ODUDUWA NEWS has gathered that the sitting at the Oyo State House of Assembly today again turned rowdy as Hon. Dele Adeola representing Iseyin/Itesiwaju State Constituency fumed and kicked against changing and tampering of the bill sent by Governor Seyi Makinde seeking changing of Ladoke Akintola University, Ogbomosho LAUTECH status to multicampus.

This followed by the decision of the House to deliberate on the passage of the bill seeking the change of status of LAUTECH to multicampus.

The Chairman, House Committee on Education, Hon. Fowokanmi while making the report known to the House quoted a clause that gave power to the executive governor to situate satellite campus to cities and towns of the Oyo State by changing it to probabilitic statement.

Hon. Fowokanmi said its committee changed the clause that reads as “Governor shall establish a campus in cities and towns to ‘The Governor may establish a campus to cities and towns based on his conviction that there was not difference”. This statement infuriated Honourables from Oke-Ogun and Ibadan as there was no decorum again which made some members to be echoing ‘Ogbomosho agenda cannot supercede the overall interest of the entire citizens of Oyo State.

Some were saying, the bill should remain like that as any attempt to tamper it to favour some self-centered people shall be resisted.

The Chairman while also reading the report further also expunged a part that gave the governor being the visitor of the institution, power to appoint Vice Chancellor.

Hon. Dele Adeola also stood up to kick against the entire report of the committee with the claim that it has been tampered and moved a motion that the whole House should subject it to a proper scrutiny clause by clause.

Hon. Mustapha Akeem, who is a Vice Chairman Committee on Education said he was so surprised that the report presented was not a decision of the whole committee he was part o as he noticed foul play in the said report and he would urge the whole House to step down the bill for further scrutiny.

The Speaker subjected it to a vote and it was all agreed that it should be treated one by one. The Speaker therefore moved that there should be a recess for 10 minutes and it was subjected to votes and all agreed

It appears the dust is yet to settle on the Kukah controversy as the Nigerian Islamic human rights body, Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has called on the Federal Government (FG) and the National Peace Committee (NPC) to desist from imposing Bishop Mathew Hasan Kukah on Nigerian Muslims. MURIC reminded Muslims that they have the right to boycott any committee or event in which the controversial bishop is involved.

MURIC stated this in its latest press release of Tuesday, 19th January, 2021 The release was signed by its director, Professor Ishaq Akintola.

“We have watched in utter consternation in the past four weeks as some groups added fuel to the flame in the Kukah controversy. In particular, the Nigerian Catholic Mission and Northern Christian groups have arrogantly endorsed Bishop Kukah’s incinerating Christmas statement instead of dousing tension. Neither has the National Peace Committee (NPC) helped matters with its silence.

“Kukah himself added salt to injury by telling us that he did not know how or where he insulted Muslims. It means he is not ready to show remorse. Kukah will not recognise the dignity of his Muslim neighbor. He still believes that Muslims are there for him to push around and lampoon like school children.

“Meanwhile several Islamic organisations including the Jamaatu Nasr il-Islam (JNI), the Nigerian Islamic Center, Zaria and the Sokoto Muslim Solidarity Forum have demanded Kukah’s resignation from that committee. It must be a huge joke if the Federal Government or the NPC think this matter can be swept under the carpet or that it would soon be overtaken by events.

“We insist that this is not one of such issues that will just melt away like ice cream under the burning desert sun. Successive Nigerian governments have created a larger than life image for Bishop Kukah by giving him lofty positions particularly in federal commissions and committees without any objection from Muslims. But Kukah failed to appreciate the grace of Nigerians particularly that of Muslims who have always endorsed such appointments.

“Unfortunately instead of a proper appraisal the bishop used every opportunity of his public profile to pour invectives on Muslims. The latter continued to tolerate him until his cup of ingratitude overflowed and spilled.

“You can force a horse to the river but you cannot force it to drink there. Mediation is a tripartite obligation. The two warring parties must be willing to come to the table. Both of them must also accept the mediator. A situation where one party has no confidence in the mediator necessitates bringing in a more credible person to mediate.

“Nigerian Muslims have told the National Peace Committee (NPC) that Bishop Kukah is no longer acceptable to them as Secretary and member of that Committee but surprisingly there is dead silence on the part of the NPC. Is that how to work for peace?

“NPC must scout around for a credible person to replace Kukah. We mean a non-controvertial personality, not a politician and not necessarily a religious leader. NPC may also want to go further if it so desires by coopting other middle-roaders and patriotic citizens.

“In case the NPC fails to act, Nigerian Muslims are hereby reminded that it is their Allah-given fundamental human right to boycott (or stage a walkout from) any event in which Bishop Mathew Hasan Kukah is involved either as the chairman, secretary, member, guest or speaker.
“It was Edmund Burke who said, ‘All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing’ and Abraham Lincoln complemented him by adding, ‘To sin by silence when they should protest makes cowards of men’. Muslims must liberate themselves from Kukah’s grip if the NPC and FG refuse to tame this shrewd.”

