Residents of some communities in Ekiti East Local Council, yesterday, rejected the alleged relocation of Federal College of Education (FCE) in the state from Omuo-Ekiti to Ilawe-Ekiti.
They, therefore, sought the intervention of President Bola Tinubu and Governor Biodun Oyebanji over the relocation of the college.
President of the youths’ association, Fasiku Ayokunle, while addressing newsmen in Omuo-Ekiti, said the intervention of Tinubu and Oyebanji have become necessary in the interest of justice, peace and good neighbourliness between the two communities.
Ayokunle, however, said the Federal Government should not keep the community waiting endlessly before righting the wrong to avoid breakdown of law and order.
Similarly, the Olomuo of Omuo-Ekiti, Oba Noah Omonigbehin, who led other monarchs from the council, said it is still a rumour that Ilawe-Ekiti has been given the FCE meant for his town.
He said such could not stand because it is an injustice that has no place to stand in the current administration.
“We want to say that there is a limit to human endurance. We have been pacifying the youths, appealing to them that we don’t want negative action. That can cause chaos in Ekiti. We are appealing to Oyebanji to urgently intervene and restore sanity.
“It is a fact that 109 senators and 360 members of the House of Representatives acceded to the establishment of FCE in Omuo-Ekiti. How come Ilawe-Ekiti is in this picture? You can’t rob Peter to pay Paul,” the monarch said.
Also, the Elekota of Kota-Ekiti, Oba Emmanuel Fagbemi, said Ekiti East council shares boundaries with Ondo, Kogi and Kwara states, saying: “We have the resources and the potential students that will fill the institution. We appeal to Oyebanji to intervene and allow us to feel the government’s presence in the area.
The first edition of the Nigeria-Benin Investment Summit will hold soon in Cotonou, Republic of Benin, after final consultations with relevant stakeholders in the two countries.
This was revealed by the Oke Ogun-born Nigerian businessman cum politician, Honourable Shina Abiola Peller, in a statement he issued, shared on his verified social media platforms and with the media on Thursday, where he stressed the strong bilateral relationship between Nigeria and Benin Republic.
The former House of Representatives member who is also the Ayedero of Yorubaland, stated further that while he was in Cotonou, he met briefly with the country’s Minister for Trade and Commerce, Madame Shadiya Alimatou Assouman, to discuss the Benin-Nigeria Investment Summit.
According to the Ayedero of Yorubaland, the summit will provide a unique opportunity for researchers, policymakers and development practitioners from Nigeria, Benin Republic and other parts of Africa, to debate development and the policies required eradicate poverty in the context of the Post 2015 Africa Development Agenda.
Honourable Peller, who also witnessed the 63rd Independence anniversary of Republic of Benin, where Nigeria’s President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu was a Special Guest of Honour, added that the summit will explore a well-orchestrated desired policy, institutional and investments frameworks for creating a conducive environment for traders and businessmen/women in the two countries to transact with ease.
The former lawmaker, who has been appointed by the organizers of the summit as a member of the organizing committee, is expected to coordinate and bring in businessmen and women from Nigeria to attend the event.
He expressed optimism that the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will give necessary support to every initiative targeted at enhancing trade and commerce between foreign investors/traders and Nigerian businessmen and women.
His statement read in full:
“Yesterday, I had the privilege of witnessing the 63rd Independence Anniversary of Republic of Bénin, where our president, His Excellency, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, was a Special Guest of Honour.
“It was a memorable event and the presence of President Tinubu, Nigerian State governors from Oyo, Lagos, Ogun, Kwara, Kebbi and Niger as well as Nigerian businessmen, including myself, is a testament to a strong bilateral relationship between Nigeria and Benin Republic.
“Also during my visitation to Republic of Benin, I had the privilege of meeting briefly with the country’s Minister for Trade and Commerce, Madame Shadiya Alimatou Assouman, where we spoke about the proposed Nigeria-Benin Investment Summit which will come up soon in Cotonou after final consultations with relevant stakeholders.
“The Summit will provide a unique opportunity for researchers, policymakers and development practitioners from Nigeria, Benin republic and other parts of Africa, to debate development and the policies required to eradicate poverty in the context of the Post 2015 Africa Developmental Agenda in particular with a focus on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
“Also, it will serve as a platform to establish the means to realize Africa’s ambitious agenda on inclusive growth within social groups, most especially, as it concerns the youth, women and children.
“The Summit will explore a well-orchestrated desired policy, institutional and investments frameworks for reducing poverty and creating a conducive environment for traders and businessmen/women in the two countries to transact with ease.
“Having been appointed by the organizers of the summit as one of the organizing committee members, I’m saddled with the responsibility of coordinating and bringing in businessmen and women from Nigeria to attend the event.”
“I am very confident that the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will not hesitate to give necessary support to every initiative targeted at strengthening trade and commerce between Nigerian businessmen/women and foreign traders and investors.”
President Bola Tinubu, on Wednesday night, met with Leaders of the various Labour unions and promised that the Port Harcourt refinery will commence operations by December 2023.
