Oduduwa News

Oyo State governor, Seyi Makinde, has said that his administration’s commitment to building infrastructure for economic expansion has seen it embark on a massive drive to connect local government areas in Oke-Ogun Zone II to Saki’s economy.

The governor stated that the Saki-Ogboro-Igboho Road, which seeks to connect Saki West, Saki East and Oorelope LGs has reached an advanced stage, while the project will also be extended to connect Agbonle in Saki East, Igbeti in Olorunsogo LG and Kisi in Irepo LG.

He added that connecting the local government areas would result in the desired economic uplift of the zone, noting that he had the idea of connecting the areas as far back as 1984, when he visited Igbeti as a young boy and noticed that the people had difficulties moving across the area due to lack of roads.

Governor Makinde stated this at the End-time Cry Bible Church, Igbeti, Oyo State, at the funeral ceremony of Madam Victoria Omolayo Oni, stepmother of Honourable Abiodun Oni, the Special Adviser to Governor Makinde on Solid Minerals Development and Chairman of the Oyo State Solid Minerals Development Agency.

He added that his administration will also fulfill its promise to build an airstrip for security surveillance and also rehabilitate and equip the Igbeti General Hospital in line with his promise during electioneering.

This was as the governor warned traditional rulers in Oke-Ogun to avoid the indiscriminate signing of licences for miners, noting that the area might have to grapple with the negative environmental impact of illegal mining in the not-too-distant future.

Governor Makinde, who lauded Madam Oni for living a good life and making impact on the society as well as himself, as he first met her when he visited Igbeti as a young boy, donated N25 million to the End-time Cry Bible Church, Igbeti, to immmortalise her.

The governor said: “All the things the Reverend said were the promises we made. We have gone through one or two of them and before the completion of my tenure, they will happen.

“One of the promises is the construction of an airstrip in Igbeti for security surveillance. I will fly into Igbeti before the end of my tenure. I have not forgotten at all, because it is already a work in progress.

“Also, the Igbeti General Hospital is part of those captured in the French programme. We have done the survey; the project should kick off very soon.

“You also talked about a road connecting Ogbomoso-Oyo axis. They have traced the road from Igbeti that links Igbeti to Ogbomoso through the Iseyin-Fapote-Ogbomoso Road. It is 102 kilometres. The survey has been done and, hopefully, we will start it. But by 2027, if you vote for whoever we advise you to vote for, they will complete the road project.

“I know the road is important. But there is one before it that is more important; the Saki-Ogboro-Igboho Road. We have already done the road up to somewhere after Ogbooro. When it reaches Igboho, it will take a spur to Kisi and also another spur to Igbeti as well.

“There will also be a spur to Agbonle. These roads will give the connectivity we need, which will boost the economy of this zone.

“We are already fixing the road connecting Iseyin to Saki, though it is a federal road. Once we connect Iseyin to Saki for now and Saki to Ogboro to Igboho to Igbeti, I believe we would have achieved 80 per cent of the desired connectivity to lift the economy of this place, because Saki is the most solid economy around this axis and once the other local governments are connected to it, it will bring about the desired economic uplift for this area.

“I tell people that I didn’t just make the decision to fix these roads. It was an idea that I have nursed since 1984 as a young boy and I am happy that I can bring the idea to reality.”

Earlier, Hon Oni, who read the biography of the deceased, eulogised her as a woman of virtue, who loved family and served God.

In his sermon entitled “Are you on the right path?” Revd W.A. Oderinde noted that Jesus Christ remains the way, the truth and the life and He is the right path that every man must take to reach heaven.

He added that human beings have just a few years to spend on earth, no matter how long, so, they must live each day as if the end will come today

According to the Man of God, Mama Oni realised that life was transient and she lived well and made impact on humanity, calling on others to also prepare for eternity.

A special prayer was offered for the children and family of the late Madam Oni.

