Author: oduduwanews

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We are unaware of any plot to impeach Makinde’s Deputy – Oyo Assembly

Against the backdrop of a purported plot by the Oyo State House of Assembly to impeach the State Deputy Governor, Engr Rauf Olaniyan, the leadership of the house has condemned the rumor and its purveyor describing the story as baseless, misleading and absolutely condemnable.

Reacting to the rumor, the Chairman House of Assembly Committee on Information, Communication & Technology, Hon Kazeem Olayanju said the fallacious story which first appeared in an online news publication on Monday, 18th October,2021 was amusing to all the 32 Lawmakers in the State Assembly as there was never a time such was discussed or the idea was muted by the legislators in the chamber or outside.

The report had alleged that the cold war between the Governor and his deputy had assumed a dangerous dimension and that the Deputy Governor would be impeached anytime soon by the PDP dominated Oyo State House of Assembly.

Hon Olayanju said ” The purportedly planned impeachment process against the Oyo State Deputy Governor by the House under my watch is a farce, a fluke and a figment of the sick imagination of the writer, sponsor or originator of the fake news. We were dumbfounded when we read the news and we were asking ourselves if the story was actually referring to us, the 9th Oyo State House of Assembly.

” It baffles one how some journalists will deliberately flout the ethics of accuracy, truthfulness and objectivity in news reportage which are the hallmarks of the pen profession.”

He wondered why such an expensive lie would be concocted by the Journalist in question or why he/she would stoop so low for whatever reasons or gains to agree to disseminate such unfounded rumor.

” Is it also not comical for the purveyor of the fake information to claim that Oyo lawmakers would be meeting with Governor Seyi Makinde in Ghana to orchestrate the planned removal of the deputy Governor ? There’s really nothing of such from our end here. We just resumed from our recess and we already have a lot of legislative matters begging for attention on our table. The
issue of impeachment process against the deputy Governor is strange to us and we are not aware of it. ”

While saying that the PDP administration in Oyo State is on the process of reconciling all its aggrieved members to help consolidate on the political strength and gains of the party ahead of future elections, the Chairman House Committee on Information, Communication & Technology said Governor Seyi Makinde has promised to make peace and work with everyone to lift Oyo State to a higher pedestal.

” He has been using his conflict resolution ideas and mechanisms to keep the party together. It is actually not an easy task, and as stakeholders, we are ready to work with him to ensure a stronger umbrella and a more united party. Those wishing to beat more drums of war and crises in the ruling party in Oyo State will be surprised that we will come out of it stronger and better ”, he added.

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Gov Sanwo-Olu Meets Comic Youth Artist Behind His Funny Portrait

Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has finally been presented with his caricature, days after daring Boda Taiye Oniyakuya, the comic artist who made a mockery of the Governor’s official portrait.

The comic artist, whose real name is Taiwo Osinowo, dared the Governor and showed up with Sanwo-Olu’s drawing at a youth event held in LTV Blue Roof, Agidingbi, on Tuesday.

Midweek, Boda Taiye Oniyakuya became a social media sensation after a viral post showing the Governor’s caricature. The artist, then, threatened to show up at the Governor’s office to present the humorous image.

The artist’s audacity elicited Sanwo-Olu’s response under the viral post, inviting the artist to present the funny drawing.

Sanwo-Olu, dressed in Boy Scouts’ venturing green shirt, beret and light-brown pant with yellow tie to match, received the comic image from the artist and praised the creativity behind the post.

“I’m truly excited with the creativity we have in Lagos and the amount of talented youths we have here. There are several of Boda Taiye Oniyakuya that we need to bring out to showcase to the world. We have gifted artists and scientists in Lagos.

“I use this opportunity to tell our youths that we are changing education curriculum to accommodate music, song writing, entertainment and fashion to be taught right from school. This is to help young people develop their abilities and give them choices.”

The Governor received the drawing and reward the artist for his effort.

Visibly excited after meeting the Governor, Boda Taiye Oniyakuya, who attended the event with his twin brother, thanked Sanwo-Olu for encouraging his talent.

He said he received messages warning him not to honour the Governor’s invitation for fear of possible arrest, pointing out that Sanwo-Olu’s simplicity and good-nature had changed the impression people sowed in his mind about the Governor.

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PDP Fixes Date To Screen Aspirants For National Convention

Screening of aspirants vying for various national offices in the 2021 National Convention of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been scheduled for Wednesday, October 20, 2021 at the Legacy House, Maitama, Abuja. 

