Farmers and residents of Aponmu community in Akure South Local Government Area staged a protest over the invasion and destruction of their farmlands by armed land-grabbers. The protesters, carrying placards with messages like “Stop Destroying Our Farmlands” and “Aponmu Is Not for Sale,” accused the invaders of bulldozing cocoa, cassava, and oil palm farms, often under police protection.
Their spokesperson, Pastor Tope Akinkuade, lamented that the attacks have destroyed livelihoods and could lead to a breakdown of peace if unchecked. The farmers marched to the Ondo State Government House, demanding urgent intervention, investigation, and protection of their land rights.
In response, the government, through the Special Adviser on Union Matters, Bola Taiwo, promised to look into the matter. The community, however, insists that previous complaints have been ignored and vowed to continue peaceful protests until the destruction stops.
The incident underscores rising land-grabbing and insecurity issues threatening agriculture and rural livelihoods across Ondo State.
Former Presidential Adviser, Dr. Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, has urged President Bola Tinubu to address Nigerians over recent threats by U.S. President Donald Trump to deploy military forces to Nigeria over alleged persecution of Christians.
In a statement on Thursday, Baba-Ahmed said it was disturbing that the president had yet to personally respond to the development, warning that his silence sends a troubling message about Nigeria’s leadership.
“If President Tinubu truly has capable advisers and understands the weight of his office, he should have spoken to Nigerians by now,” he said. “Our silence makes us appear weak and without direction.”
He cautioned the president against any plan to visit the United States for a meeting with Trump, saying such a move would “only worsen Nigeria’s image, like receiving a slap and smiling in return.”
Baba-Ahmed advised Tinubu to act decisively by addressing the nation, appointing ambassadors, and rebuilding Nigeria’s diplomatic presence abroad.
Trump had earlier threatened to deploy U.S. forces to Nigeria if the alleged killings of Christians continued, a claim the Nigerian government dismissed as false and misleading.
Information Minister, Mohammed Idris, said Nigeria faces terrorism, not religious persecution, and that both Christians and Muslims have suffered from extremist attacks.
Meanwhile, China declared support for Nigeria, opposing what it described as foreign interference under the guise of religion or human rights.
Former Vice President of Nigeria, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, has cautioned African governments against celebrating economic growth figures that fail to reflect real improvements in the lives of their citizens.
Speaking at a recent economic forum, Osinbajo emphasized that Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth should not be the sole measure of national progress, noting that many African countries record impressive growth rates while poverty, unemployment, and inequality remain widespread.
He urged policymakers across the continent to focus on inclusive growth strategies that create jobs, improve education, strengthen healthcare systems, and expand social safety nets.
According to him, “It is not enough to grow the GDP; what matters is how that growth impacts the ordinary citizen. A nation’s success must be measured by the welfare and opportunities of its people, not just by economic statistics.”
Osinbajo called for pragmatic policies that link economic performance to human development outcomes, stressing that Africa’s future prosperity depends on translating growth into tangible benefits for all.
Agege LG Chairman, Tunde Azeez resigns over health challenges,paves way for Lagos House Speakers son to become substantive Chairman
The Chairman of Agege Local Government, Hon. Tunde Azeez, commonly known as Disco, has resigned from office, citing health challenges that have affected his ability to effectively discharge his duties.
The Legislative Arm of the council confirmed Azeez’s resignation after receiving and reading a letter to that effect. His resignation, tendered on health grounds, was unanimously accepted by the lawmakers, with the resolution taking immediate effect.
The council emphasized that the development highlights the importance of prioritizing personal health and well-being while maintaining the integrity of governance.
Following the acceptance of his resignation, the House unanimously approved Hon. AbdulGaniyu Vinod Obasa as the substantive Chairman of Agege Local Government.
The lawmakers noted that Vinod’s appointment reflects the council’s commitment to seamless leadership transition, stability, and continued service delivery to residents of the area.
Vinod is the son of the current speaker of the State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa.