The event was attended by Wife of Oyo State Governor, Her Excellency Engr. (Mrs) Tamunominini Makinde; Chief of Staff to the Governor, Otunba Segun Ogunwuyi; Senior Executive Assistant to the Governor on General Duties, Chief Bayo Lawal; member of the Oyo State Elders’ Council, Chief Jacob Adetoro; Special Adviser on Training and Establishment, Alhaji Siju Lawal; and Special Adviser on Budget, Hon. Simeon Oyeleke.

Others were Chief Tunde Tijani; former Member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Olayemi Busari; Chairman, Water Corporation of Oyo State, Hon. Elias Adeojo; Special Assistant to the Governor on Irepo/Olorunsogo/Oorelope Federal Constituency, Alhaji Yusuff Sarafadeen Alani (Alwajud); Special Assistant to the Governor on Print Media, Moses Alao; Irepo Local Government Chairman, Alhaji Tunde Olayiwola; Oorelope Local Government Chairman, Hon. Jacob Ogundiran and his Olorunsogo Local Government counterpart, Hon. Kazeem Oorelope.

Also in attendance were the Onigbeti of Igbeti, Oba (Engr.) Bashir Olalekan Abioye and some of his chiefs; the Alepata of Igboholand, Oba (Dr) Joel Olawuwo; the representative of the Iba of Kisi, Oba Mashood Aweda; as well as political leaders from the 10 local government areas of Oke Ogun and across Oyo State.

Four JAMB candidates have lost their lives yesterday in an accident that occured along Oyo-Ogbomoso while the students were going to write UTME examination in their respective centers.

Several others sustained serious injuries and have been taken to hospital to receive medical treatment.

A tragic accident on the Oyo-Ogbomoso road in Oyo State has claimed the lives of several students who were on their way to sit for the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) examination.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Oyo State Command, Adewale Osifeso, is yet to respond to calls and messages confirming the report.

However, no fewer than 27 impersonators have been nabbed by JAMB since the exam kicked off 2 days ago.

JAMB had noted the 27 impersonators apprehended had been handed over to the Nigerian police for immediate prosecution.

The board also announced that it delisted four Computer-Based Test, CBT centres that had failed to meet the stringent technical standards required for the UTME.

JAMB named the delisted centres as Adventure Associate, Behind Sheshe Supermarket, Off Hadejia Road, Kano, Kano State; Saadatu Rimi College of Education, Zaria Road, Naibawa, Kano, Kano State; Penta M & F Technical Services Ltd, Centre 2, 96km Sokoto-Jega Road, Tambuwal and Penta M & F Technical Services Ltd, Centre 1, 96km Sokoto-Jega Road, Tambuwal.

“While JAMB commends the 883 centres that have demonstrated exceptional performance, it unequivocally warns that any centre which failed the ethical or technical standards , regardless of ownership, will be blacklisted,” JAMB said in a statement on Friday by its spokesman, Fabian Benjamin.

“Candidates who were previously scheduled to take their exams at the delisted centres are urged to urgently reprint their examination notification slips to access their new centres and rescheduled dates. We regret any inconvenience this may cause, but we will not tolerate excuses by candidates who fail to reprint their slip to get their new schedules,” it said.

The board revealed that “As of Friday, 25th April, 2025, over 900,000 candidates have successfully completed the UTME out of the 2,083,600 registered for the 2025 examination.”

A Magistrate Court sitting in Akure, Ondo state capital, has remanded a 38-year-old man, Adebowale Adegboye and three others to Ondo Correctional Centre over alleged incest, abortion and indecent assault on a 15-year-old girl.

Others accused along with Adegboye include, Idowu Akinseye, 38, Ayoola Ogunkolade, 32 and Israel Oluwafemi Ojo, 32.

Adegboye who is the biological father of the young girl, allegedly committed incest by unlawfully having carnal knowledge of his daughter, while the victim’s stepfather, Akinseye and two others were arraigned on a five-count charge of incest, abortion and indecent assault on the victim.

According to the prosecution, the victim’s stepfather, was arraigned for having an unlawful dealing with his stepdaughter by caressing her body and inserting his left finger in her private part without her consent.

