Category: Politics

The House of Representatives has commenced a probe of the Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola. The Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila, made this known on Wednesday.

Gbajabiamila is a staunch loyalist of Bola Ahmed Tinubu, a National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC, who has declared his intention to run for presidency in 2023.

This development is coming few days after Aregbesola publicly call out Asiwaju Bola Tinubu for turning himself into a god.

Gbajabiamila presided over the plenary on Wednesday, where members resolved that the interior minister and prisons chief, Haliru Nababa be probed.

They are being accused of misappropriating about N165billion funds earmarked for prisons development across the country.

The House resolution came as a result of a motion of urgent public importance moved by Ndudi Elumelu, who is the Minority Leader of the House.

“The House is disturbed that despite this Act and increase in budgetary allocations to the Nigerian Correctional Service to drive its renewed mandate, the tempo and quality of the service have remained the same if not retrogressing,” Elumelu said.

“The House is worried that the working conditions of staff and inmates’ welfare have deteriorated notwithstanding, the over N165 billion budget allocations to the service in the last two years.”

With this, the lawmakers resolved to have its committee on Reformatory Institutions investigate the allegations and report to the House within 12 weeks, for further legislative action.

The Former Osun State Deputy Governor, Senator Iyiola Omisore on Tuesday disclosed that his major focus now is to ensure that Governor Adegboyega Oyetola is re-elected during the July 16 governorship election in the state.

Speaking in Osogbo through the Commissioner for Youths and Sports, Yemi Lawal, the Senator said he is not distracted with the activities of some disgruntled elements in the state.

“Whatever anyone is doing to disrupt the peace of Osun State with a view to disturbing Governor Adegboyega Oyetola’s re-election is a mere waste of time.

“My only focus, for now, is getting Oyetola re-elected during the July 16 governorship election. The primary is a done deal.

The Chief Press Secretary to Osun Governor, Ismail Omipidan, has declared that former Governor of the State and Interior minister, Rauf Aregbesola, is not God and therefore, cannot determine the fate of his principal, Adegboyega Oyetola.

He said this on Tuesday while fielding questions from journalists in Ila, on the sidelines of the Ila Federal Constituency stakeholders’ meeting.

According to him: “the general belief among most Africans that ‘a man’s life is preordained and ruled by God’ has continued to play out in the political trajectory of Governor Adegboyega Oyetola of Osun.

“From 2011 when he was appointed Chief of Staff to 2018 when, against all odds, he emerged, first as the candidate of the APC, and later, Governor of the State, at a time when many thought it was all over for him, it was obvious that he was on a divine political course.

“My Principal has absolute faith in God and the people of Osun. In these last three years plus, the people can tell the difference in terms of responsible and responsive governance and politics.

“Before we came in, Osun West was literally neglected in terms of infrastructure. But since we came in, we have done roads that had been abandoned for close to 20 years in that district. This, perhaps, explains why leaders and critical stakeholders from the area are already appealing to themselves to allow Oyetola take another shot at the governorship for the second term.

“Just about a week ago, the Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrosheed Akanbi, charged the people of the town to vote for incumbent Governor Oyetola.

“Oluwo, who advised his subjects not to waste their resources and energy working against the re-election bid of the governor, said only those who are not interested in the growth and development of the town in particular and Osun State in general would want to run against Oyetola.

“The royal father said by the special Grace of God and the support of the people of Osun, Oyetola will be re-elected to consolidate the achievements he has so far recorded. Now, Aregbesola’s anointed candidate is from Iwo. So you be the judge.

“As the 2022 governorship contest draws closer, like the saying goes, there is no point comparing the sun with the moon, both shine when it is their time. For now, it’s Oyetola’s sun that is shining by the permission and Grace of God and the power of the people of Osun. And as the majority are already saying, this sun will shine beyond 2022.

“Therefore, it is God and Osun people that will determine Oyetola’s fate, not an individual trying to play God,” Omipidan said.

Rauf Aregbesola, Minister of Interior is at daggers drawn with his benefactor, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Speaking in Oriade LGA of Osun on Monday, Aregbesola said Tinubu was exalted “beyond his status and he turned himself to a god over us”.

