Oduduwa News

Five June 12 protesters wearing ‘Revolution Now’ jackets were, on Wednesday, arrested at Mokola Roundabout in Ibadan by officers of the Nigeria Police Force.

They were among protesters who gathered to demonstrate under the aegis of ‘Take It Back Movements’ in collaboration with Concerned Nigerians, another advocacy and human rights group.

The protesters had gathered for a peaceful protest on the state of the nation.

They demanded an end to hardship in the country, insecurity, police brutality and kidnapping, reversal of electricity tariff hike, and an end to attacks on press freedom, among other things.

According to one of the protesters, they had planned the protest to coincide with the Democracy Day celebration.

They began protesting around 9.15 a.m., singing songs, displaying a long banner and placards with inscriptions like ‘We are hungry,’ ‘Justice cannot be silenced,’ ‘The power of people is greater than the people in power,’ ‘United we stand, divided we fall.’

But around 9:30 a.m., operatives, led by the Oyo State Commissioner of Police, Adebola Hamzat, accosted and dragged the demonstrators into a white Hilux bus.

Protesters, on Wednesday morning, stormed the Ikeja Underbridge in Lagos as the country marks the 2024 Democracy Day.

Oduduwa News correspondent at the scene of the protest confirmed that some human rights activists under the aegis of Civil Society Organizations, Artisans and Hawkers gathered this morning at Ikeja Underbridge carrying placards with various inscriptions to register their displeasure against the economic hardship confronting many Nigerians.

As the protest began this morning, it was observed that some men of the State Security Service and Nigerian Police Force were seen stationed in a strategic places to forestall any break down of law and order.

The protest has been peaceful since it began this morning and there has been no report of any crack down on protesters by men of Nigerian Police Force.

The protest according to the organizers is aimed at calling the attention of government to the prevailing economic crisis in the country occasioned by increase in cost of food items, hike in transport fare among several pressing issues.

Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, on Tuesday, called on members of the State Council of Obas to appeal on their members to desist from acts of indiscipline, ranging from allocation of land for ilegal mining to unauthorized selling of government lands especially in the plantations.

Governor Abiodun stated this at the inauguration of Olu of Ilaro and Paramount Ruler of Yewaland, Oba Kehinde Olugbenle, as the new chairman of the Ogun State Council of Obas, at the Oba’s Complex, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta.

Abiodun who expressed disappointment over the activities of some of the erring Obas and Baales, explained that illegal mining has caused serious environmental impact on some communities and posed serious threats to some critical public infrastructure in the state.

He disclosed that an Executive Order would soon be issued from his office to deal with any Oba or Baale that is found wanting.

The governor also warned the traditional rulers not to involve themselves in partisan politics.

He said the traditional rulers’ role is to support the government in its developmental stride across the state.

Prince Abiodun, therefore, charged the traditional rulers to continue using their revered stools in promoting peace and unity in their various domains.

He described the traditional institution as an important arms of government towards the enthronement of good governance in the state, promising that his government would support and empower the monarchs through the provision of needed resources, infrastructure and platforms for effective delivery of their duties.

Abiodun noted that despite the encroachment of Western civilization, the Yoruba culture has shown remarkable resilience and adaptability, emphasizing that the ongoing interplay between tradition and modernity continues to shape the cultural landscape of Yorubaland, ensuring that its rich heritage endures amidst global changes.

He said: “We value your inputs and recommendations on matters that concerned your welfare and that of the people.

“As an administration, we confidently state that the advisory and supportive role offered by our Royal Fathers is largely responsible for the rapid development and transformation currently being witnessed in Ogun State. Indeed, your insight, wisdom, and close connection to the grassroots are invaluable assets as we strive to build a prosperous and inclusive society.

“We are blessed with highly resourceful traditional rulers who have been providing purposeful leadership at the grassroots and who are passionate about the general well-being of our people in our communities.

“Therefore, our administration will not deviate from executing our development’s plans, which aims at building on the legacies bequeathed to us by our founding fathers in the old Western Region.

“I wish to express my sincere appreciation to all our Royal Fathers for the role they have been playing to support our administration’s development agenda.
Without your support and that of the people over whom you reign, we would not have achieved the successes that our people have continued to publicly acknowledge, ” averred Governor Abiodun.

While congratulating the new Chairman, the governor charged him to use his intellectual prowess to unite and promote the state’s traditional institution

He lauded the outgone Chairman of the council, the Akarigbo and Paramount ruler of Remoland, Oba Babatunde Ajayi, for his sterling leadership qualities in the last two years, saying the support being enjoyed by his administration from the monarchs has helped to entrench development in every parts of the State.

The governor urged the monarchs to be partners in progress towards the building of the future of the state for generations yet unborn.

In his welcome address, the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Hon. Ganiyu Hamzat appreciated the governor for the unwavering commitment to the welfare of the traditional rulers and that of the communities in their respective domains.