Akinseye was also alleged of having unlawful carnal knowledge of the girl since she was 10 years old, while the fourth defendant, a medical doctor, Israel Adebowale Ojo, was alleged of unlawfully procuring abortion for the girl while she was ten year.

The charge sheet read: “That you, Adebowale Adegboye ‘m’, on December 15, 2024, at about 12:00 noon in Akure, within the jurisdiction of this honourable Court did commit incest by unlawfully having carnal knowledge of your biological daughter (names withheld), and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 25 (a) of the Ondo State Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Law 2021.

“That you, Adebowale Adegboye ‘m’ on December 15, 2024, on same day, time and place in Akure, within the jurisdiction of the honourable Court did have unlawful carnal knowledge of your daughter and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 221 of the Criminal Code Cap 37 Vol.1 Laws of Ondo State of Nigeria 2006.

“That you Adegboye Adebowale, Ayoola Ogunkolade and Israel Oluwafemi Ojo, on January 20, 2025 at about noon in Akure within the jurisdiction of this honourable Court did conspire to commit felony to wit: procurement of abortion and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 516 of the Criminal Code Cap 37 Vol.1 Laws of Ondo State of Nigeria 2006.

The two-count charge against the stepfather read: “That you, Idowu Akinseye ‘m’, sometimes in the year, 2019 at several times at Alade Idanre Magisterial District did unlawfully and indecently deals with your stepdaughter, aged 10 years, as at the time the offence was committed by caressing her body and inserting your left finger in her vagina without her consent, after which you unlawfully had carnal knowledge of her and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 222 of the Criminal Code Cap 37 Vol. 1 Laws of Ondo State of Nigeria, 2006″

Policemen from Oyo State are currently raiding Oke Oba areas of Osun State arresting local baales and residents over boundary disputes that is before the National Boundary Commission.

The policemen from Lagelu local government of Oyo state and state operatives from Oyo State police headquarters raided Papa, Ogburo, Ejemu among others of Iwo Local government.

The arrested people are being taken to Ibadan for detention. More than 20 people from Osun State are said to be in detention in Oyo state.

The raid this afternoon came two hours after the AIG for Zone 11 hosted a meeting of the two sides.

Few hours after the meeting, the team from Oyo police chief started the raid.

Eye witness reported that the raid is still ongoing with the Baales running to escape arrest.

Both Governor Seyi Makinde and Ademola Adeleke had met last to broker peace.

The suspended Olu of Obafemi in Obafemi Owode Local Government, Oba Taofeek Kayode Owolabi, has been arraigned by the Ogun State Government, for alleged land grabbing.

A statement issued on Wednesday by the State Ministry of Justice, said the monarch was taken to court for conspiracy to sell property without authority, unlawful use of agents, forceful takeover of land, assault of a police officer, and obtaining by false pretence.

Specifically, Oba Owolabi is accused of laying an unlawful claim to 500 acres of land within Obafemi Owode town and deceiving a developer, one Dr. Michael Adeyemi, into paying him ₦75 million for the land.

The statement added, however, that Oba Owolabi never remitted the sum to the landholding families, adding that the traditional ruler also placed thugs on the land, who macheted one individual, while he personally attacked a police officer from the task force combating land grabbing in Ogun State.

The statement further noted that the Ogun State Government took several steps to call Oba Owolabi to order, saying that he ignored a July 2024 summons by the State House of Assembly, choosing instead to file two suits in court, which the Ministry of Justice defended.

“Oba Owolabi withdrew those cases subsequently but never submitted to the House’s investigations. The House Committee eventually recommended that Oba Owolabi should be prosecuted for land grabbing.

“Under the leadership of the paramount ruler of Egbaland, HRM Oba Adedotun A. Gbadebo, CFR, the Alake of Egbaland, the Egba Traditional Council summoned Oba Owolabi several times, but Oba Owolabi defied those invitations.

“The Ethical Committee of the Egba Traditional Council also engaged Oba Owolabi to no avail. Thus, on 13th December, 2024, the Egba Traditional Council suspended Oba Owolabi from his office as Olu Obafemi for conducting himself in a manner entirely unexpected of a traditional ruler. That suspension is still in effect,” it said.

