Author: oduduwanews

The Alliance for Oke-Ogun Development a socio-political group in the Oke-Ogun area of Oyo State, has alleged that Sheik Ahmad Gumi’s recent visit to Igboho town, in Orelope Local Government of Oyo State, was an attempt to relocate fleeing terrorists that are being smoked out of the Northern Nigeria to Oke-Ogun.

The National Coordinator of the AOD, Chief Abiodun Fasasi, in a statement on Thursday said Gumi’s visit was a clandestine move by him and others with what he called ‘Fulanisation Agenda’ to make Oke-Ogun area another hotbed of crisis between the dwellers and the marauding herders.

The body raised concern over the recent video of the Islamic scholar in which he was seen in town and called on the Department of State Services to investigate Gumi and his hosts in the town.

The group claimed that the recent victory of the Nigerian Army over terrorists in the Northeast and other parts of the Northern Nigeria, necessitated the visit of Gumi and others to Oke-Ogun area and called on the traditional rulers in the region to be wary of insiders who are ready to sell out to terrorists.

The OAD also called on the federal government, especially the Department of State Services to invite Gumi and begin immediate investigation into the real reasons for their visitation to Oke-Ogun area.

The statement reads, “It is rather mindboggling to hear that Sheik Gumi and his co-travelers were   in Igboho ,Oke-Ogun, Sheik Gumi is known all over the world as the harbinger, mastermind , mouthpiece ,solicitor and patron of bandits in Nigeria. To him, there’s nothing wrong with banditry, as a matter of fact, he sees it as a flourishing business.

“It is more disturbing that an indigene of Oke Ogun can willingly be a host to a personality like Gumi, we want the DSS to investigate the real reason for his visit and the host equally has to be investigated. This is a person consumed by his passion for banditry to the extent of drawing an analogy between banditry and Niger Delta militancy.

“As if that’s not enough, he is the one saddled with the responsibility of championing the course of amnesty for the bandits, he recently accused the Nigerian President of political gullibility for tackling the bandits, trivializing the military action ongoing in Zamfara known as festival of fire by tagging it unwise decision that no reasonable solution can come out of.

“Against the backdrop of the above, convincingly we now know better who Sheik Gumi is, having seen the handwriting on the wall as the military action is neutralizing, eliminating and destroying the bandits in their scores and as the bandits are fleeing the northern parts of the country especially Zamfara and its environs, it’s unacceptable for Gumi and his bandits to see Oke-Ogun, Oyo State as their haven.

“This will never be condoned, without mincing words, we can say Gumi has come as an advance party for the relocation of the bandits.

“The apex Sociopolitical group in Oke Ogun, Alliance For Oke Ogun Development, uses this medium to charge the Federal government, the Oyo State Chief Security Officer, Governor Seyi Makinde, to look into this case and nip in the bud any untoward actions that Sheik Gumi’s visit may cause our peaceful region.

“We also call on our traditional rulers and the entire people of the State to be at alert against individuals that are strangers and might portend danger to our wellbeing.”

The Ondo State Government has taken measures to protect residents in the state amid soaring costs and incessant increases in prices of goods and services by artisans including farm produce and food items.

In this regard, the state government has barred all Trading Unions and Associations under the umbrella of Ondo State United Artisan Group, from fixing and enforcing uniform prices of goods and services being sold/rendered by their members and non-members.

A statement by the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Donald Ojogo said the decision was taken in the overall socio-economic interest of the people of the State.

The statement:

“Government had before now, watched with discomfort and dismay, the economic suffocation of the people with unimaginable increases in prices of goods and services in markets, shops and other sales outlets across the state.

“Even without due regard for market forces, it is obvious that associations and unions are largely behind this unwholesome act.

“The state government has decided to act decisively even as the public deserves protection from this undesirable exploitation under some guises.

“Therefore, fixing market prices and imposing fixed exorbitant prices on the people under the guise of association or union must be stopped forthwith.

“Accordingly, as part of the measures, Individuals, Artisans, Traders and providers of services as well as farmers are henceforth allowed to operate, sell their produce and render any service in any part of the state as they may deem profitable, based on the principle of demand and supply and prevailing market forces. This is just as membership of associations and unions remains voluntary as provided for in the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended.

“Consequently, Government’s right to regulate the activities of Trading Associations and Artisan groups has to be invoked in the interest of residents. Therefore, on no account should any Union/Association fix or enforce prices of goods and services.

“Similarly, there shall be no sale of tickets to Artisans/Traders by any Association/Union without due approval of the state Government through the Internal Revenue Service”.

“All concerned are, therefore, advised to adhere strictly to this directive as any person or group found to be flouting it will be made to face the full weight of the extant laws.

“It is to be noted too that this directive takes effect from TODAY in all markets and sales outlets across the 18 LGAs of the state”.

The Lagos State House of Assembly on Thursday passed the Value Added Tax Bill, with Speaker Mudashiru Obasa directing the Acting Clerk of the House, Mr. Olalekan Onafeko, to transmit a clean copy to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for assent.

