Lagos State First Lady, Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu has made a passionate appeal to all stakeholders in the education sector to work towards resolving the prolonged strike embarked upon by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), describing the situation as a ticking time bomb that must be urgently addressed.
She spoke at a special Eid-El-Fitr celebration hosted by the Lagos State first family and the state government held at Lagos House, Alausa, Ikeja to commemorate the end of Ramadan.
“Our children need to go back to school. It is a ticking time bomb when our children sit at home doing nothing. The devil will find work for the idle hands. Our children, those in the universities, sitting down at home for two months is not a plus for us and so anytime we have the opportunity, we as parents, especially mothers, should continue speaking up.
“The federal universities are shut down as a result of the ASUU strike. We plead and plead that God will help us to resolve this issue. I don’t feel comfortable that the students are at home and whatever it takes, all hands must be on deck to ensure that they go back to school,” she said.
The First Lady also admonished the youth to shun all ungodly, immoral, and bestial acts, just as she urged parents to pay closer attention to issues affecting their children.
“As we bask in the euphoria of this sacred celebration, it is also important to seize the opportunity of this spiritual exercise to admonish our children and youths to shun all ungodly, immoral, and bestial acts.
“As parents and guardians too, we must lead by example and pay closer attention to the totality of what concerns our children and wards. It is okay to intrude into their privacy and ensure that we guide them on the right path.
“More importantly, let us be their true and sincere friends so that we can earn their trust and confidence to discuss anything and everything with us. That way, we have the unique opportunity to put things right,” the First Lady said.
She said beyond Ramadan, it was important for people to imbibe and sustain the principles of the holy month which among others include peace, kindness, compassion, and happy co-existence.
According to her, “The Holy Prophet held these principles in high esteem and lived His whole life around them. It is also important for us to allow all these virtues to reflect in our actions, public conduct, and interpersonal relations with everyone around us, long after Ramadan. This way, we will improve on the cordial relationship that exists among the various ethnic groups and adherents of different religions in our state.”
The celebration was attended by dignitaries including the Deputy Governor, Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, and his wife, Oluremi; other top government functionaries from the executive, legislative, and judiciary; political leaders, Islamic clerics, traditional rulers, and members of various organizations.
There was also musical entertainment by Sauti Arewa, Gawat, Alaka Twins and Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu Muslim Artist Group (ABATMAG) led by Queen Seyidat Olohungbebe.
THE Chairman of the Southern Governors’ Forum and Governor of Ondo State, Mr Rotimi Akeredolu, has insisted that the southern part of the country must produce the next president of the country. Akeredolu, in a statement on Tuesday, warned the national leadership of the ruling All Progressives Congress against giving the presidential ticket to a northern aspirant so as not to put the party in a crisis.
Akeredolu, in a statement on Tuesday, warned the national leadership of the ruling All Progressives Congress against giving the presidential ticket to a northern aspirant so as not to put the party in a crisis. The full statement as released by the Governor is highlighted below.
OUR PARTY, APC, MUST TREAD THE PATH OF EQUITY
Our party, the All Progressives Congress, has started the process which will eventually culminate in the presentation of elected political leaders, who must steer the affairs of the country for another term. We have been able to hold the party’s Convention successfully. New officers of the party have emerged in a process that is widely acknowledged as rancour-free. The level of understanding and maturity displayed by all and sundry has been commendable. Known adversaries have been forced to accept the emerging fact that our party is formidable and ready for the next general elections.
Waterfield Luxury Hotel, Akobo, Ibadan.
The current socio-economic crises are surmountable. It is commendable that the Government is addressing these issues without drama. The Federal Government and leadership of our great party will come out stronger. We cannot, therefore, afford any internal bickering which holds the potential promise of causing distrust and militating against cohesion, harmony and the zeal to achieve set objectives.
The current democratic dispensation is anchored on the unwritten convention driven by a principle of Equity. Political expediency dictates, more appealingly, that while adhering to the spirit and letters of the laws guiding conduct of elections and succession to political offices, we must do nothing which is capable of tilting the delicate balance against the established arrangement which guarantees peace and promotes trust.
Our party just elected officers on the established principle of giving every part of the country an important stake in the political calculus. The focus has now shifted to the process which will culminate in the participation of our party in the general elections scheduled for next year. All lovers of peace and freedom must do everything to eschew tendencies which may predispose them to taking decisions which promote distrust and lead to a crisis, the end of which nobody may be able to predict.
The leadership of the party ensured that the principle of rotational representation guided its decision at the just-concluded Convention. The party Chairmanship position has gone to the North. All other offices have been filled on this understanding. This is the time the leaders of the party must make a categorical statement, devoid of equivocation, on the pattern of succession.