“We exalted him beyond his status and he turned himself to a god over us and we had sworn to ridicule anyone who compared himself to God.

“When he (Tinubu) handed over the present governor to me around July of 2018, he (Tinubu) declared that he (Oyetola) will succeed me and continue my good works. That was what he told me. He knows he has not done so if he is listening now and he has failed to call my successor to order.”

That was how it was in Lagos at a time; a governor derailed and the party members unseated him using the ballot boxes. As it was in Lagos yesterday, so shall it be in Osun today,” he said.

“What is good for the goose is also good for the gander.” He said.

Oyo State Governor, ‘Seyi Makinde, has approved the appointment of Senator Lekan Balogun as the 42nd Olubadan of Ibadanland.

The approval follows a recommendation to that effect made by the Olubadan-in-Council and which was communicated to the governor.

A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, indicated that Governor Makinde wishes the newly confirmed Olubadan a peaceful and eventful reign.

The governor said: “I am pleased to announce the appointment of the Otun Olubadan of Ibadanland, High Chief Lekan Balogun as the 42nd Olubadan of Ibadanland.

“The appointment is in line with the Olubadan of Ibadan Chieftaincy Declaration, as well as the unique and time-tested tradition of our people.

“On behalf of the government and good people of Oyo State, I wish the newly confirmed Olubadan a successful reign blessed with peace and unprecedented progress.”

On a similar note, Governor Makinde has also approved the revocation of the amended Ibadan Chieftaincy Declaration, which regulates the selection to the Olubadan of Ibadan chieftaincy stool.

The statement indicated that the governor made the revocation order, dated February 11, 2022, in line with the powers conferred on him by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), in view of the Judgements of the Oyo State High Court on February 1 and 10 as well as Sections 7, 20,26 and 30 of the Chiefs Law of Oyo State 2000.

The four separate laws/White Papers approved for revocation were made public by the immediate past administration between 2017 and 2018.

The statement listed the laws/white papers to include the amended declaration regulating the selection to the Olubadan Chieftaincy stool, published in August 2017; the implementation of the White Paper on the review of the existing Olubadan of Ibadan Chieftaincy Declaration and other chieftaincies in Ibadan, Published in August 2017; the approval of appointment of beaded crows for the Olubadan in Council published March 2018 and the appointment of Beaded crowns and Coronet Wearing Obas published in March 2018.

A pro-Bola Tinubu coalition, the Support Groups Management Council, has released a statement over the circulating video of the All Progressives Congress, APC, national leader’s wet dress.

The group in their statement tried to convince Nigerians that the viral video and photographs of Tinubu in a wet dress is the work of mischief-makers.

The coalition said the viral video was manipulated, insisting that the APC national leader is healthy and ready to challenge and win the 2023 presidential election.

The Jagaban of Lagos visited some top traditional rulers in Ogun State, including the Alake and Paramount Ruler of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo, on Sunday. The visit was in continuation of his consultations.

After the visitations, a video of the former Lagos State Governor in a wet dress around his lower region surfaced on social media.

However, the coalition, in a statement signed by its Director of Media and Publicity, Biodun Ajiboye, described the claim as false and a malicious move by haters to discredit a successful meeting between Tinubu and the traditional rulers.

The group believes it was the alleged success of the meeting that led those they described as evildoers and enemies of progress to script a dirty tale to discredit the outing.

“This time it is that he wetted his dress!

“Assuming without conceding that is the case, so is it the back of his knees that would be wet and not the bum area? So if he wetted his babariga, he would not cover it and would still move to be flat to greet the Awujale of Ijebuland in the full glare of everyone present?” The coalition wondered.

“It was the usual photoshop manipulations and shallow mental agility that pushed them to dispense a feeble narrative that made no iota of sense.

“Yet as their video showed, it was after their wetting incident that he went ahead and prostrated to Kabiyesi,” the group said.

According to them, this was another way to distract their presidential aspirant, which will amount to nothing, adding that Tinubu has his leg on the throttle and there is no going back.

“We want to assure Nigerians that Asiwaju Bola Tinubu is healthy and strong enough to undertake the responsibilities involved in the expected rigours of campaigns and politicking when the time comes,” they maintained.