The exercise will start with a media chat at 10 am. The screening proper is to commence at 12 noon and the appearance scheduling will be on “first come, first served” basis.

Aspirants are to come along with the originals of their academic credential and other vital documents for sighting.   All aspirants, critical stakeholders and party members are by this guided accordingly. 

Signed:   Mohammed Adoke Bello SAN Chairman, Screening Sub-Committee 

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EndSARS: Falz Gives New Directive For Car Procession At Lekki Toll Gate

Popular Nigerian rapper, Folarin Falana, popularly known as Fal,z has directed Nigerians to come out and participate in the #EndSARS Memorial Car Procession taking place on 20th October 2021.

Falz, on his Instagram page, said there will be no protest but a procession of Nigerians through the Lekki tollgate in order to remember those who lost their lives on 20th October 2020 during the #EndSARS protest.

According to him, it is impossible not to “memorialize our fallen heroes”.

His post read: “We will never ever forget that Innocent Nigerian citizens waved flags and sang till they were shot at, injured, and killed.

“We must never forget we are rolling up in cars tomorrow to drive through the tollgate. We know their way, so a procession of cars is the safest option to minimize Police harassment.”

Falz assured those participating of safety in their cars.

“We will stay in our vehicles throughout. We have rides for people that need them. Each and everyone’s safety is very important so please let’s move together,” he said

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#EndSARS Anniversary: No Street Protests In Lagos – Police

Attention of the Lagos State Police Command has been drawn to a post being circulated on the social media insinuating that the police in Lagos have agreed to allow street protests in commemoration of the one year EndSARS anniversary on 20th October, 2021.

On the contrary, the police will only allow an indoor and virtual event in commemoration of the EndSARS anniversary and will provide adequate security at the venue (s) if known. This is in recognition of rights of every Nigerian to express his or her interest.

We wish we could permit such street protests. However, intelligence at our disposal has revealed plans by some faceless groups or individuals to stage an anti-EndSARS anniversary protest in the state same day.

In view of the conflicting interest between the pro and anti- EndSARS anniversary groups and threat to cause mayhem, the Command once again warns both groups against any form of street protest between now and 20th October, 2021 and beyond.

It is acknowledged that citizens have the right to peaceful protests. However, in this instance having carried out a critical security assessment and intelligence report at the disposal of the Lagos Command in respect of the planned protests and attendant implications on public safety, the Command considers it inappropriate to allow such protests to hold. It will not stand aloof and allow breakdown of law and order which the protests may cause.

To avoid a recurrence of the gory protests of last year during which some innocent Nigerians including police officers were gruesomely murdered, private and public property plundered and maliciously destroyed, the police will not abdicate their responsibilities of protection of lives and property by allowing such avoidable incident happen again in the state

Therefore, in the interest of security and public safety, the Commissioner of Police, CP Hakeem Odumosu, wishes to warn the organisers of the protests that the police will deploy all legitimate means to stop or neutralise the planned protests.

Parents, guardians are admonished to warn their children against participating in the protests. Similarly, youths and other individuals or groups planning to take part in the protests are further warned in their own interest to shelve the plan.

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LekbadColumn: OONIRISA, The Spirit And The Pride Of Yorubas

Comrade Lekan Badmus is a Columnist with Oduduwa News.

OONIRISA: The Spirit And The Pride Of Yorubas

By: Comrade Lekan Badmus.

Named as the city of 401 deities, Ife is the cradle of Yorubaland and home to these deities where they are routinely celebrated through festivals in tandem with norms, ethics and customs. Yorubas have great respect and adoration for the supreme God known as Olodu-Omo-Are with the shortened form Olodumare. The regards for God is so much that the Yorubas; in their wisdom, felt the need to have an intermediary intercessor between them and the Creator. Hence, the deities.

Oduduwa is the Yoruba progenitor. Thus, every Yoruba man is proud to trace his ancesstral home to Ife – Ooye. In ancient monarchical era, the administration of the state was vested in the hands of the kings who were the custodians of culture. Being the progenitor of the Yorubas, Oduduwa was the oracle.

In the modern-day Yoruba nation,
Oba Ogunwusi Adeyeye is the spiritual leader who is saddled with the responsibility of making supplication,
appeasement and propitiation
to God and Orisas on behalf of his subjects. Culture and religion are inseparable.