He commended Oba Babatunde Ajayi for a meritorious completion of his tenure, saying he has proven himself as an astute administrator with outstanding knack and dexterity in service.

He expressed the hope that the incoming Chairman, Oba Olugbenle, would sustain the tempo, which has established a synergy between the state government and the traditional rulers.

In his acceptance speech, the new Chairman, Oba Olugbenle, lauded Governor Abiodun for his commitment to the development of the traditional institution, as well as the all-round growth and development of Ogun State.

He assured that the entire members of the Ogun State Council of Obas would continue to cooperate, collaborate, and provide the required support for the present administration in achieving more positive results in the state.

Also speaking, the immediate past Chairman, Oba Babatunde Ajayi, said his tenure fostered unity and harmony, instill discipline, high moral standards and integrity among traditional rulers, just as they collaborated with the government in driving development, peace and prosperity in the state.

A coalition of Nigerian civil societies has announced a mass protest set to take place on Wednesday, June 12, to voice their discontent with the prevailing hardship and hunger under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu. Lagos Reporters has learned that the participating groups in this planned protest include the Take-It-Back Movement (TIB), African Action Congress party (AAC), Joint Action Front (JAF), Education Rights Campaign (ERC), Socialist Workers and Youth League (SWL), and PRP Vanguard.

In their joint statement titled “Enough is Enough to Hardship and Hunger, Great Nigerian People,” the organisations have expressed their deep concern over the sharp rise in the prices of essential commodities since May 29, 2023, when President Tinubu eliminated fuel subsidies. According to the coalition, the average Nigerian is now struggling to afford basic necessities such as food, transportation, electricity, and school fees.

“The current situation is dire, and people are finding it increasingly difficult to feed themselves and their families. Hardship and hunger have become the norm, pushing our youth towards crime and other desperate measures. Meanwhile, those responsible for our plight are living in luxury, siphoning Nigeria’s resources for their own benefit,” the statement read.

The protesters have specifically pointed fingers at President Tinubu, the First Lady, the First Son, government officials, and business elites such as Aliko Dangote, accusing them of exploiting Nigeria’s resources at the expense of its citizens.

The coalition of civil societies has called on all Nigerians to join them in the mass protest on Wednesday to demand accountability and a change in policies that prioritize the welfare of the people. Lagos Reporters will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates on the developments surrounding the planned demonstration.

The Executive Chairman of Kajola Local Government, Alhaji Mustapha Akeem has appointed Hon. Tiamiyu Akeem Adewole as his Chief of Staff.

He made the fresh appointment yesterday at the official functioning that was held at the council.

He equally announced the appointment of the duo of Adeniji Moses Adebanke as Personal Assistant I and Saminu Afeez Olaniyi as Personal Assistant II.

While presenting the appointment letter to the newly appointed persons, the Chairman charged them to see the appointment as a call to serve the people of Kajola Local Government and ensure that they discharge their responsibilities with total commitment and dedication to service.

The Chairman equally played a host to the delegation of the league of imams and alfas in Kajola Local Government who came to pay their courtesy visit to the Council Chairman.

The Ogun State Police Command has apprehended Tobi Shonibare and Odusanya Oni on charges of allegedly stealing electric cables valued at about N650,000 in the Isonyin community, located in the Ijebu North-East Local Government Area of the state.

It was gathered that the suspects were nabbed on June 7, 2024, while trying to sell the allegedly stolen items.

A community source, speaking anonymously because of the sensitivity of the matter, told our correspondent that the duo were first apprehended by Adeyemi Adeshina, a commander of the Social Orientation and Safety Corps in the community. The matter was then taken over by policemen from the Atan-Ijebu Division.

“The operatives of the SAFE corps usually patrol the area in the evening. But on Friday, during one of their routine patrols, along the Imowo area of the community, they saw Shonibare and Oni and became very suspicious of the duo.
They were carrying two sacks. It was during their interrogation that they discovered the bag was filled with electric cables. They were not able to provide satisfactory answers when they were questioned by the SAFE corps members,” the resident informed journalists.

Confirming the arrest on Sunday, the spokesperson for the State Police Command, Omolola Odutola, stated that the two suspects had confessed to the crime and would be charged in court. Odutola said, “The duo was interrogated after the matter was brought to our division in the area. They confessed to the crime. According to them, they stole the cable from a compound in the community. They will be charged after the completion of the investigation.

Sources claim the suspects arrived in the community during the early hours of the day with a tricycle, stole components of the transformer, damaged some parts, and then fled the area.

Similarly, in April, our correspondent reported that operatives of the Lagos State Police Command arrested a suspected electricity cable vandal identified as Abu Ali.

The suspect was apprehended by policemen from the Pen Cinema Division during the early hours of the day after motorists alerted the state police command to his activities.