Category: Politics

The big hammer of the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Sen. Lekan Balogun, CFR, Alli Okunmade II, on Friday, fell on one of his Mogajis, Chief Olawale Oladoja, Mogaji Akinsola as he was suspended as Mogaji following his dastard activities in the Akinsola Village in Akinyele Local Government area of Oyo State.

The community came into limelight on Thursday following the clamping down on the residents of the community by the Mogaji Akinsola claiming that he had gotten court judgments to prove that the land upon which they built their houses was not legally sold to them.

It would be recalled that about 200 houses in the community under reference were on Wednesday put under lock and key and red- marked which he said was to prove his being in charge. The action threw the residents out of their houses, leading some of them to sleep in the open throughout the night following which they protested to the Olubadan Palace on Thursday.

The complaints and the public outcry that greeted the matter which trended on the internet led to the emergency meeting conveyed on Friday which had in attendance the Olubadan, some of the members of his Advisory Council, the representatives of Ibadan Mogajis led by Chief Asimiyu Adepoju Ariori, Mogaji Akinsola and the representatives of the residents and where the decision to suspend the Mogaji and other actions were taken.

Briefing the press after the meeting, the Personal Assistant (Media) to Olubadan, Oladele Ogunsola disclosed that three communities, Akinsola, Aponmode and Labinkulu were actually affected by the action with the other two communities as represented by Baale Aponmode, Dauda Bolarinwa Aponmode and Morufu Raufu relaying how they were recruited by Mogaji Akinsola to join him in reclaiming the land from the landlords and how they turned him down.

In his presentation, Mogaji Akinsola told the monarch and his members of Advisory Council that he made several attempts to resolve the matter before he decided to take action. He disclosed that the matter was also reported to the palace and moves were being made to intervene but didn’t wait for the conclusion of the palace intervention before he approached the security agents for the execution of the court judgment that gave his family the right of ownership of the disputed land.

The Ashipa Olubadan, Oba Biodun Kola-Daisi who read the riot act on behalf of the Olubadan Advisory Council said “several facts were established here today and they pointed to the fact that Mogaji Akinsola didn’t follow the code of conduct usually handed down to both Mogajis and Baales when being appointed.

“In this instance, the case was already in the Palace, but, did you inform the palace before the police was invited? Your action inconvenient, embarrassed the Olubadan stool and the Ibadanland. You crossed the line and the Council has decided that you be suspended as Mogaji, you are ordered to tender public apology to the people inconvenienced.

“You defied Olubadan, took laws into your hands by going ahead to take such drastic decision. This will serve as deterrents to others who fail to appreciate and recognize the responsibility their position as either Baale or Mogaji entails. Your suspension will last for as long as it takes to resolve the problem you have created”, Ashipa Olubadan added.

President Bola Tinubu has named former Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike as Minister of Federal Capital Territory FCT, Gboyega Oyetola, ex-Osun State Governor as Minister of Transportation and Adebayo Adelabu as Minister of Power.

Tinubu has revealed other portfolios of the Minister’s Designate as highlighted below:

Nyesom Wike – FCT Minister

Festus Keyamo – Minister of Aviation

Adebayo Adelabu- Minister Of Power

Adegboyega Oyetola – Minister of Transportation

Dele Alake- Minister of Solid Minerals

Muhammed Idris – Minister of Information

Mohammed Badaru- Minister of Defence

Minister of State, Defense – Bello Mattawale

Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy – Wale Edun

Minister of Works- Dave Umahi

Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare – Ali Pate

Minister of Agriculture and food security -Abubakar kyari

Minister of Youths- Abubakar Mohmoh

Minister of Communications and Digital Economy – Bosun

Minister of Foreign Affairs – Yusuf Tuga

Minister of Budget and Economic planning – Atiku Bagudu

Minister of Water resources and sanitation – Joseph utsve

Minister of Steel development – Shuaibu Audu

Minister of State, Agriculture – Sabi Abdullahi

Minister of Trade and investment – Doris Anieete

Minister of Humanitarian affairs and poverty alleviation – Betta Edu

Minster or Sport – John Eno

Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy – Bunmi Tunji Ojo

Minister of Petroleum resources – Yet to be allocated

Minister of Labor and employment – Simon Lalong

Minister of Special duties – Zapahnnaih Gazzalo

President Bola Tinubu has appointed immediate past governors of Rivers and Ebonyi states, Nyesome Wike and Dave Umahi as Ministers of FCT and Minister of Works, respectively

