Author: oduduwanews

Weeks after she bagged a Master’s degree from the University of Lagos, the daughter of Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, Princess Adedoja has delved into acting.

Princess Adedoja announced her acting debut on her Instagram page on Sunday.

According to her, she was starring alongside actresses like Faithia William and Bimbo Ademoye in an epic movie by popular filmmaker, Kunle Afolayan.

In the caption, the former Miss Oyo State wrote, “I played Princess Ajoke in my acting debut: Anikulapo (Death and Life; the Rebirth of Identity), a Kunle Afolayan film.”

The national body of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) has queried the Lagos State Council Chairman, Alhaji Musiliu Akinsanya (aka MC Oluomo), over alleged insubordination and indulging in anti-union activities

The letter dated February 14 by the General Secretary of the union, Alhaji Kabiru Ado Yau, accused Akinsanya of refusing to carry out directives given to him in by the national body.

The letter reads: “Our attention has been drawn to the fact that despite the National Secretariat’s directives during a meeting with you and other members of the Lagos State Administrative Council (SAC) in Abuja on February 9, pertaining the appointment of Alhaji Azeez Abiola as chairman, Lagos State NURTW Tricycle Operators, you have refused to comply. Instead, you have resorted to intimidation and assault on the newly appointed tricycle chairman.”

The National body added that Akinsanya refused to hand over the former NURTW Secretariat situated at Abule Egba to the tricycle caretaker committee in a bid to prevent them from using the office.

Akinsanya was also accused by the National body of using thugs to forcefully take over branches of his perceived enemies.

“It is on record that you mobilised thugs to forcefully take over the operations of some local branches headed by perceived opponents. To avoid the wrath of the union, the national headquarters, directed M C Oluomo to within 48 hours hand over the former state council secretariat at Abule Egba to the newly appointed Lagos state Tricycle Committee; withdraw all those men you sent to take over the branches of your perceived opponents and submit a written apology to the national secretariat.

“Failure to comply with the foregoing directives will leave the National Secretariat with no option other than to take disciplinary action against you in line with the provisions of the union’s constitution,” the letter reads.

Speaking with The Nation, Akinsanya said the letter got to his office on Friday (February 25) as against February 14.

Ondo state Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu,SAN, on Saturday led his other siblings to celebrate the 90th birthday of their mother, Lady Evangelist Grace Akeredolu.

Family members, friends and well-wishers gathered at St. Mathias’ Anglican Church, Orogun, Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, to praise and give thanks to God for His divine mercy and favour over the Governor’s mother who has continued to serve God and humanity.

Wife of the Governor, Arabinrin Betty Anyanwu Akeredolu; members of the State Executive Council led by the Secretary to the State Government, Princess Oladunni Odu, among several other dignitaries within and outside Ondo state attended the church service.

Governor Akeredolu who is the first child of the family, took the Bible reading from Psalm 92 Verses 1 to the end.

In his sermon, the Bishop of Ibadan North Diocese and Archbishop of Ibadan Province, The Most Rev. (Dr) Segun Okubadejo, who congratulated and rejoiced with the celebrant on her 90th birthday celebration, said God has really been very faithful to her.

While describing Lady Evangelist Grace Akeredolu as the Dorcas of our time and a woman whose life is a model to all, Bishop Okubadejo added that she is like a tree planted by the riverside.

He observed that clocking 90 years in the face of enormous challenges, including economic and social insecurity, and in a society where life expectancy is low, is a milestone which must be celebrated with praises and thanksgiving offering.

Bishop Okubadejo described the occasion as a gracious and glorious day, not only for the celebrant but for all who have joined to celebrate her on the special occasion.

According to him, it is a thing of joy to see Mama’s grandchildren and great grandchildren gather to celebrate her as it was said in the Bible, stressing that the occasion was to praise and give thanks to God because she has enjoyed the favour of God.

He prayed God to continue to sustain the nonagenarian great grandmother in good health, adding that the transforming favour, love and grace of God are still sufficient for her as she continues with the journey of life.

“At 40, you celebrated the Peace of God, and we thank God the same peace is still with you till today. At 50, you celebrated the Love of God and we thank God you are still lucky God still loves you. At 60, you celebrated the Mercy of God, and if not for God’s mercy there is no way you will be here today to celebrate 90, but we thank God for that.

“At 70, you celebrated the Grace of God, God has been so faithful to you. At 80, you celebrated the Praise of God and till today we thank God the praise has never ceased from your mouth, you are still praising God; and today, at 90, you are celebrating the Wisdom of God. If I want to be generous Mama, at 100, you will celebrate the Glory of God. We want to be more generous Mama, at 120, you will celebrate the Excellence of God”, he added.

In his remarks, Governor Akeredolu thanked all the Archbishops, Bishops and other church leaders as well as guests for the honour done the family.

Akeredolu who appreciated God for the grace his mother has received so far, also noted that the aged mother has lived well.