Religion is an integral part of culture and culture is a way of life. It is quite unfortunate however that we have jettisoned the tenets of our culture which is warped in the concept of OMOLUABI. It is also disheartening that western education and civilisation have eroded our culture and replaced it with foreign religions.

Truth be told, religion is an opium of human knowledge. But we have been hoodwinked to discard our heritage. We now prefer imported religions to our inherited religions. What a myopic view ! If we cannot preserve our culture, then, our race is heading towards extinction.

Our culture is our artifacts which reminds us of who we are. They tell more stories about our background and civilization than any attempt at intellectual reconstruction of history. They are indeed, active components of our present. We speak to the artifacts and they speak to us in mutually decodable idioms.

This underscores the imperativeness of upholding our heritage because we found in them; the essence of our being and the concrete validation of our civilization far beyond aesthetics.

It was crystal clear right from the day of Kabiesi’s coronation that he shares some affinities with the world renowned leaders who have made indelible marks in their quests to leave this world better than they met it.

His ideology and intellectual life are constructed around the emancipation of what he must have imagined as a global Africa. His Imperial Majesty is a royal father who embraces a temporal and spiritual specificities that produced and defined him. His expansive cosmopolitan vision never excluded his immersion in; and celebration of the culture in which he lives. That ideology has brought him more prominence, popularity, respect and greater centrality in Africa.

Ọba Ọjájá II was born Prince Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, as a son of Prince John Oluropo Ogunwusi and Princess Margaret Wuraola Sidikatu Abegbe Ogunwusi into the Royal House of Giesi, one of the four royal families of the House of Oranmiyan. His paternal grandfather was Prince Joseph Olagbaju Adewole Ogunwusi whose grandfather was Ọba Orayegba Ojaja who was the 44th Ooni of Ife. Through him, he is a direct descendant of Ooni Agbedegbede, who was a descendant of Ooni Giesi. Thus a descendant of Ọọni Lajodogun. Lajodogun was a son of Ọọni Lajamisan, who was a grandson of the legendary founder of the Oyo Empire Oranmiyan. Oranmiyan, was a son of the first Ooni of Ife, Oduduwa.

The coronation of Ooni was like Ceasar entering Rome. The mammoth crowd that graced his coronation on December 7, 2015 was unprecedented. Kabiesi has brought glamour to the stool. His stylish and aesthetic values have transformed the palace and Ile-Ife into a Mecca of some sort with the beautification, redesign and re-construction of the ancient palace dorned with symbolic white paint. His humility and sense of humor has endeared him to the entire kingdom and beyond. He is a bridge builder, a nexus, synergy and an apostle of unity.

Shortly after his coronation, Ooni Ogunwusi met with the Alaafin of Oyo and by so doing initiated a new era in the history of the Yorubaland. He effectively broke the jinx of institutionalised discord and perennial royal rumble between Ife and Oyo. Arole Oodua has also strengthened and reinvigorated the hitherto severed bond with Modakeke.

Oonirisa is an advocate for the empowerment and emancipation of women and young people. He is also a renowned philanthropist who is committed to service to humanity.

Oba Enitan is a chattered Accountant who has been described as an astute entrepreneur driven by the need to turn impossibilities into possibilities. It may be hard to eulogise Kabiesi to capture in words; not just the facts that make a life but the essential truth of a person as embedded in his qualities that illuminate others’ souls. How much harder to do so for a giant of history – the Ojaja II.

Kabiesi is a royal father who understands the ties that bind the human spirits and so, Baba could be described as one knight without a benighted soul.

Wearing his royal robes, holding the orb and sceptre – the symbols of his authority, Kabiesi
stands proud and resolute in his niche. Oonirisa is an exemplar of modesty.
Urbane, amiable and suave.

May the supreme Allah grant Kabiesi good health, peaceful reign and longevity on the throne.

Kabiesi o !!

Comrade Lekan Badmus is a Contributor to Trailblazer News.

For Comments:
lekanbadmuscolumn@gmail.com

(08060002439)

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Maulud Nabiy: Oyo FOMWAN Urges Nigerians to Exemplify Good Character Always

The Federation of Muslim Women’s Associations in Nigeria, FOMWAN Oyo State chapter has felicitated with Muslims in Nigeria on the celebration of the noble birth of Prophet Muhammad, SAW and has urged Nigerians to be of good and sublime character always.

