Author: oduduwanews

The Chief Press Secretary to Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, has reacted to claims by some members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) that the governor was about to defect to the party, declaring that the APC was merely covetous of the great feats achieved by Makinde as governor of Oyo State.

In a statement on Monday, the spokesman said that the plot to lure Makinde to the APC did not come as a surprise.

“One is not surprised that some elements in the APC are busy debating the possibility of Governor Makinde’s defection to the party.

“The unprecedented achievements the governor has recorded in a very short time, especially despite the COVID-19 pandemic, has thoroughly beaten their imagination such that they have concluded it is impossible to raise a candidate to contest against him in 2023.

“As a close watcher of the GSM magic, so to say, one cannot be surprised that the APC in Oyo State is really envious of the great attainments of Governor Makinde.

“Every sector you turn to, he has something positive to show.

“Only last week, he launched the first modern landfill in the country. He is presently constructing the first concrete road in the state, the 12-kilometre Apete-Awotan-Akufo road. This is in addition to the massive road and infrastructure projects that dot the entire Oyo State landscape.

“However, rather than claim that Makinde wants to defect to the APC, the truth the APC elements should tell the world is that their party is attempting to lure the performing governor in order to avert a woeful performance against him in 2023.

“Contrary to the claims of the APC members that the governor has been soft against criticisms by its members, Governor Makinde has not bothered to respond to their baseless criticisms in recent times but has chosen to remain focused on service delivery.

“We also completely reject the claims that his desire to join the APC informed the “soft approach” to the farmers/herders’ crisis.

“Rather, the governor has remained on the side of the law and has always insisted that criminals, whichever tribe they belong, are our enemies and they must be fished out without undue ethnic profiling.

“So, the best thing the APC could come up with right now is to imagine a Makinde as a standard-bearer so he could serve as a surreptitious redemption for the years of locust the party had inflicted on the people of Oyo State.

‘Govt ‘ll continue to pay attention, provide resources for education’s growth’

Governor ‘Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, on Monday, kickstarted the distribution of over 2.7 Million free exercise books to all students in public secondary schools in Oyo State, stating that the move is part of efforts to improve the quality of education and give opportunities to students from all backgrounds in the state.

The governor, while making a symbolic presentation of the free exercise books to some students from selected secondary schools in the state, at the Executive Chamber of the Governor’s Office, Agodi, Ibadan, said that his administration will continue to pay more attention and put in more resources to the education sector.

A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, indicated that the government has approved the payment of school grants to public schools in the state.

He added that his administration will always welcome constructive criticism that can assist the government of the day.

On the school grants, the governor maintained that his government would continue to invest in education, stating that renovation of public schools and distribution of school furniture to students across the schools in the state would be made through the direct resources of the state.

He urged all stakeholders to work with the government and not play politics with the future of our children, saying: “We believe, as a government, that if we get it right at the primary and secondary school levels, if we have sound products coming out of our secondary schools, we would have been 70 per cent on point in terms of what we want to achieve in education.

“In the days ahead, we are taking the issue of infrastructure in our schools seriously. We will be having new chairs and tables. We will continue to renovate the schools through the direct resources of the state.

“I will use this opportunity to call on all stakeholders to work with the government and not play politics with the future of our children. If we are doing certain things right, tell us. And if we are falling short in certain areas, tell us also because this is our future and we should all work together to ensure that the future is really secure and guaranteed.”

The governor also reiterated that in Oyo State there is a freedom to practise religion and that no one can divide the people of the state through religion.

“Last week, I was reading in a place that in Oyo State, we don’t allow students to wear Hijab but I can see some students here wearing their Hijab and no one is harassing them. For us here, we give freedom to practice religion. Nobody can divide us through religion,” he said.

Earlier, the Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Barr. Olasunkanmi Olaleye, said that the distribution of free exercise books to students was to promote education in the state.

He added that the government is giving out more than 2.7 million exercise books to all secondary schools in Oyo State for the year 2021.

Oodua Peoples’ congress has denied the claim by the Oyo state Police command saying that the group did not burn any structure belonging to the notorious Fulani warlord Iskilu Wakili who was arrested by the group in Ibarapa land of Oyo state.

The group has also refuted the assertion that it members killed some people during the arrest of the notorious warlord on Sunday morning adding that Wakili was immediately handed over to the police department in Igbboora after his arrest.

Recall that in our previous news bulletin, we reported that the Oyo State Police Command said on Sunday that it has detained three OPC operatives for allegedly burning down Wakili’s house and killing an unknown woman in the process.

