Category: Featured

The Oyo State House of Assembly has taken a decisive step toward easing the financial burden on parents and guardians by backing a policy that mandates the use of reusable textbooks in public and private schools across the state.

This resolution followed the presentation of a report by the House Committee on Education during Tuesday’s plenary, which was presided over by the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Adebo Ogundoyin.

The report recommended that the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology take urgent steps to implement the policy and ensure strict compliance among schools.

According to the committee, the practice of rendering textbooks obsolete after one academic session, has become a major concern for parents and guardians who struggle to meet the cost of education materials.

Reusable textbooks, on the other hand, will serve multiple students over time, making learning more affordable and reducing waste.

To enhance transparency, the Ministry will publish the list of approved textbooks and workbooks for the 2026 academic session through both online and offline channels.

A one-year grace period has been granted to publishers to exhaust old stocks and meet new publishing criteria.

Regular monitoring visits to schools, bookstores, and distribution centers will be conducted to ensure only approved materials are in circulation.

The Committee recommended that “His Excellency, Governor Seyi Makinde be commended for his commitment and efforts towards providing an inclusive and a sound education policy as priority of this Government in Oyo State.”

It also urged the Executive Arm of Government to strengthen enforcement strategies, support the Ministry’s Quality Assurance Department, and ensure that all stakeholders avoid non-compliant materials.

Lawmakers also emphasized the need for public awareness campaigns to educate stakeholders on the benefits of reusable textbooks and the long-term value they offer in improving access to quality education.

The House further urged the Ministry to monitor compliance and sanction schools that continue to defy the directive, adding that regulations should be backed with clear guidelines to standardize reusable textbook production and usage.

The Speaker, Rt. Hon. Adebo Ogundoyin, while commending the committee for its proactive work, noted that the Assembly is committed to supporting reforms that will reduce burdens on parents and guardians.

He stressed that reducing the cost of learning materials is essential to making education more inclusive and equitable.

The Committee praised the Nigerian Publishers Association for its “maximum cooperation and collaboration with the Ministry of Education and other education stakeholders in the state on achieving a sustainable relief education policy for parents and guardians.”

Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has declined to meet with protesters demanding swift action on the long-delayed Ibadan Circular Road project, alleging that the demonstrations are being fueled by unnamed sponsors.

In a statement, Governor Makinde expressed his displeasure with the manner of the protests, noting that despite personal attacks against him, including being labelled a “thief” and “land grabber,” he remains undeterred in his commitment to the project.

“I will not speak with the protesters anywhere because some people are sponsoring them,” the governor stated. “What I will do is to visit the area personally and engage directly with the genuine residents who are truly affected.”

Makinde reiterated his administration’s determination to see the Circular Road project completed, emphasizing that political manipulation or misinformation would not derail ongoing efforts to deliver the infrastructure crucial to Ibadan’s development.

A 2027 presidential hopeful, Dr. Gbenga-Hashim, has warned that democracy in Africa risks sliding back into dictatorship unless political leaders make tangible concessions to the people by embedding social welfare and economic justice into governance.

Speaking at the National Conference on the Future of Democracy in Nigeria, organized by the Peering Advocacy and Advancement Centre in Africa (PAACA) on Wednesday in Abuja, the former presidential candidate said democracy must go beyond elections to deliver prosperity, jobs, and hope to citizens.

Gbenga Hashim referenced a former Head of State who once remarked that “people will not eat democracy,” stressing that unless democracy translates into food on the table and better living conditions, it will lose legitimacy among the populace.

“When democracy ceases to offer opportunity or hope, despair breeds nostalgia for authoritarianism,” he cautioned.

He noted that under a decade of APC rule, Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) had declined from $574 billion in 2014 to $259 billion, a contraction that reflects the worsening poverty and despair across the country.

Drawing lessons from history, Hashim compared Africa’s current democratic struggles to Europe’s experience after World War I, when fragile democracies collapsed under economic hardship and social division, ushering in dictators like Mussolini, Hitler, and Franco.

“If African democracies continue to produce hunger and insecurity, relapse to autocracy is inevitable,” he warned.

Hashim maintained that constitutional reforms alone are not enough to save democracy, insisting that the strength of institutions ultimately depends on the integrity of those who run them.

“Institutions are only as strong as the values of the individuals who manage them,” he said. “Even under military rule, some judges defied pressure to uphold justice. Many African nations once came to Nigeria to ‘export judges’ because of our integrity.”

He particularly praised Professor Humphrey Nwosu, former Chairman of the National Electoral Commission, for his courage in conducting the historic June 12, 1993 presidential election despite enormous political pressure and fake court injunctions.

