Category: Politics

A former governor of Oyo State, Rasidi Adewolu Ladoja was on Friday absent when the Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Lekan Balogun elevated eleven (11) High Chiefs in the ancient city to the position of Obas.

There are eleven local government areas in Ibadan being supervised by eleven High Chiefs in the Olubadan succession lines.

The Olubadan had earlier announced his plan to elevate the High Chiefs to the position of Obas.

According to the monarch, the eleven High Chiefs would be addressed as Obas henceforth.

Our correspondent, however, reports that the former governor, Rasidi Ladoja who is the Otun Olubadan of Ibadan was absent at the ceremony held at Mapo Hall on Friday.

All other ten High Chiefs who have been elevated to Obas were present at the ceremony.

Those who have been crowned and presented staffs of office include the Balogun of Ibadan, High Chief Owolabi Olakulehin, Otun Balogun, High Chief Tajudeen Ajibola, Osi Olubadan, High Chief Eddy Oyewole Foko and Osi Balogun, High Chief Lateef Gbadamosi Adebimpe and Ashipa Olubadan, High Chief Abiodun Kola-Daisi.

Others are; Ashipa Balogun, High Chief Kolawole Adegbola, Ekerin Olubadan, Hamidu Ajibade, Ekerin Balogun, High Chief Dada Isioye, Ekarun Olubadan, High Chief Adebayo Akande and Ekarun Balogun, High Chief Abiodun Dauda Azeez.

The event was attended by the state governor, Seyi Makinde.

Other dignitaries at the event include former Deputy Governor and PDP Deputy National Chairman, Taofeek Arapaja, former Deputy Governor, Hamid Gbadamosi and Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Adebo Ogundoyin.

Makinde while speaking, noted that the consenting authority is the Olubadan and not the governor.

He added that the elevation was in line with what the people of the ancient city requested.

Makinde said, “We are here for one thing, the Olubadan of Ibadan is crowning his High Chiefs as Obas. It is not the government that is giving the High Chiefs crowns. I am not aware of the crown. I am not in the line. What is happening today is internal.

If the royal father said there is a need for reform, me, as the governor, I will support them. Out of the 11 High Chiefs we have in Ibadan, 10 of them have been crowned today. Even in a democracy, the majority will have its way and the minority will have their say and we have had them, anyone that is not satisfied can go to Court.

“The consenting authority today is the Olubadan and not the governor. Those who go to Court will waste their time. What the people want, we have done it for them. I want to charge the new Obas to do good to their people. I thank all my people in Ibadan. Thank you”.

Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu has sent a note to the people of his state and his well wishers, thanking them for their prayers and goodwill messages – which he said have been a soothing balm for him in recovery. Recall that Akeredolu had gone on a 21-day medical leave on June 13, while handing over to his deputy. It is however not clear whether he will be resuming at the expiration of the leave. Arakunrin Akeredolu has been battling an undisclosed ailment. This morning, the statement below was released on his official social media pages

“My Dear People of Ondo State,

I pen this message with a heart overflowing with immense gratitude and deep appreciation. Your dedication, understanding, ceaseless prayers and messages of goodwill during my journey to recovery have been nothing short of a soothing balm for my soul. Your unwavering support and genuine affection have sustained my determination to renewed vigor and, most importantly, to continue serving you, the good people of Ondo State.

I am profoundly grateful to our esteemed President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, and his team, as well as all political party leaders, my brother Governors, the State Executive Council, and the members of the State House of Assembly for their unwavering support. Your collective strength and solidarity have uplifted my spirit and reaffirmed my commitment to our shared vision for progress and development.

While I remain on the path to recovery, I eagerly await the moment when I will stand among you once again. Rest assured, I am in high spirits and have full faith in the expertise of my doctors. I will return to you ALL as soon as they deem it expedient.

My dear people, once again, your prayers, support, and the rejuvenating elixir of goodwill you have bestowed upon me have fortified my resolve. I am resolute in my dedication to serving you and working tirelessly for the betterment of our beloved Ondo State.

Thank you from the depths of my heart.”

The founder of Christ Apostolic Church CAC Agbara has been reportedly dead.

Born on 9th September, Prophet Michael Ojo Olowere was a deep preacher, teacher and gospel evangelist who was anointed for signs and wonders.

Popularly known as Baba Olowere, he was one of the few living Christ Apostolic Church’s (CAC) most respected ministers of the gospel. He was a strange prophet of God and one of the remaining few men who contacted a great measure of the anointing of God from the revered Apostle Joseph Ayodele Babalola.