The House also passed the bill that prohibits open cattle grazing in the state.

The two bills were passed after unanimous votes by the lawmakers at the sitting where the bills were read the third time.

Strengthening open grazing ban in the South
Immediately after their passage, Speaker Obasa commended his colleagues for their passion to see that the state continues to grow.

“I thank you all for this historic exercise,” Obasa said.

The House had held separate public hearings on the bills on Wednesday, with stakeholders expressing support.

A yet-to-be identified gunmen have kidnapped three workers of former President Olusegun Obasanjo at a village in Abeokuta on Wednesday.

A source told our correspondent on Wednesday that the gunmen waylaid the three workers at the Obasanjo Holdings in Kobape in the Obafemi-Owode Local Government Area.

The source said the workers abducted are the financial controller, group auditor and group store manager of the firm.

The source said, “They were abducted around 4pm at Seseri village after their Hilux car was shot at by the gunmen, who took them away.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Abimbola Oyeyemi, confirmed the incident.

He said, “It happened today (Wednesday) around 6pm . There is Obasanjo Farm around the area in Kobape.

Ibrahim Salami, the Beninese lawyer to Yoruba Nation activist, Sunday Adeyemo, also known as Igboho, has reacted to a leaked audio of the activist.

From the audio, Igboho berated Salami, for allegedly disrespecting him. He claimed the lawyer abandoned him and kept him waiting for over 15minutes while speaking to someone else.

Igboho had expressed confidence in gaining freedom if returned to Nigeria by Benin Republic.

Salami, in an interview with BBC, faulted the activist’s words stating that the leaked audio was dangerous for the justice being pursued on behalf of Igboho.

He said Igboho was angry with him and other members of the legal team because he felt he had no reason to remain in police detention for “not committing any crime”.

“He wants things to be done faster,” the lawyer said in Yoruba.

Salami, who attempted to resist speaking on the matter in the media, also explained that Igboho never intended to make his complaint public.

“Igboho is someone that gets angry easily and if I have a challenge with a client, it is not something to be discussed in the media,” he added.

Igboho was said to have made a similar complaint to the leadership of Ilana Omo Oodua, who is handling legal matters for him in Benin Republic.

The Benin-Republic-based lawyer hinted that the issues have been resolved, adding that he was continuing his work with other members of the team.

He noted that Igboho has a right to be angry with the way he was detained in violation of the law. “He has a right to be angry,” the lawyer added.

A source among the leadership of the umbrella body of Yoruba Self-Determination Groups, Ilana Omo Oodua, said Salami was recruited because of his influence in Benin Republic.

According to the source, Salami understood the legal system in Benin and he is also one of the leading lawyers and consultants to the government.

“Beyond being a professor, Salami understands the legal system. He is a government lawyer. He was very instrumental in stopping Igboho’s extradition the moment he was arrested.

“We also have some challenges with him, but we are hopeful that he will adjust going forward. For instance, after every sitting, he briefs the press first before his clients. That is wrong for elders and causing confusion.

“Apart from Igboho, he is dealing directly with Professors Banji Akintoye and Wale Adeniran, and they don’t get updates from him immediately.”

The Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. (Dr) Mudashiru Obasa, on Wednesday, said the proposed law on Value Added Tax (VAT) would help the state meet more of its developmental goals.

Obasa said this during a public hearing on a bill for the Lagos State Value Added Tax (VAT) and for other connected purposes.

This was as stakeholders at the hearing commended the Lagos State Assembly and its leadership for their determination to ensure that the bill becomes law.

In his remark, Obasa noted that states have always felt financially strangulated and unfairly treated by the Federal Government in her administration and appropriation of receipts of VAT.

Speaking through the Deputy Speaker, Hon. Wasiu Eshilokun-Sanni, who represented him, Obasa said that Lagos state generates an excess of N500 billion in VAT.

“If we go by generation trend in tandem with the N2.4 trillion forecasted by the FIRS, Lagos state will be contributing about 55 percent of the total VAT collectables in the entire country.

“But what do we get in return? Some paltry sum. This injustice and inequity are part of the premises on which some of the extant agitations are founded.”

The Speaker said this agitation had been helped by the judgement of a Federal High Court in the case of the Attorney General of Rivers State versus the Federal Inland Revenue Service (2020) in which the rights of Rivers state (by extension, other states) were upheld.

“Though the FIRS has expectedly appealed the judgement to the Court of Appeal, it is expected that the appellate court will follow the sound logic in the Federal High Court decision,” he said.

The Speaker said the proposed law would allow the state more resources to meet its developmental goals.

“More so, this action brings to the fore of actualization, the true federalism for which we have been agitating,” he added.

On his part, the State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Moyosere Onigbanjo (SAN), said every state of the federation stood to benefit from the judgement of the court.

Speaking at the event, the Chairman of the House Committee on Finance, Hon Rotimi Olowo, said even though Lagos is prosperous, it can do better and VAT will help with the resources it needs.

“We know that the resources in the state are overstretched,” he said adding that the proposed law has benefits on the state and its residents.