Oduduwa News

……Calls For Calm over Religious Tension in Iseyin

The International Council for Ifa Religion (ICIR), has called on the Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrashed Akanbi, to desist from denigrating the traditional religion and Yoruba tradition and culture, saying the Osun State government, Yoruba Elders and all Yoruba Socio-Cultural organizations to also call the monarch to order.

The call was made on Saturday by the President of ICIR, Dr. Fayemi Fatunde Fakayode, during the inauguration of the new executive committee of The Council at the World Ifa Temple, Oke-Itase, Ile-Ife, Osun State.

Fayemi noted that the monarch’s utterances have always caused religious discord and embarrassment for other traditional leaders who are custodians of Yoruba tradition and culture within the Yoruba kingdom and abroad.

“We implore the people who are fanning the ember of religious discord in our land to desist. We advise the Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrashed Akanbi to refrain from using unprintable statements against the Yoruba tradition, culture and religion.

“We also call on the government, especially the government of Osun State, Yoruba socio-cultural organizations and Yoruba elders to call Oba Abdulrashed to order before his utterances cause problems.”

Fatunde also used the occasion to call for calm in the crisis that started in Iseyin between the Muslim and Christian community where a Pastor was alleged to have assaulted an Alfa over attempt to slaughter ram on Eid-Ile-Fitri (Ileya) day.

“For the sake of peace, we implore practitioners of all religions and traditions to live in harmony and focus on what unites us rather than what separates us
In view of this, we appeal to both parties, Muslims and Christians fighting in Iseyin to allow peace to reign,” he appealed.

Dr. Fakayode charged the new executive committee to see the opportunity to serve as a way to contribute their quota to world peace and human progress as the committee was formed at a time when the Yoruba land and its tradition, as well as religion are facing challenges.

He pointed to the need for the Ifa adherents to brave up and be true custodians of the Yoruba tradition, culture and religion.

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has declared that Nigerian workers will not be treated as beggars in the country, stressing that state governors cannot unilaterally decide the minimum wage of workers.

In a statement by its Head of Information and Public Affairs, Benson Upah, the NLC described the stance of the state governors as dictatorial and emphasized that the national minimum wage is a collective agreement designed to ensure a minimum standard of living for every worker in the country.

Upah noted that the minimum wage is separate from the individual pay structures of states, which already reflect their unique financial capabilities and circumstances. He warned that allowing state governors to pay workers whatever they like would be akin to reducing workers to beggars, saying “Enough is enough!”

The NLC’s statement reads in part: “The concept of a national minimum wage represents a national wage floor, a baseline below which no worker should be paid… Nigerian workers should not be reduced to beggars!”

The Oyo State Government has approved the recruitment of 7,500 teachers, and 3,000 non-teaching staff into the state teaching service, as part of its efforts to improve the Post-Primary education sector.

The Chairman, Oyo State Post-Primary Teaching Service Commission, TESCOM, Pastor Akinade Alamu made this known on Friday in Ibadan.

Recall that in 2021, the Oyo State government through the Commission employed about 5,000 teachers in the State.

He said the recruitment exercise then, was applauded by stakeholders in Oyo state, including the World Bank Global Partnership on Education.

Pastor Akinade Alamu said the present administration in Oyo State, would continue to prioritise education, and job opportunities for the public.

The Chairman said interested candidates with requisite credentials, can apply through the link, http://tescom.jobportal.oyostate.gov.ng for about two weeks.

Pastor Alamu also advised applicants to ensure they have a National Identification Number, functioning email; phone numbers among other requirements.

He said the recruitment of new teachers will be based on merit to raise the standard of education, advising all qualified candidates, including Physically challenged, to jump on the offer.

According to him, merit-based employment is key to qualitative education, hence the need to adhere strictly to the stated guidelines on the portal.

He warned applicants from applying simultaneously for both categories, saying that each applicant is entitled to either teaching or non-teaching category.

The Chairman said steps for the employment exercise include, online application, CBT examination, and Oral interview.

Pastor Alamu applauded Governor Seyi Makinde, for approving mass recruitment exercise in Oyo State.

“Oyo State government’s huge investment in the education sector is yielding positive results as our students are doing well on all fronts. Therefore, the government is set to recruit more teachers, in addition to those on ground”, he said.

The Chairman said the recruitment exercise is being supervised by an inter-ministerial committee, that would ensure a seamless exercise.

He stressed that the exercise is free of charge, assuring the public of another transparent and credible, as mandated by the World Bank Global Partnership on Education (GPE).

Earlier, the Permanent Secretary, TESCOM, Mr. Haroon Lawal said the recruitment is aimed at fortifying the teaching and non-teaching sector of the state’s secondary education.