There are some indications that the Iseyin-born legal luminary, Barrister Ahmed Raji SAN might have been finally considered as a minister-nominee from Oyo state.

According to a source, baring last minute change, four names were previously considered for the ministerial appointment from Oyo State which included Raji Ahmed SAN, Florence Ajimobi, Sen. Teslim Folarin and Joseph Tegbe.

A confirmed source revealed to ODUDUWA NEWS that after critical assessment from the Presidency, Barrister Ahmed Raji might be finally favoured to be selected for the ministerial appointment from Oyo State going by several factors to be considered by President Bola Tinubu.

It was also gathered that some governors and powerful people are also scheming to favour their anointed candidates in some other states but the choice of Ahmed Raji said to be connected to the closed tie he has with Asiwaju and the influence of the Governor of Oyo State who was among G-5 governors that worked against the interest of PDP in the last presidential election to favour the incumbent President.

Ahmed Raji said to have a smooth relationship with Tinubu as he is among the leading lawyers in the legal team of President Tinubu defending his case at the ongoing Presidential Election Tribunal.

The Abuja-based lawyer was also seen at the forefront, defending the Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN Olukayode Ariwoola who also hails from the same town with the Senior Advocate when the CJN was dragged in scandalous wheel-barrow-disguised secret London meeting with Tinubu.

It was also learnt that Nyesom Wike who was the arrowhead of the G5 has also been selected as the ministerial-nominee for Rivers State.

Recall, Makinde, Wike and others in the G-5 group have been meeting President Tinubu at the Villa immediately after the presidential election and some arrangements were made concerning ministerial-nominees in their respective states.

Ahmed Raji SAN, if finally confirmed as reported might be appointed as the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice.

However, there has also been a report that some top politicians in Oyo State chapter of APC are currently working against the choice of Ahmed Raji SAN.

•Says ‘I was thrown under the bus’

The standard bearer of the All Progressives Congress (APC), in Oyo, during the March 28 governorship election, Senator Teslim Folarin, on Saturday, said he lost his bid to govern the state due to what he termed “political arrangement” for the party to win the presidential poll for President Bola Tinubu.

Describing the APC as the strongest party in the state, having won the three senatorial seats of Oyo South, Oyo Central and Oyo North, including nine federal constituency seats out of 14, he declared that “I was thrown under the bus” as part of the high wired politics and intrigues of our party to secure victory during the February 25 presidential election.

Folarin made this disclosure in Idigbaro, Ologuneru area of Ibadan while addressing APC members during a reception and victory party held in honour of a member, representing Ibarapa/Ido Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Honourable Remi Abasi Oseni.

Speaking in Yoruba, he stated: “If we are talking about the strongest party in Oyo State today, it is APC. We won three senatorial seats and nine out of federal constituency seats. Our people are already in the election tribunal and I can tell you that we would win two more federal constituency seats. On the governorship election, we were thrown under the bus.”

According to Folarin, “In politics, if I am asked to choose between governorship and presidency, I will choose the latter. We have taken the presidency and our president, Senator Bola Tinubu is doing well. Things are hard now, but I want Nigerians to bear and exercise patience because better days are coming soon.

“Let us stand with this government because it is our government. This is because if there’s a problem in the future regarding governance, they will say we need to call the Yoruba to fix it. Two things are constant in my life, which are Islam and politics. My own level has passed the fact that I have to become the governor before thanking God.”

Speaking at the event, Oseni expressed his gratitude for the support and love he received during and after his election, just as he promised to provide qualitative representation to his constituency in the House of Representatives.

He posted: “Nigerians should be patient with President Tinubu because he has the capacity to address the nation’s challenges and turn Nigeria’s situation around for good. I’m pleading with you to give him maximum support for him to succeed.”

Dignitaries, who graced the occasion include, Senator Teslim Folarin, former deputy governors of Oyo State, Iyiola Oladokun, Moses Alake, Shina Alabi, chairman of the APC in Oyo South senatorial district, Honourable Mojeed Olaoya, former chairman of Ibadan North Local Government, Mr Ademola Omotosho, traditional rulers, clerics, among others

The crack among members of the Ondo State Executive Council have further deepened due to the absence of Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu.
Akeredolu is expected to resume from his medical leave on Thursday, July 6th.

Akeredolu handed over power to his Deputy, Lucky Aiyedatiwa in a letter he sent to the Ondo Assembly.

It was gathered that some cabinet members refused to honour meetings called by Aiyedatiwa.

Sources said the State Executive Council meeting held only once since the Governor proceeded on medical leave.