The statement indicated that although Oba Owolabi perfected his bail conditions, his trial remains ongoing, while the Ogun State Government remains committed to seeing justice done.

A wave of concern has swept across Lagos State following the revelation that 26,592 students from public secondary schools failed the 2024 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) — despite massive financial investment from the state government.

This alarming statistic was revealed on Thursday by the Lagos State Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Jamiu Tolani Alli-Balogun, during a ministerial press briefing held at Alausa, Ikeja.

According to the Commissioner, out of the 58,188 students sponsored by the government to write the 2024 WASSCE, a troubling 45.7% failed the exams.

“Suffice to say that the sum of ₦1,577,794,000 (One Billion, Five Hundred and Seventy-Seven Million, Seven Hundred and Ninety-Four Thousand Naira) only was paid by the State Government as examination fees for 58,188 students who were captured for year 2024 WASSCE,” Alli-Balogun announced.

The government had fully covered the WAEC registration fees for the students in a bid to remove financial barriers and promote inclusive access to education. However, the poor performance has raised serious concerns over teaching quality, student preparedness, and the effectiveness of public school education in Lagos.

In response, the state is already taking steps to enhance accountability and ensure better outcomes going forward. The Commissioner disclosed that a biometric and image registration process was conducted to verify student eligibility and limit wastage of public funds.

“The exercise successfully captured and registered 56,134 students as bona-fide beneficiaries of the Lagos State Government’s sponsorship for the examination,” he said.

The Lagos State Government has revealed that over 135,000 residents are currently living with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus, highlighting the ongoing public health challenge in Nigeria’s most populous state.

The state Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, disclosed this on Wednesday during a media briefing to mark the second anniversary of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s second term in office.

“135,224 residents are living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV),” Abayomi said, adding that the state government has intensified awareness and intervention efforts by engaging more than 100 religious leaders as HIV and AIDS ambassadors.

He explained that the involvement of faith leaders is aimed at reducing stigma and improving community-level outreach.

“We are using trusted voices to drive education, testing, and treatment in our communities,” he said.

In addition to tackling HIV, the state has provided free cervical cancer screenings for 154,228 women and treated 8,613 with thermal ablation.

It also conducted prostate cancer screenings for 300 men, alongside screening 312,927 people for hypertension and diabetes.

With the ceaseless killings in Benue, Taraba and Plateau States, leading to a high death toll in the attacks by suspected herdsmen on the people, a former Minister of Defence, General Theophilus Danjuma (rtd) has restated his call on the people of Taraba State and other Nigerians in general to defend themselves against the invaders, who are killing people for free in various communities across the country.

Speaking in Takum during an occasion he organised to appreciate his members of staff and talk to them against the backdrop of renewed and intensified killings in communities in Plateau, Benue, Ondo and several other states across the country, General Danjuma reiterated that, his people of Taraba State, should do everything to defend themselves against killings, which he described as genocide.

Recall that Plateau and Benue states have been in the news of lately, with several killed and perpetrators not brought to book.

Renowned Fuji musician, King Wasiu Ayinde Marshal, popularly known as K1 De Ultimate, has publicly affirmed his affiliation with the Celestial Church of Christ (CCC), asserting that he is a bona fide member and has personally financed the construction of a parish. 

In a recent statement, K1 De Ultimate addressed criticisms regarding his involvement in CCC events, emphasizing his deep-rooted connection to the church. He highlighted his commitment by revealing that he not only participates in church activities but has also built a parish, underscoring his dedication to the faith.

The musician’s declaration comes amidst discussions about the participation of secular artists in religious events. K1 De Ultimate’s active role in the CCC reflects a blend of his musical career with his spiritual beliefs, demonstrating a personal investment in the church’s growth and activities.

His involvement has been met with mixed reactions, with some praising his contributions to the church, while others question the appropriateness of secular musicians performing in religious settings. Nonetheless, K1 De Ultimate stands by his actions, citing his genuine faith and commitment to the Celestial Church of Christ.