JUST IN: Polytechnic workers embark on indefinite strike

The leadership of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) has commenced an indefinite strike.

Anderson Ezeibe, president of the union, announced this at a press briefing in Abuja on Tuesday morning.

He said members of the union have agreed to shut all the Nigerian Polytechnics and Imonotechnics until their demands are met. This is coming despite the federal government’s move to avert strike action in Polytechnics.

ODUDUWA NEWS reports that the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, had on Monday evening, invited the ASUP for an emergency meeting following the threat to embark on another round of strike.

The emergency meeting, according to a statement by the Education ministry’s spokesman, Ben. Bem Goong, was scheduled to hold today, Tuesday, at 11:00 am in the Ministry’s Headquarters in Abuja.

But Ezeibe, at the briefing, said the resolution of members of the union to shut down all Polytechnics across the country is now enforced effectively from 12:00 am of 6th April.

He said, “Today, therefore, marks Day 1 of the execution of the resolutions of our union as already, academic activities have been shut down in ALL PROGRAMS run in Polytechnics and like institutions across the nation effective 00:00 hrs of 6th of April, 2021.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the following demands were communicated to the government through the Ministries of Education; as well as Labour and Employment and indeed other ministries where our members offer services through various monotechnics.”

ASUP listed one of their demands as non-implementation of NEEDS Assessment report of 2014 in the sector nor release of any revitalization fund to the sector despite assurances since 2017.

The union also said the non-reconstitution of governing councils in Federal Polytechnics and many state-owned institutions has led to the disruption of governance and administrative processes in the institutions since May 2020.

This, according to the union, undermined the renegotiation of the union’s 2010 agreement with the government as such was unilaterally suspended by the government for over 2 years.

Ezeibe added, “The non-release of the 10-month arrears of minimum wage owed our members in Federal Polytechnics and non-implementation of the same in several state-owned institutions.

“This is despite a directive for the payment of these arrears since December 2019.

“Continued victimization of officials of our union as seen in Institute of Management and Technology, Enugu; Federal Polytechnic, Mubi; as well as Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo.

“This situation has degenerated to the clamping down and brazen illegal seizure of the properties of our union by the Rector of Federal Polytechnic, Nasarawa”.

Ogun Police arrest 49-year-old man for defiling biological daughter

The Ogun State Police Command has arrested a 49-year-old man, Ubong Williams Akpan, for unlawfully having carnal knowledge of his 12-year-old daughter.

He claimed to have committed the act because his wife is no longer attractive.

The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, DSP Abimbola Oyeyemi, on Monday, April 5, said the suspect was arrested on April 2 following a report lodged at Itele Ota divisional headquarters by the victim, who reported that her father had been abusing her sexually since she was seven years old.

According to Oyeyemi, the victim said the ugly act had been going on for the past five years, adding that when she could no longer bear it, she decided to complain to the police.

Oyeyemi said that upon the report, the DPO Itele Ota division, CSP Monday Unoegbe, detailed his detectives to the scene where the suspect was arrested.

He said: “On interrogation, he confessed to the commission of the crime claiming that his wife is appearing too old, and she is no longer looking attractive to him.”

Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police in the state, CP Edward Awolowo Ajogun, has ordered the immediate transfer of the case to the Family Support Unit of Ota Area Command for further investigation and prosecution.

He also directed that the victim be taken to the general hospital for proper medical treatment.

EASTER: OYRTMA rescues 2 victims of auto crash in Ibadan

The Fast-track Emergency Rescue Operations Team of the Oyo State Road Transport Management Authority (OYRTMA) has rescued not less than two victims of an auto crash involving a lone Grey-colored Kia vehicle with registration number LND-813-GB at the Ojoo-Akinyele Road in Ibadan metropolis.

Our investigations revealed that the incident which occurred during the Holy Saturday of 3rd April 2021 was due to over-speeding, reckless and careless driving on the part of the driver which resulted into vehicular summersault with the driver and the lone passenger sustaining serious injuries.