The Chief Imam of Ogbomoso, Sheikh Teliat Yinus Avilara, has fired back at the Soun of Ogbomoso, Oba Afolabi Ghandi Olaoye, over a query issued to him for performing the Hajj pilgrimage without informing the monarch.

In a letter addressed to the Soun, the Chief Imam stated that his office is not a traditional title and therefore not under the control of the Soun of Ogbomoso. He emphasized that the Soun has no power to query him.

The Chief Imam’s response came after the Soun issued a query to him for traveling to Saudi Arabia for the Hajj exercise without his knowledge. However, the Chief Imam clarified that he responded to the Soun’s letters out of respect for Yoruba culture and tradition.

In the letter signed by his secretary, Ogunleye Sulaimon Ajasa, the Chief Imam maintained that as a Muslim and spiritual head of the Muslim community in Ogbomoso, he cannot subject the rules of Islam to Yoruba tradition and culture.

The Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Mr. Ola Olukoyede has ordered the arrest of two officers of the Commission allegedly involved in the manhandling of a female staff of Regional Hotel, Ojo, Lagos.

The officers were sighted in a viral video assaulting the staff of the hotel in an early morning sting operation in Lagos. The operation yielded a sizable number of suspects who are still being profiled.

The EFCC’s boss has also ordered detailed investigations of the operation carried out at the hotel and assured that appropriate disciplinary measures would be taken against any of the officers found to be culpable.

Olukoyede assures the general public that the EFCC would continue to ply its job professionally and with profound respect for the rule of law.

Governors from the southern part of Nigeria under the aegis of the Southern Governors’ Forum, have called for the consideration of the cost of living and ability of each state to pay the new minimum wage just as they advocated that each State be allowed to negotiate the new wage with the labour unions.

This was contained in a Communique issued at the end of their meeting held on Monday, June 25, 2024, in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.

In their 16 points Communique, the Forum called for strengthening of fiscal federalism and devolution of powers and expressed concern over current practices where mineral licenses are issued and explorations undertaken without recourse to State governments.

It noted that issuing mineral licenses without carrying the states along have resulted in criminal activities, attendant negative environmental impact, ecological degradation, and with no remediation commitment or revenue accruing to the States or the Federal Government.

The governors maintained that being the economic and industrial region of the country, there was need to address the inadequate power supply in the region by taking advantage of the recent constitutional amendment that now allows States to regulate, generate, transmit and distribute electricity whilst also considering optional sources like renewables.

The southern governors said they have resolved to aggressively embark on energy transition plan from fossil fuels (petrol and diesel) to cleaner energy and specifically CNG (Compressed Natural Gas) and ultimately EV’s (Electric Vehicles) to help reduce the cost of transportation, which would lower the cost of food, goods and services of the citizens and residents.

The meeting also called on the Federal Government to rehabilitate, repair and reconstruct Trunk A roads and transfer some roads to States that have expressed interest in taking them over, applauding President Tinubu for conceptualizing and commencing the construction of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road, which cuts across eight states of the region.

The Communique hinted that the governors have resolved to commission a regional multimodal transport master plan that would prioritise connectivity of rail, road, air and water transportation, to facilitate interstate, intra-regional movement of persons, goods and services and thereby enhancing the ease of doing business.

It further stated that Southern States Development Agenda (SSDA), would comprise of a team whose primary responsibility is to outline a holistic plan to foster trade and investment, sustainable growth and development, economic prosperity, social harmony and food security for the region would be set up.

The Development Agenda, the governors added would work hand in glove with individual State Investment Promotion and Facilitation Agencies, the Nigeria Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC) and other relevant MDA’s and multilateral agencies as necessary.

On issue of state police, the Governors resolved to continue to advocate for the creation of State police against the backdrop of the success of the regional community based security outfits, which have been effective in intelligence gathering.

The governors, the communique further stated, resolved to remain united and committed to oneness of purpose, noting that the physical boundaries that divide the people of the south could not be compare to the strong bonds of enterprise, resilience and culture that they share just as they have resolved to be deliberate and intentional about intra region trade, partnerships and investment facilitation and promotion which was agreed would require a structured and coordinated collaborative approach.

The members of the Forum commended Mr President Tinubu for the food palliative support to States and the laudable economic recovery reforms and policies through the implementation of the Renewed Hope Agenda pledging to support him in his unwavering resolve to reposition the country and build a greater future for all.

It would be recalled that at the end of the meeting, Prince Dapo Abiodun was chosen to provide the needed leadership as Chairman of the Forum, while Professor Charles Chukwuma Soludo, the governor of Anambra State waa appointed as the Vice Chairman.

The communique concluded that quarterly meetings of the Forum would be held and rotated among member states.

