Author: oduduwanews

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Ramadan: NSCIA tells Nigerian Muslims to look out for crescent moon on Monday

The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, has directed the Nigerian Muslim Ummah to look out for the crescent (moon) of Ramadan 1442AH from Monday.

Abubakar gave the directive on Sunday in a statement issued by Prof. Sambo Junaidu, Chairman, Advisory Committee on Religious Affairs, Sultanate Council, Sokoto.

He Noted “This is to inform the Muslim Ummah that Monday, April 12, which is equivalent to the 29th day of Sha’aban 1442AH shall be the day to look for the new moon of Ramadan 1442AH.

The statement read “Muslim are, therefore, requested to start looking for the crescent moon on Monday and report its sighting to the nearest District or Village Head for onward communication to the Sultan“.

The Sultan prayed Allah to assist Muslims in the discharge of their religious duty.

Junaidu gave telephone numbers that could be used directly to report the sighting of the new moon to the committee.

The numbers are 08037157100, 07067416900, 08066303077, 08036149757, 08035965322 and 08035945903.

Recall that Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar observed by Muslims worldwide as a month for fasting, prayer, reflection and assisting the needy.

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Ooni mourns late Olu of Warri, Ikenwoli, lauds Itsekiri people over peaceful selection of Prince Tsola Emiko

The Arole Oduduwa & Ooni of Ife, Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi Ojaja II, has consoled the Itsekiri sons and daughters worldwide over the passage of the immediate past Olu of Warri, His Royal Majesty Ogiame Ikenwoli.

In a statement by his Director of Media and Public Affairs, Comrade Moses Olafare, the Ooni prayed for the soul of late Olu Ikenwoli who he described as a natural traditional ruler who meant well for his people and a great descendant of Oduduwa who in his 5 years as Olu Warri contributed immensely to the upliftment of the agelong relationship of the Itsekiri and Yoruba nations.

“Ogiame Ikenwoli was a fantastic leader and highly respected member of the National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria(NCTRN), so passionate about harmonious coexistence among the nations of the lager Oduduwa race worldwide, Yoruba, Edo and Itsekiri nations in particular. We related very closely, we exchanged royal visits, we agreed, just like our predecessors to ensure stronger Oduduwa family ties. May his soul rest in the perfect peace of the Almighty Olodumare who uphold the family he left behind and give the fortitude to bear the loss his demise has caused as he has joined his ancestors”. Ooni prayed.

Ooni Ogunwusi who is the natural head of the Oduduwa dynasty worldwide further commended the Itsekiri people for their adherence to norms, culture and inherited traditions in the selection of 37 year old Prince Utieyinoritsetsola Emiko, as the Olu-designate.

He said the emergence of the new Olu of Warri has marked a remarkable beginning of another phase in the long and noteworthy history of Itsekiri people.

“From the sacred throne of Oduduwa at Ile-Ife, we rejoice with Omooba Utieyinoritsetsola Emiko
as the new Olu of Warri and Itesekiri people all over the world. We look forward to peace, concord and progress across Itsekiri land during the reign of the new Olu of Warri. All the descendants of Oduduwa all over the world look forward to a progressive reign of the new monarch”, the Ooni said.

The Ooni added that since when the first Olu Iginuwa emerged several centuries ago, the Oduduwa dynasty has continued to build of a cord of mutual respect and trust founded on timeless relationship, culture and an unbroken chain between the Yoruba and Itsekiri people, saying the Itsekiri represent a formidable dominion in the history of Oduduwa dynasty.

‘We are proud of the blood bound relationship amo all the descendants of Oduduwa and our Itsekiri brothers and sisters. We cherish the shared history, common ancestry, common spirituality, shared fears and aspirations. Our forefathers stood by each other in moments of thick and thin, they stood shoulder-to-shoulder as one indivisible energy, we hope to keep this precious gift they left for us. We cherish this important history. We shall guide it and defend it to the good of the great civilisations of Itsekiri and Yoruba people, a memory that has survived decades of travails and trials.”

The Ooni said the House of Oduduwa via Ife Royal Court has followed the developments in Warri with keen interest.
“Peace and stability for the people of Itsekiri is our utmost desire. We want to see Itsekiri land witness more prosperity, more fertility, more harmony and peace of mind with their neighbours towards a more united Oodua race and better Nigeria.”

It will be recalled, Ooni Ogunwusi had through his annual Easter message last Friday urged Nigerias to pray and stand with the Itsekiri nation and urged all stakeholders in the selection and final enthronement of the Olu of Warri to keep intimating the Itsekiri nation and their Yoruba brothers with required information for transparency.

