Category: News

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila, has met with President Muhammadu Buhari, as part of efforts to resolve the ongoing strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

The speaker led a delegation of principal officers from the House to the Aso Rock Presidential Villa immediately after Tuesday’s plenary.

Speaking with journalists after the meeting, the speaker highlighted the reason for their visit, saying, “After a series of engagements with ASUU and with people on the executive side, we’ve been able to come to some kind of decisions and recommendations to be made to Mr. President for his approval.

“As you know, what is on the front burner today, even beyond the politics, is that our universities, our lecturers, and our children are out of school.

“The House of Representatives decided to step in at that point four weeks ago and we’ve had a series of meetings that lasted hours and we’ve been able to get both sides to shift ground to an extent and that’s what we came to discuss with Mr. President about those recommendations.”

The Speaker also said he was hopeful that the crisis might soon be resolved as the delegation had a robust engagement with the President.

Speaker Gbajabiamila spoke more, “Mr. President, as usual, had a very good listening ear, he took the report of the House, accepted it. We discussed it at length, the details of the report and he wanted to go through them himself.

“We have another meeting on Thursday between our good selves and Mr. President for his final decision. We had a good engagement, with a very positive response.

“He asked us a couple of questions, in some grey areas which we clarified, and he accepted the reports and he wanted a couple of days to go through it.

“We are working and we are hopeful that this (strike) will soon be a thing of the past. I know once this is agreed upon, the strike will be called off.”

The Governor of Ekiti, John Kayode Fayemi has unveiled development plan for the State between 2022 to 2050.

This was contained in a statement made available via his official Twitter account as read in part:

“Today, we unveiled the Ekiti State Development Plan, 2022 – 2050. This is a Vision document which articulates how Ekiti plans to be the destination of choice to live, to work and to invest by 2050.

“We are grateful to our development partners, critical stakeholders and the professionals who helped to put the plan together.

“I am confident that the incoming government will continue and accelerate the strategic pillars of the development plans in the quest to make Ekiti the destination of preference”.

The Governor of Ogun State, Prince Dapo Abiodun has donated house and sum of Five Million Naira to the award-winning athlete, Tobi Amusan.

This was contained in a statement made known today by the governor via his official Twitter handle as read in part:

“My adopted daughter and world-record holding athlete, Ms Tobi Amusan paid me a courtesy visit in Oke-Mosan this morning.

“I announced her appointment as Youth Ambassador in Ogun State and a donation of a house, as well as five million Naira in recognition of her world records and other stellar achievements.

“We had adopted the Ogun State daughter for career support earlier this year, as Ms Amusan displayed the result-driven spirit of resilience, hardwork and determination that the State is known for”.

Thw governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu has announced the increment in salaries and wages of public workers in the State.

He made the disclosure in a statement he released today via his official Twitter handle as read in part:

“Earlier today, I announced a pay rise across all levels for workers in the state’s public service.

“We took this decision to cushion the effects of inflation, high prices of commodities and the rising cost of living being experienced across the globe on our workforce.

“With this increase, not only will we expect more from our workers, our citizens must also see the benefits of this decision in the delivery of services.

“I have directed all the necessary agencies to work out the modalities for upward review and statutory approvals”.

In an attempt to clip the wings of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, the Federal Government will on Tuesday present a certificate of registration to the Congress of Nigerian University Academics (CONUA), a breakaway faction of ASUU.

Minister of Labour and Employment Dr Chris Ngige will do the presentation.

This was contained in an invitation sent to reporters on Tuesday by the Deputy Director of Press and Public Relations, Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, Oshundun Olajide.

CONUA, a breakaway faction of ASUU with a presence in a few federal universities, is led by its National Coordinator, ‘Niyi Sunmonu, a lecturer at the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife.

The message by the Ministry of Labour read: “The Honorable Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige cordially invites you to the recognition and presentation of Certificate of Registration to the Congress of Nigerian University Academics (CONUA).

“The Programme is scheduled to hold as follows:

“Date: Tuesday, 4th October 2022

“Venue: Hon. Minister Conference Room, Federal Secretariat, Phase 1, Abuja.

