Oduduwa News

The Oyo State Government has justified the proposed spending of ₦63.4 billion to overhaul the over 70 year old Government House.

The Commissioner for Information, Prince Dotun Oyelade, said this while fielding questions from a BBC reporter.

The controversy concerning the amount of money to be spent on reconstructing the Government House, Agodi, Ibadan was triggered after a press release signed by the commissioner after the last Executive Council meeting held on Tuesday, 17th of June, 2025.

The Commissioner said the section of the media that touted the impression that the Government House was going to be renovated is either ignorant or mischievous.

“Not once in the 21 paragraph press release, did we use the word ‘renovation,’ whereas we emphasized total overhauling and reconstruction of the old Government House.” Oyelade reaffirmed.

The Commissioner said that the present administration has over 200 ongoing projects, including the Samuel Ladoke Akintola International Airport, The 110KM Circular Road, LAUTECH Iseyin campus, Fashola Agro-industrial hub and several other infrastructural development projects across the seven zones of the State and the Government House overhauling and reconstruction is one of them.

The Seyi Makinde administration is the least that can be accused of not getting its priorities right and for six years, the government has nurtured the finance of the State efficiently, such that the Internally Generated Revenue, IGR, has increased by over 300% within this period from about ₦1.5 billion to ₦7.8 billion as at the end of May 2025.

The administration has also vigorously pursued the welfare of its workers such that it would pay over ₦174 billion annually in salaries and wages at ₦14.5 billion monthly, to the largest State workforce in Nigeria.

The Commissioner said that an administration that has employed over 27,000 workers, spent a record ₦13 billion on gratuities and pension for the aged, subsidizes the transportation fare of over 42,000 commuters everyday till date and promoted 45 permanent secretaries in one fell swoop, cannot be accused of profligacy.

On the reconstruction and overhauling of the Government House itself, 21 structures would be affected.

The decrepit presidential lodge and the banquet hall, which will be ready for the State’s 50th anniversary celebration next year February, will be totally reconstructed while the Governor and the Deputy Governor’s main residences will be overhauled and structural, architectural, mechanical and electrical works will be comprehensively carried out.

Also affected are several Quarters and chalets for visitors, senior and junior staff, whose duties would necessitate dwelling in the Government House.

According to Prince Oyelade, the mosque, church, external botanical garden, roadworks, landscaping, fencing and furniture are also affected in the reconstruction.

It is instructive that the new Government House will also accommodate a helipad to allow VIP visitors including the presidency, fellow Governors, important dignitaries and the host Governor himself to commute seamlessly to and from their destinations in helicopters.

In arriving at this decision, the State Governor had factored-in, the pride of the State, a befitting official residences for the numbers one and two citizens of the State and a legacy of a beautiful ambience for a place that once had the likes of Sir. John Rankin, Sir. Adesoji Aderemi and others as tenants.

The Commissioner for Information described as laughable and kindergarten the suggestion by a potential gubernatorial candidate in 2027 that the people of Oyo State would be better served by distributing ₦3 million of the ₦63.4 billion to 20,000 citizens.

Those who live in Oyo State know that, that is a poor imitation of the Sustainable Action for Economic Recovery (SAfER) program of Governor Seyi Makinde that is impacting effectively in the lives of the people since the wake of the removal of fuel subsidy.

The overhauling and reconstruction of the Government House is yet another legacy that the Seyi Makinde administration will bequeath to the people of Oyo State.

Panic and grief have gripped the Bokungi community near Gbale in Edu Local Government Area of Kwara State after armed bandits launched a deadly attack, killing a local vigilante and abducting several residents.

The assault took place on the evening of Wednesday, June 25, 2025, when the gunmen stormed the village, shooting sporadically and causing widespread chaos. In a bid to defend his community, a courageous member of the vigilante group lost his life.

Though the exact number of abducted persons remains unclear, the incident has left families in shock and mourning, with many residents still missing and others traumatized by the harrowing experience.

This incident occurred barely 24 hours after a similar attack in Lile village, Patigi Local Government Area, where suspected bandits brutally murdered a PDP chieftain and his son.

Communities across Kwara, particularly in the northern and southern regions, have witnessed a disturbing rise in violent attacks in recent months, with many killed and countless others kidnapped.

The Osun State Police Command has arrested four suspected criminals found with dangerous weapons in a vehicle branded with the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) presidency plate number.

The suspects, identified as Adewale Kehinde (25), Adebayo Ayuba (22), Olasupo Abeeb (23), and Adeniyi Mustapha (21), claimed to be students when apprehended.

Commissioner of Police, CP Ibrahim Gotan, told journalists in Osogbo on Thursday that the suspects were intercepted on June 24, 2025, around 8:30 p.m. by the CP’s Surveillance Squad along the Osogbo-Ilesa road.

The suspects were driving a Toyota Camry with registration “PRESIDENCY NANS 27ZD.” A search of the vehicle uncovered an English Beretta pistol, two empty magazines, a cutlass, and criminal charms concealed in a box.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the group had been terrorizing Ilesa, Osu, and surrounding areas with their criminal activities.

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In a separate operation, the Swift Action Squad (SAS) arrested two suspects, Usman Abubakar (25) and Bashiru Garuba (26), alleged scrap dealers caught with stolen Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) cables and wires near Modakeke along the Ile-Ife/Ibadan expressway.

The operation also led to the recovery of seven motorcycles—three registered and four unregistered—as well as two sacks of stolen IBEDC cables and two saw blades.

The police further arrested two suspected cultists, Adeparusin Kehinde (23), alias “Kehinde Mansion,” and Ariyibi Dada (25), alias “Enu-Ose,” linked to the killing of one Awoniyi Kazeem during the Osogbo masquerade festival on June 1, 2025. Items recovered from them included two unregistered Qlink motorcycles and three English-made Beretta pistols.

