Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has shared free pop corn and ice cream to delegates at the venue of APC presidential primary in Abuja.
This comes after the former governor of Borno State, Kashim Shettima, in an interview described Osinbajo as a nice man who should be selling popcorn and ice cream.
He said “Osinbajo is a good man; he’s a nice man. But nice men do not make good leaders, because nice men tend to be nasty. Nice men should be selling popcorn, ice cream.”
Ondo State Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu,SAN, has disclosed that 80 persons were involved in the last Sunday terror attack at St Francis Catholic Church, Owa-luwa street, Owo.
Governor Akeredolu said 22 people lost their lives to the horrific attack while 56 survivors are on admission at the Federal Medical Center, Owo, St Louis Hospital, Owo and the Owo General Hospital as well as some private hospitals.
The Governor disclosed this on Tuesday during a statewide broadcast to the people of the state in respect of the last Sunday terrorist attack at St. Francis Catholic Church, Owaluwa Street, Owo.
Arakunrin Akeredolu said the attack was an attempt to test the will of the people of the State and indeed, the Southwest.
He added that the dastard act has the brazenly possible consequence of invitation to national anarchy, saying that “Yorubaland, and Owo in particular, have never been conquered before; and it will never happen.”
He, therefore, promised to commit every available resource to hunt down the assailants and make them pay dearly, stressing that the state will never bow to the machinations of heartless elements in its resolve to stamp out criminals.
“The site, that is, St. Francis Catholic Church, Owaluwa, Owo presents a gory war-like scene. The Federal Medical Centre, Owo, the St. Louis Hospital, Owo, the General Hospital, Owo as well as some private hospitals in Owo were filled with the injured, most of who were in critical conditions.
“The most unfortunate part is the lives of innocent children cut down in their prime and some severely injured by the mindless attackers. “At Owo, the anger was palpable. The tension was at an abrasive level just as the urge for reprisals was high. Without doubt too, the ripple impact of this heinous act as well as the understandably angry reaction across the State could not have been different.
“I urge our people to be calm but remain vigilant. Do not take the law into your own hands. Leave the rest for government to shoulder. I have spoken to the heads of the security agencies. I can assure you that security operatives have been deployed to monitor and restore normalcy to Owo kingdom.
“May I use this medium to express gratitude to President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, who aside his demonstrated concern, directed his Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, GCON to visit the scene of this criminal act.
“The Nigeria Governors’ Forum led by its chairman, Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State, their Excellencies, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, the Honourable Minister of Interior and Engr. Seyi Makinde, the Governor of Oyo State also deserve a special mention for their collective and individual show of love and empathy.
“We will remain eternally grateful to His Excellency, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his donation of a whopping amount of N50 million to the victims and N25 million to the Catholic Church, Owo. The gesture of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum which donated N50 million to the victims is equally appreciated.
“The donations are to assuage the effects of the attack. In the meantime, I have directed that an account be opened to receive further donations from well meaning individuals and corporate bodies who may wish to assist the victims of the terrorist attack.
“I am particularly enthralled by the wonderful show of solidarity from my brothers across party divides, especially in the State. It is heartwarming that we all have found a common ground to confront these monsters.
“In this regard, I thank the former Governor of Ondo State, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko and the entire PDP family. To all others too numerous to mention, your show of love, encouragement and goodwill are not taken for granted. You have displayed compassion and demonstrated an appreciable level of brotherliness.
“In the same vein, I commend the medical teams of the Federal Medical Centre, Owo, the St. Louis Hospital, Owo, the General Hospital, Owo and some private hospitals who showed love and participated in stabilising the victims in the various hospitals.
“We equally appreciate the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) and BEDC for their assistance. I convey our gratitude to volunteers who assisted in evacuating the victims and the dead to the hospitals and mortuaries respectively.
“I also thank our people who had deemed it fit to voluntarily donate blood towards the treatment of the victims. They have lived up to expectation within the precinct of the available space and time.
