Author: oduduwanews

Former presidential candidate and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential hopeful, Dr. Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, has intensified consultations ahead of the 2027 general election, holding separate high-level meetings with former President Olusegun Obasanjo and former Military President, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (rtd.).

The closed-door meetings, held on Monday, are part of Dr. Hashim’s ongoing nationwide engagements with elder statesmen and key national figures to discuss the future direction of Nigeria.
Sources familiar with the consultations said Dr. Hashim assured both former leaders of his capacity to tackle Nigeria’s security challenges, rebuild national unity, stabilise the polity, and restore economic prosperity. He reportedly stressed that Nigeria urgently needs purposeful, inclusive, and unifying leadership to avert deeper national fractures.

Both Obasanjo and Babangida, though non-partisan, are widely regarded as influential elder statesmen who remain deeply invested in Nigeria’s unity and stability, having played defining roles in the country’s political and military history.

Dr. Hashim arrived at President Obasanjo’s residence in Abeokuta at about 11:00 a.m. and departed roughly an hour later. He subsequently travelled to Minna, where he met with General Babangida aboard a Hawker 800 jet with registration number 5N-BZP.

During the Minna meeting, Dr. Hashim reportedly appealed to Babangida’s historic role in preserving Nigeria’s unity, referencing the sacrifices made during the civil war.

“General, you still carry in your body the wounds of the war fought to keep Nigeria one. Many of your colleagues were not fortunate to survive that struggle. If Nigeria is allowed to disintegrate today through incompetent leadership, then the sacrifices of patriots like you would have been wasted,” Hashim was quoted as saying.
He emphasised that the 2027 election must be centred on national rescue, warning that continued leadership failure could further endanger the country’s cohesion and stability.
Dr. Hashim was accompanied on the visits by the Chairman of the North Central Renaissance Movement, Professor Nghargbu K’tsɔ, as well as other aides.

Political observers view the consultations as a strategic move by Dr. Hashim to position himself as a national consensus-building figure ahead of what is expected to be a highly consequential 2027 presidential election.

Human rights lawyer Femi Falana, SAN, has petitioned the Department of State Services (DSS) over the alleged torture and death of Chief Lukmon Suleiman Ojora Arounfale, the Baba Oba of Oyotunji Village in the United States, following a visit to the Alaafin of Oyo’s palace.

According to the petition, the incident occurred during a palace visit in April 2025, where a disagreement reportedly arose over traditional coronation practices linked to Oyotunji Village. Falana alleged that the disagreement escalated into a violent assault on the chief and members of his entourage by palace aides.

The petition claimed that Chief Arounfale, who was elderly, sustained serious injuries during the alleged assault and later died days after the visit. It further alleged that the victims were detained by police, forced to write statements, and compelled to apologise before being released.

Falana noted that although the Inspector-General of Police reportedly ordered an investigation, no arrests or prosecutions have followed. He therefore urged the DSS to carry out a fresh investigation and ensure accountability under the laws of Oyo State.

Nine individuals have been arrested by the Oyo State Environmental Task Force for illegally dumping waste on road medians in parts of Ibadan. The arrests followed early morning and overnight enforcement operations carried out by Environmental Health Officers of the Ministry of Environment. The offenders were fined and sentenced to community service as part of the penalties for the offense committed.

The offenders were apprehended at the Akala Expressway and the Leventis axis of the city during routine surveillance aimed at curbing environmental abuse and promoting public sanitation.

Speaking with journalists after the operation, a Director in the Ministry of Environment, Mrs. Areo, said the state government would not hesitate to clamp down on individuals who deliberately deface the environment through unlawful waste disposal. She stressed that enforcement activities would be intensified to safeguard public health and preserve the aesthetics of the state.

Mrs. Areo urged residents to shun indiscriminate dumping of refuse and make use of approved waste collection and disposal channels, reminding the public that maintaining a clean and healthy environment is a collective responsibility.

Gunmen on Monday attacked a police checkpoint at Ipele Junction in Owo Local Government Area of Ondo State, leaving two police officers and a female civilian injured.

According to eyewitness accounts, the assailants opened fire on officers on duty at the checkpoint, triggering panic among residents and commuters in the area. The unexpected shooting caused people to scamper for safety as bullets rang out around the busy junction.

The two police officers were reportedly shot during the attack, while a female civilian was hit by stray bullets. Security operatives at the checkpoint responded swiftly, returning fire and engaging the attackers in a brief gun duel.

The exchange forced the gunmen to flee the scene. However, security sources confirmed that one suspect was later arrested in connection with the attack, following a manhunt launched by security agencies.

The injured officers and the civilian were rushed to a nearby medical facility, where they are currently receiving treatment. Meanwhile, security presence has been reinforced around the area as investigations continue to track down other members of the fleeing gang.

The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Akeem Owoade I, has asserted that he holds the exclusive traditional authority to confer chieftaincy titles that extend beyond local domains and cover the entire Yorubaland. According to him, such titles are distinct from community-based chieftaincy titles and are rooted in pan-Yoruba history and tradition.

The monarch explained that titles bearing the name “Yorubaland” are not local honours and therefore should not be conferred by any other traditional ruler outside the authority of the Alaafin. He anchored his claim on historical precedent, customs, and what the palace described as established legal interpretations.