Upon the receiving information on the meeting of Itsekiri General Assembly for the official pronouncements about the demise of Olu Ikenwoli and a selection of an Olu-designate, Ooni Ogunwusi in his capacity as the Arole Oduduwa sent a powerful delegation from Yorubaland led by the Oore of Otun Ekiti, HRM, Oba Adekunle Adeagbo and the Olubosin of Ifetedo, HRM, Oba Akinola Akinrera to solidarize with the Itsekiri nation during the critical moment and to witness the public presentation of the the New Olu of Warri by Iyatsere of Warri Kingdom.

The Olu of Warri designate, Omooba Tsola Emiko is the son of HRM, Toritseju Emiko who was Olu of Warri from 1987 to 2015 and a Yoruba mother, Olori Duroorike Emiko, a princess from Ogere-Remo in Ogun state.

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Alaafin of Oyo gifts two wives new mansion in Ibadan

The Alaafin of Oyo Land, Oba Dr. Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III, on Saturday gifts two of his Wives new mansion in Ibadan, Oyo State capital, named Palace of Patience.

The beneficiaries of the house are; Olori Aishat Folashade Adeyemi and Ayaba (Alhaja) Memunat Adeyemi.

One of Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi’s Queens, Queen Omowumi, pours encomium on him, as she acquires a new home.

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Gov. Oyetola eulogizes Borno Gov, Prof. Zulum as UI Alumni Association Honours Him With Award

Governor Adegboyega Oyetola of Osun has described his Borno counterpart, Prof. Babagana Zulum, as a man of strong character and conviction who is determined to carry on despite the daunting security challenges in his area.

Osun Governor said but for his strong character and conviction, the enormous security challenges in the State were enough for anyone to run away.

Oyetola spoke in Ibadan on Saturday at the 2021 Luncheon & Awards ceremony of the University of Ibadan Alumni Association, where Zulum was honoured by the association as both Most Distinguished Alumnus and the Alumus of the Year.

“From the documentary we just watched, I can see that the governor in less than two years has done tremendously well. And like we all know, the reward for hard work is more work. I believe this award will spur him to do more great things for the people of Borno. I congratulate you for these honours. You truly deserve them” Oyetola said.

Zulum on his part, thanked the Alumni Association for the award, saying the honour would encourage him to improve on the tempo of service delivery in the State.

On his part, the Chairman of the occasion and former Health minister, Prof. Isaac Adewole, commended Zulum for carrying on from where his predecessor, Senator Kashim Shettima, left off.

He commended Shettima for discovering Zulum, just as he described Oyetola as a magician, saying most times he wonders how the Governor manages to pay salaries and still carry on with infrastructure development across all sectors of the economy in the State.

Prof. Adewole said that with persons like Zulum and Oyetola as Governor of their respective States, there is hope for Nigeria.

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Borno Gov, Prof. Zulum, Kwara Gov, Razaq Abdulrahman Pay Courtesy Visit To Makinde In Ibadan

Earlier today, Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Zulum, and his Kwara State counterpart, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq visited Oyo State Governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde in Ibadan.

This was contained in a statement released by Gov. Seyi Makinde via his Twitter handle which reads in part:

“We were pleased to welcome my brothers, Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State and Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq of Kwara State who paid us a courtesy visit this morning. Former Governor of Borno State, Senator Kassim Shettima and Senator Ali Ndume were also in the entourage.

“Governor Zulum is in Ibadan to receive an award from alumni of his alma mater, the University of Ibadan. I congratulated him for the well-deserved award, and thanked him for commiserating with us over the incidents at Sasa and the Auto Spare Parts Market, Agodi Gate. – Governor ‘Seyi, Makinde, FNSE”.

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S’West PDP Congress: Party Chairmen raise alarm over plan to use fake Amotekun to scuttle election process

The Congress of Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) Southwest region slated to hold on Monday in Osogbo, Osun State has been generating alot of controversies from the in-house gladiators who are the major players in the game of political power about to be shifted to whosoever that finally wears the crown in few days to come.

Earlier today, chairmen in Lagos, Osun, Ekiti and Ogun States have raised the alarm over plan by the Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, to bring over 150 armed thugs dressed in uniform of the Western Nigeria Security Network codenamed Operation Amotekun to Osogbo for the South-West Zonal Congress on Monday.

The State Chairmen, who spoke through the Ogun State PDP Chairman, Dr Sikirulai Ogundele, said presence of anyone in Amotekun uniform anywhere near the congress venue will be resisted.

Sikirulai, who spoke on behalf of the PDP chairmen in Ekiti, Lagos, Osun States, Otunba Bisi Kolawole, Engr Adedeji Doherty and Hon Sunday Bisi respectively, said there was credible information confirming the plot to clothe thugs in Amotekun uniform to invade Osogbo on Monday.

Bestowed Grace Academy Gen
He called on the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) to ensure that only authorised security personnel and delegates are allowed into the congress venue.

Sikirulai said; “We are aware that they want to bring in thugs under the guise of Amotekun and we are warning them to perish that idea because it will be resisted.

