Author: oduduwanews

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Govs Dapo Abiodun, Akeredolu, Makinde, Others Grace Oyo Speaker’s Wedding In Ibadan

Ondo State Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu,SAN, was present at the wedding of the Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Adebo Ogundoyin.

The Speaker on Saturday got married to Olamidun Majekodunmi, the daughter of the Ogun State Universal Basic Education Board, Femi Majekodunmi.

At the Church service held at All Souls’ Anglican Church, Bodija, Ibadan, the Oyo state capital, Bishop of Ibadan Diocese of Anglican Communion, Most Revd Joseph Akinfenwa called on political leaders in the country to put aside their political differences and rescue the country from the brim of collapse.

The cleric who hailed the Governor Akeredolu for defending the people, charged other political leaders to be committed to the well-being of the people.

He specially lauded the Chairman, South-West Governors’ Forum and Governor of Ondo State for his consistency, tenacity and relentlessly protecting and defending the people in the region, saying he is leading by example.

Speaker of Ondo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Bamidele Oleyelogun also led members of the Assembly including the majority leader, Hon. Oluwole Ogunmolasuyi to the event.

The Bishop who specially congratulated the newly wedded couple on their wedding ceremony, described the day as a glorious and joyful day in the lives of both families.

Also present were; the Governor of Oyo State, Engr. Seyi Makinde; Governor of Ogun State, Prince Dapo Abiodun; former Governor of Ogun state, Otunba Gbenga Daniel; among several other dignitaries.

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Bode George announces retirement from politics, warns Sanwo-Olu on EndSARS report

A former deputy national chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Bode George, has announced he would retire from partisan politics from 2023.

George, a former governor of Ondo State said his decision was out of the calls from his children who wanted him to take a rest from the national services.

The PDP leader, who spoke in an interview with Business Day, said “I was discussing it with my first child and while we were talking, he said, look daddy, we need you more now. You know I just had surgery. Maybe after the surgery he is beginning to think differently. He said daddy you spent 25 years in the Navy. By 2023, you would have spent 25 years in politics. That is 50 years of your life in service to this country. He said he thinks that is enough and that they need me more now.

“When I looked at it, what he said made a lot of sense to me. I am even 76 now. If I have put such a number of years into the service of the nation, I think that is okay. I will remove myself from partisan politics. So, I will not be for party ‘A’ or party ‘B’ and I will be the father of all. If there is anything that is not going right, we will proffer solution and discuss.

“By 2023, I will be 78 years old. Well, Generals don’t retire, we only fade away. But my body system is sending me an alarm. I was a state governor when I was 42. Now I am 76 years old. So from 2023, I won’t be participating in partisan politics and you know another person will emerge.”

While speaking on the controversies surrounding the recently released report of the EndSARS panel, the elder statemen said the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, should handle the matter with carefulness in order not to damage his image.

“When you pass through the tollgate now, you could see that they are doing some wiring and testing, I want to advise Sanwo-Olu, this happened during his watch; I was a governor; I think I left in 1990 and I have been in and out of Ondo State. You know that time it was Ondo and Ekiti states if I had misbehaved, would I have the guts to go back there. So, I want to advise him, Sanwo-Olu is a big name and his mother comes from Lagos, the Cole family, a very big family and a Godly family, you can’t put and cover such for a long time.

“The recommendations that they have made, first of all, even if they are pushing him to reopen the tollgate, the truth has come out now. From January next year, political activities would start, governance is over because by December we will start having all the elections. So, I don’t know because there are too many rumours flying all over that Bola Tinubu now wants his son to come and contest for the governorship of Lagos. So, they turn it into a family affair but let him think that he has a family name behind him both from his mother’s side and his father’s side. And that the truth has been told; of course, people will talk but my own contribution is, let him study that document and be straight with himself and his God and take appropriate action.

“To err is human but to forgive is divine. It is not a repetition, it happened; lives were lost and he should read that document cover to cover and make amends and apologise to the people of this state. You know Lagos is mini Nigeria. There is no tribe that exists in this country that you will not find in Lagos. So, if Lagos sneezes, Nigeria catches a cold. So, let him look at it from that and take a cursory look and in-depth analysis and correct the ills. If there is a need to apologise to the people, of course, he has to apologise.