The party Executive Committee has fixed a fee for the purchase of the nomination form for the office. It is expected, fervently, that it will proceed to complete the process by limiting the propensities for disagreement to a region for possible micro-management. It is very expedient that we avoid self-inflicted crises before the general elections.
It is the turn of the Southern part of the country to produce the next President. The party leadership should have no difficulty in making pronouncement on this very important issue, just as it has fixed various fees for the purchase of forms. This must be done without delay. The principle of Federal Character is enshrined in the 1999 Constitution, as amended. It will be disingenuous for anyone to argue against rotation at this period.
We must not keep our party men and women guessing on the position of the leadership of the party. This is the time to weigh in and take control of the process. No statement must suggest, even remotely, that the party harbours certain sentiments which may predispose it to consider throwing the contest open. This is certainly not the time for equivocation. EQUITY DICTATES THAT WE TAKE A STAND..
Following the massive joint patrol embarked upon by the Nigerian Army and men of the Amotekun Corps with other Security agencies, hideouts of kidnappers and other suspected criminal elements in Ondo State have been bursted
During the operations, no fewer than 37 suspected criminals were apprehended across the 18 Local Government Area of the State.
Waterfield Luxury Hotel, Akobo, Ibadan.
The patrol which was held simultaneously across the state, was part of efforts put in place by the state government to ensure a crime-free Eid-El-Fitri celebration.
The Ondo State Commander of Amotekun Corps, Akogun Adetunji Adeleye made this known while parading the suspects before newsmen at the Corps Headquarters in Akure on Tuesday.
According to him, the patrol which started since Friday last week, will continue till Thursday to make it a full week exercise to rid the society, Ondo and its environs of criminal elements.
“In the last five days, we have been able to harvest a number of criminals ranging from Armed robbers, suspected kidnappers, fraudsters, “Yahoo yahoo” boys and those that are engaged in nefarious activities.
“I want to commend men of the Nigeria Army from the 32 Artillery Brigade for their huge support likewise the Nigeria Police force, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and of course, the Department of State Service (DSS) for their support towards ensuring that the holiday was crime free.
Akogun Adeleye who is also the Special Adviser to the Governor on Security matters, hinted, that during the operation, they busted a number of criminal activities such as kidnapping at the border town of Ondo state.
“As a result of the intense pressure we mounted on the Kidnappers, they were compelled to to release the victim and as at now, we don’t have any Kidnapped victim in the State.
“With Intelligence, we are able to follow grassroots intelligent report to clamp down on their hideouts and we will continue to do that inline with the policy of the Ondo State Governor, Arakunrin Akeredolu.
You will agree with me that he places a lot of premium on the security of lives and properties of residents in the state. Residents, commuters and business owners in the state are testifying, that the atmosphere is clear for smooth transactions.
“And for farmers, we want you to go back to your farms and we assure you of your safety. We also enjoin you to give us timely information to work with once you see suspected movement around.
“I also want to assure members of the public that the law will take its full course on all that are found to be culpable.
He, however, reiterated the smooth working relationship existing between the Army and the Amotekun Corps.
“I keep saying that there is no personal disagreement between the Army and members of the Ondo state security Network Agency. They were operational frictions which have been resolved and as you witness today, you would see that we are working closely together and we are happy working together.
“We don’t have any problem with the Army, they are playing the roles they are supposed to play in curbing crime in Ondo State and I tell you, that the Army and other security agencies have been actively involved in most of the major successful operations that are going on in the state”, Akogun Adeleye said
Southwest leaders in the All Progressives Congress (APC) have scheduled a meeting with presidential aspirants from the zone.
The party’s founding Chairman Chief Bisi Akande and former Ogun State Governor Chief Olusegun Osoba, and other stakeholders are the conveners of the parley billed for Lagos State Government House in Marina, on Friday
The conveners of the meeting, according to ODUDUWA NEWS, an online publication, are said to be worried about the bad blood already generated by the ambition of the aspirants.
The meeting is geared towards harmonizing various differences and conflict of interest emanating from the declaration of interest to run for Presidency among Yoruba sons. Details later.
The son of former Governor of Oyo State, Idris Abiola Ajimobi has declared intention to contest for Oyo State House of Assembly.
The declaration was contained in a statement released by him as read in part:
“Today is a very historical day for me, my family and the people of Ibadan Southwest Constituency II.
Waterfield Luxury Hotel, Akobo, Ibadan.
“It has always been my childhood dream to serve humanity and presenting my self to serve the good people of IB SW II will avail me the opportunity to achieve this dream.
“I have come before you as your son, to plead for your support and prayers as I cannot do this alone.
