Oduduwa News

Abeokuta, Ogun State — The Ogun State Government has raised a mid-term flood alert, warning residents in flood-prone communities to brace for possible flooding between September and November 2025.

The alert, announced on Thursday, March 20, follows the Seasonal Rainfall Prediction (SRP) issued by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) and the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA).

Early Floods Managed

Officials noted that the first phase of flooding, which occurred between March and July, was successfully managed through proactive measures such as clearing drainage channels, public sensitization, and enforcement of environmental laws. The government commended residents for cooperating by keeping waterways free of refuse and avoiding trading activities on drainage paths.

September–October Identified as Critical Period

The government, however, cautioned that the second phase of heavy rainfall—expected from mid-September through November—poses a greater threat. Forecasts indicate that September will experience the highest rainfall, measuring about 204mm, followed by October with 190mm. The rains are expected to subside to 93mm by November.

Flood-prone areas highlighted include coastal and riverine communities such as Iwopin, Ifaara, Oni, Makun, Ebute-Imobi, Tungeji Island, and settlements adjoining Ogun River, including Isheri, Warewa, Akute, and Abeokuta. Communities along the ILO and Iju Rivers are also at risk.

Authorities warned that flooding could be worsened by tidal variations and controlled water releases from the Oyan Dam, where water levels have risen to 58.47 metres above mean sea level.

Emergency Response Activated

The State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) has been placed on red alert for evacuation operations. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Environment is working closely with the Ogun-Osun River Basin Development Authority to regulate dam releases.

Residents in flood-prone zones have been advised to relocate to safer areas. Fish farmers in low-lying plains—particularly in Eriwe, Yemule, Ilase and Ayegbami—were urged to harvest their stock immediately to prevent losses, while households relying on wells and boreholes were cautioned about possible water contamination.

Govt Reassures Residents

Commissioner for Environment, Hon. Ola Oresanya, assured that the state government remains committed to protecting lives and property.

“We remain dedicated to averting the menace of flooding in Ogun State and will continue to take proactive steps to safeguard our people. We appeal for continued cooperation from residents, as addressing the challenge requires joint responsibility,” he said.

The North West arm of the Gbenga Hashim Vanguard has cautioned against what it described as a plot to use former President Goodluck Jonathan as a “spoiler” ahead of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential primary for the 2027 elections.

Reacting to reports credited to Senator Abba Moro that the PDP had allegedly shortlisted three Southern aspirants, including Jonathan, as possible flagbearers, the group described the claim as “provincial and dangerous for party unity.”

Speaking in Kano, the group’s North West Coordinator, Hon. Aminu Bala Wudilawa, insisted that only duly elected delegates, in line with the Electoral Act, have the mandate to determine the party’s presidential candidate.

“The PDP cannot afford to repeat the mistake of 2015, when President Jonathan was misled into a provincialist approach that weakened the party and cost us power,” Wudilawa stated.

“The party is not sectional; it belongs to all Nigerians, North and South. Any attempt to reduce the process to ethnic politics will be resisted,” he added.

Wudilawa stressed that while Jonathan had every constitutional right to contest, restricting the ticket to the South was a deliberate ploy to edge out competent Northern aspirants such as Dr. Gbenga Hashim, a founding member of the PDP and its first Deputy National Publicity Secretary.

He described Hashim as a democrat who sacrificed for the return of democracy, a successful entrepreneur, and “one of the cleanest hands in Nigerian politics.”

“Dr. Hashim represents the forward-looking leadership Nigerians desire, not a return to corruption, ineptitude, and provincialism,” the coordinator declared.

The group reaffirmed its support for Hashim’s presidential ambition, insisting that Nigerians were yearning for a leader with a firm grasp of economics and national security.

“Insha Allah, that leader is Dr. Gbenga Hashim. No spoiler tactic will be allowed to shut the door against his aspiration,” Wudilawa concluded.

The Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has taken a swipe at former Minister of Interior and ex-Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola, following his recent claim that the African Democratic Congress (ADC) would take over Aso Rock and Lagos in 2027.

It was gathered that Aregbesola made the remarks on Saturday during a political gathering in Lagos, where he welcomed Moshood Salvador, leader of the Labour Party’s Conscience Forum, and his supporters into the ADC.

In a sharp reaction, the APC, through its spokesperson, Seye Oladejo, on Sunday described Aregbesola’s new political stance as a fall from grace.

“Here is a man who was once a proud landlord in the progressive family, now reduced to a wandering tenant in a mushroom opposition party,” Oladejo said.