Yoruba Nation activist, Sunday Adeyemo aka Sunday Igboho has reacted to the terror attack on St. Francis Catholic Church, Owo, Ondo State, that left scores of people dead.
Recall that it is reported that gunmen were said to have thrown an improvised explosive device before they started shooting sporadically.
Reacting to the unfortunate incident, Igboho in a viral audio released and obtained by The Nation said: “I pray to God that we don’t experience such again. I pray to God to comfort the families of the victims.
“My fathers and mothers, can you see that I have been vindicated? I was not in a battle with any Governor or Senator. But what I envisaged, you didn’t see it.
“Now, can you all see? Many were saying I wanted to create crisis and forment trouble, but can you all see it now? Well, the situation can still be redeemed. I want Yoruba people to be united before it is too late. I want South-West leaders to support me and other courageous Yoruba sons and daughters so that we can guard against these wicked acts. Please, If I offend anyone, I ask for pardon,” he said.
The Federal and Oyo State governments have been called upon to beef up security in Oke-ogun area of Oyo State by equipping security agencies more and by enforcing anti-open grazing law that was promulgated in 2020.
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The call was contained in a Communique issued by Oke ogun Council of Elders (OCE) after its mid-year meeting held in Ibadan on Thursday under the chairmanship of the council’s President, Otunba Bamidele Dada, OON, former Minister of State for Agriculture and Water Resources. The communique was signed by the Council’s spokesman, Comrade Jare Ajayi and sent today to ODUDUWA NEWS.
The Oke ogun Elders stated that in addition to herders/farmers’ clashes that are still occurring, influx of Fulanis from outside Nigeria has increased insecurity problem in the area as being manifested in kidnapping, raping, armed robbery cases. They therefore called on the government and security agencies to be firmer in dealing with the situation. They particularly decried the situation in which when farmers and herders have clashes, security agencies, especially the Police, tend to side with the herders. “even when the farmer is the victim. Instances abound in which when, for instance, a cow ate tubers or grains sprayed with chemicals in a farm and something happened to the cattle, the farmer would be forced to pay for the dead cow even when it was the cattle that came to the farm. In this respect, security agencies, especially the Police, are called upon to ensure fairness and justice in their handling of farmers/herders’ clashes.”
They called on the Oyo State Government to, without further delay, commence the enforcement of the Anti-Open Grazing Law enacted in November, 2019. The Elders Council noted with concern the strike action embarked upon by members of the Vigilante Group established by various local government councils in Oke ogun as a result of imprecise remuneration and poor welfare. It therefore urged the governments concerned to, as a matter of urgency, respond positively to the demands of the striking security personnel as their service is very critical.
The Oke ogun Elders appealed to the government to take positive actions on the mining activities going on in the area with a view to ensuring that the local people benefit – unlike the present situation in which outsiders, including non-Nigerians, derive greater benefits through the illegal mining activities going on there.
Besides calling on the federal government to complete work on long-abandoned Ikere Gorge Dam, the elders also urged the Oyo State Government to set up an Oke-ogun Development Commission to redress the age-long marginalization of the area. Elders at the meeting included Deacon S. A. Oyedemi, Professor Layi Egunjobi, Elder Doja Oladele, Pastor Tunde Adigun, ACP Funke Ladigbolu, Alfa Amusa Adebisi, Engineer A. Shittu, Mr. Wole Oladokun, Mr. Isaac Funmpe Ojeyemi, Barrister Bayo Toluwalase, Mr. I. Taiwo, Mr. Solomon Ige, Mr. I. E. Bolaji, Mr. David Aremu and Comrade Jare Ajayi. Following is the full text of the Communique:
COMMUNIQUE ISSUED AT THE END OF A MEETING OF OKE OGUN COUNCIL OF ELDERS
Oke ogun Council of Elders (OCE) held a meeting on Thursday, June 2, 2022 during which a number of issues affecting the region were deliberated upon. The meeting which was chaired by the Council’s President, Otunba Bamidele Dada, OON, former Minister of State for Agriculture, was hosted by hosted by Professor Layi Egunjobi in his Ibadan home. Oke-ogun area consists of ten local government areas in Oyo State. They are Atisbo, Irepo, Iseyin, Iwajowa, Itesiwaju, Kajola, Olorunsogo, Oorelope, Saki East, and Saki West. Elders at the meeting included Deacon S. A. Oyedemi, Professor Layi Egunjobi, Elder Doja Oladele, Pastor Tunde Adigun, ACP Funke Ladigbolu, Alfa Amusa Adebisi, Engineer A. Shittu, Mr. Wole Oladokun, Mr. Isaac Funmpe Ojeyemi, Barrister Bayo Toluwalase, Mr. I. Taiwo, Mr. Solomon Ige, Mr. I. E. Bolaji, Mr. David Aremu and Comrade Jare Ajayi.
