Category: Politics

The Ondo high court has granted bail to Kemisola Ogunniyi, an 18-year-old girl detained over the #EndSARS protest in the state.

Ogunniyi, who has been in custody since October 2020, gave birth to a baby boy last Wednesday.

Omolara Adejumo, the judge, granted Kemisola bail in the sum of N10 million and a surety in like sum on Tuesday.

Ogunniyi was arrested with three others by security operatives during the #EndSARS protest last year.

She and the other suspects were accused of being part of those who razed the state secretariat of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Akure during the protest.

They were charged with conspiracy to commit arson, riotous assembly, stealing, and malicious damage and were remanded in Surulere prison in Ondo west LGA of the state.

The other suspects are Ojo Samuel, Ayodele Bukunmi, and Ani Obinna.

In a letter to Oluwatoyin Akeredolu, Ondo chief judge, Tope Tomekun, her lawyer, had said Ogunniyi was innocent of the crime preferred against her.

Tomekun said the teenager was on her way to the Federal University of Technology Akure (FUTA) to collect money for her mother’s treatment when she was apprehended by the Nigerian Army at random and handed over to the police for investigation.

“She was later alleged to be part of those who set the APC Secretariat, Akure, on fire during the EndSARS protest that took place in October 2020,” he had said.

“I write to you sir, first as a lawyer and in furtherance of my conviction as a believer in humanitarian cause of justice, to appeal to you sir, that for the sake of the sinless newborn baby and in the interest of justice, to give directive that this matter be given an urgent hearing.”

A bill to criminalise illegal trading in human organs has scaled second reading at the Lagos State House of Assembly with the Speaker, Rt. Hon. (Dr) Mudashiru Obasa, describing it as one of the best things to happen to the state.

Before committing the bill to the House committee on Health, Obasa said the bill should also make provision to criminalise the activities of ritualists.

He directed that the administration of criminal justice law be studied so that the Organ Harvest and Transplantation bill being considered can be all-encompassing.

Earlier, the chairman, House Committee on Health, Hon. Hakeem Sokunle (Oshodi-Isolo 1), explained that the bill captures the legal framework for the regulation of organ transplantation from donors either living or dead to patients in need.

Sokunle said the bill has seven parts with 37 sub-sections and tries to curb illegal trade in human parts.

Under its offence and penalties clause, the bill states that a person who removes the organ of another person for a reason other than for therapeutic purposes commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a term of 10 years without an option of fine.

The bill also stipulates that a person or any hospital and “who, for the purposes of transplant, conducts, associates with, or helps in any manner in the removal of any organ without authority commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding N5 million or a term of 10 years.

Contributing to the debate, Hon. Gbolahon Yishawu (Eti-Osa 2), said that the bill would help in putting a stop to organ trafficking. He called the attention of his colleagues to some grey areas in the bill.

Hon. Rotimi Olowo (Somolu 1) condemned the act of harvesting organs for monetary gain in some parts of Nigeria adding that the bill would put an end to such as well as protect minors and the mentally ill.

Olowo argued that the bill would bring about the sanctity of life and human dignity, adding that penalties for such acts should be stiffer than what was prescribed in the bill.

The lawmaker added that the bill provides for certified medical laboratories for the organs donated by donors and that this is aimed at stopping the involvement of quacks and the criminally minded.

Also, the Deputy Speaker, Hon. Wasiu Eshinlokun-Sanni, lamented the high rate of organ trafficking in the country, adding that the bill was all encompassing and that it should be supported by all members of the House.

The Leader of the House, Hon. Sanai Agunbiade, described the bill as a product of deep reflection on the part of the state government.

Itemisinng the various processes of organ transplantation as prescribed by the bill, Agunbiade added that it would improve procedure and discourage the act of organ harvesting for financial gain.

“The bill will ensure that organ transplanting is not all-comers affair in the health sector in Lagos,” Agunbiade said.

Oyo Assembly Funds Management Bill passes 2nd reading.

A law to provide for the management of funds accruing to the Oyo State House of Assembly from the consolidated revenue fund of the State scaled through 2nd reading ,Tuesday in the house.

The bill has consequently been referred to the Oyo State House Committee on Public Account and Appropriation for further scrutiny and deliberations.

It is meant to ensure accountability, transparency, effective and efficient utilization of funds and other related matters.