Speaking contrary to the claim by the Oyo police on Monday in an exclusive interview with a popular print media outlet; The PUNCH, the OPC sector coordinator; Adedeji Oluwole, who led his operatives and other vigilante groups to arrest Wakili, said the allegations of arson and murder by the police were false.

Asked whether his men burnt down Wakili’s house after the arrest, the OPC leader said, “We don’t know anything about that. After we arrested Wakili, we left the scene. We had no idea whether the house was burnt or a woman was killed. It was last night that we read the news that a woman was killed at the scene of the incident.

“We arrested Wakili and three of his men. Nobody touched them. We were not there to kill anybody or to burn the house.”
He called on Yoruba leaders to come to the rescue of his men, saying it is unfortunate that the police resorted to hunting his men after arresting the notorious Fulani warlord while Wakili was moved to the hospital.

The OPC Sector commander said: “My boys are still in police custody but we call on Yoruba leaders to come to our rescue because these boys are innocent; they know nothing about these allegations. Up till now, they have not taken them to court and they are still in their custody. Even I myself, the police have been chasing me and I’m shocked because I have not committed any offence.”

Before Wakili’s arrest, farmers and residents of Ayete, Kajola and neighbouring villages in Ibarapaland lived in perpetual fear of Wakili who was accused of displacing them from their farms, kidnapping their rich men and raping their women.

Oluwole, the Federal Capital Territory OPC coordinator, who is also an indigene of Igboora in Ibarapaland said he relocated four months ago to Ayete to bring Wakili to book after security agencies failed to arrest him.

Adedeji said it took over four days of continued operations and surveillance to nab Wakili and three of his accomplices, adding that Wakili’s men shot fiercely at the OPC operatives before they were eventually arrested.
He, however, expressed disappointment that the police were witch-hunting the OPC men for executing what the police failed to do.

“We feel bad that the police treat our men like this while they pamper Wakili. We don’t have any regret whatsoever. We hand over everything to God. If the government cannot protect the people of Ibarapa and environ, I think there is nothing wrong if we protect ourselves.
“The case of Wakili has been on ground for several years and the Federal Government did nothing about it. But now that Wakili has been arrested, they started threatening us but we are not moved. We believe the people of Ibarapa will overcome this by the grace of God.”

As Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, marks his 64th birthday today, 8 March, 2021, Governor Adegboyega Oyetola of the State of Osun has congratulated him and wished him a happy celebration.

The governor in a press release by his Chief Press Secretary, Ismail Omipidan, described Osinbajo as a patriotic Nigerian, an accomplished administrator and an exemplary leader, whose commitment to nation-building is commendable.

While appreciating the Vice President for his selfless service to the nation, Oyetola particularly praised him for his contributions to the growth and stability of the country’s economy as head of the National Economic Council (NEC).

“On behalf of my family, Government and people of the State of Osun, I join the rest of Nigeria to wish our hardworking and cerebral Vice-President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, a happy 64th birthday celebration. Your humility, intelligence, excellent leadership traits and uncommon commitment to nation-building is commendable and worthy of emulation.

“We appreciate you for being a dependable ally of President Muhammadu Buhari and for your selfless service to our nation. I must also commend you for your contributions to the growth and stability of Nigeria’s economy in your role as Head of the National Economic Council (NEC).

“As you mark your birthday today, we thank Almighty God for your life and pray He grant you longer life, more wisdom and strength to continue to serve the nation and humanity,” Oyetola said.

The erstwhile Minister of Aviation has commended Aare Onakakanfo for taking bold step in arresting notorious killer herder, Iskilu Wakili known to be terrorising the people of Ibarapa.

In a statement released today via his official Twitter handle which reads in part:

“I congratulate my friend and brother, Iba Gani Adams, the Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland and the OPC for the successful capture of Wakili, one of the most barbaric and notorious foreign Fulani terrorists and cold-blooded killers, in the forests of Oyo state. This is the way forward. Kudos!
There is no doubt that the newly captured Wakili is the godfather of terrorism in the SW.

“However the enforcer and “hard man” of his terrorist cell is his son whose name is Abu.

“Abu killed 10 innocent souls 3 days ago and Chief Sunday Adeyemo (Sunday Igbohop), who was utterly enraged, sent pictures of their bodies to me one hour after they were murdered.

“I forwarded same to my friend and brother Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi state who not only forwarded them to the IGP in my precence but also called him and briefed him.

“The IGP assured him that he would take necessary action and look into the matter.

“Sadly this morning, after the arrest of his father yesterday, Abu has killed 4 more innocent and defenceless souls.
This is unacceptable.

“The boy is just a heartless and vicious beast and worse of all he is not even a Nigerian.