“Without Nwosu’s values, there would be no June 12 to remember,” Hashim declared. “His conduct remains legendary and should be celebrated.”

Concluding, Hashim urged Nigerian leaders to rebuild public confidence in democracy by delivering performance, fairness, and accountability rather than relying on the empty rituals of periodic elections.

“Our democracy must deliver, must make sense, and must endure. Like our youths would say, ‘make it make sense.’ We must make our democracy make sense,” he emphasized.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has described the late former governor of Oyo state, Alhaji Lamidi Onaolapo Adesina, as a steadfast believer in Nigeria’s promise with whom he dreamed of a nation built on justice, equal opportunity, and service to the people stating that his (Adesina’s) remained a great patriot even in death.

President Tinubu, who was the Special Guest of Honour at the 2nd Lam Adesina Memorial Lecture Series which took place in Ibadan today marking the 13th year anniversary of the transition of the former governor of Oyo state, was represented at the occasion by the Special Adviser on Media and Public Communications, Mr. Sunday Dare.

The Guest Speaker at the event, former Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun in his lecture themed “Sustaining A Legacy of Effective Leadership In Nigeria” implored parents and guardians to prioritize moral impartation and education of their children and wards as “this would give the society the opportunity to have responsible, responsive and impactful leaders in good supply”.

He harped on resuscitation of history in the educational curriculum as to redeem the dimmed glory of our core value as Yoruba noting that such would enable children of nowadays to know what the patriots among whom Alh. Lam Adesina risked to be heroic.

President Tinubu, in his address, message, stated that the late Alhaji Adesina was as a patriot who stood tall in service of humanity. “I hold his memory dear to my heart as he was not just a brother in the progressive struggle but as a believer in Nigeria’s promise.

“He taught us that politics could be noble when guided by principles, focus and compassion. As Governor of Oyo State from 1999 – 2003, late Lam Adesina passionately served not ruled good people of Oyo State with the provision of lofty physical infrastructures and human development against the rots institutionalized by the military administratio

The recent face off between the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and a Navy officer over a disputed piece of land in Abuja offers more than a moment of public drama. It exposes a deep moral and institutional crisis at the heart of governance in Nigeria.

Both men represent legitimate state authority. Yet in this case, both acted outside the law. The Minister, while enforcing the Land Use Act, reportedly ordered demolition or repossession without a court order. The Navy officer, on his part, illegally occupied and defended a private property, using state power for personal protection.

It became a clash not between law and illegality, but between two illegal actions by two legitimate authorities.

When Law Collapses, Legitimacy Takes Over

Wike’s authority comes from his constitutional role as FCT Minister. The naval officer’s authority stems from his service to the nation. But when both use their offices unlawfully, law loses its supremacy, and the contest shifts to moral legitimacy, who appears to be acting in the public interest.

In such moments, it is not the courts but public perception that decides who seems “right.” The rule of law gives way to the rule of sentiment, and the people’s sympathy becomes the temporary judge.

The Breakdown of Institutional Boundaries

This incident is not just about Wike or the Navy. It highlights a larger failure of Nigeria’s institutions. When a minister enforces laws without judicial backing, and a naval officer takes up civil defense outside his mandate, institutions collapse into personalities.

The absence of proper coordination among the police, judiciary, and civil administration shows how fragile Nigeria’s system of checks and balances has become. Once this boundary breaks, authority is no longer guided by law, but by the force of personality and access to power.

When two legitimate authorities act illegally, the state loses its moral anchor.

In such cases, Power decides who wins in the moment, Perception decides who wins public sympathy and History decides who was truly right.

That is the tragedy of governance without institutional discipline, where rank replaces rule, and power replaces principle.

Nigeria must draw clear lessons from this incident.

No authority is above the law. Ministers, military officers, and all public officials must act within legal limits.

The Land Use Act must be enforced through judicial due process, not executive command.

Security agencies must be retrained to respect civil authority and avoid involvement in private disputes.

Until these principles are restored, Nigeria will continue to witness situations where legitimate authorities behave unlawfully, leaving citizens caught between two wrongs.

In the End

When two illegal actions meet, law is suspended and only moral legitimacy remains.

The real question is not who holds power, but who uses it rightly. True legitimacy is not in the office one holds, but in the justice one upholds.

Abdulrazaq Hamzat is the Executive Director of PeacePro

Tension gripped Akure, the Ondo State capital, on Wednesday as angry protesters took to the streets over the alleged abduction of two traditional rulers in the state.

The demonstrators, comprising youths, community leaders, and concerned residents, blocked major roads in Akure, demanding urgent government intervention and improved security across the state.