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Makinde, Tambuwal, Ortom, other PDP governors meet in Makurdi to discuss national security

Earlier yesterday, Governor of Oyo State, Engr. Seyi Makinde, Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal and other the PDP Governors met in Makurdi, Benue State.

It was learnt that they discussed various issues, including security, where they called for restructuring to decentralise the security architecture of Nigeria to deal with rising insecurity.

In the past few months, there has been rising cases of kidnapping, banditry, attacks on national institution. Recently, some yet to be identified gunmen stormed Imo State Correctional Service burnt the Prison and later freed thousands of prisoners.

This has been generating a lot of concerns from various stakeholders as the rising insecurity is taking its toll on national development.

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Gunmen abduct businessman in Ekiti


Some gunmen have reportedly kidnapped the General Manager of Prosperous Filling Station, Itakorodo Adebayo, at Isan-Ekiti in Ekiti State.

The incident, according to the police, occurred around 7:00 p.m. on Thursday when the gunmen stormed the filling station.

They came with six motorcycles and shot sporadically before whisking away the victim.

The police spokesperson in Ekiti, Sunday Abutu, in a statement confirming the incident said the police and other security agencies have been deployed to the bushes to rescue the victim.

“A team of Police Operatives and Detectives including the Amotekun Corps and the local Hunters have been deployed to rigorously comb the bushes and the forests across the State to ensure the rescue of one Itakorodo Adebayo, the General Manager of prosperous filling station, Isan-Ekiti, who was abducted by unknown gunmen numbering about eight(8) at about 1900hrs on Thursday 8th April, 2021.”

“It was gathered that the gunmen stormed the filling station through the bush on about six(6) motorcycles and started shooting sporadically before whisking the victim away.

“The Ekiti State Police Command, in addition to the rescue teams deployed, has contacted all the States bordering Ekiti State for possible assistance towards the rescue of the victim and the arrest of the perpetrators.

“The Ekiti State Commissioner of Police implores anyone with useful information that could assist the Police to rescue the victim and apprehend the culprits to inform the nearest Police Station or call 08062335577,” the police statement read.

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COVID-19: WAEC affirms shift of May/June exams, starts August 16, ends Sept 30

The West African Examinations Council, Nigeria, says the 2021 West African Senior School Certificate Examination will commence in August and not May.

WAEC also debunked reports by some news platforms that it postponed the examination.

In a statement on Friday, Acting Head, Public Affairs, WAEC, Nigeria, Demianus Ojijeogu, said WAEC Nigeria Head, Patrick Areghan, was quoted out of context at a briefing on Tuesday when he announced the release of results of WASSCE for private candidates.

According to Ojijeogu, Areghan said the realities of the COVID-19 pandemic has distorted the academic calendars of schools, hence, it will be impossible for candidates to sit for the examination in May because most of the schools are still in their first term.

The statement was titled, ‘Conduct Of WASSCE For School Candidates, 2021 In Nigeria’.

The statement said Areghan had at the Tuesday briefing said, “Let me also use this opportunity to dispel rumours being peddled about by some people regarding the conduct of WASSCE for School Candidates, 2021. The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic are still very much felt in the education sector.

“The academic calendar has been distorted. It will, therefore, not be possible to have the examination in May/June this year. A convenient International Timetable for the conduct of the examination will soon be released.”

The statement added, “The arrangement is in line with the current academic calendar and was done in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Education.

“Consequently, the Council wishes to inform schools, candidates and the general public that the examination will hold from August 16, 2021 to September 30, 2021. The International timetable for the conduct of the examination will be released in due course.”

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S’West PDP Congress: Fayose led-faction fumes, kicks against nomination of Melaye as committee member

The group in the South West People’s Democratic Party (PDP) led by former Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, has rejected the choice of Senator Dino Melaye as Chairman of the Congress Screening Committee.

The group insisted on Senate Minority Leader, Enyinnaya Abaribe, earlier agreed upon by both parties, saying “the sudden emergence of Senator Dino Melaye is suggestive of a planned hatchet job.”

This was contained in a release jointly issued by Fayose, PDP governorship candidates in Osun and Ogun States, Senator Ademola Adeleke and Hon Ladi Adebutu respectively as well as the immediate past Zonal Chairman and aspirant in the next Monday Congress, Dr Eddy Olafeso.

They said “What the party told us was that Senator Abaribe will be chairman of the screening committee.

“To us, this sudden use of Senator Dino Melaye is suspicious and we will not accept it.

“If Senator Abaribe is not available, there should be someone acceptable to the two parties to replace him, not Dino Melaye.

“Therefore, for equity, fairness and transparency, we call on the National Working Committee to replace Senator Dino Melaye with someone that is acceptable to both contending parties as Chairman of the Screening Committee.”

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