The Oyo State FOMWAN Amirah, Alhaja(Dr) B.B Oloso gave the advice in Ibadan in her 2021 Eid-ul-Maulud message to the Muslims and the country at large.

Alhaja Oloso said Prophet Muhammad was described by Allah in the Quran as having the best of character adding that he was known throughout Makkah as a truthful and honest person even before he was commissioned a Prophet .

She therefore condemned the level of moral decadence in Nigeria and said that for the Nation to experience greatness, peace and accelerated development the leaders and the led must exhibit and imbibe good moral character and avoid bad behaviors always.

” In Quran Chapter 68 verse 4, Allah says Prophet Muhammad is surely on an exalted and sublime character. This shows that perfection of noble and moral character is one of the objectives of the divine mission of Prophet Muhammad, SAW. No nation will progress if it citizens continue to engage in illicit and immoral behavior. The level of social vices across the Country is alarmingly disturbing. It is time for us to purify our souls and desist from all inglorious activities” She said

The Oyo State FOMWAN Amirah urged Nigerians to show love and kindness to themselves and tolerate and accommodate one another regardless of differences in tribe, religion and political affiliation.

This is just as she quoted Quran chapter 5 verse 8 where Allah says ” Do not let the hatred of others make you to wrong them and depart from justice. Be just that’s next to piety”

” We should use this year’s Maulud Nabiy to retrace our steps and engage more in righteous deeds. Let us say No to corruption at all levels. We must rise up to condemn kidnappings, armed robberies, banditry and all other forms of social vices. The rise in ritual killings and money making under the guise of the popular Yahoo should be condemned and addressed. Prostitution, fornication, abortion, child abuse, drug abuse, certificate forgery, lying, injustice, betrayal, treachery, indecent dressing, smoking, and all forms of cheatings and fraudulent activities should end in our midst. As giant of Africa,we must uphold high moral and ethical standards and principles at all times” She counselled

Alhaja Oloso who congratulated all Muslim Women across the Country on the celebration of the birth of Prophet Muhammad, SAW charged them to do more in instilling discipline and morals in their children right from childhood.

” Our Prophet Muhammad, SAW said in one of his Hadith that I have been sent to perfect noble character” hence as parents we must train our children to be pious and responsible individuals when they grow old”

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Osun lawmaker escapes as gunmen attack convoy

Gunmen suspected to be hired assassins, on Monday, opened fire on the convoy Of Rasheed Olalekan Afolabi, the member representing Ifelodun/ Boripe/Odo-Otin Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives.

According to a statement credited to his media office, the incident occurred along the Akure-Okenne road in Kogi State.

The statement revealed that the lawmaker and his wife, Mrs. Abimbola Afolabi had just left their home town, Ikirun on Monday morning after attending the APC State Congress on Saturday and were dropped off by his drivers at the Akure Airport in order to catch a connecting flight to Abuja while his drivers continued the journey by road to Abuja.

“The two cars, Ford SUV and Ford Hilux were, however, attacked along Akure-Kogi road and the gun shots were directed to where it was suspected that Lekan Afolabi would be seated in both cars.

“The front tyres of both cars, windscreen, rear seat and the fuse boxes were shot at and as a result, the vehicles could not start again,” he disclosed.

The statement also explained that one of the drivers in the convoy of the lawmaker had noticed that a green Honda CRV had been trailing them from Osun early Monday morning.

The incident has since been reported to the Police.

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Immigration CG disguises as passport applicant in Lagos, apprehends ‘corrupt’ officers

The Acting Comptroller-General of Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Isa Jere Idris, on Monday, disguised as an applicant for an international passport at the Lagos State Command, Ikoyi, where he alleged that some officers of the service offered to engage in shady deals with him.

Mr Idris, in an exclusive interview with PREMIUM TIMES on the phone, said he decided to walk in unannounced in order to gain firsthand experience of what Nigerians are going through “in the hands of unscrupulous officers of NIS.”

He said his unscheduled visit to Ikoyi on Monday was to confirm the allegations against officers of the immigration offices in Lagos State including Ikoyi, Ikeja and FESTAC town.

Ikoyi experience
He said when he approached the officers at the Ikoyi command, he was given various high prices for the different categories of passports.

“When I approached the officers, they offered me the menu without recognising me. They said 32 pages of the international passport for five years would cost me N45,000 instead of N27,000. They said 64 pages for five year would cost me N55,000 instead of N37,000, and N95,000 for 64 pages for 10 years instead of N72,000.