When operational, the House of Assembly shall manage its capital and recurrent expenditure in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended.

The bill was sponsored by the Speaker, Oyo State House of Assembly, Hon Adebo Ogundoyin and eight others .

The bill is imperative as the States Assembly across the country prepare to become financially autonomous.

The Speaker, Hon Adebo Ogundoyin said the bill which is being deliberated upon by all the 36 Houses of Assembly was aimed at enhancing and ensuring proper management of the income and expenditure of the Legislatures across the Country.

Hon Ogundoyin assured that the bill will be painstakingly deliberated upon in order to give legal support and framework to the finances of the House of Assembly.

In his contribution, the Deputy Speaker, Hon Muhammad Fadeyi said the bill will give total freedom to the Legislature and put an end to their dependence on the Executive arm of Government.

Other Lawmakers, the Majority Leader, Hon Sanjo Adedoyin, Hon Kazeem Isiaka Tunde (Oyo East/West), Hon Wumi Oladeji (Ogbomoso North) and Hon Babatunde Adeola (Iseyin/Itesiwaju) called for thorough scrutiny.

They said there should not be ambiguity in the bill as it meant to guarantee the rule of law , and enhance the concept of separation of power

Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Abdulrasheed Bawa, says a former governor of Lagos State and national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is under investigation.

He said: “You asked me a question earlier about arresting people before investigation and now you are saying why didn’t we arrest Tinubu? Why didn’t you just say ‘arrest him?’

“Investigation is ongoing. When you are investigating matters like this, they don’t end in a day. Thousands of investigations are going on, on a daily basis.

“You understand? You know you are from the media. After you will say we are doing media trial.”

Bawa was said to have requested for Tinubu’s assets declaration form when he was the head of Lagos Zonal Office.

The wife of the Late Eruwa Business Mogul, Political and Community Leader and Philanthropist of high repute , Chief Adeseun Adetona Ayisa Ogundoyin, Chief Mrs Tina Ogundoyin has presented foodstuffs, clothes and cash to one thousand widows and women drawn from Eruwa and Lanlate in Ibarapa East Local Government as part of programmes to commemorate the 30years remembrance of her late husband.

The program was held at the OriOke palatial mansion of the Late Chief Adeseun Ogundoyin in Eruwa.

The deceased who was the father of the Speaker, Oyo State House of Assembly, Hon Adebo Ogundoyin died on the 18th June , 1991.

Chief Mrs Ogundoyin said this year’s remembrance program was unique as it marked 30years of the death of a loving and caring husband and father hence she decided to make more people happy as was the practice of late Chief Adeseun Ogundoyin during his lifetime.

” It was just like yesterday. How time flies. 30years ago , the man of the people, the true son of Ibarapaland, a loving and caring husband and father passed away. I still miss my husband greatly. Though , I take solace in the fact that late Chief Adeseun Oguntona Ayisa Ogundoyin lived a fulfilled life and he is resting in the bosom of our Lord.

” We have not deviated from his idea and principle of my people first. We will always follow his footsteps of service to the people. This is why I decided to present gifts to over five hundred women and widows in Ibarapa East Local Government. My late husband was an easy going and accessible person who was ever ready to extend hands of love and fellowship to the people. This, we will continue to do to keep his memory alive and to uphold his legacy. ” Chief Tina Ogundoyin said

The wife, who is the Iyaloja of Ibarapaland assured the people that the family of Late Chief Ogundoyin will always make themselves available for the peace and development of the entire zone.

At a joint prayer session for the repose of the soul of the deceased, Rev. M.O Ayoola of First Baptist Church , Anko Eruwa and Alh Moshood Oladele, Anko Central Mosque, Eruwa urged the family and the entire people of Eruwa to live a life worthy of emulation.

The two Clerics described late Chief Adeseun Ogundoyin as a beacon of hope for the people during his sojourn on the mother earth.

The 30years remembrance programs also featured a visit to the tomb of Late Chief Adeseun Ogundoyin at Estate by his Children and family members including the Speaker, Oyo State House of Assembly, Hon Adebo Ogundoyin, his other siblings Adesoji, Adetoye and Aderemi Ogundoyin.

Recall that, at a separate program to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the death of late Chief Ogundoyin held at Eruwa Town Hall, the Speaker presented similar gifts to over one thousand widows, indigent and people with special needs.

