Oduduwa News

I received the news of the death of my younger brother and friend, Yinka Odumakin with a rude shock.

Odumakin was a patriot and strong believer in the promotion of good governance, democracy and the rule of law.

I sympathize with all Nigerians who share these same values with Odumakin, especially the Afenifere group of which Yinka was the publicity secretary – a role he played with so much commitment and admiration.

Much as our heart grieves over this unpleasant development, we must take solace in accepting it as an act of God and acknowledge the fact that Yinka lived a life of purpose in defense of the ordinary people of this country and to enthrone a better Nigeria.

I condole with his wife, Dr (Mrs) Joe Okei-Odumakin and his children and pray that God will grant him eternal rest.

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila, and the new Speaker of the Ghanaian Parliament, Mr. Albert Bagbin, have agreed to strengthen parliamentary relations in a bid to find lasting solutions to challenges such as the trade dispute involving some Nigerian traders in Ghana.

The two speakers reached out to each other during a zoom meeting they held on Friday.

Gbajabiamila told his counterpart that the two countries were like siblings and should continue to explore the avenue of parliamentary diplomacy in addressing shared challenges, adding that there was much both could learn from one another.

The Nigerian Speaker also introduced the project he initiated with five other African Speakers, namely the Conference of Speakers of African Parliaments (CoSAP), saying that last year they worked together to advocate debt relief.

He further stated that this year, African Speakers and Heads of Parliaments were expected to gather in Abuja to explore how they could work better together to tackle collective challenges.

While congratulating the Ghanaian Speaker for his success at the recently contested polls, Gbajabiamila said while he worked very closely with the predecessor, he looked forward to doing the same with Bagbin in continuation of the age-old tradition of solidarity between both nations.

The Nigerian Speaker updated his Ghanaian counterpart on his visit to Ghana late last year in an effort to douse tensions and extract commitments from the Ghanaian government over the trade dispute.

He said he would want the discussions on the matter to continue under the new Ghanaian Speaker.

“I look forward to working with you. There are a lot of issues for both our countries, that, I think through Parliamentary Diplomacy and backchannel discussions, we can resolve for the people of both countries.

“I’m sure you are aware of a couple of them, including the relationship between Ghana and Nigeria in terms of our traders and residents over there and yours over here too. I think the onus rests upon both of us to try and resolve whatever issues there are. We started on this trajectory last year with the former speaker and we made very significant inroads and headway.

“I visited Ghana, I met with some of your ministers, including Mr. President and very far-reaching decisions were made and we are expecting outcomes of a report from your Minister of Trade. We were supposed to set up a friendship group between the two parliaments. That group has been set up by the Nigerian Parliament and if the list is not with you yet, I’m sure in the next few days, you will get it.

“Your President was absolutely gracious, he was absolutely wonderful. He met with us, he has a rich pedigree with Nigeria as you all know, so it worked out well. We just need to cement it, and I’m sure that between you and I, we will be able to take this a notch further.

“I want to use this opportunity to invite you to Nigeria as well, we will be able to discuss a lot of things and of course there is the issue of CoSAP, which I’m sure in your handover notes you are aware we set up with some African countries. The issue at hand last year was debt relief for African countries, that has strangulated many countries’ economies based on the debt portfolio they had”, he stated.

Gbajabiamila said COSAP would have its inaugural meeting this year in Nigeria where “hopefully we will be able to concretise on that issue and actually address other issues going forward for this year.”

“There are two issues that are critical in this moment like the relationship between Ghana and the Nigerian traders and the issue of CoSAP, and I’m sure there will be many more issues as we go along”, he said.

He also used the opportunity to invite Bagbin to visit Nigeria to deepen the parliamentary cooperation between the two countries.

On his part, Bagbin said he welcomed the idea of having a better relationship with the Nigerian Parliament and that he was ready to reciprocate the Nigerian Speaker’s visit so that they would discuss issues.

He also applauded Gbajabiamila for coming up with the idea of CoSAP, which he described as a noble project.

“On the issue of CoSAP, yes, we already have somebody as the focal person and it’s not only the handover notes, I have also been given a brief on CoSAP, and I want to applaud your efforts for the initiative, it’s a very good initiative and it’s going to propel parliamentary diplomacy to a higher level.” So, definitely, you have my support in that direction”.

“I am sure other African countries are looking up to Ghana and Nigeria to show the way, and I’m sure that with your immense experience and what I have gone through over 19 good years in parliamentary diplomacy, I am sure that there will be nothing that we will not be able to surmount.”

The two Speakers agreed it was important to meet sooner rather than later and concluded with an agreement to meet in Abuja before the first half of this year.

A renowned activist and Spokesperson of the Pan-Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere, Yinka Odumakin is dead.

He was said to have died in the early hours of Saturday.

The cause of his death is yet to be ascertained as of press time. Details later.