The Communique reads:

At the conclusion of the Southern Governors Forum meeting held on Monday, June 24, 2024, and having paid respects to our immediate past Chairman, HE, the late Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu; with condolences extended to his family, and appreciating the past Chairman for the solid foundation he laid by putting the forum in good stead; we the Governors resolved as follows:

1. Thanked and appreciated all member Governors for their support and commitment to the “Asaba declaration” of 2021, which was a resolve to ensure that Southern Nigeria produced the 2023 Presidential Candidate; we also thanked the Northern Governors’ Forum for their unwavering support for the resolution.
2. The Forum commended the laudable economic recovery reforms and policies of HE President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR and the implementation of the Renewed Hope Agenda; and unanimously committed to supporting him in his unwavering resolve to reposition the country and build a greater future for us all.
3. The Southern Governors applauded the President for conceptualizing and commencing the construction of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road, which cuts across eight (8) states. We noted that this will create employment in the construction industry, boost productivity by drastically reducing travel time, promote tourism, and open up and integrate all the Southern States to increased trade and investment opportunities whilst enhancing the ease of doing business.
4. The Southern Governors advocated that the Federal Government should rehabilitate, repair and reconstruct Trunk A roads and transfer roads to States that have expressed interest in taking them over.
5. The Forum will commission a regional multimodal transport master plan that will prioritise connectivity of rail, road, air and water transportation, to facilitate interstate, intra-regional movement of persons, goods and services and thereby enhancing the ease of doing business .
6. Being the economic and industrial region of the country, the Forum highlighted the need to address the inadequate power supply in the region. Member states were encouraged to take advantage of the recent constitutional amendment that now allows States to regulate, generate, transmit and distribute electricity whilst also considering optional sources like renewables.
7. The Forum resolved further to aggressively embark on energy transition plan from fossil fuels (petrol and diesel) to cleaner energy and specifically CNG (Compressed Natural Gas) and ultimately EV’s (Electric Vehicles) to help reduce the cost of transportation, which will lower the cost of food, goods and services for our citizens and residents.
8. The members of the Forum commended Mr President on the food palliative support to States, and the Governors were also commended for complementing Mr President in their various States through numerous initiatives ranging from food palliatives to transport allowances. We resolved to be more aggressive and intentional about food security and member States were enjoined to intensify their agricultural resurgence/revolution initiatives utilising cash and food crops best suited for each region to ensure food sufficiency, self-reliance and employment generation. States should also consider setting up special agro processing zones to obtain the most value from the agro value chain.
9. The Forum discussed the minimum wage issues demanded by labour and unanimously agreed that the minimum wage should be reflective of the cost of living and ability to pay, and each State be allowed to negotiate their minimum wage. This led to the forum’s call for strengthening fiscal federalism and devolution of powers.
10. The Governors resolved to continue to advocate for the creation of State police against the backdrop of the success of our regional community based security outfits, which have been effective in intelligence gathering. This will truly enable Governors to be the Chief Security Officers of their respective States in deed.
11. Still on fiscal federalism, the Forum discussed the issue of solid mineral exploration and exploitation which remains on the Exclusive List in the constitution. Members expressed concern over current practices where mineral licenses are issued and exploitations undertaken without recourse to State governments. These have resulted in criminal activities, attendant negative environmental impact, ecological degradation and with no remediation commitment or revenue accruing to the States or Federal Government.
12. The Forum expressed concern over the controversy of the Local Governments Chairmen tenure in Rivers State and committed to take a common stand in support of position of the law and constitution.
13. The Forum members resolved to remain united and committed to oneness of purpose, noting that the physical boundaries that divide us do not compare to the strong bonds of enterprise, resilience and culture that we share and unite us. Member States resolved to be deliberate and intentional about intra region trade, partnerships and investment facilitation and promotion which was agreed will require a structured and coordinated collaborative approach.
14. The Southern States Development Agenda (SSDA) will be set up and will comprise of a team whose primary responsibility is to outline a holistic plan to foster trade and investment, sustainable growth and development, economic prosperity, social harmony and food security for our region. They will work hand in glove with individual State Investment Promotion and Facilitation Agencies, the Nigeria Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC) and other relevant MDA’s and multilateral agencies as necessary.
15. The Forum unanimously chose HE, Prince Dapo Abiodun CON, to provide the needed leadership as Chairman of the Forum and appointed HE Professor Charles Chukwuma Soludo CFR as Vice Chairman and expressed their support for the newly appointed Chairman and Vice Chairman.
16. The Forum concluded that quarterly meetings will be held and rotated among member states.

The Speaker, Oyo State House of Assembly, Hon Adebo Ogundoyin has dismissed rumors of plans by the State Legislature to suspend some members.

The Speaker who stated this on Thursday while addressing the House at plenary noted that suspending any member would only create a vacuum that would make the electorates and the constituents suffer.