“Time: 2:00pm

“Your media organisation is invited to cover the event and strictly by invitation.”

ASUU has been on strike since February 14 to press home its demands.

Despite a ruling by the National Industrial Court on Sept 21, 2022 ordering the university to return to work, the University lecturers have remained adamant.

Last week, ASUU through its lawyers, filed an appeal against the court ruling.

ODUDUWA NEWS has gathered that a yet-to-be identified man was shot by men of Joint Security Taskforce of Oyo State, codenamed as Operation Burst.

It was learnt that the person identified as Okada rider was shot yesterday when the soldiers stationed at Lakatabu junction, Ado-Awaye, Iseyin Local Government stopped him to push his motorcycle before he could be allowed a passage over to his destination.

It was learnt that in the process, disagreement occured and a trigger-happy soldier shot him in the process.

ODUDUWA NEWS learnt that the victim has been receiving treatment in nearby hospital.

Recall, ODUDUWA NEWS had reported how the youths of Ado-Awaye had earlier raised an eyebrow on the excesses of some of the men of Security Taskforce codenamed Operation Burst. The youths had raised concern on the rate at which these security men had been extorting motorists and subjecting the Okada riders to hardship of pushing their motorcycle before they could be allowed a passage over to Ado-Awaye road.

It was learnt that Alado of Ado-Awaye, Oba Ademola Olugbile Makuledoye II had waded in when these youths visited his Palace to lodge a complaint on the excesses of these soldiers.

As at the time of filing this report, no official statement has been made by the Oyo State Joint Security Taskforce, Operation Burst.

Multiple winner of global athletics records, Tobi Amusan has been announced as a brand ambassador for a digital telecommunications solutions provider, Globacom.

Born April 23, 1997, Amusan, an indigene of Ijebu Ode, Ogun State is the first Nigerian champion in a world athletic event to win the gold medal in the100 meters hurdles event at the 2022 World Athletics Championships setting a new world record of 12.12 seconds in the semifinal. She also finished with 12.06 seconds in the final to take the gold medal.

She is a double winner in the African Games championship in the event, winning back-to-back African and Commonwealth titles in 2018 and 2022 in the 100m hurdles event. Amusan topped her laurels with a 12.29-second win in the 100m hurdles at the Zurich Diamond League event.

She was introduced as a new brand ambassador for the mobile network operator at an impressive ceremony on Thursday, September 29, 2022, at the Mike Adenuga Towers, Victoria Island, Lagos, and with sports aficionados, orthodox and new media practitioners as well as Glo officials in attendance.

Globacom said in a speech delivered by the Regional Manager, Sales, Lagos, Mr. Lawrence Odediran at the event that Amusan’s enlistment was to recognize and reward her for her outstanding accomplishments. The move, he added, will also promote Nigerian sports while encouraging the future generation to be fastidious in their dreams regardless of the challenges that may confront them, saying, “We, therefore, urge them not to be discouraged by present challenges, but to continue to strive to realize their dreams”.

The former Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party in Oyo State, Alhaji Kunmi Mustapha described Alhaji Ahmed Raji (SAN)as a development oriented leader who has brought a lot of developments to Oke-Ogun axis.

The elderstateman described the newly sworn-in National Chairman of the Oke-Ogun Development Consultative Forum, (ODCF) Ahmed Raji as the perfect person to lead the region to achieve greater achievements.

The Iseyin born-politician stated further that Oke-Ogun is in safe hands under the chairmanship of Raji as he had previously facilitated significant development which has been impactful on the oke-ogun people.

While I joined other Nigerias, most especially Oke-Ogun indigenes to celebrate our own legal icon, the Turaki of Iseyin, and Baba Adinni of Oke-Ogun land, Ahmed Raji (SAN) on the occasion of his birthday, I wish to utilize the opportunity to congratulate him on his ascension as the chairman ODCF. This appointment is certainly a round peg in a round hole for us in Oke-Ogun.