The meeting came after re Labour unions commenced a nationwide protest over what it described as ‘’anti-people’ policies introduced by the Tinubu government since its inception on May 29, 2023.
The National presidents of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Joe Ajaero and Trade Union Congress, Festus Osifo in the statement released, said the president made a series of promises following which they agreed to return to the negotiations table.
“It is pertinent to inform Nigerians that the extent of the success of the protest is underlined by the request of the President of the federal republic of Nigeria; Senator Ahmed Bola Tinubu to meet with the leadership of the NLC and TUC in a closed-door session.
The engagement was fruitful that immense mileage was obtained with regards to the issues that bogged down the work of the Presidential Committee on Subsidy removal and necessitated the protest viz; He committed to an immediate restructuring of the framework for engagement in line with the input of the Labour leaders.
He let out a certainty that the Port Harcourt Refinery will commence production by December this year. He pledged to ensure that Agreement is reached on the Wage Award for Nigerian workers immediately.
He promised to unveil a workable roadmap to the CNG alternative next week. On the strength of the president’s pledge and commitment, we have decided to return to a new and reinvigorated dialogue process to allow for full implementation.
Once again, we thank Nigerians while we wait for the Government to fulfill its own part of the understanding as agreed with His Excellency; the President.” the statement read
Less than two weeks after the conduct of Computer-Based-Test for Higher National Diploma prospective candidates, the management of The Polytechnic, Ibadan, has increased its acceptance fee from N32,500 to N42,500.
This was disclosed in a memo dated 28th July, 2023 and signed by the Deputy Registrar, Mrs. E. A. Omole.
The memo reads, “The management at its extended management meeting on Friday, 28th July, 2023, considered matters on the upward review of Acceptance Fee due to prevailing economic situation.
“After an extensive deliberation, the extended management approved an upgraded review of Acceptance Fee to N42,500 only, effectively from 31st July, 2023.”
Recall that, the previous acceptance fee was N32,500.
The Nigeria Labour Congress has commenced nationwide protests over the removal of the petrol subsidy and demanded N200,000 as the national minimum wage.
The protesters On Wednesday converged on the Ikeja under-bridge in Lagos State.
NLC had given the government a seven-day ultimatum with threats of a nationwide strike scheduled to commence on Wednesday, August 2, 2023.
Speaking in the video, one of the protesters said that the cost of living has gone up and people are dying out of hunger.
He said, “The cost of living is very high and people are dying every day.
“We have decided to go to Abuja to discuss with the government constructively by tendering our charter of demands which includes the national minimum wage to be put forward as N200,000, the four refineries must work and Labour to be part of the supervisory committee.”
The Ondo State Police Command has arrested a 47-year old man identified as Godson James, for allegedly killing a police officer along Ifon-Benin road, in Ose LGA of the state.
Spokesperson of the command, Funmilayo Odunlami, said the suspect was fleeing from policemen along the route.
She said the officers had been alerted of a crime he committed in Akure, the state capital, before he killed the policeman.
However, the suspect, while being paraded at the headquarters of the command in Akure, said he killed a “criminal” in self-defense, and not a police officer.
“A woman, Oshodi Mubowale, reported at Police Scorpion office Akure that on the 21st of July, 2023, unknown man (six) with an unregistered Ford Jeep came to her shop at No 1 Omolere shopping complex Adesida market, Akure, through One Thomas Toyin, aged 48years and Omonigba Kehinde, aged 47years, both traders in the same complex,” Odunlami said.
“The said man requested he needed a cash sum of Six million naira (N6,000,000.00) but he was only able to get a cash sum of Four Million Four hundred thousand naira (N4,400,000.00) from her under the pretence that he will send the money back through bank transfer but failed to do so.
“However, the complainant later called him and he kept giving excuses.
“She was able to trace him to De Javu hotel Alagbaka together with some of her relatives but the said man found a way to escape in his own car.
“In the process they had to pursue him with another vehicle but they later turned back after series of phone threats from the man.
“The policemen and military men at the checkpoints within the axis he took were alerted.
“In the process of trying to evade arrest, he intentionally ran over an Assistant Superintendent of Police attached to Ifon division, ASP Emmanuel Oyewole at Police Pin down, Ori Ohin, with his vehicle.
“The officer was confirmed dead in the hospital.
“He was later arrested by officers of the Fourth Brigade headquarter, sobe in Edo State.
“The suspect, Godson Tender James aged 47, was handed over to the police with the sum of 1.515 million naira by the military.”
Pandemonium broke out in the Oba Akran, Ikeja area of Lagos on Tuesday afternoon when an unidentified helicopter crashed into a building, immediately igniting into flames.
The incident occurred near the AP Filling Station and United Bank For Africa on Oba Akran Street in Ikeja, the Lagos State capital.
According to eyewitness, the incident happened at about 3.30pm. At the time of this report, it was uncertain whether the helicopter pilots survived the crash or not.