It took the instantaneous intervention of our Rescue Team to save the lives of the victims who were immediately rushed to the hospital for proper medical attention and the affected vehicle removed from accident scene.

The Authority uses this medium to harp on the need for motorists to drive with caution and at approved speed limits to avoid such catastrophes of huge proportion noting that while speed thrills, it also kills.

The Executive Chairman, Mogaji (Dr.) Akin Fagbemi had prior the Easter festivities reeled out numerous operational changes of the Authority and proactive measures put in place to ensure an itch-free Easter period viz night and day traffic control, 24/7 emergency rescue operations, enforcement of Operation-One-Passenger Policy as well as collaboration with other sister security agencies.

Furthermore, he beseeched the people of Oyo State to remain vigilant, drive more carefully and support the drive of the Governor Seyi Makinde’s administration in ridding the roads of avoidable road crashes and loss of lives as he reiterated that the vigilance of everyone means safety for all while negligence of anyone portends danger to all.

Gov. Fayemi Holds Meeting With NATA, Vows To Reposition Auto Industry In Ekiti

Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi has today held meeting with leadership of Nigeria Automobile Technicians Association NATA in Ado-Ekiti.

This was contained in statement made available this afternoon via his Twitter handle which reads in part:

“During the Easter break, my wife Bisi and I, and the rest of team, took time to engage various stakeholder groups from across the state at our Isan-Ekiti country home.

“We were encouraged by the positive reception of government’s programmes and policies, and we had the opportunity to hear crucial feedback on areas we can improve on. Our belief in the power of collective wisdom has been reinforced, and I look forward to sharing some of the highlights of these meetings with you in the coming days.

“This morning, I met with the Ekiti State chapter of the Nigeria Automobile Technicians Association (NATA), led by their Chairman, Comrade Olusegun Olusoji. Amongst other things, we discussed how to position the Automotive Repair and Maintenance industry in the state to take advantage of emerging opportunities. I found them to be very engaging and optimistic about their prospects, and I am committed to working with them to achieve their goals.

“You would recall that the National Gas Expansion Programme (NGEP) recently launched in Ekiti State, as the flagship state in the Southwest for the rollout of the scheme. NGEP has a strong automobile component and would facilitate the training of auto technicians to be competent in the retrofitting of vehicles and conversion from using the regular PMS to using auto gas – an alternative fuel, which is a cheaper, cleaner, and eco-friendly option.

“It is projected that about 5,000 youth from Ekiti State would participate in the NGEP training programmes, which would see the establishment of 20 micro distribution centres across the 16 local government areas of our state to enable people at the grassroots have access to affordable and sustainable auto gas and cooking gas.

“I share in the excitement of the leaders and members of NATA, and will work with them to remove any obstacle to achieving a virile and productive Automotive Repair and Maintenance industry in Ekiti state”.

There is no going back on actualization of Oduduwa Republic – Prof. Akintoye

The worldwide leader of the Ilana Omo Oodua, Prof Banji Akintoye has said there is no going back on the actualisation of the Oduduwa Republic.

Akintoye described the Yoruba as a civilised people who cannot continue with the barbarism of the suspected Fulani people that have held Nigeria to ransom, adding that only Ethiopia can be older than the Yoruba people in terms of civilisation.

The don revealed that the anticipated Oduduwa Republic will continue the civilisation agenda of the late Premier of the defunct Western Region, Chief Obafemi Awolowon.

Akintoye disclosed this during an interview on CityTalk with Reuben Abati, which was monitored by ODUDUWA NEWS on Saturday.

“There is no nation in tropical Africa that is older and also more civilised than the Yoruba nation, except perhaps Ethiopia.

“We are going to continue in the civilisation nation-building that has been for years which the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo wanted to continue in the 1950s. We cannot stay with Nigeria where Fulani have made the rest of us continue in barbarism.

“Yoruba is a civilised nation. When the white man came in the middle of 19th century and began to spread Christianity through education, our country was better ready to receive education than any tropical nation because for missionaries in any part of Africa, they had to station in the bush and start looking for people to educate. But our case was not like that in Yorubaland.