“I know a lot of us here knows my father and the unflinching legacy he left behind (May his soul rest in perfect peace), and like his father before him (My grandfather Alhaji Gani Ajimobi) who also served the good people of this Constituency during the 2nd Republic, we shouldn’t let this legacy die and I’ll like to build on his Legacy while charting a course of my own to unite our people, bring the dividends of democracy close to our people.
“On this note I announce today that I’ll be throwing my heart in the ring to contest for the membership of the Oyo State House of Assembly as your representative in Ibadan South West Constituency II.
“With your support and the grace of the Almighty we shall be victorious”.
A former commissioner in Lagos, Olawale Oluwo has disclosed that Akinwumi Ambode, a former governor of the state will announce plans ahead of the 2023 polls within the week.
This was made known on Tuesday by Oluwo, who is the chairman of the Akinwunmi Ambode Campaign Group when he appeared on a programme on ARISE Television.
Recall that Ambode was governor of Lagos state for one term. He lost the All Progressives Congress (APC) ticket in the build-up to the 2019 elections to Babajide Sanwo-Olu, current Lagos governor.
“Governor Ambode will announce his plans within the week. I think the closing for the sale of forms is Friday,” Oluwo said.
Oluwo also dismissed reports that the Ambode campaign group has been banned.
“Even the president of Nigeria, can he ban an association? When the constitution of Nigeria says that there is freedom of association. We are all members of the party (APC),” he said.
“To be able to ban an association, there is a process and there must be probable cause that the association is engaging in criminality or treason or bad things that threaten the security of the state. The president himself or the authorities will have to go to court and get an order to proscribe.
“Nobody can use saliva and ban any association because it is guaranteed by the constitution. That statement by the APC PRO that AMGO has been banned is a completely reckless statement.”
It is not yet clear what office Ambode will vie for.
Senator representing Oyo North Senatorial District in the National Assembly, Dr Fatai Buhari has described as rumour his planned defection from All Progressives Congress, APC to People’s Democratic Party, PDP.
This is contained in a statement signed by the Director General, Fatai Buhari Tactical Committee.
Waterfield Luxury Hotel, Akobo, Ibadan.
The statement notes that PDP has no better thing to offer Senator Buhari noting that the only reason he could consider the party is if it is ready to offer him her 2023 gubernatorial ticket.
“Dismiss any rumour of planned defection of the most productive and quintessential Senator in Oyo State, Senator Fatai Buhari. PDP has no better ticket to offer him.
The only reason why Buhari may consider PDP is if it offered him her 2023 gubernatorial ticket. Anything lesser than that, Senator Buhari rejects it”.
It explains that Senator Buhari who is a governorship aspirant under the platform of APC is a party man and will ready to abide by the decision of APC provided that the party is fair and recognises the rules of internal democracy.
“Our principal is a party man to the core and will abide by party decision provided the party is just , fair and transparent and allows the rules of internal democracy to prevail.
As far as we followers of Senator Fatai Buhari is concerned, he is ready for primaries whether direct or indirect anytime, any day”.
… facilitates women inclusion into the community peace and conflict resolution committee
Environmental Conflict Mediation and Women Development Initiative (E COMAWDI) alongside other partners on Tuesday 3rd of May, 2022 organized Community Engagement and Dialogue With Peace builders in Akinyele Township.
The participants which were mainly women were trained on ways to ensure peace, mediate in community conflict in ensuring a secured and sustainable community.
According to Mrs. Ijeoma Ladele, Executive Director of ECOMAWDI, also Member of Women Mediators across commonwealth stated that women played a significant role in community dialogue, peace building and mediation also in community development and leadership of the community.
In her overview, Mrs Ijeoma Ladele said “Women Mediators across the commonwealth primary objective is to increase the participation of women in peace processes at all levels and deploying of its members and other qualified expert women Mediators, the Strategic Mediation Funds is to foster research,advocacy and engagement to ensure increased participation of women Mediators and also increase visibility and the work members do in their context”
Speaking further, she stated that this is not the first program the NGO will be conducting as they have had dialogue sessions for women “we have had dialogue session in laniba community and have also done activities in engaging women in participating in peace building process and also in election matters so our role as an organisation is to make sure that women participate and are also visible in communities”
Dialogue session
In the opening speech of Barrister Opakunle, the Chairman Institute of Chartered Mediators and Conciliators, Oyo State Chapter identified the two traditional ways of settling disputes over the years which has been police and court in which most times, these two ways causes more havock than good, as what their organization does is providing alternative dispute resolution out of court by calling parties involved for a dialogue and peace talk to identify root causes of their conflict and thereby facilitating reconciliation without necessarily convicting anyone.