Additionally, there was no clarity on other casualties, as first emergency responders were still conducting ongoing rescue operations.
The Lagos Fire and Rescue Service was being awaited for further emergency operations to salvage the situation.
Scores of Oyo State workers were again stranded outside the Oyo State Secretariat as they turned up to resume work on Tuesday. The workers were milling around the Secretariat gates as the leadership of the Nigerian Labour Congress, and other affiliate bodies took charge of the gates.
Recall that ODUDUWA NEWS, had yesterday published that Oyo state workers shutdown Agodi secretariat over some of their demands yet to be met by the governor.
One of the workers, who was among those stranded at one of the gates that leads into the secretariat and spoke to Oduduwa News, pleaded anonymity as she expressed her displeasure over her inability to resume at the office.
She noted that although the country has been hard hit since the removal of subsidy from petrol, which was followed by a massive increase in petrol pump prices, she is hopeful that Governor Seyi Makinde, who has always given priority to workers’ welfare, would come to their rescue.
Governor Makinde had, through his biweekly newsletter On July 27 intimated his plans to roll out more sustainable actions to cushion the effects of subsidy removal, which has made life difficult for Nigerians. He said, “We have heard our people’s call for palliatives due to the prevailing economic situation in the country. We have already taken some measures in terms of expanding the routes of our Omituntun Bus service and ensuring that transport costs are not increased. But we know there is more to be done, and in the coming weeks, we will be rolling out more sustainable actions for the benefit of our people.”
However, the leadership of the NLC insisted on going on strike unless Governor Makinde addressed them directly. Some inscriptions on their placards read: “We want to meet with the Governor and not his representative” and “Our full salary is not enough for our transportation to our place of work.”
Some of the Oyo State workers had arrived early to work to beat the NLC gate closure and were seen at their desks trying to work. The NLC had unsuccessfully tried to chase everyone out of the Secretariat earlier.
The NLC claims that the protest is to express dissatisfaction with the current situation in the country and also to demand the harmonisation of salaries for pensioners, palliatives for civil servants as well as payment of outstanding dues.
Speaking on this, the Special Adviser on Labour Matters to Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, Adebayo Titilola-Sodo, said Governor Seyi Makinde remains committed to workers’ welfare. He said the protests were unnecessary as the government was already meeting the demands of labour.
You will recall that Governor Makinde had in 2020 provided free bus service for civil servants and the busses are still in use.
As of the time of filing this report, the five entrances that lead into the Oyo State Secretariat were still being manned by NLC comrades while security operatives are on standby to ensure tensions do not escalate
The Acting Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, Ph.D has raised concern about the recent developments regarding planned nationwide protests by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC).
The IGP made this known today in a statement made available by the Force Spokesman, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi to newsmen as read in part:
“While being mindful of the right to peaceful protest, as enshrined in our Constitution, the IGP urges all parties involved to ensure that the planned demonstrations are conducted in a peaceful manner to prevent being hijacked by miscreants, owing to the previous ugly experiences of such protests in most major cosmopolitan cities in the country. The IGP, however, acknowledges the grievances raised by the labour unions and the importance of constructive dialogue, which is sine qua none, in addressing these issues.
“In light of this, the IGP orders the Commissioners of Police in charge of various commands, and supervisory Assistant Inspectors-General of Police, to engage in fruitful discussions with the NLC/TUC leadership to foster understanding and reach common grounds on the planned protests. A peaceful and coordinated approach is crucial to achieving meaningful solutions and preventing any form of violence or disruptions to public order, should the protests persist.
“The Nigeria Police Force reiterates its commitment to ensuring the safety and security of all citizens during the period of the planned protests as all necessary measures to facilitate the peaceful conduct of these demonstrations have been emplaced. However, it is hereby reaffirmed that any attempt by miscreants to exploit the situation for violent purposes viz-a-viz vandalism, gangsterism, and extortion will be met with firm, professional and commensurate lawful approach. The Police will not tolerate any act that threatens the peace and well-being of our country.
“In light of the potential challenges posed by the planned protests, the Nigeria Police Force is fully prepared to deploy all available resources to maintain law and order and to protect the lives and property of our citizens. The IGP therefore calls on all officers to be vigilant, professional, and uphold the highest standards of conduct during this period.
“The Police boss urges all stakeholders, including the NLC, TUC, and other civil society groups, to embrace peaceful dialogue as the most effective means of resolving grievances, while also reemphasizing that the Police is committed to ensuring a secure and conducive environment for open dialogue, constructive engagement and mutual understanding for a seamless exercise of civil rights”.
Yoruba movie star, Musiliu Ajikanle a.k.a. Buffalo died in the care of charity pastor, Agbala Gabriel, this afternoon.
Agbala Gabriel came to his aid when he got no help from his richer and more connected colleagues.
His major movie productions include ‘Olokiki Oru’, ‘Mufu Oloosha Oko’, which brought to the world stage acting expertise of film star, Odunlade Adekola, and more. He had been down with stroke and other illnesses since 2016, thirty years after he began acting.
