Party in July 1992 and would do it on the nationwide scale on February 25, 2023.
Spokesman of the Atiku Campaign Orgnisation, Daniel Bwala, who was on ChannelsTV, said: “A normal poll that will attract credibility would be a poll that clearly in one breath as you release the report, you must also release the sample size and the margin of error. These are basics because the sample size and the margin of error will help in identifying whether the polling was actually carried out correctly or not. Then, you can stretch further to ask for the sampling. Was it done by a phone call? If it was done by a phone call, then the people who didn’t have phone probably were not part of the polling.
“You also go to the extent of asking the demographics and then the place where the polling was carried out. I know they say is a random sampling. But then, because results, I am tempted to believe that this polling was carried out online because Peter Obi online has a measure of people who are very active for him, much more than other candidates. And I will tell you why, because there was an algorithm and data analytics that was carried out that came with the finding that 57.7 percent of people who follow Peter Obi and engage for him on social media do not live in Nigeria; in fact, majority of whom are both on twitter; they are not real human beings.
“If you take away 57.5 percent of people who are active for him, who probably live abroad and they don’t have voter cards and they are not likely to come home to vote, what it means is that Peter Obi is basking in the euphoria of hallucination and this polling is true reflection f that.
“I wouldn’t want to say that they are surrogates of Peter Obi. But the interesting thing you can find even go deeper about the pollsters that they are surrogates of Peter Obi.
“The interesting thing you can find out from the result is that if you look at it, a finding from 46 years to 59 and 61 above are the most that said they are willing to vote, meanwhile Peter Obi’s movement has the demography of the young people,” Bwala said.
Tension has engulfed some areas close to the 2 Division, Nigerian Army, at Odogbo Barracks in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, as two persons were reportedly hit by stray bullets from a shooting range exercise within the barracks.
According to report, one of the victims identified only as Daniel is about 10 years old while the other victim is popularly known Baba Ajeri.
It was gathered that the two victims were rushed to the hospital inside the barracks where army medical personnel were said to be attending to them.
As at the time of filing this report, Nigerian Army is yet to make official statement regarding the incident.
Comrade Lekan Badmus is a columnist with Oduduwa news and a Socio-Political Commentator.
Culture is a way of life that embodies religion, language, food and many others that distincts and identifies the uniqueness of each tribe. Perhaps due to the heterogeneity of the nation, the constitution that binds Nigerian peoples together gives room for secularity under rights. However, just as humans right is inalienable, so its’ absoluteness is not a guarantee. It is therefore an infringement for a man to; while exercising his right, tramples on others’ rights. Where friction exists, judicial interpretation becomes inevitable.
Oro festival is a kind of religion that is annually celebrated by Yorubas. It is mostly worshipped in Iseyin; a town also renowned for Aso Oke. This informs their panegyric – Iseyin Oro… Omo Ebedi M’oko”. Unlike other masquerades that attract teeming crowd which include both genders, women and girls are forbidden from watching Oro procession. That makes it occultic. Woe betides a feminine gender that flouts the order. To the Oro worshippers, ignorantia juris, non excusat. I have a great respect for Nigerian Lawyers.
Worried by the incessant restrictions of movements of the feminine gender during Oro period, there have been so much furore on the forceful sit-at-home which to many observers, bemoans any modicum of logic. To the unbiased assessors, the idea is primitive, myopia, conservative and an abberation.
The effects of the coercion to stay indoor range from a deliberate prevention of women from gaining access to their daily means of livelihood, preventing schools girls and female teachers from going to schools even during examination and lack of recognition for emergencies.
I was a student at grade 2 Teachers’ College in Iseyin between 1989 and 1991. There was a religious crisis between Oro cultist and some Scripture Unionists led by one young lady called Jemila Jesu. The Christian Union; SU, who were on evangelism was brutally attacked, dehumanized and assaulted to the point that the deadly Oro worshippers used sticks and fists to inflict harm on Jemila’s genitals. It was the blood of Jesus Christ that saved the hapless girl. This is cruelty, barbarism, criminal and idiosyncrasy! This was one of the many attacks and assaults that had persisted with impunity. It is therefore not a surprise that the entire town was thrown into jubilation and an unprecedented ecstasy when the news filtered that the declaration of curfew has been condemned by a high court of competent jurisdiction.