“He, like his father Wakili together with most of the terrorists in our land, are FOREIGN Fulanis and not the local ones.

“I hereby call on the authorities to locate, arrest and prosecute Wakili’s son, Abu, immediately or better still to shoot him on sight.

“I also call on them to charge Wakili to court as soon as possible and ensure that he is brought to justice for his horrendous crimes against the people of Ibarapa, Oyo state and the South West.

“Finally I call for the immediate release of the OPC heroes who arrested the monster called Wakili and who handed him over to the authorities in one piece. Be rest assured that where the authorities refuse to arrest terrorists in the SW we reserve the right to do it ourselves and hand them over to the police for investigation.

“Finally let me say the following.
Under no circumstances should Wakili be set free. If that were to happen for any reason it would threaten and jeopardise the peace process that has been put in place very badly and it would cause many to lose faith and hope in what we are trying to achieve”.

The Oyo State Police Command has confirmed the arrest of members of the Odua Peoples Congress – OPC, and assured of diligent prosecution of suspected criminal in the state.

CSP. Fadeyi Olugbenga, the Public Relations Officer, Oyo state command, made this known in a statement on Sunday.

The command said that any person or group of persons from any region or tribe that has been found culpable to have committed any criminal act(s) in the State would not be spared, but would be arrested and dealt with according to extant laws.

The statement read: “We would like to inform the general public that at about 0900 hrs of date (7th March 2021), information was received that a group of persons, (later found out to be members of the Odua Peoples Congress – OPC), had invaded Kajola community in Ibarapa axis of the State.

“The invasion was reportedly aimed at arresting one Wakili, a Fulani by tribe, who is alleged to be the sponsor and mastermind of various criminal attacks against the people/farmers of Yoruba origin in the community.

“The State Commissioner of Police has quickly moved into action and preliminary findings revealed that some OPC members went to Kajola community in Ibarapa North Local government Area of Oyo State. While there, the house of the Wakili in question was set ablaze, while a female (the identity of who is yet to be ascertained) was burnt in the fire and Wakili (about 75 years old and blind) with two (2) other persons were picked up. The three (3) of them are presently in the custody of the Police. The Commissioner of Police has directed that Wakili (due to his frail appearance and state of health), be moved to the Hospital, while others are being interrogated. Others being interrogated are the OPC members, involved in arson and murder.

“Meanwhile, the Oyo State Police Command wishes to inform the general public that any person or group of persons from any region or tribe that has been found culpable to have committed any criminal act(s) in the State would not be spared, but would be arrested and dealt with according to extant laws.

“Therefore, it is worthy of note that the good people of Oyo State and the general public should be rest assured that the officers and men in the Command would not derelict in its duty to bring to book criminal elements arrested for any infringement on the laws of the land, as adequate security measures has been emplaced against anything untoward while soliciting credible information from members of the public to enable the Police and other Security Agencies clampdown on crime and criminality in the State. In conclusion, anybody that has any case against Iskilu Wakili should report it to the State Criminal Investigation Department, (CID) Iyaganku Ibadan for discreet Investigation.”

The Lagos State Police Command has arrested 56 suspected cultists and armed robbers in the Ikorodu and Ibeju Lekki areas of the state.

Among those arrested are two wives of cultists and a man who was alleged of killing over 22 people in the state.

The Lagos Police Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, made this known in a statement titled, ‘Lagos will be hot for cultists, criminals – CP’, on Sunday.

The statement quoted the Commissioner of Police in Lagos State,Hakeem Odumosu, as re-echoing the command’s readiness to tackle and decimate criminals in the state while confirming “the arrest of 50 suspected armed robbers and cultists at Imota, Igbokuta, Adamo and Emure in Ikorodu area of the state during a sting operation carried out by the Commissioner’s of Police Strike Force between Friday 5th and Sunday 7th March, 2021.

“The 38 male and 12 female suspects include Oladunni Abiodun, m, 20; Dosumu Oluwaseun, 22; Segun Adelaja, 29; Gbamila Iyabo, f, 26;  wife of the Number 1 of Aye Confraternity in Igbokuta, arrested with one pump action loaded with 8 rounds of cartridges; Salisu Islamiyat, f, 29, wife of the Number 1 of Aye Confraternity in Emure arrested with a locally-made pistol with some live cartridges; Abiodun Abbey, m, aka Oju Ogunle, alleged to have killed more than 22 people in Ikorodu area, and 44 others.

Some members of the Oodua Peoples Congress who arrested the alleged notorious herder at Ayete, Iskilu Wakili were said to have been rounded up by the Oyo State Police Command.