In separate interviews, some of the children of the celebrant including Prof. Oluwole Akeredolu, Dr (Mrs) Modupe Adeyinka, Pastor Kola Akeredolu and Oluwafemi Akeredolu, appreciated God for keeping their mother alive in good health to celebrate the exceptional and landmark 90th birthday, saying not too many people will live up to the age.

According to them, Lady Evangelist Grace Akeredolu went through a lot to ensure all of them got to where they are today, describing her as a strong pillar and true mother who deserves the best.

The children also prayed God to grant more years for their mother in sound health.

.Highlights of the event were thanksgiving, taking of Holy Communion, the Akeredolus’ family harvest, prayers for the celebrant and the Akeredolus.

The female aspirant for the position of member, House of Representatives, Lagelu/Akinyele Federal Constituency under the platform of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) come 2023 has declared her intention to run for hallowed chamber seat.

The declaration was made known yesterday at the Party Secretariat in Akinyele.

Ramata Agberemi while declaring her intention to run for the seat admonished members of the party to rally round her and ensure that the ticket is given to her.

“I have come to seek for your support to ensure that I become the flagbearer of our great party to contest as a member of House of Representatives, Lagelu/Akinyele Federal Constituency”.

She however charged party leaders and stalwarts to see her aspiration as the beginning of light and new dawn in Akinyele/Lagelu Federal Constituency being the banner of her campaign.

Agberemi tasked members of the party to make sacrifices, noting that the only way to achieve the party’s goals and aspirations was to unite as members of one political family.

The party elders and leaders at Akinyele Local Government however commended Ramata for her unrelented efforts to better the lives of the citizens of Akinyele/Lagelu constituency.

Ramata further stated that her aspiration to become the member of House of Representative is borne out of her desire to serve the people noting that in her individual capacity as the founder of an NGO she has contributed immensely to the development of the people.

“You would agree with me that I have been doing my best to bring succour to the needy and less privileged in our society and today I have come to seek for your support to ensure that the House of Representatives ticket of our great party is given to me.

“I therefore assure you that if given mandate to become the House of Representatives member, I shall ensure that the dividends of democracy trickled down to the people”, said Ramata.

Party leaders and members unanimously prayed for Ramata and assured him of their unflinching support towards the realization of her dream.

Cash and gift items were later donated by Ramata to the party leaders and the programme came to an end with encomium from different quarters amidst singing and dancing.

An All Progressives Congress, APC, Presidential aspirant, Bola Tinubu has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to hand over
power to him in 2023.

Tinubu anchored his call on the fact that he supported Buhari’s ambition to become president in the past. He recalled campaigning with Buhari across Nigeria in 2015.

The APC National Leader said Buhari should not just leave office in 2023 but hand over power to him. He spoke during his separate visits to the Ooni of Ife and Owa Obokun of Ijesaland, in Osun State, to seek their support. According to Tinubu: “We went around the country in 2013 to campaign for Buhari. Again in 2019, we stood with him and he won.

“He will soon finish his tenure. I am saying they should not just leave the post; they should hand it over to me. I cannot demand it alone. I must seek your assistance.

President Muhammadu Buhari has finally signed the Electoral Act Amendment Bill into law.

The President assented to the bill at past midday on Friday at a brief ceremony held at the Council Chamber of the Aso Villa in Abuja.

The President of the Senate, Ahmed Lawan, and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, witnessed the signing of the bill.

Members of the President’s cabinet in attendance included his Chief of Staff, Professor Ibrahim Gambari, and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, among others.

This comes barely a week to the expiration of the window the President has to take a decision on the proposed legislation, as required by the Nigerian Constitution.

Having received the bill from the National Assembly on January 31, various stakeholders including political actors and civil society groups had awaited its signing into law by the Nigerian leader.

Amid an outcry over the delay in signing the bill into law, sources had indicated that President Buhari was billed to give his assent on Wednesday.

But the signing of the bill failed to take place as scheduled and was rescheduled to Friday, although sources said the President would honour the new date.

Previous attempts to amend the nation’s electoral laws were unsuccessful during the 8th National Assembly led by former Senate President Bukola Saraki and former Speaker Yakubu Dogara.

But lawmakers in the 9th National Assembly successfully amended the act, although they also had an initial setback.

President Buhari had withheld his assent to the bill in November 2021, citing the cost of conducting direct primary elections, security challenges, and possible manipulation of electoral processes by political players as part of the reasons for his decision.

He later gave some conditions to give his assent – an action that prompted the lawmakers to re-work the bill, leading to the emergence of two versions in the Senate and House of Representatives chambers.

President Muhammadu Buhari with others at the signing of the Electoral Act Amendment Bill in Abuja on February 25, 2022.

The House had re-amended the bill to include the direct and indirect primary options while the Senate re-adjusted it to include the direct, indirect, and consensus modes of selecting political parties’ candidates.

Both chambers later passed the harmonised version on January 25 – the final agreed version of the amendment to Clause 84 which included the direct, indirect, and consensus primary modes.

The harmonised version was received by President Buhari a week later, as confirmed by his Senior Special Assistant on NASS Matters (Senate), Senator Babajide Omoworare.