Professor Ishaq Akintola,
Director,
Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)

Oduduwa News has just gathered that many commuters said to have been trapped in a petrol tanker that exploded in Abeokuta the Ogun State capital on Tuesday.

ODUDUWA NEWS learnt that the tanker driving towards GTB, Kuto, Abeokuta fell and went up in flames immediately. One person confirmed dead immediately while several vehicles and motorcycles were trapped in the inferno. Details later.

The association also said it is not aware of the order by the Governor that herdsmen should vacate the forest reserves in Ondo State.

Akeredolu had on Monday issued a statement, giving herdsmen seven days to vacate all forest reserves due to the high rate of kidnapping in the state.

He had said:

“Today, we have taken major steps at addressing the root cause of kidnapping, in particular, and other nefarious activities detailed and documented in security reports, the press, and debriefings from victims of kidnap cases in Ondo State.

“As the Chief Law and Security Officer of the State, it is my constitutional obligation to do everything lawful to protect the lives and property of all residents of the State. In light of the foregoing, the following orders are hereby issued: All Forest Reserves in the state are to be vacated by herdsmen within the next seven days with effect from today, Monday, January 18, 2021.”

However, while Reacting to order on Monday evening, the Secretary-General, MACBAN, Usman Baba-Ngelzerma, said his members also attended a meeting with Akeredolu but all that was discussed was putting a stop to night grazing and the activities of child herders.

He said if such an order was made, it would only be right for the state government to provide an alternative for the pastoralists.

Baba-Ngelzerma, however, said he was not aware of Akeredolu’s order and would wait for an official communication before any action is taken.

Responding to a question, he said, “The governor had a two-hour meeting today and the chairman of MACBAN in Ondo State was there and what he told me was that the agreement they reached was that we should stop night grazing and stop allowing cows to graze around government properties and that we should cooperate with Amotekun and help fish out bad eggs among them.

“That is what we were told. There was no discussion about vacating. But if they asked them to vacate the forest reserves, have they provided an alternative for them to graze? Where will they graze if they leave the forest reserves?

“As it is now, we are not aware of any order to vacate. My chairman is not aware. Even I just read about it in the media. When we have confirmed, we will know what to do.”

He further said Nigerians must be aware of the fact that not all herdsmen are members of Miyetti Allah.

ODUDUWA NEWS has gathered that a student of the University of Lagos, John Akinwale, has landed in the hospital after a power-drunk policeman tortured him to a coma in the Mosafejo, Oshodi area of Lagos State.

It was learnt that Akinwale was arrested on Monday around 2 pm, after he bought fuel at a filling station, by police officers attached to the Mosafejo division.

It was gathered that the operatives extorted N5000 from the UNILAG student, who is also an activist, before dragging him to a police station.

According to a witness, Akinwale was arrested for having a “covered number plate.”

After the extortion, the policemen, not done, beat Akinwale to a coma, for being “rude” after which he was rushed to a hospital.

A source said, “John came out from the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority office and drove into a filling station. The policemen rushed at him just as he was about to leave the station.

“They collected N5000 from him and they dragged him to a police station. He collapsed in police custody after being beaten up by the officer. He was arrested for covering his number plate. He was held for hours for being rude to the Divisional Police Officer of the Mosafejo division in Oshodi.

“It was when he became unconscious that he was rushed to a hospital. It is now that he is regaining consciousness that he confirmed that he was hit by objects by the policemen.”

“I saw him use medication for Typhoid earlier that morning. We first thought it was the medication that reacted in his body. But the doctor at the hospital confirmed that it was not the drugs but that he was hit with an object.

“When he regained consciousness, he stated the same thing that the policemen beat him up,” another source said.

It was learnt that the matter was brought to the attention of the Area Commander but instead of him to scold the policemen over the brutality, he only called the DPO to ask him to consider releasing Akinwale.

The governor of Oyo State, Engr. Seyi Makinde has ordered Nigerian Police to investigate a yoruba-born socialite, Chief Sunday Igboho on the 7-day ultimatum given to Seriki Fulani living in Ibarapaland to vacate.

You will recall that earlier last week, Chief Sunday Igboho had travelled to Igangan with his men to warn Seriki Fulani on incessant killings and maiming by men suspected to be Fulani herdsmen. Igboho thereafter gave 7-day ultimatum to Seriki Fulani and his men to leave Ibarapaland and failure to do so will lead to forceful ejection.

Seyi Makinde while speaking through his Media Aide, Taiwo Adisa on SplashFM radio programme, Gbangbalasata monitored by ODUDUWA NEWS, said the governor was surprised to have heard such order given to Fulani living in Ibarapaland.

“On whose behalf was Sunday Igboho acting, the State Government or the FG? The governor has ordered the Police to investigate him as nobody can intimidate any tribe to leave Oyo State.

“The governor has sent members of his cabinet to meet Seriki Fulani and reassured him of peaceful stay in Yorubaland”.