Among the issues discussed were the socio-economic condition, security and political situations as well as the general welfare of the people of Oke ogun. The Council took note of the alarm raised by the former Director of Military Intelligence and current Chairman of the Oyo State Security Network (Amotekun), General Kunle Togun (rtd) on the influx of foreign Fulani Bororo who seem bent on taking over many lands in Nigeria particularly in the South West. Togun, for the umpteenth time, raised the alarm while delivering a paper titled ‘Security Challenges: ‘The Significance of Regional Security Dimensions,’ organised by the Institute for Peace and Strategic Studies (IPSS) Students’ Association, University of Ibadan not long ago. His view was corroborated by the pioneer and current directors of the Institute, Professors Isaac Olawale Albert and Tajudeen Akanji. The Oke-ogun Elders expressed serious concern on this matter because Oke ogun, which they represent, is one of the focal areas that the foreign marauders are using as entry point into Nigeria. The Council also took note of incidents of kidnapping for ransom largely being perpetrated by suspected Fulani terrorists. Various steps being taken to confront the security challenges were also considered. After an exhaustive deliberation, the Council resolved as follow:
The extant insecurity situation in the area is hampering smooth socio-economic activities particularly agricultural practices and commercial activities that involve moving from one location to another.
The Elders maintained that clashes between Fulani herders and farmers are still on. It is regrettable that when such incidents occur, farmers are always at the receiving end. This takes the form of farmers being penalized even when the farmer is the victim. Instances abound in which when, for instance, a cow ate tubers or grains sprayed with chemicals in a farm and something happened to the cattle, the farmer would be forced to pay for the dead cow even when it was the cattle that came to the farm. In this respect, security agencies, especially the Police, are called upon to ensure fairness and justice in their handling of farmers/herders’ clashes.
The Council commended Oyo State Government under Governor Seyi Makinde, who, along with his colleagues in the South West, established the Amotekun corps. It then urged the government to further strengthen the corps in terms of logistics, personnel, incentives etc. with a view to maximizing its operations.
Given their efforts at stemming the frequent clashes between farmers and herders, the various Vigilante Groups set up by various local government councils in the area as well as traditional security outfits (known as Ode) under the auspices of Obas and respective town unions were appreciated.
The Elders Council however noted with concern the strike action embarked upon by members of the Vigilante Group established by various local government councils in Oke ogun as a result of imprecise remuneration and poor welfare. It therefore urged the governments concerned to, as a matter of urgency, respond positively to the demands of the striking security personnel as their service is very critical.
Considering its potential to put an end to, or considerable reduce, the frequent clashes between farmers and herders, the Anti-Open Grazing Law enacted by the Oyo State Government in November 2019 should be put into operation without further delay.
Oke ogun Elders called on the federal and state governments to ensure that the natural resources with which the area is endowed are exploited for the benefit of the people of the area, the people of Oyo State and that of Nigeria as a whole. They argued that if government is alive to its responsibility in this regard, the activities of illegal miners would be curbed as what they do presently only benefit a few most of whom are not even Nigerians.