Operatives of the Ibadan Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, have arrested thirty-four (34) suspected internet fraudsters.

The alleged fraudsters were arrested in the early hours of Monday, June 23, 2025 at Iworoko and Ijado areas of Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State following credible intelligence about their suspected fraudulent activities.

Items recovered from them include eleven exotic cars, laptops, several mobile phones, incriminating documents among others.

They will be charged to court when investigations are concluded.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has officially signed into law four landmark tax reform bills recently passed by the National Assembly, marking a major step toward the overhaul of Nigeria’s tax and revenue administration system.

The brief but significant ceremony took place on Thursday at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. It was attended by key figures, including the leadership of the National Assembly, several legislators, governors, ministers, and senior aides to the President.

The four bills signed into law are:

The Nigeria Tax Bill,

The Nigeria Tax Administration Bill,

The Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Bill, and

The Joint Revenue Board (Establishment) Bill.

These bills were passed by the National Assembly following extensive consultations with stakeholders across various sectors, including finance, industry, and civil society.

The new laws are expected to improve tax collection, enhance revenue generation, and streamline the country’s tax administration framework for better accountability and efficiency.

Sources close to the presidency say the reforms are part of President Tinubu’s broader economic agenda to stabilize public finances, reduce dependency on oil revenues, and foster a more business-friendly tax environment.

Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, on Thursday announced that The Polytechnic, Ibadan, has been renamed in honour of the late former governor of the old Oyo State, Dr. Omololu Olunloyo.

The governor made the announcement during the interdenominational commendation service held at the Obafemi Awolowo Stadium in Ibadan.

Makinde while speaking at the event, said, “Allow me just say this, today, we are also giving Baba another honour.

“As the first rector of Polytechnic Ibadan, that institution will now be named Omololu Olunloyo Polytechnic, Ibadan.”

Peter Obi has decried rising lawlessness in Nigeria after the demolition of his brother’s property in Lagos.

Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi has spoken out against the worsening state of lawlessness in Nigeria, following the reported demolition of his younger brother’s company property in Ikeja, Lagos.

Peter Obi narrated how he rushed to the scene after a distress call, only to find security operatives blocking access and a demolition in progress — allegedly without a proper court order or demolition permit.

He therefore called for law enforcement agencies to wade in to ensure that Justice prevails and that Nigeria is not turned to Banana Republic.

Cornelius Olatunji Adebayo, former senator, ex-governor of Kwara State, and a prominent figure in Nigeria’s pro-democracy movement, has died at the age of 84.

Family sources confirmed that Adebayo passed on peacefully in the early hours of Wednesday in Abuja.

Born on February 24, 1941, in the Igbaja community of Kwara State, Adebayo’s public service journey began with his election as senator on the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) platform in 1979. He later served as Governor of Kwara State in 1983, shortly before the military coup that toppled the civilian government.

Between 2003 and 2006, Adebayo served as Nigeria’s Minister of Communications, bringing his statesmanship and reformist stance into the federal cabinet.

A firm believer in democracy, Adebayo was a leading member of the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO), the movement that fiercely opposed military rule and fought to reclaim the June 12, 1993 presidential mandate awarded to Chief Moshood Kashimawo Abiola.

In 1993, Adebayo famously rejected a ministerial appointment under the repressive regime of General Sani Abacha—a move that further solidified his status as a man of principle. Two years later, on May 31, 1995, following a bomb explosion in Ilorin, the police arrested and interrogated Adebayo and other NADECO leaders in connection with the incident.

As Abacha’s crackdown on dissent intensified, Adebayo fled into exile in Canada in 1996 to escape persecution.

Until his death, Adebayo remained a symbol of courage, integrity, and the unyielding fight for democratic ideals in Nigeria.

Oyo State governor, Engr Seyi Makinde has declared Friday, June 27, 2025, a work-free day across the state to commemorate the beginning of the new Islamic year, Hijrah 1447AH.

The announcement was contained in a circular issued by the Secretary to the State Government, Professor Olanike Adeyemo.

The governor said the day had been set aside to allow Muslims and residents of the state to celebrate the Islamic New Year and reflect on its spiritual significance.

Governor Makinde also urged all residents to use the occasion to pray for continued peace, unity, and prosperity in Oyo State and Nigeria as a whole.

“The Governor enjoins all and sundry to use the occasion to pray for the peace, unity and prosperity of the state in particular, and the country in general,” the statement read.

Governor Ademola Adeleke has expressed commitment to pursue resolution of the Osun local government question to a logical conclusion through legal means, congratulating people of Osun State over the recent Court of Appeal judgement.

In a statement issued on Sunday, the governor hailed the court ruling as finally reaffirming the truth about the legality of the validly elected and sworn in PDP chairmen and councillors following the court sacking of APC Yes/No chairmen in 2022.

The governor who commended the patience and commitment to due process by Osun people, noted that the latest judgement has put paid to any lie about reinstatement of previously sacked chairmen and affirmed the legitimacy of the PDP chairmen and councillors.

“Unlike the opposition, we are people of due process. The latest judgement is being served on all relevant stakeholders at state and national level. Our expectation is a quick restoration of normalcy in line with the law.

“I appreciate the deep love for peace and unity as demonstrated by the PDP Chairmen and councillors of the 30 local government and area councils since their swearing in. Your patience and support for the law has paid off”, the Governor reiterated.

The state governor further thanked security agencies for their commitment to law as well as peace and tranquility of Osun state even as he urged citizens and residents to continue to peacefully conduct themselves.

“Evil plots against our dear state on all fronts have been foiled. We must continue to remain peaceful and never allow agents of violence and enemies of the people to drag the state into violence and backwardness”, the Governor was quoted as saying.