The statement has reignited debates within Yoruba traditional circles, particularly amid recent instances where other monarchs have conferred titles with pan-Yoruba significance. The Alaafin maintained that such actions amount to an overreach of traditional jurisdiction.

The controversy gained wider attention following the conferment of the Okanlomo of Yorubaland title on Seyi Tinubu, which drew public reactions and renewed scrutiny of traditional hierarchy and authority within Yorubaland.
While supporters argue that the Alaafin’s stance preserves historical order and Yoruba unity, critics insist that no law or court ruling grants absolute supremacy to any single monarch. Many elders and cultural stakeholders have therefore called for dialogue to prevent divisions and safeguard Yoruba cultural heritage.

The Alaafin of Oyo has conferred the revered traditional title of Okanlomo of Yorubaland, meaning “the worthy child of the land,” on a prominent Yoruba son in a ceremony that blended age-long customs with contemporary relevance. The conferment underscores the monarch’s enduring commitment to recognising individuals whose conduct and contributions reflect the values, resilience, and aspirations of the Yoruba people.

Speaking during the ceremony, the Alaafin described the Okanlomo title as one reserved for individuals who embody service, loyalty, and a deep sense of responsibility to society. He noted that the honour goes beyond prestige, carrying with it a moral obligation to champion unity, cultural preservation, and development across Yorubaland.

The event drew traditional rulers, community leaders, youth groups, and dignitaries from across the South-West, highlighting the cultural weight of the title within the Yoruba chieftaincy system. Cultural displays and traditional rites marked the occasion, reinforcing the historical roots and symbolism associated with the honour.

Observers say the conferment reflects a broader effort by the Oyo Palace to inspire younger generations to embrace leadership, integrity, and service, while strengthening the relevance of traditional institutions in modern governance and social development.

The Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital (EKSUTH) has fired a surgeon for secretly removing a patient’s kidney during a medical procedure. The dismissal was confirmed by the state’s Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Dr. Oyebanji Filani, on Friday.

The incident came to light when Joshua Afolayan, a kidney transplant recipient, reported that his organ had been taken without his knowledge or consent. The hospital acted swiftly following the revelation, terminating the surgeon involved and initiating necessary investigations into the breach of medical ethics and patient rights.

The case has raised serious concerns about surgical consent and patient safety, prompting calls for stricter oversight and adherence to medical protocols within healthcare institutions.

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has ordered the recall of Indomie Vegetable Flavour noodles following safety concerns over the presence of undeclared allergens in the product.

According to the agency, investigations revealed that the noodles contain milk and eggs, which were not listed on the product label. NAFDAC warned that this omission poses serious health risks, particularly to individuals with allergies or intolerances to these substances.

NAFDAC noted that although the likelihood of the affected product circulating in Nigeria is low due to the federal government’s ban on the importation of noodles, the product could still enter the country through unauthorized channels, including online purchases and international travel.

The agency has therefore advised consumers, distributors, and retailers to immediately stop the sale and consumption of the product and report any sightings or adverse reactions to the nearest NAFDAC office, as surveillance and enforcement activities have been intensified nationwide.

A Professor of Agricultural and Environmental Engineering at the University of Ibadan and former Resident Electoral Commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Ogun State, Engr. Professor AbdulGaniy Raji, FNSE, has passed away.

Professor Raji died on Friday, December 19, 2025, at his residence in Ogbomoso, Oyo State, family sources confirmed.
A respected academic, seasoned engineer, and public servant, the late Professor Raji made significant contributions to engineering education, environmental sustainability, and Nigeria’s electoral administration.

He was a Fellow of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (FNSE) and was widely regarded for his professionalism and commitment to national development.
The Janazah prayer is scheduled to hold on Saturday at the Ogbomoso Central Mosque, Oja’agbo, by 11:00 a.m., after which he will be laid to rest in accordance with Islamic rites.

Colleagues, former students, and associates have begun paying tributes, describing him as a disciplined scholar, principled administrator, and mentor whose impact will be long remembered.
May Allah grant him Al-Jannah Firdaus and comfort his family and loved ones. Ameen.

Former presidential candidate, Gbenga Hashim, has paid a condolence visit to the family of late Sheikh Dahiru Usman Bauchi, a leader within the Tijaniyaa sufi order and one of the largest Islamic organizations in the world.

The Ex Presidential Candidate, who shares the same birthday 28th June with the late cleric, spoke in Hausa, which he later translated. He said, Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi stood out in an era where religiosity is often divorced from godliness, noting that while many claim religious authority, few truly fear God.

“Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi was not just a religious man; he was highly learned, informed, and above all, a man who genuinely feared God.

Dr Hashim came with a large delegation which included Sheikh Haliru Abdulahi Maraya (Kaduna),Dr Ibrshim Umar (Kaduna),Mr Kamaldeen Adebayo Sanni (FCT), Hajia Rabi Musa (Nassarawa),Mr Ezekiel Dinfa(Plateau)and Cordinators of the Hashim Organization in the three Senatorialcdistrics and 20 LGA’s of Bauchi State.