Aiyedatiwa is said to be interested in succeeding his boss but he has not received the buy in of all the cabinet members.

Others cabinet members interested in the governorship race include Commissioner for Finance Wale Akinterinwa and Secretary to the State Government, Oladunni Odu.

A top government official said cabinet members loyal to Aiyedatiwa have pushed for more funding to his office by virtue of an Acting Governor but such move was said to be resisted.

Ondo Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Bamidele Ademola-Olateju, said the Acting Governor has not summoned State Executive Council meeting.

The Commissioner said all cabinet members would attend if the council meeting were to hold.

She also dismissed talks that some cabinet members refused to attend meeting called by Aiyedatiwa.

The Muslim Rights Concern ((MURIC) has warned politicians in Osun State against desecrating the Muslim prayer ground. The warning came after the clash between the state governor, Ademola Adeleke and Senator Ajibola Bashiru at the Oshogbo Muslim prayer ground yesterday, Wednesday, 28th June 2023.

The Executive Director of MURIC, Professor Ishaq Akintola, who spoke on Thursday, 29th June 2023, described the incident as a show of shame.

He said: “A clash occurred at the Muslim prayer ground, Oshogbo, yesterday, Wednesday, 28th June 2023 between Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State and a prominent senator, Ajibola Bashiru.

“Senator Ajibola Bashiru allegedly arrived at the Muslim prayer ground, Osogbo, earlier than the governor. Reports say he sat on the reserved front-row seat but a protocol of Adeleke approached to inform him it was the seat kept for the Governor.

He changed his seat to another front-row seat, which the protocol still opposed. In our opinion, that was the first wrong step and it was taken by the governor’s protocol.

“We strongly believe that a senator is also a distinguished personality who should not be disgraced at such a public function. Therefore the governor’s protocol should have allowed him to use the second seat occupied by him. Our sincere position is that the senator had respected the governor by leaving the seat which the protocol claimed was reserved for the governor.

“There was no need for the governor’s protocol to insist that the senator should leave the front row completely. The governor’s protocol was overzealous and he threw diplomacy to the winds. It was at that point that the wrong step was taken. A senator is not a Mr Nobody. He should have been accorded his respect as well particularly since he had respected the office of the governor by leaving his (the governor’s) seat.

“Unlike in other places of worship, no front rows are reserved for any individual inside mosques because all are equal in Islam. The Glorious Qur’an 49:13 says, ‘Oh mankind, We created you from a single male and female and made you into nations and tribes so that you may know each other. The most honoured among you in the sight of Allah are the most righteous and Allah has full knowledge of what you do.’

“Even Prophet Muhammad asserted clearly, emphatically and authoritatively that all men are equal. ‘You are all equal’, he said, ‘like the teeth of a comb. There is no difference between an Arab and a non-Arab except by righteousness (taqwah)…’

“Therefore there is nothing wrong if both the governor and the senator are on the front row. There is nothing like entitlement to front-row seats in Islam. The president, the governors, senators, etc may be given the front rows just for security reasons. Neither does Islam entertain an imperial mentality inside the mosque or on Muslim prayer grounds.

“What happened yesterday at the Muslim prayer ground in Oshogbo was a show of shame. It is also a security lapse because the state security apparel should have foreseen that ugly development and made adequate provision for it. There would not have been a clash if the governor’s protocol and the state’s security apparatus had worked together on the arrangements and taken strategic positions before the arrival of worshippers.

“MURIC condemns this manifestation of political Islam in a negative form. Governor Adeleke should not have left the prayer ground if he was there to worship Allah, no matter what happened. Adeleke should tell us loud and clear where he belongs. All politicians should drop their political garbs in their party secretariat. They are brothers and sisters once they enter the prayer ground as Muslims if indeed they truly belong to the Islamic faith.

“Politicians in Osun State should not desecrate the Muslim prayer ground again. They should not use political differences to permeate and consequently rupture the fabrics of the Muslim community.”
The Muslim Rights Concern ((MURIC) has warned politicians in Osun State against desecrating the Muslim prayer ground. The warning came after the clash between the state governor, Ademola Adeleke and Senator Ajibola Bashiru at the Oshogbo Muslim prayer ground yesterday, Wednesday, 28th June 2023.

Governor Seyi Makinde on Friday approved the appointment of Col. Oladipo James Ajibola as the Director-General, Operation Burst.

The Governor also approved the appointments of Mrs Bosede Sodiq as Senior Special Assistant (Broadcast Media), Mr Kehinde Oluwaseyi Ogunsanya as Senior Special Assistant (Economic Planning) and Mr Moshope Adebayo Akande as Senior Special Assistant (Information Communication Technology (ICT).