“Let him be bold enough as a child of God and say he is sorry for all the stories that came out and do something for those who lost their lives. Of course, I believe the military itself because I was in the service you don’t take orders from any governor or anybody. The only fellow that gives you order is the commander in chief and when he gives his orders straight to the minister of defence from the minister of defence straight to the chief of defence staff. So, that is our chain of command, no civilian will just call the military out to come and do something, how? So, people wanted to know how the military get involved. If it was a mistake, it should never happen again. Number two, if some people are pushing him to reopen tollgate, he should go back and do a rethink. Like I said from January 2022 politics will be on the rise.”

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OAU MBA Student’s Death: IGP Transfers Rahmon Adedoyin’s Case To Abuja

Usman Baba, the Inspector-General of Police, has waded into the case of Timothy Adegoke, the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) MBA student who was found dead at the Hilton Hotel and Resorts, Ile-Ife, Osun State.

A police source, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said a team from Abuja arrived at the Osun Police Command on November 25 to work out modalities on how to transfer the investigation to Abuja.

“I can confirm to you that the Force Headquarters, under the instruction of the IGP, has ordered the transfer of the case to Abuja,” the source told FIJ. “Rahmon Adegoke, the owner of the hotel, has also been transported to the Force Headquarters where investigations would continue.”

FIJ gathered that the case is now being handled by the IGP’s Intelligence Response Team (IRT) at the Force Headquarters.

Timothy was an MBA student at the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU). He had travelled to Osun in November with the hope of sitting for scheduled exams at OAU’s Distance Learning Centre. He was initially declared missing on November 7 before his corpse was found eight days later.

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Ekiti Gov, Fayemi Commissions Reconstruction Of Roads

Yesterday, I had the honour of receiving my three brother Governors from Kebbi, Jigawa and Sokoto States who commissioned the Ilupeju – Ire- Igbemo- Ijan road, as well as the Oye – Ayede – Ikun Dairy – Kwara Boundary road and Aramoko – Erijiyan – Ikogosi road. These are very strategic roads with socioeconomic importance and mobility advantage.

For instance, 25.6km Ilupeju – Ire- Igbemo- Ijan road constructed at the cost of N2,354,997,197.37 connects the three senatorial districts and eases transportation to the resuscitated Ire Clay Factory, while 14km Aramoko – Erijiyan – Ikogosi road constructed at the cost of N1,625,481,844.74 provides durable access to the Tourism Corridor, which spans from Ikogosi and runs through Ipole-Iloro Ekiti.

The 37km Oye – Ayede – Ikun Dairy – Kwara Boundary road which was constructed at the cost of N2,997,143,417.84 will also boost the agricultural activities of the communities along this axis, as well as the operations of Ikun Dairy Farm and the internally generated revenue of our state.

Our administration is determined to work for the people to the very last day of our mandate.

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Thabo Mbeki: How I Worked Against Obasanjo’s Third Term Presidential Bid

Further revelations on the failed third term bid of former President Olusegun Obasanjo have been revealed.

Former President of South Africa, Thabo Mbeki, has disclosed how he and Abdulsalami Abubakar, former Head of State of Nigeria, worked against the ill-fated ambition.

Obasanjo has repeatedly denied he was involved in the bill proposed to the Nigerian parliament to amend the constitution and grant him an extra term.

Speaking virtually on Thursday at the Abdulsalami Alhaji Abubakar Festschrift Conference held in Abuja, Mbeki said he called the former Nigerian leader to discuss the issue with him.

He said, “As a privilege to reiterate the commitment of General Abubakar to democracy in Nigeria in 2006, more than five years after he had handed over powers to Olusegun Obasanjo, the constitution on whose basis president Obasanjo was elected described a two-term limit for the head of state, and since he [Obasanjo] had been elected for the second time, this meant that he would end his term in 2007.

“But some time before, in 2005, a campaign began in Nigeria to amend the constitution to allow for three presidential terms. This developed to a point that the draft of the proposed amendment had been presented to the Nigerian parliament as papers.