According to reports, the monarchs—whose identities are yet to be officially confirmed—were reportedly kidnapped along the Owo–Ikare road by suspected gunmen while returning from a meeting earlier in the week. The incident has sparked outrage among residents who decried the increasing wave of insecurity in the region.

Chanting solidarity songs and wielding placards with inscriptions such as “Stop kidnapping our kings” and “We need security, not promises,” the protesters accused security agencies of negligence and called on Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa to take decisive action to secure the release of the abducted monarchs.

Security operatives, including the police and Amotekun Corps, were deployed to maintain order and prevent the protest from escalating into violence.

Meanwhile, the Ondo State Police Command has confirmed receiving reports of the alleged abduction, assuring that efforts are underway to rescue the victims and bring the perpetrators to justice.

President Bola Tinubu has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to the Presidential Power Initiative (PPI) with Siemens Energy, aimed at improving Nigeria’s electricity supply and driving economic growth.

During a meeting with Siemens officials in Abuja, Tinubu said reliable power is essential for industrial, educational, and healthcare development, pledging full government support for the project.

Power Minister Adebayo Adelabu reported key progress, including new substations and transformers that have added 984MVA to the national grid, alongside over $2.2 billion in new investments since the Electricity Act 2023. Phase One of the project, covering five major substations in Abeokuta, Offa, Ayede-Ibadan, Sokoto, and Onitsha, is ongoing, with two expected to be completed by 2026.

Siemens’ representative, Dietmar Siersdorfer, said the initiative would create jobs, train local engineers, and transform Nigeria into a regional power hub. The German government also reaffirmed its continued support for the project.

Hundreds of residents and property owners along the Ibadan Circular Road corridor today staged a peaceful protest at the Oyo State Government Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan. The demonstrators, carrying placards and chanting solidarity songs, accused the state government of expanding the road setback beyond the originally approved 150-metre limit, a move they claim threatens to displace thousands of people.

Protesters alleged that the ongoing demolition and marking of properties were being done without adequate notice or compensation, describing the action as unfair and insensitive. Many lamented that their lifetime investments and ancestral homes now risk destruction in the name of development.

Security operatives were stationed at the Secretariat gate to prevent breakdown of order as the demonstrators demanded immediate intervention from Governor Seyi Makinde. Some leaders among the protesters urged the government to respect the gazetted layout and halt all demolition pending further dialogue.

Government representatives who addressed the crowd appealed for calm and assured that their concerns would be relayed to the governor. They maintained that the state had not approved any new expansion beyond the gazetted 150-metre corridor.

The protest, which caused traffic gridlock around the Circular Road axis and Secretariat junction, ended peacefully with a renewed call from residents for fairness, transparency, and compensation before any further demolition exercise.

The Oyo State Police Command has begun an investigation into the tragic death of a teacher, identified as Mr. Fatai, who was allegedly beaten to death by students in Ogbomoso after attempting to stop them from gambling during school hours.

According to eyewitness accounts, the horrifying incident occurred when the dedicated teacher intervened to stop a group of students engaged in gambling on the school premises. His attempt to enforce discipline reportedly provoked a violent reaction from the students, who descended on him with brutal force.

Sources alleged that Mr. Fatai sustained severe injuries, including broken limbs, and later succumbed to the assault despite efforts to save his life.

“This horrifying act is not just an attack on one man; it is an assault on the entire teaching profession,” one post read. “A teacher who stood for discipline and integrity was beaten and eventually died from his injuries — a painful reflection of moral decay and loss of values in our schools and homes.”

The incident has sparked outrage and calls for justice, with the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) Ogbomoso Zone, the Teaching Service Commission (TESCOM), and education stakeholders urging swift action to bring the perpetrators to book. The police have assured the public that all those responsible will be identified and prosecuted accordingly.

The President of the International Council for Ifa Religion, Chief Fayemi Fakayode, has debunked a long-held misconception surrounding the origin of the name of the ancient Yoruba city, Ibadan.

Speaking at a cultural enlightenment forum, Chief Fakayode explained that the city’s name was derived from “Iba-Odan,” not “Eba-Odan” as widely believed. According to him, “Iba” signifies a settlement or a place of homage, while “Odan” refers to the savannah or open field — thus, Iba-Odan literally means “a settlement in the savannah.”

He stressed that the distortion from “Iba-Odan” to “Eba-Odan” likely occurred over time through oral transmission and colonial misinterpretation of Yoruba phonetics.

Chief Fakayode emphasized the importance of preserving accurate historical and linguistic narratives, urging scholars, traditional leaders, and institutions to correct such misconceptions to protect Yoruba cultural heritage.

He further noted that understanding the true etymology of ancient Yoruba towns helps strengthen cultural identity and deepen appreciation of indigenous knowledge systems.