Wakili was arrested by members of OPC and some Vigilante Groups. The arrest of Wakili came just a week after his second-in-command, Isiaka Muhammadu, was arrested with four others.

A source from the OPC told newsmen that their colleagues who arrested Wakili had, in turn, been arrested by the Police and were being queried why they arrested Wakili.

“I heard that some OPC men had been arrested by the police in connection with Wakili’s arrest. It is curious.”

A resident of Igangan, Saliu Abdulkadri, said, “many of us had thought that the end had come to the oppression and constant anguish to which the farmers were subjected. Little did we know that the woes had just begun.”

He said, after the eviction of Seriki, Wakili had allegedly intensified his atrocities in the area daring anyone to arrest him.

Sources said Wakili relied on deadly weapons, native powers as well as federal might.

It was learnt that Wakili had recently shot at an emissary that was said to have been sent by Baale Odomofin, the traditional ruler in control of Gbangbangere, Konko, Dagbere, Kajola, Magbeje, and other hamlets in Ayete, who were sent to serve him a quit notice.

A source from the OPC said “I learnt that four OPC members were arrested by the Police in connection with Waikili’s arrest. I cannot speak authoritatively about the arrest because my men were not involved.”

Some Yoruba leaders who are beating the drum of war and sponsoring crisis in Nigeria for selfish political reason will not end well.

The Oluwo of Iwo Oba AbdulRasheed Akanbi who stated this on Saturday, said all the hues and cries on security challenges in the Southwest region was about the 2023 presidential election.

He said, “Those who are singing discordant tune are doing so because of personal aggrandisement. We know some Yoruba leaders who are calling for war for political reason. It is all about 2023 presidency. Because they feel someone wants to become President and they don’t want him.

It is because they know that the next president of this country will be Yoruba and they don’t want that to happen. The person they are accusing has not even come out to say that he wants to be President so why all hatred?”

The monarch said some Yoruba leaders who were fanning ember of discord and calling for war should desist in the interest of national unity.

“Some bad elders are sponsoring crisis in Yoruba land because of political reason and self aggrandisement. I will not allow war to come to Yoruba land or Nigeria. Stop beating the drum of war or you will not end well.

“you see, people have to be very careful because we will never support anyone that wants to disrupt the peace of the land. Anyone who wants to destroy the Southwest and particular, Lagos state will not end well” Oluwo lamented.

Oba Akanbi also warned against ethnic profiling, saying criminals were in all tribe and they should be treated as one.

“This thing is not about Fulani or Yoruba. It is political. Some people are sponsoring crimes to destroy Nigeria. Crime doesn’t have a tribe. Prosecute criminals and tried them in court, not a tribe” he said.

Oluwo emphasised the need for government to provide intervention programme which will aim at educating herders on modern day ranching to avert clashing with farmers.

He also advised Fulani herders to assist government and security agencies to fish out criminals in their folds.

“We want the Fulani also to fish out the criminals among them. You Fulani people should also come and live in the town, don’t live in the bush again. Let us know all of you.

“The Fulani community should talk more to the government to teach you modern way of ranching. Open gracing is no longer fashionable in 21st century. We know you are used to it but you have to change to the modern ways.

“There must be an intervention programme from the government to educate Fulani on modern way of ranching. Some of you should engage in pastoral business for herders to buy feeds from you. This is how you will not be having problems with famers”, Oluwo stated.

Members of the Oodua Peoples Congress have arrested the notorious Fulani warlord terrorising Oyo community, Iskilu Wakilu.

Kehinde Aderemi, Special Assistant on Media to Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland, Gani Adams Adams, confirmed this to The PUNCH on Sunday.

“Yes, he has been arrested by our team. You will get details later,” he said on the telephone.

Meanwhile, the pan-Yoruba socio-cultural organization, Afenifere has commended OPC for the arrest of Wakilu.

The National Publicity Secretary of Afenifere, Yinka Odumakin, in a statement on Sunday, said, “Afenifere gives tremendous commendation to OPC under Iba Gani Adams for the arrest of iskilu Wakilu, a Fulani bandit who has been spreading terror on ou people in Igboho area and the Nigerian Police and other security agencies unable to do anything about him.

“The early morning peaceful arrest confirms our position on how effective local initiative can do well in homeland security.

“We were not shocked that but for the intervention by the leadership in Oyo State, the Police would have gone after the OPC boys instead of taking the criminal from them and do the needful.

“Nigeria is going nowhere with a security network that shuns federalism.”

Well done, OPC.’

OPC had on February 27 arrested the second-in-command to the alleged dreaded kidnapper, one Isiaka Muhammadu.

Details later…