“When I heard about this development, I engaged Obasanjo to communicate my unease at the proposal. In the end, I discussed it with general Abubakar, and we agreed that the proposed amendment was undesirable. We shared the view that the amendment must be avoided at all costs. We were of one mind that it spells bad both for Nigeria and the rest of the continent, tampering with and compromising our democratic system, which is just a few years old.

“We agreed to add our voices to those kicking against the amendment. We agreed that Abdulsalam would follow the situation in Nigeria closely and indicate to me when we should intervene against the constitutional amendment. I was very pleased when he called that the Nigerian senate has voted against the amendment.”

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Boko Haram Will Soon Recruit Out-Of-School Children – Obasanjo Warns

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has warned that Boko Haram might soon recruit out-of-school children if the government fails to return them to their classrooms.

Obasanjo said this while addressing participants at the presidential youth mentorship retreat held at the Youth Development Centre, Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, Abeokuta, Ogun State.

Obasanjo blamed security challenges in the country for the increasing rate of out-of-school children.

He lamented that about 14 million children who ought to be in school are on the streets; therefore, the situation can worsen the nation’s security situation.

He said, “A situation today where we have 14 million children that should be in school that are not in school, does anybody need to be an oracle to say that 10 years or 15 years from now, those will be where you will recruit pure Boko Haram.

“Therefore, if you deal with Boko Haram by stick today, in a few years’ time, the situation will be worst because we are talking about security, it will be worst.”

The former president added that when it comes to security and poverty, the solution should start from education.

Obasanjo maintained that the unity of Nigeria is paramount, stressing that he would fight for it throughout his life.

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OAU MBA Student’s Death: Ooni Suspends Oduduwa Varsity Founder, Adedoyin As Maye Of Ile-Ife

Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi (Ojaja II) has again suspended the embattled Founder of Oduduwa University in the ancient town, Dr. Ramon Adedoyin, as the Maye of Ile-Ife.

The Nigerian Xpress reports that Dr. Adedoyin had been embroiled in the suspicious death of a Master’s degree student of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, Osun State, Mr. Timothy Adegoke, at his Hilton Hotel and Resort, Ile-Ife.

He had been in police detention since the story broke.

This is the second time that Adedoyin will be suspended as Maye of Ile-Ife.

In 2018, he was suspended over a trending Poem, ‘Ewi’ on the Ooni, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi released to defame the stool and character of the frontline monarch.

The address of the Council was read by the Secretary to the Ife Traditional Council, Chief Adetoye Odewole.

He said, “That beyond a reasonable doubt, Chief Ramon Adedoyin and his cohorts like Oba Adeoye Adefarakan have committed offences of defaming the stool and character of the Ooni of Ife, assault and the libellous release of the ewi remain indelible and all these acts are conducts likely to cause a breach of peace.

“That all parties involved in the meeting passed a vote of no confidence on Chief Ramon Adedoyin and Oba Adeoye Adefarakan.

“That the House of Oduduwa henceforth suspends the chieftaincy title of Maye of Ife that was bestowed on Chief Ramon Adedoyin until further notice.

“Chief Ramon Adedoyin should not parade himself as the Maye of Ife until he absolved himself of his disloyalty and betrayal to the stool of Ooni and the House of Oduduwa.”

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Subsidy Removal: NANS Kicks, Threatens To Ground Economic Activities In Nigeria

The National Association of Nigerian Students on Friday threatened to shut down the country should the Federal Government proceed to remove subsidy from petrol.

The organisation called on Nigerians and all its allied structures to be on the alert for further directives on the next action.

The President of NANS, Sunday Asefon, issued the threat during a press conference held in Abuja.

According to him, although NANS was not totally against deregulation, the conditions for such already agreed upon must be out in place before deregulation.

The text of the briefing was titled “Nigeria will be shut down should the Federal Government attempt the removal of fuel subsidy as allegedly being proposed.”

Asefon said, “None of those conditions is in place at the moment. It is therefore very strange that the Federal Government could contemplate the removal of fuel subsidy now.

“The four refineries are not functioning, and if they are functioning at all, it is at a near-zero level. There is zero consultation with stakeholders to even consider issues around deregulation and why it should or should not be. The survival of Nigerian workers and their wards is yet to be discussed, yet a date that may take lives out of them have been fixed.