Governor of Ekiti State, Dr Kayode Fayemi has emphasized the need for members of the political class and non-state actors to practise the 1993 June 12 ethos where sectional, sectarian and partisan interests were set aside in the overall interest of the country.

He said such a unity of purpose and positive disposition to the wellbeing of the country were needed in dealing with current agitation for secession.

Dr Fayemi said, there is hardly any doubt that there were calculated plans by some external forces in collaboration with domestic conspirators to dismember Nigeria and cause untold humanitarian crisis.

The Governor explained that the rising tide of agitations for secession in some parts of the country can be curtailed when leaders are challenged to promote issues that unite the nation through fairness, equity, and justice rather than issues of division.

Dr Fayemi stated this in Ado- Ekiti on Friday at a colloquium held in commemoration of the June 12, 1993 Presidential election with theme: “June12: Securing the Freedom of Democracy”

The colloquium which was chaired by the National Chairman of Afenifere Renewal Group, Hon Wale Osun, had veteran journalist, Dare Babrinsa, a members of Ekiti State House of Assembly, Hon Lateef Akanle and Chairperson, Ado Local Government, Mrs Omotunde Fajuyi as panelists.

The Governor who reminisced on the struggles of some political class for the reign of democracy in the country, noted that the June 12 elections revealed the strength of the nation’s diversity as it betrays the theoretical postulations about ethno religious influence on electoral outcomes in the country.

Drawing lessons from the June, 12 1993 elections, he said; “For me the most striking lessons is that unity of purpose, open mindedness are needed for our country to escape the relentless efforts of some elements to subvert our country’s corporate existence.

“The security challenges that confront us today is a direct threat to the future of our country because of the disunity among Nigeria elite on how to confront what is clearly a threat to their survival.

“Toxic mentoring that glorifies criminality, exacerbating hatred and divide our people should be scrupulously avoided. Nigeria was at such as a precipice in 1993 after the exit of Gen Gbadamosi Babangida but it was at this moment that conscientious leaders came together under the National Democratic Coalition and other various organisations to provide a national direction and a pathway to democracy. The political class elite of the time intentionally involved to curtail the rhetoric of internal issues and to avoid distraction of subverting elements.

“That is why we must all come together both those who are in government and those outside the government to challenge our leaders to do the right things. Confront the issues that divide us, promote the issues that unite us, ensure fairness, ensure equity, and ensure justice in our polity. Even as we fight to end criminality, let us unite all forms of bigotry in order to build a nation where peace and justice shall reign.”

The speaker of Ekiti State House of Assembly, Hon Funminiyi Afuye in his goodwill messages reflected on the roles that Governor Fayemi and other stakeholders in the June 12 struggle played in the actualization of democracy in the country.

Also, in his welcome address, Hon Wale Osun maintained that the freedom of democracy can only be secured true federalism that does not subjugate any part of its component and give due recognition to the diversity that exist within the nation.

He added that the current constitution lacks the principles to guarantee the kind of democratic freedom that the country deserves.

The panelists; Dare Babarinsa, Hon Lateef Akanle and Mrs Omotunde Fajuyi, who fielded various questions from the moderator identified lack of abundance resources, trust, transparency, accountability, moral ethic, and prevalence of violence as the major cog in the wheel of democratic freedom in the country.

Suggestions offered to achieve democratic freedom by the panelists included; fairness in the sharing of the country’s resources, need to practice the tenets of democracy, need to bring perpetrator of violence to brook, need for youth to embrace knowledge, change of mindset, hard work and revival of moral ethics, among others.

ODUDUWA NEWS has gathered that two members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti state have been reportedly suspended for allegedly having affiliations with the South West Agenda for 2023, a political group that is advocating for the presidential aspiration of a former governor of Lagos, Bola Ahmed Tinubu. According to the report, the affected members, Kayode Adetifa and Jide Oso, were APC members in Ward 9, Owaye Quarters, in Ayede Ekiti in the Oye Local Government Area (LGA) of the state.

The suspension was contained in two separate letters handed over to the party members. The letters accused them of working against the unity of the party in the state. The letters read in part: “We noted from your activities in the party in the recent past that you have been working against the unity of the party even to the extent of creating a parallel ward that you named “SWAGA” within the ward. “You sent in confirmation of your action through Mr Jide Oso, a former ward chairman on 16th May 2021 to the ward that you have created another venue for this purpose.”