President Bola Tinubu is considering a “temporary subsidy” on petrol as crude oil prices and foreign exchange rates continue to soar, according to ODUDUWA NEWS.

Sitrep gathered that there is no no final decision on the temporary subsidy yet.

However, presidency sources told TheCable,that the proposal is “firmly on the table” as Nigerians continue to groan under harsh economic realities following the removal of petrol subsidy in May 2023.

Already, labour unions have threatened to embark on an indefinite strike if the petrol price further surges.

The Kenyan government, on Monday, re-introduced fuel subsidies to curb soaring prices of petrol, kerosene, and diesel in the country.

The Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculations Board (JAMB), Professor Is-haq Oloyede, has defended the decision of the commission to employ 300 staff without advertising the positions.

Professor Oloyede, who appeared before the House of Representatives on Monday, said the decision was to fill vacancies created due to retirement.

The House of Representatives ad-hoc committee is investigating employment racketeering by Ministries, Departments and Agencies and mismanagement of the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS).

Meanwhile, the committee also observed that 14 individuals at the Federal Character Commission (FCC) received salaries through IPPIS without being placed in any federal government agencies.

Th Govt of Ondo State has debunked rumour that Gov Akeredolu has returned back to Ondo from medical leave.

This was contained in a statement made available to newsmen by Gov Akeredolu Press Secretary, Prince Richard Olatunde as read in part:

“Our attention has been drawn to a recent video circulating on social media, suggesting the return of Ondo State Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, CON, from his medical vacation.

“While we acknowledge the eagerness of the people of the state, as well as supporters and well-wishers from both within and outside the country to have the Governor back, we want to clarify that Governor Akeredolu is currently in Germany, focused on his full recovery.

“Governor Akeredolu extends his deep appreciation to the citizens of Ondo State for their unwavering prayers and support. Their genuine concern and compassion have been instrumental in aiding his recovery journey.

“It’s important to note that Governor Akeredolu will return to the state very soon to continue executing his administration’s REDEEMED agenda and providing impactful governance. His commitment to delivering positive and lasting development remains steadfast.

“The video in question, which is circulating, was captured during the Governor’s campaign tour in preparation for the last Presidential and National Assembly elections.

“Governor Akeredolu is eagerly looking forward to reuniting with the people of the sunshine state. He is deeply moved by the outpouring of love and support, and he can’t wait to continue working towards a brighter future for Ondo State”.

Ekiti State Government has approved N250 million as palliatives for 10,000 households for five months to cushion the biting effect of the removal of subsidy on fuel by President Bola Tinubu.

The decision followed the submission of a report of a committee set up by Governor Biodun Oyebanji to propose urgent interventions that would soften the impact of the removal of fuel subsidy.

According to the Chairman of the committee, who doubles as the Commissioner for Finance, Akin Oyebode, other interventions included payment of one year’s leave bonus for state and local council workers.

“As a result of our engagement with the organised labour, the governor has now approved the immediate implementation of the recommendation.” Other highlights of the palliatives included payment of one month’s pension arrears for state and local council pensioners, implementation of consequential adjustment for workers on Grade Level 14-17 for state and local council workers, implementation of 90% CONHESS and 100 per cent hazard allowance for health workers in the councils and implementation of salary parity for clinical members of staff of the hospitals’ management board.

The rest are implementation of financial benefits of 2020 and 2021 promotions for state and local council workers and immediate payment of one month subvention arrears to tertiary institutions.

The chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo state, Honorable Isaac Omodewu, has described the call for the dissolution of all executive committees of the Party as mere wishful thinking of some bad political players whose knowledge of constitutional democracy cannot stand the test of time.

Omodewu was apparently reacting to a statement credited to a former federal lawmaker, Senator Ayoade Adeseun, who was quoted to have said on a live radio interview program monitored in Ibadan at the weekend that there were plans to replaced the current executive committees of the APC in Oyo state with Interim Committee as a prelude to repositioning of the party.

In a statement issued on Saturday and made available to journalists in Ibadan, Hon. Omodewu regretted that Sen. Adeseun threw caution into the wind again while appearing on a live radio interview in a similar way he and his ilks did to precipitate needless crisis in the political space in the state on several occasions in the past. Funny enough, the man (Adeseun) is not a member of the APC at the moment as he worked assiduously for his party (Accord) in the recently concluded general election.

“We can recall that Sen. Adeseun emboldened others to reject all efforts made to placate them to remain in the APC following their disappointment at the end of the party primary conducted to pick candidates for the 2023 general elections. He gave them false hope about using another party to win election but at the end of the day, many people were made to waste collosal resources only for most of them to end up working for Gov. Seyi Makinde of the PDP even when their own Accord fielded candidates in the same election.

“Adeseun is only doing what he knows how to do best in the field of politics but he should be reminded that nature has its way of rewarding people. If an individual has been a member of about seven different political parties in the last 15 years and he is now making funny claims on air, he should blame himself if the old and young ones now see him as a confused clown.

“Immediately after the 2019 general election, Adeseun was everywhere telling the whole world how he was cheated in the PDP by Gov. Makinde and his narration was similar to what claimed led him to leave the same PDP for ACN in 2010 when he sought to wreck his kinsman (late Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala) but he failed. He then then left the ACN for the PDP in 2014 because he felt a need to wrestle power from late Sen. Abiola Ajimobi. What an unstable and controversial man he is.

“The current APC executive committees are products of legitimate congress and there is no place for fiat in our democracy that would empower the likes of Sen. Adeseun to order the dissolution of party executive committees even reasonable people would like to ask in what capacity he acted when he made the obnoxious remarks on radio. Adeseun, in his naivety, should have also asked for the sack of the executive committees in all the states where APC lost the governorship election or rather ask all those who won, in the 2023 election, on the platform of Oyo APC to vacate their office.

“As far as we are concerned, we have our eyes on the ball and we will not leave any stone unturned to ensure that all aggrieved members who left our party in 2022 and new members from other political parties are attracted to Oyo APC. Our efforts have yielded positive results. Oyo APC remains a party to beat and recently we received gubernatorial candidate of Labour Party, Alh. Tawfiq Akinwale, and that of Action Peoples Party, Alh. Kazeem Ayandoye as well as their numerous supporters into the APC while many of those who left in 2022 have also returned”. Omodewu stated.

Veteran Nollywood actress, Sidikat Odukanwi, popularly known as Iyabo Oko, has been buried in Ile-Ife, Osun state.

The actress died on Wednesday, June 28, aged 61 after a long battle with an undisclosed ailment.

She was diagnosed with an ischemic stroke in 2015, which forced her to take a vacation from performing.

Iyabo Oko was born in Iwo, Osun, on November 15, 1960. She began performing as a teenager in 1973 with the Eda Onileola Theatre Troupe before becoming well-known for her portrayal in the ‘Oga Bello-produced film Oko.

In the past few weeks, media space has been awash with series of comments from political gladiators in the State over the choice of Makinde picking a young and energetic youth, Adegoke Wasilat as Commissioner-Nominee from Ibarapa East.

Meanwhile, contrary to speculations which circulated on the social media recently over a purportedly endorsed another commissioner-nominee for Oyo State Ministry of Youths and Sports different from Wasilat Adegoke, a credible source has confirmed that the political class in Ibarapa East mainly of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had ratified and adopted only Adegoke Wasilat Adefemi nomination into the state executive council.