A popular social commentator and a columnist at Nigerian Tribune, Prof. Farooq Kperogi has claimed that national leader of APC and presidential aspirant in 2023 general election is suffering from urinary disorder.

This was contained in a statement made available by the Prof via his official Facebook account as read in part:

“When I read about the widely circulated scatological disaster that occurred to Tinubu when he flew to Minna on January 20 to seek IBB’s blessing for his presidential run, I dismissed it as probably a made-up anecdote by his political opponents.

“Then came the video of Tinubu in what appears like a mortifying urinary calamity at the palace of the Awujale of the Ijebuland on Saturday, there’s now no doubt that Tinubu is way sicker than we ever thought–and than Buhari has ever been.

“I hope his wife– and people who truly love him– will be kind enough to advise him to stop subjecting himself to further public humiliation by giving up his presidential ambition and going to take care of his health. I may die before him, but Aso Rock is not a hospice.

“I sincerely feel sorry for the man, but I’m even more sorry for a country that considers someone like that as an option to be president”.

The National leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, on Saturday, said he informed President Muhammadu Buhari of his presidential ambition in order not to offend him.

Tinubu said this was done in order not to create bad blood between him and President Buhari, saying he did not want to offend Buhari by “pulling the carpet from his feet.”

The former Lagos State Governor spoke on Saturday when he visited the Alake and paramount ruler of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo, at his Ake palace in Abeokuta, Ogun State.

Tinubu, who recently visited Buhari to inform him of his 2023 ambition, had earlier visited Awujale and paramount ruler of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona at his Ijebu-Ode palace, Ogun State.

Addressing the monarch, Tinubu said: “I told the President I want to replace you and I don’t want to offend you. I told the President that I want to step in his shoes, but not step on his toes.

“I told him as the number one citizen, I should start my Presidential bid by informing you first, and he (Buhari) told me to inform the whole world, and I have done that.”

The APC chieftain recalled that he had served as a senator at a young age, adding that he clocked the age of 50 while serving as governor.

He spoke further that, “I have done crusades to return Nigeria to democracy before I started hearing the voices of the people that I should contest for president. I have thought about it deeply, but I cannot think about it alone.

“The people said, this time around, I should run for the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. I told them that we have elected someone there and I don’t want to pull the carpet from his feet.”

Tinubu said he was in Ogun to seek the permission of the monarchs to contest for president and to also seek their blessings.

“I want to seek the permission of the Kabiyesi. I want to seek his blessings and prayers from other chiefs.

“I’m here to tell you (Alake) that, I want your prayers and I want to inform you that I want to become the president.”

Responding, the Alake prayed for Tinubu to achieve his ambition, expressing optimism that, “if Tinubu becomes the president, Nigeria will be better for it.”

A clash between members of the Park Management System in Oyo State, and some hoodlums known as the federal boys, has reportedly resulted in the untimely death of a man known as Afiz Agate.

Agate, it was gathered, was a member of PMS formerly known as the National Union of Road Transport Workers.

The clash reportedly started at the Oremeji area of Ibadan on Thursday and continued until Friday morning with heavy shooting.

The clash was said to have caused panic among residents of the area.

The Commandant of the Amotekun Corps in Oyo State, Olayinka Olayanju, who confirmed the incident, said one person has been killed.

The Public Relations Officer of the Park Management System in the state, Emiola Jelili, when contacted, told journalists that, the federal boys were not drivers, but touts popularly called areas boys, who usually extort motorists, and steal from passengers and others at the Oremeji area.

He said, “There is no fight between PMS members. What happened is that there are area boys called federal boys, they are not drivers but they extort drivers and steal from others.

“We have reported them to the police at Agugu in the past, but nothing was done. Some even told us that the police could not do anything to the boys because some of the policemen benefitted from the boys.

“But yesterday (Thursday), while the robbery at Idi-Ape was going on, there was gridlock on the Lagos-Ibadan expressway and other roads. These federal boys seized that opportunity to be robbing people in the traffic.

“Some of those who escaped from them ran to our park in the area to take refuge, but these boys still pursued them there. We had to drive them back. They came back and attacked our offices after we had closed, but security agents had taken over the place now.”