A major milestone has been recorded in Ondo State’s industrialisation drive as Backbone Infrastructure Ltd has secured funding commitments exceeding $50bn for the development of a 500,000 barrels-per-day refinery and the Sunshine Free Trade Zone in Ilaje Local Government Area of the state.
The funding was facilitated through a joint venture agreement between BINL and NEFEX Holdings Limited of Canada, marking one of the largest single private sector investment packages targeted at Nigeria’s downstream oil and gas industry.
In a statement issued by the company on Monday, the investment follows the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between BINL and the Ondo State Government, through the Ondo State Investment Promotion Agency, in July.
The company said the project is expected to transform Ondo State into a key refining and export hub in the Niger Delta corridor.
The statement read, “Following the successful execution of the Memorandum of Understanding between Backbone Infrastructure Ltd and the Ondo State Government, through the Ondo State Investment Promotion Agency, for the construction of a 500,000 barrels-per-day refinery and the development of a 1,471-hectare Sunshine Free Trade Zone in the Ilaje area of Ondo State in July, Backbone has secured project funding exceeding $50bnfor both projects through a joint venture agreement with its partner, NEFEX Holdings Limited of Canada.”
The statement added that a team from BINL, led by its Chairman and former Senate President, Senator Ken Nnamani, is scheduled to visit Akure today for meetings with state government officials and a courtesy visit to Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa.
The visit will also include site inspections, stakeholder engagements, and consultations with host communities, including a royal audience with the Olugbo of Ugbo Kingdom, Oba Obateru Akinrutan.
According to BINL’s Vice President for Corporate Services, Wale Adekola, the partnership with NEFEX Petroline, an engineering,
A former Chief of Staff to Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and the late Umaru Musa Yar’adua, Major General Abdullahi Mohammed (Rtd), popularly known as Adangba, is dead.
A statement issued on behalf of the family by Ahmed Kola Akorede said the retired general died in the early hours of Wednesday at the age of 86.
Mohammed served Nigeria in several top security and administrative positions during his career in public service.
He was Chief of Staff to President Olusegun Obasanjo from 1999 to 2007 and continued in the same role under President Umaru Musa Yar’adua from 2007 to 2008.
Before that, he served as National Security Adviser to General Abdulsalami Abubakar between 1998 and 1999.
Mohammed was also Director-General of the National Security Organization (NSO) from 1976 to 1979 during the military administration of General Olusegun Obasanjo.
He earlier served as Military Governor of the former Benue-Plateau State from July 1975 to February 1976.
High Chief Ismail Odubiyi, The Ikolaba of Iseyin land, on Tuesday described the late former Chairman Isalu Community Development Union, Iseyin Branch as a patriotic leader whose legacy would endure beyond his lifetime.
The High Chief who led a delegation of Iseyin council of chiefs and Isalu community chiefs to Oke Aworan Isalu to commiserate with the Jejelola family, said the news of our brother death was a”painful personal loss ” that shook him deeply. The high chief noted that late Jejelola’s legacy of service, integrity and discipline would continue to inspire the community.
His spirit will continue to live forever because of the good work he did during his lifetime.
He prayed to God to take care of the family the deceased left behind.
The condolence delegation led by high chief Ikolaba of Iseyin land, Ekarun of iseyin land, Otun of iseyin land, Baale Koso of Iseyin land, Chief Ogboye of Iseyin land, Jagun of Isalu Community, Alhaji Bello Patron Majeobaje Isalu Community, Baale Ikere of Iseyin land, Baale Oke-Aro, Baale Oluwole, Chairman Isalu Community Iseyin Branch, Former Secretary Isalu Community Development Union Home Branch and Others.
Ibadan, Oyo State — In a fresh twist to the ongoing legal tussle within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), an Oyo State High Court has given the party the green light to proceed with its national convention scheduled for November 15 in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.
The court, sitting in Ibadan, ruled that the PDP and its Acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, are free to continue preparations for the long-awaited convention, dismissing attempts to halt the exercise.
