Oduduwa News

Paramount Traditional Ruler in Oke Ogun region of Oyo State, The Onitede of Tede in ATISBO Local Government of Oyo State, His Royal Majesty, Oba Alhaji Abdulrauf Adebimpe Oladoyin, has congratulated the newly elected chairman of the Economic Community of West African State ( ECOWAS) , President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of Nigeria.

The Royal Majesty pledged the supports of Traditional Rulers in Yorubaland and indeed the Nigeria for the President in the discharge of his duties at various levels.

He advised the Government to consider the nomination of Barrister Ahmed Raji, SAN or any other prominent Oke Ogun Professionals home and abroad for Ministerial, Ambassadorial and Policy making positions in order to support the new hope of Nigeria.

The Monarch maintained that there are enormous lands across Tede and Oke Ogun region which are suitable for Agriculture, Mineral Resources exploration, Industries, Research Institutes and Educational Institutions, Commerce, Tourism, etc. The utilisation of such will provide employment opportunities for the Youths, expansion of our Foreign Exchange markets, revenue generation for local, State and Federal Government among others.

The Monarch finally urged Nigerians to be patient for the Tinubu- led administration and be prayerful for an unprecedented transformation programmes of the Government which he believes shall have positive impact on all citizens in the medium and long terms.

A Nigerian man, Oluwatobi Kufeji, has embarked on the longest singing marathon in his quest to set a new Guinness World Record.

The marathon kicked off in Lagos on July 5 and is expected to run until July 13.

Kufeji had earlier announced his ambitious plan to undertake a 200-hour praise-a-thon as he aimed to surpass the previous record of 105 hours set by Indian singer Sunil Waghmare in 2012.

“Guinness world records has accepted my application to break the record of the LONGEST SINGING MARATHON of 105 hours currently held by Sunil Waghmare (Indian) since March 2012 and the record of the LONGEST CONCERT BY A SOLO ARTIST for 501 hours currently held by Kuzhalmannam Ramakrishnan (Indian).

“These marathons will be done separately. I’m very convinced that I will break the two records. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me,” he posted.

As observed by our correspondent on Kufeji’s Instagram handle, he has already surpassed 106 hours.

However, he is not the only Nigerian seeking to break Guinness World Records recently.

ODUDUWA NEWS reports Hilda Baci, a talented individual, recently achieved a new record for the longest cooking marathon by an individual.

Following in her footsteps, another chef based in Ekiti State, Damilola Adeparusi embarked on a five-day cooking marathon, further adding to the wave of record-breaking attempts. Also, a chef, Adeyeye Adeola recently undertook a 150-hour cooking marathon in the Ile Oluji/Oke Igbo Local Government Area of Ondo state, to surpass Baci’s record.

A former President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Dipo Fasina, popularly known as ‘Jingo,’ has been found.

Earlier it was reported by newsmen that Fasina had been missing since Saturday, July 1, 2023.

Fasina was reportedly travelling to Algeria at the invitation of the Algerian government when he missed his connecting flight from Istanbul, Turkey.

But on Sunday, the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission confirmed that Fasina had been located.

NiDCOM and incumbent ASUU president, Prof. Emmanuel Sodeke, earlier confirmed to PREMIUM TIMES that Fasina’s whereabouts were unknown.

Osodeke however, added that the lecturers’ union was working hard to ensure Fasina’s safe return home.

But in a statement issued by NiDCOM on Sunday afternoon titled ‘Update On The Missing Ex-ASUU President, Dipo Fasina ‘Jingo’, said the academic had been found.

It said, “He has been found.

“The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, in collaboration with the Nig high commission in Turkey, has successfully located Prof Fasina who went missing for a few days at Istanbul Airport while connecting on a flight back home.

“Mr. Fasina, 76, was traveling to Algeria when he was said to have missed his connecting flight from Istanbul, Turkey.

“The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, in collaboration with the Nig high commission in Turkey, has successfully located Prof Fasina who went missing for a few days at Istanbul Airport while connecting on a flight back home.

“A big thanks to the Nigerian Ambassador to Turkey who immediately sent officials to the Airport to physically locate him in the very busy and huge Istanbul Airport.”

Fasina, a polyglot, reportedly speaks Yoruba, English, French, Russian, and Ukrainian. He also reads and translates German and Spanish.

The wife of the Ondo State Governor, Mrs Betty Akeredolu has announced the suspension of activities lined up for her forthcoming 70th birthday celebration. The Ondo First Lady will be 70 on July 20.

There had been criticisms in some quarters about her plans to have a big celebration while her husband is in convalescence and the postponement is believed to be a reaction to the criticisms.

She said in a a Twitter post on Sunday morning that the suspension was a result of circumstances beyond her control.

The tweet reads, “Hello Family and Friends. This is to inform you that all activities lined up to mark my 70th birthday are hereby suspended till further notice due to unforeseen circumstances beyond my control. Sorry for any inconvenience caused by this development. Nevertheless, be assured that I will be celebrated in style upon my return. Thank you for your understanding. I remain Arabinrin a.k.a Ada Owere I.”

In another Twitter post accompanied by a photo of her birthday flyer, she said that as long as there is life, ‘Owambe’ (party) can come at any time.

Governor Akeredolu has been on medical vacation since the 7th of June, 2023.

Soyinka had described the decision to cancel the festival as “a crime against the cultural heritage of all humanity” and “an assault on civilised conduct”.

He had said the Nigerian constitution guaranteed a freedom of belief, adding that the cancellation would undermine the country’s progress.

But reacting to the position of Soyinka, the monarch said the decision to cancel the ceremony was to prevent crisis.

The Emir described the decision as “proactiveness”, saying it “is necessary to sustain peaceful co-existence in the society.”

Gambari in statement issued on Friday through his spokesperson, AbdulAzeez Arowona, said the decision was taken to avert situations that might lead to “reprisal attacks by sympathisers or promoters of such belief (Isese festival) in other parts of the country”.

He added that the priestess had lived “harmoniously” in the town for years “until she decided to go beyond her boundaries”.

“In order to set records straight, Professor Wole Soyinka tends to be economical with facts, forgetting that war is nobody’s want,” the statement said.
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“As he decided to settle with a factor that is capable of causing chaos in the society, if not quickly averted.

“This is to prevent crisis and not waiting until it erupt because the cost of managing crises cannot be equated to the wisdom or courage required to prevent it.

“Such proactiveness is necessary in order to sustain peaceful co-existence in the society. It is therefore surprising to hear that the position of Professor Soyinka is identical to someone who does not consider what might transpire if the programme was hosted.

“It may result to issues which could also lead to reprisal attacks by sympathisers or promoters of such belief (Isese festival) in other parts of the country.

“There are many non-indigenes in Kwara who are serving and retired, including business owners who have vowed to move their families to the state due to the peace and harmony enjoyed therein.

“Yeye Ajesikemi also confirmed that she has been living harmoniously in Ilorin for many years, not until she decided to go beyond her boundaries,” the statement partly read.