He harped on the need for all members of the 10th Oyo State House of Assembly to prioritise the needs of their constituents above any other personal interests.

“It has come to my attention that we have concluded plans to suspend the so called erring members of the 10th Oyo State House of Assembly, and I want to assure you that this is not true.

“We are elected to serve our constituents, and we must prioritize their needs above our own interests. Suspending any member would only create a vacuum that would make our electorates suffer, and we cannot allow that to happen.”

The Speaker said some false news and rumors being peddled around in the last few days by some members under whatever guise or group were capable of creating unnecessary tension and causing avoidable conflict.

“I stand before you today to address the events of the past week or so, which have been marked by unnecessary tension and division. Some members have chosen to portray themselves as a unity or dissident group, and in doing so, have created a seemingly toxic atmosphere in this House.Their actions have put us in a bad light and have presented the so-called aggrieved members as being out of touch with the priorities of our constituents. Let me remind you all that we have come to this House to serve and represent our people, not to pursue personal interests or agendas.

“We have a sacred responsibility to work together for the betterment of Oyo State and its citizens. We must not allow petty squabbles and selfish ambitions to derail us from our noble mission.

“I urge my fellow lawmakers to avoid sponsoring false news and casting aspersions on the leadership of the House. We must work together and avoid bickering and unfounded rumors. This House will not be distracted from its constitutional responsibilities and duties.

“The Media is a powerful tool for good or bad hence we must be careful not to use it to spread falsehood or fuel division. Instead, let us use it to inform, educate and enlighten our constituents on the good work that we are doing.

“We need to focus on the task at hand and work in unison to deliver on our promises to the people of Oyo State. We cannot allow personal interests to derail us from our duties. It is not business as usual, and we must rise above petty politics to serve our constituents with integrity and dedication. Let us put our constituents first and work together to build a better Oyo State for all.”

The Speaker appealed to his colleagues to be mindful of the sensitivity of their words and actions.

“We must be aware of the impact our statements can have on our colleagues, on our constituents and on the stability of this House. We must work together, even in the face of disagreement in order to achieve greater things. Let me say here that, no member(s) will be victimised or deprived their rights and entitlements as duly elected members of this honourable Assembly.”

Hon Adebo Ogundoyin called for harmony and collaboration between the Legislature and all other arms of Government.

“Let us avoid issues that could pitch the State Executive against the Legislature, and be wary of the antics of external influences whose major aim is to cause disunity and destabilise the House.” Oyo Speaker said

In a bid to tackle the escalating security challenges in the country, the Southern Governors’ Forum has unanimously agreed to support state and community policing. This decision was announced by Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State, the newly appointed Chairman of the Forum.

The governors are seeking to establish state police forces to improve security and address the growing concerns of kidnapping, ransom demands, and other crimes. While critics fear potential abuse of power, Governor Abiodun believes that state and community policing are essential for the region’s development and security.

Currently, governors have limited control over the police in their states, as commissioners report directly to the Inspector General of Police. This can lead to delayed responses to emergencies, putting states at risk. By supporting state and community policing, the governors aim to enhance socio-economic development and ensure a safer atmosphere.

The Southern Governors’ Forum has spoken with one voice, and their decision may pave the way for a more secure and prosperous region.

Governor Seyi Makinde has announced that President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the upgrade of Ibadan Airport to an international airport.

This was contained in a statement made available via his official Twitter handle as read in part:

“This afternoon, we received the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Hasan Bala Abubakar and his entourage on a courtesy visit. The visit gave me an opportunity to once again thank officers of the Nigerian Air Force for their contributions to securing Oyo State as part of ‘Operation Burst’.

“We discussed the upcoming construction of the air force base in Ajia and I stated that our administration has paid compensation to those affected by the development and resumed the reconstruction of the 21 km Airport-Ajia-New Ife Express Road with a spur to Amuloko to ease movement in that area.

“I also talked about our plans to expand our economy and said that we have received approval from His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to upgrade the Ibadan Airport into an international airport. We will be expanding the runway and building an additional terminal”.

The first batch of Oyo pilgrims has returned to Nigeria from Saudi Arabia where they performed the holy pilgrimage to Islamic holy sites in Madinah and Makkah.

The pilgrims, which left Jeddah Airport at early morning in Saudi Arabian landed safely at the Murtala Muhammed Airport Lagos at 12:pm Nigerian time

The first batch of the pilgrims numbering 550 would make their way from Lagos to Olodo Hajj Camp, Ibadan.

The Second batch of the state pilgrims are also expected back in Nigeria on Thursday.

Recall that the pilgrims left Nigeria for Saudi Arabia on Saturday 18th May, 2024 to partake in this year’s hajj exercise alongside over two million other Muslim faithful from Nigeria and some other countries of the world.