“In Yorubaland, you just go to Oba in the city and introduce yourself to say you have come. There’s a photograph of missionaries arriving in Oyo to greet Alaafin in 1883. It was a great picture, with a large number of people, and the Oba himself on the throne and the missionaries in front of him to greet him.”

The octogenarian historian stated that the Nigerian government has put Fulani people in key posts, especially in the security arms of the country, and they have constitutional powers to run most of the affairs of the country via exclusive control.

“Fulani play the dominating factor in every part of Nigeria. The constitution is helping them at the moment, and we have to go out of such a country. There is 98 control of power in the constitution and 68 out of them are under the federal government that is controlled by the Fulani.

“The remaining 30 are shared between the federal and states concurrently with the proviso that if the federal and state governments clash, the state government must surrender and the federal government must take precedence.

“We are going to liberate our people and have our civilised country. We cannot continue with a country where all major key posts are headed by the Fulani, and that wouldn’t have been an issue but the barbarism is too much. The police department, the army, the customs, the secret state services and the rest are headed by the Fulani.

“People are saying there will be war. Well, we are trying to not make war happen because we don’t want to brutalise anybody but if they make war happen, they will be sorry, that’s the situation.”

EASTER: Imbibe good lessons of Christ’s resurrection, Alado of Ado-Awaye tells Christians

As the Christian faithfuls all over the world celebrate Easter, the Alado of Ado-Awaye and the paramount traditional ruler in Araromi LCDA, Oba Revd. Ademola Olugbile Folakanmi, Makuledoye 11, Soludero 1, has felicitated all Christian faithfuls all over the globe.

Oba Folakanmi, in a statement personally issued, signed and sent to ODUDUWA NEWS said, “I congratulate and celebrate with all Christian faithfuls especially the sons and daugthers of Ado-Awaye kingdom home and in diaspora on the euphoria of this year’s Easter celebration”.

Oba Olugbile further stated that every Christian believers should see Easter as a way of imbibing good virtue and right value as depicted in the attitudes of Jesus Christ not for catching fun and merriment alone.

His Royal Majesty averred in his statement that, he used his double grace as a royal father and anointed man of God to pray that God in His infinite mercy shall continue to spare everyone to witness more of Easter celebrations alive”

Oba Folakanmi while wishing Christian faithfuls a happy celebration, used the avenue to appeal to all sons and daughters of Ado-Awaye to continue joining hands with him in all his efforts towards the progress and development of Ado-Awaye and also warned everybody against violating the existing COVID-19 safety protocol as they are going on about their celebration.

JUST IN: Three Kidnap Victims Rescued By Amotekun In Ondo

Officers of the Ondo State Security Network Agency, codenamed Amotekun have arrested two suspected kidnappers and rescued three travellers along the Ifira-Akoko/Idoani Road in Ose Local Government Area of the State.

The victims: Adewale Adebisi, male, 52; Ahan Mary, female, 21; and Ladi Bude, female, 23; were said to have been kidnapped by some armed men while travelling with other church members from Benue State to Akure, Ondo State in the early hours of Saturday.

It was gathered that the kidnappers flagged down the vehicle in which the victims were traveling, ordered the occupants out, and took them into a nearby forest.

However, the kidnappers ran out of luck as men of Amotekun corps on getting wind of the incident, stormed the area, in search of the victims in the forest, and succeeded in rescuing the victims.

The Commander of Amotekun Corps in Ondo State, Adetunji Adeleye, confirmed the rescue of the three victims to newsmen.

He disclosed that his men responded immediately after the distress call and they were able to rescue the victims safely.

Adeleye promised that the corps will continue ensuring the safety of the lives of the people of the State. He equally warned all criminal elements to desist or leave the state.

Police nab 43-year-old man for defiling his wife’s 15-year-old niece in Lagos

ODUDUWA NEWS has just gathered that a 43-year-old man, named as Jonas Nnubia, has been arrested by the police in Festac, Lagos, for allegedly defiling his wife’s 15-year-old niece (name withheld).