Chief Kehinde Olabiyi who stood in for the royal head of the community, HRH James Odediran, on behalf of Kabiesi commended the organizers for bringing such educating and enlightening program to their community and equally welcome everyone to the program, after delivering Kabiesi goodwill message. In Chief Kehinde Olabiyi entourage were Chief Akinyele Sunday, the Aare Alasa of Akinyele, Iyaloja of Akinyele, Mrs Bintu Muraina; Mr Abidoye Osundiran, Community Hygiene Officer; Mr Temitayo Wahab, Youth Leader and Mrs Zainab Muda.
The Lead Facilitator, Dr. Adeola Adams, a lecturer at the National Open University; Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution, also a national officer at the Institute of Chartered Mediators and Conciliators, while speaking with our reporter said that the program seek to better inform women on their roles in peacekeeping in the community. He said “This program is for us to have one on one dialogue with women in akinyele township and before we can have that dialogue we need to provide them with some information that will guide their taught, situate what we want to do with what they are doing by engaging with them, bring in some information that will be vital for them to be able to understand exactly what we are here for”
He also said that the program seeks to enlighten the participants on peace structures and how to make effective use of them, also identifying different peace actors; other actors that they can work with in order to make peace and development a key component of activities in Akinyele.
While delivering his presentation, Dr. Adams described Community Engagement (CE) as a critical component of Peace-Building, activity that is currently gaining global audience – UN, AU, ECOWAS, and NGOs. Speaking further, he stated that the core of CE is to win local actors into the side of the government/humanitarian workers/NGOs/other actors in order to build peace.
He therefore identified ways in which women can participate in peace building to be Social, Economic, Political, Security, Spiritual and Cultural.
Furthermore, Dr. Adams highlighted ways in which women can contribute to peace in the community, out of which includes; Intelligence to Authority, through providing valuable information to authorities on intelligence gathering; Food Security, Advice to their husbands, Care givers to victims of war, Construction and Relocation, Advocacy, Capacity Building, Building Broken Relationship, Governance, Donation for Development Purposes, among others.
Women were encouraged to increase their participation in governance and make themselves available to serve in various leadership capacities whenever such opportunity avail itself.
Speaking as regards the appraisal of this program which has held in different places before now, Mrs Ijeoma Ladele said “women are participating but not fully participating in community activities and that is why this program is about sensitizing the women to also take their role in the society”
On the part of Dr. Adeola Adams he said that the participation of women has been very wonderful, and he believe that after the program, participants will also take the message to the street to inform those who are not available on whatever they learn from the dialogue. “It’s been very wonderful, women are always welcoming our programs, like I said it is going to be an eye opener for women in Akinyele and they are going to be peace agent(Advocate) the women that we have here are just a faction of women in Akinyele by the time we engage them they will go out there and engage others and by doing this, the whole of Akinyele will have a feel of what it means to build peace and to make development happens in their domain”
The organizers also made it known that their spread will cut across other places in Ibadan and Oyo State at large.
Questions were asked on how to meditate in conflict and Dr. Adams made justice to that.
Part of the resolution of the dialogue session is to include women in the Community Conflict and Resolution Committee which was not in existence before this program, after which the community leaders agreed to include women in the committee as a result of the intervention of this program.
The organizers informed the participants that they are already deliberating on having a peace and reconciliation sitting in the town once in a week or once in two weeks that after meeting with Kabiesi, the arrangement will be made known.
After the Facilitation dialogue the gathering went into four focused group dialogue session comprising of ten persons per group to further deepen discussion on personal issues and the community as well.
While giving her closing remark, Iyaloja of Akinyele Local Government, Mrs Bintu Muraina on behalf of women in the local government and community appreciated the organizers and equally requested that this should not be the last in the community. She also said that she will ensure adequate representation of women in the committee set up by the community royal head, and at the same time set up similar committee to look at other issues at it affect women.
Supported by: Women Mediators Across the Common Wealth. London School of Economics (Women Peace & Security)
The former Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun, over the weekend visited the former president, Olusegun Obasanjo in Abeokuta.
Sharing pictures on her Instagram page, she said, “So honoured to visit Baba in Abeokuta today. He’s filled with so much wisdom. Listening to his anecdotes is like learning in the best executive classroom.”
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has prayed that God will help President Muhammadu Buhari to fight the insecurity in Nigeria.
Osinbajo also prayed that God will fulfill the heart desires of all Muslims and every Nigerian.
The VP spoke at the Ramadan reception President Muhammadu Buhari hosted on Monday at the Banquet Hall of the State House.
“I pray that the almighty God will continually help you and help our government to tackle every one of the various challenges as we confront them”, he said.
Osinbajo further thanked God for giving Buhari the life and strength to tackle “the challenges”.
The Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) acknowledged that there is no leader that is not confronted with his own or her own problems.
“Mr President, we really want to thank God for our nation, and I think that this is a perfect opportunity to thank God that our nation is together and united”, he said