The APC reminded Nigerians that Aregbesola rose through the ranks of the ruling party, serving as Commissioner in Lagos, Governor of Osun, and later a federal minister, enjoying the benefits of the APC platform.

“From Lagos Commissioner to Osun Governor and then Minister, Aregbe ate, dined, and thrived on the APC table. Today, in a desperate bid for relevance, he is busy setting fire to the same house that made him. That, dear Nigerians, is political suicide of the highest order,” Oladejo added.

The ruling party dismissed the ADC’s hopes of electoral success under Aregbesola’s influence, describing it as “a march towards political irrelevance rather than victory.”

“If ADC thinks Aregbesola is the one to lead them to electoral glory, then they are preparing for a funeral, not a victory,” Oladejo stated.

He further argued that Aregbesola’s political relevance has waned, stressing that his criticisms of APC would only consign him to “the footnotes of infamy.”

According to APC, “If ADC insists on betting its future on a man dismantling his own legacy, then the only ‘takeover’ awaiting them in 2027 will be a takeover by ridicule.”

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Oyo State on Saturday conducted ward congresses across the 33 local government areas of the state.

While the exercise was largely peaceful in most parts of the state, including Ibarapa East where the Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Adebo Ogundoyin, commended members for their orderly conduct, pockets of disagreements were recorded in Irepo Local Government.

Reports from Irepo indicated that parallel congresses were allegedly held, with some party leaders accusing the Deputy Governor’s camp of excluding long-standing members from the process. However, some of those accused of involvement in the parallel exercise, including PDP chieftain Alhaji Ibrahim Tijani (Omupo), have denied the claims, insisting they participated only in the main congress.

Despite the tension in Irepo, stakeholders and party elders praised the overall conduct of the ward congresses, describing them as transparent and a reflection of the party’s internal democracy.

The Southern Summit of Former Legislators has formally endorsed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for a second term in office. The endorsement was contained in a communiqué issued at the close of the summit, which held on Saturday at the June 12 Cultural Centre, Kuto, Abeokuta, Ogun State.

The forum of former lawmakers praised President Tinubu’s reforms over the past two years, noting that they have re-engineered the economy, strengthened the naira, and placed the nation on the path of socio-economic recovery. They also urged state governments to align with these reforms and support the President’s efforts to build a new Nigeria.

In his address, the Chief of Staff to the President and convener of the summit, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, highlighted the significance of the newly signed tax reforms, describing them as a foundation for a new era of economic justice anchored on fairness, accountability, and national purpose. Citing the World Bank Development Update, he revealed that Nigeria’s economy grew by 4.6 percent in the last quarter of 2024, pushing annual growth to 3.4 percent — the fastest in a decade. He added that the fiscal deficit had dropped from 5.4 percent of GDP in 2023 to 3 percent in 2024, while federation revenues rose sharply from ₦16.8 trillion in 2023 to an estimated ₦31.9 trillion in 2024.

Gbajabiamila further stressed the importance of unity, noting that without peace and cohesion, no nation can truly develop. According to him, “Nation building is not only about roads, bridges, schools, and hospitals; it is about forging a common identity and shared purpose.” He also commended President Tinubu for establishing development commissions across the six geo-political zones, a move he said would channel federal resources into infrastructure and human capital development nationwide.

Welcoming delegates to Ogun State, Governor Dapo Abiodun reiterated that nation-building is a shared duty that transcends tribal, religious, political, and economic divides. He emphasized that unity does not equate to uniformity but rather a celebration of diversity underpinned by justice, equity, and respect. He described former legislators as embodiments of representative democracy, noting that beyond lawmaking, their oversight and grassroots representation continue to give voice to the people at the national level.

“You must be committed to a united, secure, and economically vibrant region. You must continue to support policies and programs that promote inclusive governance, human capital development, and inter-regional cooperation,” the governor charged.

The Chairman of the occasion, Senator Ken Nnamani, in his opening remarks, stressed the importance of platforms like the summit in proffering solutions to national challenges. Former House of Representatives Speaker, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara, warned Nigerians not to be swayed by “pretenders” in the political space, whom he described as motivated by vengeance and power rather than patriotism. Dogara maintained that under President Tinubu, the nation had already begun to see signs of economic recovery.

Also speaking, former House of Representatives Speaker, Patricia Etteh, called for greater cohesion, dialogue, and shared purpose, describing unity as a key ingredient for peace and democratic progress.

The National Coordinator of the summit, Hon. Raphael Igbokwe, assured participants that the forum would continue to serve as a platform for generating solutions to Nigeria’s challenges, while urging subnational governments to collaborate with the federal government to move the nation forward.