The party’s spokesperson, Ade Ajayi, justified the suspension. He said disciplinary action was taken against the members because they were defying the party’s orders and dividing the party through their actions.

Meanwhile, a former Minister of Works, Dayo Adeyeye, has argued that the fact that the Southwest Zone has produced the president in the past won’t stop it from clinching the presidential ticket if the APC zoned the 2023 ticket to the south. It was reported that Adeyeye made the statement in Ado Ekiti on Tuesday, June 15, during the official launching of the South West Agenda (SWAGA) 2023. The ex-minister argued that Bola Ahmed Tinubu remains the right man to succeed President Buhari.

The youth umbrella body of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Oyo State on Saturday, passed a vote of no confidence on the Youth leader of the party, Asiwaju Adekola Adeoye.

Adekola Adeoye according to his recent posts on social media, expressed his displeasure with Governor Seyi Makinde for not keeping to the promises he (Makinde) made to him before his victory at the poll in 2019. Reports from leaders and members of the party alleged Adekola of anti-party activities which they described as inimical to the PDP. He was said to have voted for Eddy Olafeso at the PDP zonal Congress held in Oshogbo, the capital of Osun State.

Meanwhile, Adekola Adeoye says he felt betrayed and disappointed after he had exercised patience for the needful to be done. Adeoye was present at the meeting of the aggrieved PDP members held at Jogor event.
However, the PDP youths are holding their expanded meeting at the party’s Secretariat, Molete, Ibadan. Their communiqué will be out after the meeting. According to a member of the party, the youth leader may be suspended.

Details later….

Oyo APC was reacting to the violence that happened at Iwo Road on Wednesday, where the boys of Mukaila Lamidi, popularly known as Auxiliary, Chairman of Park Management System in Oyo State, allegedly attacked some shop owners.

A statement signed on Thursday by Dr AbdulAzeez Olatunde, Publicity Secretary of the APC Caretaker Committee in the state, said the orgy of violence unleashed on the innocent traders and passers-by at Iwo Road is not only condemnable but “in all honesty reminds us all of the trademark of PDP Government of Engr Seyi Makinde since assumption of office on the 29th of May 2019.”

The party reminded the people of the state the governor’s promise when he visited Igangan after suspected Fulani herdsmen unleashed mayhem on the town.

“After the bloody mayhem of Sunday, 6th June 2021, just 10 days ago, Governor Seyi Makinde said that would be the end of security breaches in Oyo State, after which he admitted that his government failed, which unfortunately somesaulted within 10 days.

“However, between the Igangan mayhem of 6th June 2021, and the Iwo Road fatal hitch of 16th Jun 2021, there has been daily occurrences of violence upon violence within Ibadan metropolis, which is further confirming that the Governor of Oyo State, Engr Seyi Makinde, is not prepared for governance; the daily security challenges have exposed his unpreparedness.

“As in the past security breaches, the notorious Park Managers outfit created by Governor Seyi Makinde were seriously fingered in the latest mayhem and it is essential that we remind the Governor, once again, to put politics aside and embrace good governance, at least for once,” Oyo APC said.

The statement said the youth that are daily and systematically suffering from the “lackadaisical attitude of Gov Seyi Makinde to the security of Oyo State are the backbone of the development of any society.”

“Imagine the anger and the despondency of the youth which forced them to carry the victims and casualties to the office of Gov Seyi Makinde,which the figures are not yet to be ascertained.

“Unfortunately, eye witnesses account indicted the ÀMỌ̀TẸ́KÙN security outfit as toothless and ordinary passer-by because its operatives were seen watching helplessly while the orgy of violence and mayhem was ongoing, which perhaps confirms the fear of the populace that the outfit has recruited wrong personnel for an ulterior motive,” it added.

According to Oyo APC, “for any state to attract serious investors, effective security of lives and property is the prerequisite of the magnetic attraction and German floor of any government, as witnessed in the last administration of Sen Abiola Ajimobi, which endeared foreign direct investors to Oyo State then.”

The party advised Makinde to brace up and rejig the security architecture of the state by convening a security summit so that the gains recorded between 2011- and 2019 would not be eroded.