However, the euphoria was punctured by a rejoinder from the counsel to the Oro adherents which contradicted the earlier news. Quoting the rejoinder copiously;
“Our attention has been drawn to the report circulating on social and mainstream media, of a news conference organised by the League of Imams and Alfas in Iseyin Local Government area of Oyo State on Thursday, 11th August 2022, during which it was reported that the organisers of the event, which was allegedly held in Ibadan, Oyo State, said something to the effect that the judgment of the court in Suit No. HSY/MISC. 6/ 2019 had prohibited the imposition of curfew during Oro Festival in Iseyin, Oyo State.
The insinuation at the conference by the League of Imams and Alfas and their counsel, Mr Olowonjaye, that it had “become illegal for Oro worshippers to declare curfew for their festival as such would negate the ruling of the court” is grossly misconceived and not borne out of the judgment as they could only speak for the applicant and those he represented in the suit and not anybody else.
The crux of the news conference to the effect that the consent judgment earlier mentioned has abrogated curfew during Oro festival in Iseyin is clearly reading into the judgment what is not there, and will constitute a willful derogation from it.
While it is conceded that the imposition of curfew by Oro faithful is a prominent feature of the festival, only the Applicant, and, by extension, the League of Imams and Alfas whom he represented in court, could claim protection under the judgment and not anybody else.
It is necessary to make this rejoinder in order to put things in proper perspective and douse the tension generated by the report that curfew has been abolished during Oro festival in Iseyin”.
On a finality, I humbly want the readers to interprete the statement within the rejoinder to decide who really is distorting the fact. “…only the applicant; and by extension, the league of imams and alfas whom he represented in court, could claim protection under the judgement and not anybody else”.
Nigerian artiste, Ice Prince Zamani, says freedom is priceless after being released from the Ikoyi Prison.
The musician was arrested for allegedly abducting and assaulting a police officer earlier in the month.
The artiste later tweeted on his handle after his release that “Freedom is Priceless”.
His comment comes days after the Lagos State Police Command spokesman, Benjamin Hundeyin, tweeted about Ice Prince’s arrest.
“At 3 am today, @Iceprincezamani was stopped for driving without license plates. He agreed to be taken to the station,” Hundeyin said.
“He, thereafter, abducted the police officer in his car, assaulted him, and threatened to throw him in the river. He has been arrested and would be arraigned today.”
The artiste was released after meeting bail conditions on Thursday.
“His bail conditions have been met, and he was released yesterday (Thursday),” said his lawyer Folarin Dalmeida.
Out of 65 applicants who showed up for the screening of who becomes the next Alaafin of Oyo, ten applicants have now been shortlisted for another round of interview.
According to reports, the Oyo Traditional Council (Oyo Mesi) concluded the interview sessions for the aspirants on Thursday.
It was disclosed that the names of the ten aspirants would be submitted to the Ifa Oracle for consultation in the next phase of the process.
Mr Bode Durojaiye, Director of media and public relations at Alaafin of Oyo Palace, confirmed the development to newsmen on Friday.
The regent, who is the Bashorun of Oyo, High Chief Yussuf Layinka, said out of the 65 aspirants, only 10 qualified for the next phase of the process of choosing the new Alaafin.
The exalted stool of Alaafin became vacant following the death of Oba Lamidi Adéyemí III in April, 2022 at the age 83 years after 52 years on throne.
The PDP Presidential Campaign Committee has been finally revealed as Governor of Oyo State, Engr. Seyi Makinde appointed as the Vice Chairman Campaign Committee for South.
Below is the full list of the composition for the PDP Presidential Campaign Organization.
List Of PDP Presidential Campaign Organization Members From Oyo State.