In view of its potentials for agricultural and electricity deliverables, Ikere Gorge Dam was commended to the attention of the federal government as a project that needs urgent attention. Agriculture, portable water for industrial and domestic usage and electricity for many states particularly in the south west will be highly boosted if the Dam is fully completed and put into action.
Oke-ogun Council of Elders expressed appreciation to Governor Seyi Makinde for various developmental projects his administration is carrying out in Oke ogun. Among them are the Saki Township road, Iseyin-Oyo Road, Iseyin-Ogbomoso Road, Saki-Ogbooro-Igboho Road, LAUTECH Campus in Iseyin etc.
The Elders urged the state government to urgently establish Oke-ogun Development Commission (ODC) to encourage and accelerate development in the area in view of its age-long neglect.
The council appealed to politicians in Oke ogun, in Oyo State and in Nigeria generally to be more committed to the welfare and security of the people. It also called on them to ensure that the forthcoming elections are conducted under the atmosphere of peace, devoid of violence, thuggery and violence. They urged the politicians and the electoral umpire to ensure that the elections are free, fair and credible.
Signed by Comrade Jare Ajayi For Oke ogun Council of Elders.
The Tinubu Campaign Organization has claimed that picking the Senate President, Senator Ahmed Lawan as APC consensus candidate will be political suicide and unconstitutional.
This was contained in a statement released and made available to news men by BABATUNDE OGALA; SAN, Director; Legal Directorate, Tinubu Campaign Organization as read in part:
“The media is inundated with reports that the Chairman of the All progressives Congress (“APC”) has unilaterally announced the purported adoption of a certain aspirant the consensus presidential candidate of the APC for the forth coming presidential election in 2023. While the National Chairman is yet to deny or offer any clarification on the alleged declaration, it is necessary to state that such a declaration is a legal impossibility. This is because under the regime of the Electoral Act 2022, consensus, though provided for as one of the means by which a political party may produce its candidate, must specifically occur in a precise form.
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“Section 84(9) (10) and (11) of the Electoral Act 2022 are the relevant provisions and they state as follows: “(9) A political party that adopts a consensus candidate shall secure the written consent of all cleared aspirant for the position, indicating their voluntary withdrawal from the race and their endorsement of the consensus candidate”.
“(10) Where a political party is unable to secure a written consent of all cleared aspirants for the purpose of a consensus candidate, it shall revert to the choice of direct or indirect primaries for the nomination of candidates for the aforesaid elective position.
(11) A special convention or nomination congress shall be held to ratify the choice of consensus candidates at designated centers at the National, State, Senatorial, Federal and State Constituencies, as the case may be”.
“Instructively, none of the above conditions have occurred in respect of producing the presidential candidate of the APC. Therefore, any declaration of a consensus candidate would be premature and a violation of extant provisions of the law.
“We are confident that as a law-abiding entity, the APC will not be part of such. We are further persuaded to urge our supporters to disregard this report considering that the overwhelming majority of the APC Northern Governors who, after meeting with the President, re-affirmed their preference for a president from the Southern part of Nigeria. This patriotic decision is widely accepted by all Nigerians as a demonstration of deep understanding of the nuanced fault lines of our nation.
In the circumstance, a unilateral declaration by the National Chairman of aconsensus presidential candidate for the party will not only violate the law, but set the party on collision course with its Governors who are critical stakeholders in the party”.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) governors from the North have rejected the choice of Senate President Ahmed Lawan as the consensus presidential candidate of the party.
The National Chairman of the party, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, was said to have announced Lawan as the consensus candidate, a decision members of the National Working Committee reportedly disagreed with.
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In a meeting on Monday with President Muhammadu Buhari, the Northern governors insisted that power should rotate to Southern part of the country in 2023.
The Chairman of the Northern States Governors’ Forum, Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau State, briefed State House reporters after the meeting with the president at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
He said the 13 of them apologised to the president for receiving the information about their position after it was leaked.
The governor, however, said that they took the decision in the interest of justice and peace in the country.