“With ODCF’s position on the need to bring about the needed changes in regards to turning our natural resources like vast vegetation to industrial estates which will provide employment to our teeming youths and increase financial power for farmers and businessmen, the work is set out for the team, I pray for the ODCF Chairman to live long in good health and prosperity to serve Iseyin, Oke-Ogun, Oyo State and Nigeria till we have a society that we truly deserve,” Mustapha prayed.

The police in Lagos State, on Sunday, said that a mob carried out jungle justice on two men, who allegedly robbed a POS attendant in the Igando area of the state.

The command’s Spokesperson, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed the incident in his verified Twitter handle monitored by the News Agency of Nigeria on Sunday.

Hundeyin said the incident happened on Independence Day, stressing that the mob set the victims ablaze and burnt them beyond recognition.

“Police arrived at the scene but the mob had fled. The investigation has commenced,” he said.

A legendary playwright, Chief Herbert Ogunde (10 July 1916 – 4 April 1990) was a theatre Cicero who was famous for his brilliant and amazing artistic works.

In his lifetime Ogunde used the theater as a political voice in the 50s, for Egbe omoduduwa and it was an arsenal that couldn’t be ignored and was a Nigerian actor, playwright, theatre manager, and musician who founded the first contemporary professional theatrical company in Nigeria, the African Music Research Party as far back as 1945.

In 1986, he was invited by the Nigerian government to form a national drama troupe. During this time, he represented Nigeria in the Commonwealth Festival of Arts, performing a play called Destiny.

Ogunde starred in Mister Johnson, the 1990 motion picture that also featured Pierce Brosnan (James Bond). The movie was shot in location at Toro, near Bauchi, Nigeria. Sadly, he fell ill during the shooting of the movie and subsequently passed on.

Today’s generation might not be aware of the artistic dexterity and sheer creativity of this man who, in the course of his lifetime, wrote and performed many spectacular plays and movies and composed several music soundtracks.

However, his lifetime journey smashed the rock when he attempted to lend his voice for the people of Yoruba race against subjugation and oppression of the ruling elites.

Ogunde’s most famous play, Yoruba Ronu (performed 1964; “Yorubas, Think!”), was such a biting attack on the Premier of Western region that his company was banned from the region — the first instance in post-independence Nigeria of literary censorship.

It is my belief that Ogunde felt that unity of Yoruba was necessary and paramount as at that time to have a strong and formidable political base that would usher in several developmental programmes to Yorubaland.

The regime of Obasanjo felt his song at that time could promote disunity and if not banned it could spread to various parts of the country which might not go well with fragile country coming from civil war.

Though the ban was lifted in 1966 by Nigeria’s new military government but his message continues live after his demise.

This resonates with the happenings around us recently as 2023 approaches, several Yoruba people have been divided and the pillar of unity that our forefathers have held unto seems to be shaken everytime transition of power knocks at the door.

What should perturb sensible minds is that our elders who supposed to be teaching the young folks the history of Yoruba in the political firmament have chosen to continue in the trajectory of discord. Alas, they seem to have forgotten the ‘Omoluabi ethos’ usually echoed by them whenever their personal interest is involved.

2023 presidency has pitched several Yoruba to eachother. Our elders have thrown caution to the wind and do not want to allow decorum. As such, they continue to throw tantrums over their political affiliations. They have forgotten that the youth folks are keenly observing the atmosphere and the way the ‘Omoluabi ethos’ has been relegated to the background.

As 2023 beckons, it behooves on us to learn from history and not to turn Oduduwa land to theatre of war as a result of provocative statement from our elders. Yoruba race has been known as intellectual hub of Nigeria and we are far beyond sowing seed of animosity or waving prejudicial thoughts on any of our decision whether political, social or economical.

It is my belief that our unity of purpose would always prevail irrespective of our political affiliations that may be seen as cog in the wheel of progress of Yoruba race.

Yoruba Ronu’ ooooooooo

Ismael Taiwo, is a public affairs commentator and a columnist writing from Ado-Awaye, Iseyin Local Government of Oyo State.