Another source in the Oyo State House of Assembly who pleaded anonymity therefore said that the House at its next plenary sitting would request Adegoke and one other Commissioner nominee meant for another Ministry to submit their CVs for legislative screening and confirmation as final ratification was already made and same had been documented, and duly communicated to the House.

The source disclosed further that Adegoke’s adoption by the PDP leadership in Ibarapa East followed due consultations and resolutions based on her political antecedents and track records in grassroots politics in addition to her suitability based on the set out criteria which include among others, that such nominee must not be older than thirty years.

Adegoke, a graduate of Statistics from the famous Polytechnic of Ibadan who hails from Elegun compound Oke Otun, in Lanlate was the State PDP Ex-Officio between 2018 and 2021 which according to the source made her the most suitable for their adoption following her active involvement in the enthronement of the Seyi Makinde led government in 2019.

Born in June 1994, Adegoke’s passion for the development of Ibarapa inspired her active participation in active grassroots politics and as such has since become a respected and loyal party faithful whose passion for the Seyi Makinde development plan prior to the 2019 general elections propelled her grassroots mobilization drive for both 2019 and 2023 governorship elections, the source added.

It was gathered that the name of another lady who also hails from Ibarapa East was equally submitted as a nominee but the PDP leaders in Ibarapa East would rather prefer a core party faithful.

” The final choice of a Commissioner is the prerogative right and power of Governor Seyi Makinde. We can only suggest and nominate. However, we are happy as the feelers reaching us have shown and confirmed that the Governor has forwarded the name of the 29year old Adegoke Wasilat Adefemi to the Oyo State House of Assembly for screening and confirmation. She is our choice and she has our support”

The source also disclosed that the Speaker, Oyo State House of Assembly, Adebo Ogundoyin was not left out of the selection process as one of the leaders from the area.

According to the source, PDP leaders and elders from Ibarapa East were compelled to adhere strictly to the laid down specifications listed by Governor Seyi Makinde for whoever would emerge as the new Youths and Sports Commissioner from the area.

It was also gathered that part of Governor Makinde’s specifications for a new Youths and Sports Commissioner nominee include the fact that such a person must be a female, a youth of under thirty years old, and must be a Muslim.

The source however, noted that the speculations in a section of online news media recently were sponsored to market the other person who was not the collective choice of the PDP leaders.

It added that such sponsored publication was needless, stressing that Wasilat Adegoke satisfied all expectations on experience needed to manage political and interpersonal relationships within a political family in the office and at home.

A senior aide of Senator Solomon Adeola (APC, Ogun West) Mr. Adeniyi Sanni has been killed in a yet-to-be clearly ascertained circumstance in the early hours of Saturday in Lagos, it has been learnt.

The media adviser to Senator Adeola, Chief Kayode Odunaro, disclosed this in a statement in Abuja.

The statement reads in part: “Information available to the bereaved Senator in Abuja indicates that Mr. Sanni was stopped at a checking point around Berger Area of Lagos on his way to his home at Isheri by security agents.

“He was asked to provide the documents of the car he was driving, which he did through his wife who sent all the documents to his phone WhatsApp

“. It was gathered that the wife called a while later and the late Mr. Sanni told him they are still checking the vehicle’s paper.

“His apprehensive wife later called on Mr. Sanni’s associates to say he could no longer reach her husband on phone necessitating the mobilization of a search party.

“She was later called by passersby through the Next of Kin phone number on her husband’s driver’s license that the body of Mr. Sanni was dumped around Toyota Bus Stop in Oshodi with gunshot wound.

“Senator Adeola who is involved in the ongoing miniterial screening at the Senate is shocked beyond words and devastated by the news of this sad incident, as Mr. Sanni was his close aide for over two decades. The Nigeria Police Force are investigating the killing.”