Other appointments made are listed below:

(1) Mr Albert Adebowale Ogunyemi : Special Assistant (Photographer) to the Governor

(2) Mr Otuowho Jesse Onoriode :Special Assistant (Photographer 2) to the Governor

(3) Mr OYEBODE BABATUNDE -: Special Assistant (Transport) to the Governor.

(4) Mr Adeyanju Daniel Akinloye – Special Assistant (Transport 2) to the Governor;

(5) Mr Moses Adebayo Alao as Special Assistant Print Media;

(6) Mr Fisayo Daramola as Special Assistant Digital Media;

(7) Mr Ogunbowale Oladayo Olajuwon as Special Assistant Communication; and

(8) Mr Ademola Aderinto as Special Assistant Environment. .

This was contained in a letter signed by the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Otunba Segun Ogunwuyi.

According to the letter, the appointment is with immediate effect.

The governor, while congratulating the new appointees asked them to see their appointment as a further call to service and urged them to discharge their duties with absolute loyalty, dedication and diligence.

Governor Ademola Adeleke has alleged that he escaped an assassination attempt at the Osogbo Eid praying ground yesterday.

Governor who traded words with the ex-Senate Spokesman, Senator Ajibola Bashiru, who was speaking on an interview granted to Channels TV, Bashiru claimed that the Governor did not come to observe Eid prayer but came to disrupt it and that the allegation of assassination attempt was a figment of imagination from the governor as nothing of such ever happened.

Meanwhile, Adeleke while reacting through his Spokesperson, Mallam Olawale Rasheed, issued a statement to newsmen and thanked God for preserving him and his team, directing law enforcement agents to arrest culprits behind the incident.

“My good people of Osun, I appeal for calm and urge us to continue to celebrate the Sallah festival in peace. I am safe by the special grace of God”, the statement quoted the Governor as saying.

“I have directed security agencies to arrest those behind the incident and get them to face the wrath of the law. The Commissioner of Police has been directed to arrest those involved no matter how highly placed.

The State Government had meanwhile condemned the orchestrated attacks on the Governor by stalwarts of the All Progressives Congress at the praying ground. Members of the public will recall an earlier security alert on an evil plot to destabilize the peace and stability of Osun state.

The government particularly notes with shock and surprise the role played by former Senator Ajibola Bashiru who took over the space reserved for the Governor at the prayer ground. All efforts to get the former Senator to vacate the space proved abortive.

PDP members who agitated for respect for the office of the Governor were beaten up. It was a scene of chaos by the time the Governor arrived for the prayer.

The government was even more shocked that thugs armed to the teeth were spotted all over the praying ground with security information that they were imported to eliminate the Governor and key government functionaries.

The Governor who arrived at the venue hoping to observe the Eid prayers was practically surrounded by armed thugs, prompting security men to ferry the Governor into his jeep.

For the second time, the Governor attempted to enter the praying field but the encirclement by armed thugs was already visible. It was at that point that the Governor had to leave the praying ground.

The Governor is now safely at home receiving guests and leaders from all walks of life.

The former Governor of Oyo State and Otun Olubadan of Ibadanland , Oloye Rasheed Ladoja has broken silence on the recent elevation of all Ibadan High Chiefs to beaded crown Obas by Governor Seyi Makinde.

Pa Ladoja said that he was not interested in any crown than that of Olubadan of Ibadanland.

He made this disclosure while speaking to newsmen at his private residence in Bodija, Ibadan, the state capital, on Wednesday.

Ladoja was quoted as thus: “When I set out to join the race to become the Olubadan, I was focusing on how to become the Olubadan and the only crown I want to wear is that of Olubadan of Ibadanland.

Recall that reports say that the state Governor, Seyi Makinde, approved the promotion of 11 Ibadan High Chiefs to beaded crown Obas.

The report added that Friday, July 7, has been tentatively fixed for the installation, as stipulated in the letter sent to the governor by the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Lekan Balogun.

Other High Chiefs to be elevated are Balogun of Ibadanland, Owolabi Olakulehin; Otun Balogun, Tajudeen Ajibola; Osi Olubadan, Eddy Oyewole; Osi Balogun, Lateef Adebimpe; Ashipa Olubadan, Biodun Kola-Daisi; Ashipa Balogun, Kola Adegbola; Ekerin Olubadan, Hamidu Ajibade; Ekerin Balogun, Olubunmi Isioye; Ekarun Olubadan; Bayo Akande and Ekarun Balogun, Abiodun Azeez.