“I was asked where I was from and I said Niger State. They also asked me if I had a letter of indigeneship and other documents and I said I didn’t have any one. So they said they would collect N3,500 to provide all the documents for me,” he said.

The immigration boss said as of the time of speaking to our reporter on the phone, the officers were yet to know who he was, and that the Comptroller for Lagos Command of the service, Bauchi Aliyu, was surprised when he eventually showed up in his office.

“You know he just returned to Lagos from Abuja. He didn’t know that I was coming to town. So he is still shocked as I am talking to you,” he said.

What next?
Mr Idris said the lesson will help the service to strengthen the passport issuance process, saying having an international passport of a country confers nationality on its holder and so it must have integrity.

“So with what I have experienced firsthand today, it simply means that anybody can come in from anywhere and obtain our passport. This is unacceptable. So I can assure you that the Immigration Service under our watch will strengthen the issuance process and the integrity of the document,” the acting CG said.

Launch of appointment platform

Mr Idris said in the next two weeks the service with the support of the Interior Minister, Rauf Aregbesola, will launch an appointment platform for applicants, saying the idea of anybody approaching passport offices anytime for issuance cannot continue.

He said: “The document has integrity and so the processes of issuing it must have integrity. We must verify attached relevant documents because with what I saw this morning anybody can claim to be who he or she is not.

“So within a maximum of three weeks passport renewal must be done, but we must also ensure relevant background checks on the applicants especially based on their letters of indigeneship and birth certificates. What they do with these documents by the syndicates is to backdate them.”

He said except in some exceptional cases, there is nowhere in the world where passports are produced in one day, saying Nigeria must adopt global best practices in order to ensure the integrity of our documents and their sanctity.

“If you claim you are from Kano or Rivers we must find out if your claims are true or not,” he added.

He said the officers caught in the act during his unscheduled visit have been documented and that they would be disciplined accordingly.

The laws are there, and so they will be made to face the law. There are about three of them but we are very sure that it is an organised crime. They are not alone but further investigations would reveal that,” he said.

The acting comptroller-general said the interior minister is working hard towards achieving his mandates of securing the nation’s border lines through the agencies under him including the immigration service and that the difficulties being experienced by Nigerians in procuring passports would soon become a thing of the past.

Mr Idris said he was committed to addressing the challenge of corruption in the service

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Oyo Assembly grants Makinde’s request to access N18.7bn FG facility loan request

The Oyo State House of Assembly has given its nod to Governor Seyi Makinde to access N18.7bn Federal Government Bridge Facility meant to cushion the effect of Covid-19 pandemic in the State.

The request was contained in a letter forwarded to the State legislature by Governor Seyi Makinde and read during Monday’s plenary by the Speaker, Hon Adebo Ogundoyin.

President Muhammadu Buhari approved the bridge facility for all the 36states of the Federation and it will be accessed from the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN

It was meant to give support to States following the resumption of monthly deductions for the repayment of their various loan facilities.

Recall that the federal government had earlier suspended the monthly repayment of the loan facilities by States due to the effects of Covid-19 pandemic.

The N18.7bn which will be disbursed in six tranches (6months instalment) of N3.1bn each is expected to be repaid monthly for 30years (360 months).

The lawmakers in their comments on the request agreed that such loan facility from the federal government was necessary and timely as many States recorded huge loss during the pandemic.

According to Hon Akeem Adedibu (Chief Whip), Hon Babajide Gabriel (Ib. North 2), Hon Bamidele Adeola (Iseyin/Itesiwaju) and Hon Ayo Fatokun (Akinyele 1), since all the States are to access the loan facility, Oyo State should not be left out.

They however urged the State Government to expend the loan on developmental projects selected across all the senatorial districts in the State.

In his reaction, the Minority Leader, Hon Asimiyu Alarape who also suggested that the loan facility be used to develop key sectors, nonetheless urged the State Government to wary of the consequences of too many loans.

The Speaker, Hon Adebo Ogundoyin said it was thoughtful of the Government at the center to give financial support to the State Governments considering the scale of projects lined up in the various States.

Hon Ogundoyin assured that the House through its Committee on Public Account and Appropriation will perform its oversight function by monitoring the accessing and the spending of the loan in order to ensure that it is used enhance the infrastructural development of the State

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