Lalong, who stated that they would hold another meeting by 5pm today among themselves, said the president agreed with their position and maintained that the presidential candidate must emerge through a transparent process.
He said President Buhari told them he did not have an anointed candidate for now and directed them to meet the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) to agree on the succession plan.
On the absence of the Governor of Kogi State at the meeting where the power shift decision was taken, he said his colleague was not part of the agreement as his signature was not on the statement.
In his contribution, Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State said it was the democratic right of Kogi governor to excuse himself.
The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, has condemned the heinous attack on worshipers at the St. Francis Catholic Church, Owa-luwa, Owo, Ondo State.
The attack, which was carried out during Sunday Mass, left over 35 people dead and many injured.
A viral video posted online showed some of the slain worshippers in their pool of blood.
In a statement shared via his Instagram page on Monday, the monarch stated in strong terms that despite the peace-loving nature of the Yoruba people, they are capable and ready to defend themselves against “external invaders.”
Oba Adeyeye also condemned the terrorist attack and called on South-West governors to fulfill their oaths of ensuring the safety of lives of their citizens.
The statement read in part, “What occurred yesterday was a gruesome massacre dastardly targeted at turning Yorubaland into a war zone. However, we the descendants of Oduduwa, although peace-loving, cannot be overrun in our own homes, do not be mistaken, we have the capacity and are prepared and ready to defend ourselves against all external invaders.
“We should all be reminded that yesterday made it exactly one year when an invading gang of killer herdsmen killed at least over 20 people in Igangan, Ibarapa North local government of Oyo State on a Saturday night, leaving several houses, including the palace of the Asiganga burnt in the attack, whilst people were asleep. Exactly a year ago!
The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC has announced the President of the Senate and APC Presidential Aspirant- Senator Ahmed Lawan as the consensus candidate of the Party.
It was gathered that Adamu announced this at the meeting of National Working Committee on Monday in Abuja.
Other Presidential aspirants which include Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, Engr. David Umahi and others will be allowed to contest the primary election at the convention scheduled to hold tomorrow Tuesday, May 7, 2022 at the Eagle Square, Abuja.
Mainwhile, crisis has hit the All Progressives Congress, APC following the announcement of Senate President Ahmed Lawan as consensus presidential aspirant by the national chairman, Senator Abdullahi Adamu.
The NWC members, our correspondent was informed, insisted other aspirants must be given a level playing ground to compete.
Adamu’s adoption of Lawan as consensus candidate is against the position of 11 APC northern governors who endorsed that power must shift to the South after President Muhammadu Buhari’s tenure.
Adamu told the National Working Committee that he arrived at the choice of Lawan after consultation with President Buhari.
To ensure Adamu does not cause problems for the party and throw the country into an avoidable political crisis, our correspondent learnt the northern governors are on their way to the Villa to meet with President Buhari to stop the National Chairman from executing his personal agenda in the name of the president.
The Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has debunked report that he was involved in accident while on his way to commiserate with accident victims in Ondo State.
Osinbajo made this know in a short statement made available via his official Twitter account as read in part:
“Thank you all for the calls and concern, I was not involved in an accident. On my way to the airport to travel to Ondo, we ran into an accident scene.
“My security and medical teams assisted in removing the victims of the crash from the scene. They have been transported to the Airforce Base hospital”.
Ondo State Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu,SAN, has directed all public buildings, facilities and official residences to fly the Nigerian flag at half -mast for seven days in honour of the victims of the Owo terror attack on Sunday.
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Governor Akeredolu said the attack on innocent worshipers at St Francis Catholic Church, Owa-luwa Street,Owo was a deliberate and calculated assault on the people of the state.
The Governor said:”Those who unleashed this unprovoked terror attack on our people have tested our collective resolves. We will not be deterred in responding appropriately to this dastardly act.
“In honour of the victims of this unfortunate attack, i hereby direct that all flags be flown at half-mast for seven days, starting from today, Monday, June 6, to Sunday, June 12, 2022. It is a collective loss to the people of our dear state.”