“Furthermore, inflation is already passing a skyrocketing level. So we may need to find a word to describe the kind of inflation that will be experienced if the pump price of PMS goes above 200 per cent.

“In fact, we are very convinced that the Federal Government is acting impulsively on a matter as sensitive as this.

“NANS is rudely shocked by the statement credited to the Group Managing Director of Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, Mele Kyari to the effect that Premium Motor Spirit could sell as much as three hundred and forty N340 by February 2022. This is said to be due to the plan of the Federal Government to remove fuel subsidy and usher in an era of so-called deregulation.

“Even more absurd is the proposal announced by the Honourable Minister of Finance, Budget and National Hajia Zainab Shamsuna Ahmed that N5,000 will be paid to 40 million vulnerable Nigerians to cushion the effect of the fuel subsidy removal.

“NANS is still trying hard to make an iota of good sense out of this strange proposal. We shall return to this particular point.

“But let us first of all categorically state that on behalf of the suffering millions of Nigerian students and on behalf of the millions of the frustrated masses of the Nigerian people who are our parents, brothers and sisters, uncles and aunts, friends and neighbours, we reject this socio-economic evil proposal and we shall resist it.

“Nigerians are really suffering. We are in dire socio-economic straits. We are weeping in our hearts and souls. We are dying in silence. We feel the agony and anguish because we are practically involved. Therefore, any attempt to aggravate the social woes and economic manacles that we already face and wear will not only be unconscionable but reckless. It will amount to testing the patience of Nigerians too far. And we wish to warn against it.

The country is very stretched and tensed. In case the government is not aware, we are passing them this intelligence free of charge now. Again we advise, let the government not stretch it further. The consequences will be dire. The people are already flamed. Mendacity will beget mendacity. NANS is happy that the organised labour and civil society groups have all rejected the proposal.

We shall ensure that the entire country is shut down and paralysed should the Federal Government proceed with its insensitive plan of deregulation, or even any further increase in the pump price of fuel. We have had enough.

“We know that neo-liberal and imperial economists will soon emerge to confuse themselves with some well-rehearsed stale analysis and commentaries. Let us tell them already that nothing can change except the practical reality of the socio-economic condition of Nigerians changes.

“No deregulation can happen on the basis of import-driven deregulation. We are aware of our reality with all the ones already deregulated, including Kerosene, diesel and cooking gas (which price has gone totally out of control).”

Beyond the issues already raised, NANS said that in the 2022 Appropriation Bill, the Federal Government already provided for fuel subsidy.

NANS, therefore, wondered why government would provide for what it plans to eliminate.

Asefon said, “Upon which data did the Honourable Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning determine that only 40 million Nigerians are vulnerable? And what is the definition of vulnerability in our socio-economic context? Where does she intend to generate the money which will be paid to those 40 million Nigerians since there is no provision for it in the 2022 Appropriation Bill?

“Is it not very strange economics to rob the poor to pay the poor even lower?

“On which economic sense or theory does five thousand Naira (5,000) per month ‘cushion the inflationary effect of 200 per cent increment on the central economic item of a country?

“It is really sad that government can contemplate something as critical as deregulating the petroleum sector without thinking it through, without consultation and without a robust debate.

“As far as we are concerned, this sinister plan is the quest of government to get money at all costs to squander and finance the ostentatious lifestyles of public officers and senior civil servants. And for these selfish reasons, Nigerians much suffer to breaking limits for it. Again, we reiterate that it is a total no, never.

“We, therefore, call on the Federal Government to rescind the plan till adequate arrangements like refining at home and utilising our petrochemical by-products are made. Then after that, there will be a robust discussion by all stakeholders to deal with associated socio-economic issues and discuss the details of the new regime. It is only on this condition that there can be a corresponding social equilibrium, economic prosperity, job and wealth creation for Nigerians.

“And while we hope that Federal Government will heed this patriotic advice, we call on all our comrades, allies and all structures of NANS to be on the alert. Nobody should be swayed or distracted. Because freedom comes by struggle, we shall struggle to free ourselves from further socio-economic chains.”

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