This latest ruling directly contrasts with an earlier order issued by the Federal High Court in Abuja on October 24, 2024, which restrained the party from holding the same convention.
In that earlier judgment, Justice James Omotosho held that the PDP failed to conduct valid state congresses in line with the 1999 Constitution, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) guidelines, and the party’s own constitution — rendering the planned national convention invalid.
However, the Oyo State High Court’s pronouncement has now revived the PDP’s preparations, potentially setting the stage for a constitutional and jurisdictional showdown between the two courts.
Party insiders say the conflicting judgments have deepened the uncertainty surrounding the PDP’s internal crisis, with some factions reportedly aligned with different court rulings to gain advantage ahead of the convention.
As the date approaches, the leadership of the PDP faces a legal maze that could determine the future direction of Nigeria’s main opposition party.
…Calls for Post Tinubu National Security And Foreign Policy Architecture
A former presidential candidate, Dr. Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, has said that the responsibility for the ongoing diplomatic crisis between Nigeria and the United States over alleged Christian genocide lies squarely with the inept and corrupt administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, not with U.S. President Donald Trump, who is also facing mounting pressure from his political base.
Dr. Hashim, a veteran human rights activist and 2009 recipient of the prestigious Lord Max Beloff Prize in Global Affairs from the University of Buckingham, United Kingdom, said the diplomatic standoff reflects the Tinubu government’s “reckless and self serving foreign policy,” which prioritizes personal, political, and pecuniary interests over Nigeria’s national security and global reputation.
“It is deeply troubling that, as we speak, Nigeria does not have ambassadors in many key countries. The bi-national and bilateral commissions established to address pressing concerns on security and trade have collapsed for over a decade,” Hashim stated.
He lamented that, after paralyzing institutional mechanisms for diplomacy, the ruling APC government has resorted to using “a motley crowd of poorly informed operatives and international outlaws pushing shady interests incoherently and dangerously.”
Hashim described this as “a Janjaweed foreign policy, which is truly disgraceful and embarrassing”
Recalling Nigeria’s proud legacy as a stabilizing force in Africa, Hashim noted that the country once stood tall as a reliable partner that brought peace to West Africa through ECOMOG and played leading roles in peacekeeping operations in Congo, Darfur, Liberia, and Sierra Leone. “Our current predicament is both tragic and disgraceful,” he lamented.
Hashim faulted attempts to downplay reports of targeted killings, saying such arguments were “fundamentally faulty.”
“Which categories of Nigerians need to die in the staggering numbers we see before we acknowledge the evidence of complicity and failure to protect citizens?” he asked.
The former presidential candidate further alleged that grave human rights violations are being committed daily by supporters of the ruling APC while the administration looks away. He warned that open threats by party loyalists against groups of voters suspected of not supporting Tinubu in 2027 amount to international crimes under the Rome Statute, which Nigeria has domesticated.
“These threats are directed at an ethnic group that predominantly practices one faith,” he said. “Such acts cannot be dismissed as internal affairs when Nigeria is a signatory to many international human rights conventions.”
Dr. Hashim, once designated a Prisoner of Conscience by Amnesty International in 1989, called for an urgent national dialogue to chart a new course for Nigeria’s post-Tinubu national security and foreign policy architecture.
“Genuine patriots must begin consultations to rebuild a framework that ensures peace, stability, and the preservation of Nigeria’s sovereignty,” he said. “If the American initiative has become a catalyst for this necessary national reawakening, then it is a most welcome development.”
Ayodele Fayose, former governor of Ekiti state, has backed the controversial suspension of Umar Damagum as the national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
On Saturday, the PDP NWC led by Damagum suspended Samuel Anyanwu, the national secretary; Kamaldeen Ajibade, national legal adviser; Okechukwu Osuoha, deputy legal adviser; and Umaru Bature, national organising secretary, over alleged anti-party activities.
“There is no hope of PDP coming back for now. Even the captains of our boats are jumping ship. They are jumping from one bed to another. So who is going to hold the party together? PDP has reasonably gone into extinction, unfortunately,” he said.