ODUDUWA NEWS has just gathered that fire broke out at Spare Part Market (Iso Part), Gate, Ibadan. It was reported that the fire started since midnight. Effort was made to put out the fire but it was unsuccessful.

As at the time of filing this report, several properties have been reported to have burnt.

Details later.

State chairmen of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the South-West have warned the Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde to stop insulting and threatening the party and its National Working Committee (NWC), saying; “the PDP existed before he returned from his political sojourn in the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and if he chooses to leave now as he has always done, the party will still exist and strongly too.”

Governor makinde had threatened that there will be dire consequences should the South-West zonal congress of the party be postponed in obedience to an order of the court.

Responding, Chairman of the State Chairmen, Dr Sikirulai Ogundele, said it was shocking that a man who called himself a governor could insult and threaten the custodians of the party just because they choose to obey an order of the court.

Sikirulai, who spoke on behalf of the PDP chairmen in Ekiti, Lagos and Osun States, Otunba Bisi Kolawole, Engr Adedeji Doherty and Hon Sunday Bisi respectively, said they were not surprised “because Governor Makinde has never for once been stable in the party, being a serial decampee, who only returned to the party in 2018.”

The statement read; “We read with disgust, the statement credited to Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, warning leaders and member of the National Working Committee (NWC) of our great party, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

“We would have ignored his ranting as it did not come to us as a surprise because we are aware of his negotiations with the All Progressives Congress (APC) as made public by leaders of the party in Oyo State.

“We are not equally surprised because Governor Makinde has never for once been stable in the party, being a serial decampee.

“There is a general saying that if there is peace in a household, it is because the bastard among the family members has not grown to adulthood.

“We are however shocked that a man who calls himself a governor is insulting and threatening the custodians of the party just because they choose to obey an order of the court.

“We dare him to sustain his threat.

“When he said no one is bigger than the party, he actually directed at himself because his governorship of Oyo State does not qualify him as Governor General of PDP. In other words, Governor Seyi Makinde is not bigger than the PDP.

“The Working Committee of this party was duly elected just like the governor and as stakeholders, we all have our own roles to play.

“More so that he is only the governor of Oyo State by providence and not the Governor General of the South-West. Even in Oyo State, the governor is not the only stakeholder of the PDP there.

“To us, threatening that there will be consequences if the party obeys court order concerning the South-West Congress is the height of political rascality and it should be made clear to all lovers of PDP that nothing will be worse than what he has done before by jumping from one political bed to another. It is on record that in 2015, he was persuaded to accept senatorial ticket, yet, he left PDP for SDP.

“Who cares if he chooses to leave PDP this time too? Is he not even already a sinking ship in Oyo State, placing members of the SDP and ADC over and above those of the PDP?

“This is a man that has just exhibited crass indiscipline and disloyalty to the PDP by hand picking Chairmanship and Councillorship candidates, who are not registered members of the party, contrary to the PDP Constitution and Guidelines for the Primaries to strengthen the PDP internal democracy. He has virtually destroyed the PDP in his Oyo State and he is struggling in vain to compromise the NWC not to right the wrongs on these primaries.

“Without apologies, Governor Makinde can do his worse. He should stop threatening the party because he is not more a loyal and committed member of the party than people like us who stood by the party when he left.

“The PDP existed before he returned from his political sojourn in SDP and if he chooses to leave now as he has always done, the party will still exist and strongly too.

“Lastly, Governor Makinde’s vituperation has clearly exposed him as the greatest enemy of rule of law and democracy by his attempt to blackmail and castigate the NWC for upholding the basic element of the rule of law that court orders must be obeyed.

“The NWC should totally disregard his infantile and undemocratic statement.”

Governor of Ekiti State, Dr Kayode Fayemi has assured the three indigenes of the State that received the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Presidential Award of Excellence and Remarkable Achievement of government’s support.

Dr Fayemi made this known in Ado-Ekiti on Thursday when he received the award winners in his office in Ado-Ekiti. He remarked that they have been able to demonstrate leadership and compassion in their various Places of Primary Assignment (PPA) during their service year which was the major criteria for their consideration for the Presidential honour.

The award winners: Kolawole Toba, Ayodele Olubusayo and Seriki Adetututu who served in Adamawa, Bauchi and Oyo States respectively were commended by the Governor for doing Ekiti proud and for being good representatives of their families, State and the values that are associated with Ekiti.

He urged them to continue with the good work with the promise to ensure that he would impress upon the Federal Government to fulfil its promise of granting automatic employment to them. He added that the State would equally grant them monetary rewards and other incentives as a booster to them as well as serve as impetus for others to lift the name of the State wherever they found themselves.

The Governor however enjoined other leaders in the state to join him to mentor them by monitoring their development that would bring more laurels to the state.

According to the Governor, “NYSC started as a vision which has become a reality and the mission continues by integrating opportunity which the institution has created for all of us. I am glad that in your various primary assignment, you’ve been able to demonstrate leadership, you’ve been able to demonstrate compassion because in everything that you described, you helped people.