The state Commissioner of Police, CP Hakeem Odumosu, while confirming the arrest to newsmen, said the suspect was arrested on Saturday, April 3, at about 3 pm at 1st Avenue, L Close, Festac.

According to the victim, the suspect has defiled her several times and warned her not to disclose his criminal act to anyone or else she dies.

She has been taken to the hospital for necessary medical examination and attention in order to assist the police in carrying out their discreet Investigation into the matter.

Leaders At Large As Police Arrest 30 In Osun Cult Clashes

ODUDUWA NEWS in ascertaining the fact and mystery surrounding the cult clashes that left there people dead in Osogbo on Sunday, found out that no fewer than 30 suspects have already been arrested in connection with the clashes involving rival cults in Osogbo, Osun State.

It was learnt that these cultist groups had been terrorising the people of Osogbo for a long period of time before they were recently nabbed by law enforcement agencies.

While speaking on Tuesday, the pokesperson of the State Police Command, Yemisi Opalola, confirmed the development, adding that the command had launched a manhunt for identified ring leaders of the groups.

Three people were feared killed on Sunday when rival cults engaged in deadly clashes in some parts of the state capital.

Those killed were identified as Sogo Owonikoko, aka Marley; Daniel and one Afeez, popularly known as Eja.

The deceased were killed at Alie Junction, Kolawole Street and Obalande Area, all within the Osogbo metropolis.

It was further learnt that rival cults of Aye and Eye also engaged in deadly clashes in the Oke Baale and Alekuwodo areas on Sunday, as police battled to put the situation under control.

Opalola said the state Commissioner of Police, Wale Olokode, had visited the hotspots to put the situation under control.

She said, “As of this afternoon, we have arrested about 30 suspects in connection with the clashes and they are presently under interrogation. All those arrested will be screened before further action. We are going after already identified ringleaders of the groups.”

Yinka Odumakin, a dogged fighter, an unforgettable hero – Ooni of Ife

The Arole Oduduwa & Ooni of Ife, Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi Ojaja II has described late Chief Yinka Odumakin, who until his death was the spokesman of the Yoruba sociocultural group; Afenifere, as an unforgettable patriotic descendant of Oduduwa and a positive factor in Nigeria’s democracy.

In a condolence piece sent to ODUDUWA NEWS by his Director of Media & Public Affairs, Comrade Moses Olafare, on Saturday, Ooni Ogunwusi described Odumakin’s death as a rude shock, lamenting that Chief Odumakin died when the Yoruba nation in particular and Nigeria at large needed him the most.

“The news of Odumakin’s demise was a very bitter pill to swallow for the entire country and to us particularly in the House of Oduduwa. He was a disciplined Yoruba leader who has been one of the loudest pro democracy voices in the country.

“The unbeatable fact about this great patriot is that he served the Oodua race incorruptibly till his death enhanced Nigeria’s democracy through his countless calls and actions for justice and equity. He was a blunt dogged fighter who never compromised his struggle for the betterment of his Oodua race and that of Nigeria for personal friendship.

“One of the good traits of this unique man is his consistence while calling for a fair and just society either in his personal capacity as an ever-proud comrade or the spokesman of the prominent Afenifere.

“As a disciplined caller for a perfect democratic Nigeria, he did not miss personal opinions and sentiments with his activities towards nation building. A clear example was his repeated criticism of some policies of the President Muhammadu Buhari led government despite having a good relationship with the president who described him (Odumakin) as a great Patriot.

“Oodua race indeed lost a hero. His shocking death has left us with the great challenge of continuing in the pursuit of a better society for all, we must sustain the strive for a better democracy and realize the most-cherished vision of the late Odumakin which is a greater Nigeria for all.

“While I pray I wish the departed soul an eternal rest in the bossom of his creator, I pray that the Almighty Olodumare gives his beautiful wife, lovely children, relatives, friends and associates globally the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss.” The Ooni said.

You cannot copy content of this page