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has expressed confidence in its ability to unseat President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2027 general elections.

Speaking during a stakeholders’ meeting, former Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, declared that the party is working on a comprehensive grassroots mobilisation strategy that will not only secure victory at the federal level but also reposition the party to take control of Lagos State.

Aregbesola stressed that Nigerians are yearning for a credible alternative to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), noting that the ADC is prepared to fill that gap with competent leadership, people-oriented policies, and transparent governance.

He added that the party’s structure across the country is being strengthened to ensure effective participation and dominance in the forthcoming elections.

According to him, “The ADC is not just contesting for relevance; we are contesting to win. By 2027, we will produce Nigeria’s next president and transform Lagos into a model state that truly serves its people.”

A fatal accident occurred on Saturday morning at New Garage, Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, claiming the life of one passenger and leaving nine others injured.

The crash, involving a Toyota commercial bus and an Iveco truck, was attributed to speeding and road obstruction. Victims were rushed to Ojota Emergency Centre and Gbagada General Hospital, while the deceased was deposited at a mortuary in Ibafo.

In a separate incident the same day, a 15-year-old girl was killed by a hit-and-run driver while attempting to cross the expressway near Muslim Under Bridge in Ibadan. The driver fled the scene as residents decried the dangers of reckless driving on the busy route.

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has urged motorists to exercise caution, especially as travel increases during the ember months.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has secured a court order to detain the Chief Executive Officer of Sujimoto Construction, Sijibomi Ogundele, over an alleged N5.7 billion contract fraud.

The case is linked to the construction of 22 “Smart Green Schools” in Enugu State.

As part of the investigation, EFCC has frozen Ogundele’s personal and company accounts and seized his international passport.

Reports also indicate that he was initially denied legal access and subjected to restricted access to food and water while in custody.

The commission said the detention was necessary to complete ongoing investigations into the matter.

Viral NYSC member, Corper Raye, has revealed the reason she stopped attending church, explaining that many of the struggles faced by Nigerian youth are not spiritual but economic. In a now-trending video, Raye stated that the belief in spiritual causes—such as family curses or “village people”—is misleading.

Instead, she emphasized that the real issue holding back young Nigerians is the harsh economic reality they live in.

“I stopped going to church because I realized my problem wasn’t spiritual—it was economic,” Raye said.

“It’s about the country I grew up in. You’re not cursed. Nothing is wrong with you. Your family isn’t cursed. Your village people aren’t affecting you.”

She described how a change in mindset helped her begin finding real solutions to her challenges:

“The only thing slowing you down as an average youth is growing up in an economy that makes success five times harder. I used to make a lot of naive videos until I woke up one day and realized this is not a spiritual issue—it’s an economic one.”

Raye made it clear that she still believes in God, but she now rejects the idea that her struggles are caused by supernatural forces.

“I love God, honestly. But I truly believe there’s no curse following me. The moment I shifted my mindset and stopped blaming family curses, I began to look for real ways to break out of poverty.”

She encouraged others to stop relying on generational blame and instead think creatively:

“To escape this economic trap, you have to think outside the box. Stop depending on the narrative that your problems come from your father’s or mother’s side. The real ‘curse’ is holding on to that mindset.”

The Minister of Education has lauded Prof. Segun Gbadegesin CON, a long-time associate of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for playing a pivotal role in the establishment of the Federal University of Agriculture and Technology, Okeho (FUNATO).

Speaking at the inauguration of the institution’s Governing Council and Principal Officers, the Minister revealed that Prof. Gbadegesin, a respected scholar and patriot, set aside his own political and ministerial ambitions to ensure that Oke-Ogun land secured its first full-fledged federal university.

“Prof. Segun Gbadegesin’s friendship with President Tinubu is well-known. But what stands out is how he chose to convert that goodwill into a lasting legacy for his people rather than pursue personal gain. FUNATO is here today because he sacrificed an appointment many thought was already his, so that Oke-Ogun could take its rightful place on Nigeria’s educational map,” the Minister stated.

He further charged the community to honour this sacrifice by safeguarding the institution through fairness, merit, and due process. “This university is not just another federal project; it is the fruit of vision, sacrifice, and love for Oke-Ogun. Let us now build on this foundation with excellence and integrity,” he added.

The Minister also commended the pioneer Vice Chancellor, Prof. Jacob Olaniyi Babayemi, and his management team, urging them to uphold transparency and professionalism in all their operations.

“This gift must not be squandered. It is a responsibility to future generations,” the Minister concluded.