“I think it speaks to the value restoration agenda that we have always promoted here in Ekiti State because for us when I was returning to office in 2018, I said it was important to restore the values that Ekiti people are known for and wherever you find yourself when you tell people that you are from Ekiti, there are a number of things they automatically associate with Ekiti- integrity, knowledge seeking, determination to succeed, competence and compassion.

“But regardless of whether the Federal Government fulfil their promise, we consider you our own and we also would like to at least show profound appreciation to you for doing Ekiti proud, we would do that via some cash donation to you.”

Earlier, the Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Mr Michael Awopetu noted that Ekiti youths were performing brilliantly well in all facets of life making Ekiti people proud, adding that eight Ekiti youths were among the Presidential awardees in 2019.

The Commissioner encouraged youths to continue to uphold the legacies excellent performance, diligence and compassion wherever they found themselves.

Also at the event were the Secretary to the State Government, Mr Biodun Oyebanji; Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Dr Olabimpe Aderiye, Special Adviser to the Governor on Governor’s Office Matters, Mr Foluso Daramola, Special Adviser/ DG Bureau of Public Procurement, Mr O’Seun Odewale.

Governor of Ekiti State, Dr Kayode Fayemi has applauded plans by the Nigeria Military to establish a Defence Space Communication Satellite centre in the state in its drive to ensure adequate security and protection of Nigerians.

Dr Fayemi gave the commendation while receiving the Chief of Defense Space Administration (DSA), Rear Admiral Williams Kayoda, in his office in Ado Ekiti on Thursday.

He said the benefits of the initiative to the State was enormous adding that the state could not afford to miss the opportunity.

The Governor disclosed that his administration had been working on the establishment of the Knowledge Zone where about 1500 Hectares of land was already procured, adding that the proximity of the satellite centre to the knowledge zone is an added advantage.

He also revealed that his administration was almost finalizing arrangement with the office of the National Security Adviser and the Office of the Chief of Air Staff to secure end-users certificate for Orbital Drones that was procured to strengthen security architecture of the state.

“What I can assure you is that for us, we are absolutely committed to ensuring that this works. Anyone who has seen the benefit to which institutions like NASA had been put to beyond military utilization will understand the reason why the State must embrace the initiative.

“The military had always been a pioneer in scientific development. The internet came from the military and other big time initiatives have always come from the military, so if we have an institution that is dedicated to utilizing information from space in order to aid our security and also research and development, there is no better place to have it than Ekiti.

“At the moment, we are almost finalizing, even for our own security here in Ekiti, we’ve recognized the use of technology and one of the things that we’ve been doing lately with the office of the National Security Adviser and the Office of the Chief of Air Staff is to get their support for end-users certificate for Orbital Drones we just procured which fits into your initiative and hopefully, our vision is that these drones would be produced locally on the basis of the work that you have already embarked on.

Earlier, the Chief of Defence Space Administration (DSA), Rear Admiral Williams Kayoda said his command was mandated to drive the military aspect of the state requirements to provide space products in support of armed forces of Nigeria operations and other security agencies as well as protect the Nigeria cyber space through the Cyber security Centre.

Rear Admiral Kayoda commended Dr Fayemi for his various efforts aimed at tackling incessant security challenges facing the nation said the peculiarity of Ekiti topography helped in the choice of the state for the project.

According to the Chief of Defence Space Administration, the benefits accruable to the state from the project included employment of over 300 civilians from Ekiti state as well as opportunity for the state to host the dedicated satellite military base which will control all armed forces satellite or orbital presence thereby allowing for more military presence in the state.

Omisakin Samson, 18-year old man who before his arrest specialized in hacking people’s accounts through stolen SIM cards has confessed in Akure, the Ondo state capital that he felt offended anytime he spends money stolen from his victims.

Police detectives said the teenage suspect specialised in stealing money from bank account using stolen SIMs cards. Omisakin was arrested by police detectives after stealing N44k from a victim’s bank account using a stolen SIM card.

In an interview when he was paraded by the Ondo state police command with 14 other criminals in Akure, the suspects said he received 18 SIM cards from some armed robbers but could only withdraw money from some of the cards.

He gave the names of the armed robbers as Isaac Monday and Ajilogba Wande. The suspect said he attended the Polytechnic, lbadan but couldn’t further his education because of lack of fund.

” l took to yahoo yahoo business to survive. My mother has stroke and my father is no longer taking care of me. I started with Yahoo and I did it regularly. I studied computer engineering where I learnt about hacking. I used applications to run victims sim card. I used the SIM to withdraw the cash through POS or used it to buy cards.

I collected 18 SIMs from them but many of them were not useful while some were useful. The one that brought me here was the one I collected N44,000 from. I took N4000 cash and used the rest to buy goods.

I withdraw the cash online. In this case I used somebody account and it was traced to us. When I see my victims now, I will beg them and tell them l will not do it again. I feel bad when spending their money,” he said.