Oduduwa News

A stalwart of People’s Democratic Party PDP, Dr. Adetokunbo Pearse, on Monday urged the party’s stakeholders to embrace peace to strengthen the party in the South-West.

The chieftain, lecturer at the University of Lagos, Pearse who made this appeal while granting an interview to newsmen said that the real opponent of PDP remained the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). “There is no need for us to be fighting ourselves within the PDP when our real opponents are in the APC.

“We should desist from actions, disposition and utterances that are tearing the party apart.
“Let members promote candidates of their choice and tell us why they want us to support such candidates,” Pearse said.
RecallPDP has been embroiled in controversies over the leadership of the South-West chapter of the party which precipitated suspension of its zonal congress recently.

Pearse was the former Governorship Candidate of Social Democratic Party (SDP) in 2019 elections in Lagos State.
According to him, the suspended South-West congress is an exercise in democracy for members to choose the candidates they think are best to run the South-West zone of the PDP.

The chieftain advised party members in the zone to allow the congress to hold and stressed the need for all to go to the convention as a family whenever the zonal congress is rescheduled.

“I would suggest that people who are holding up the congress now should withdraw their suits in court so that we can have a less acrimonious, smooth and peaceful election.

“We should follow the direction of the Reconciliation Teams, the one led by the former Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki and the one led by the former Gov. Olagunsoye Oyinlola of Osun.
“We can agree to disagree, but we do not need to be disagreeable. We are members of the same party and at the end of the day, all of us must work together,” he said.

According to him, the crisis in the Lagos PDP chapter has stagnated the party.
He also urged the Lagos State PDP Chairman, Mr Deji Doherty, to allow peace to reign.

“In Lagos particularly, there is no need for us to fight each other,” he added.
NAN reports that the former Gov. Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State and Gov. Seyi Makinde of Oyo State have been embroiled in controversy over the leadership of the South-West chapter of the main opposition party in Nigeria.

Also, the brouhaha over who should take the position of the National Vice-Chairman of PDP in the South-West was tearing the party apart.
“While Fayose-faction was support of Mr Eddy Olafeso to retain the position, Makinde’s loyalists were in support Mr Taofeek Arapaja.
The Saraki-led and Oyinlola-led PDP reconciliatory committees have visited some state chapters of PDP in the zone to resolve their crisis.

ODUDUWA NEWS has just gathered that students of state-owned tertiary institutions have decided to embark on protest today in Ibadan owing to the ongoing industrial strike action embarked on by workers in their institution.

This was contained in a release jointly signed by SUG President, Ashaolu Victor Samuel and PRO, Abdulrauf Abdulazeez of Adeseun Ogundoyin Polytechnic, Eruwa and sent to Oduduwa News confirming the purpoted protest as read in part:

“We are using this medium to call the attention of Students Populace of Adeseun Ogundoyin Polytechnic, Eruwa to join us this morning at Sango Junction, Ibadan by 8:00am for the Massive Protest which is organized by Student leaders of all Oyo State Owned Institutions.

“If you are presently in Ibadan, join us as we converge at Sango Junction Ibadan and lead our peaceful struggle to State Secretariat. The Negligence of The State Government to Student Life and Qualitative Education needs to stop, also We must end this Jeopardizing and Ruining of Students Future due to Joint Action Committee (JAC) Body Selfish Interest. #StopWastingOurTime

“This protest will be covered by top media in the state and all our activities will be posted on social media. We enjoin every students to join us on both physical and online. “Let us dare to be so by ourselves and for ourselves.” – Jean-Jacques Dessalines. #EndJacStrike. The fight continues.

Sunday Ighoho’s spokesman and radio presenter, Olayomi Koiki has said traditional rulers and politicians of Yoruba extraction who are against the agitation for Oduduwa Republic will go on exile.

He said further that there would be no retreat in the push for a sovereign nation for Yoruba people.

Sunday Igboho
Koiki said this in a viral video on Saturday.

He, however, said that there were Yoruba chiefs in support of the agitation, saying those ones would be spared, as he berated many monarchs and political leaders for allegedly causing the impoverishment of the Yoruba people.

In the video he made in Yoruba, the media personality said those who cautioned on war should know that Nigeria was at war with the effrontery of the Fulani militias to attack the Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom.

“Apart from those who spoke audibly well, but who did not, we will chase them away. Mark my face. My name is Olayomi Koiki. You older generation sent us the younger generation into slavery. But, we are informing you now that if you have what to use to protect yourself, please do because what we are telling you is not a little matter.

“You will go on exile because many of you have brought damage to the Yoruba people.

“You are saying we shouldn’t start a war, you didn’t know that war had started in Nigeria since the inception of the country. You will be madly shocked when we unleash deadly agitators. You think we are joking but we are starting with you.

“Aside from the traditional leaders that have spoken audibly, tell the traditional rulers and politicians that we are not playing. My name is Olayomi Koiki. Mark my face. I’m a confirmed Ijebu-Ode indigene. I will contend with you thoroughly.”

He expressed confidence that the people of the South-West will do well.

“You think we are joking. The southern governments have been given 30 days’ ultimatum. But before and after that 30 days deadline, it will be fierce, except if the movement is false. But if we are supported by Olodumare, the Yoruba will separate from Nigeria.

“UK is just 67 million people and they are flourishing, and we that are more than 67 million people are suffering. And someone from his palace is telling us not to start war, war has begun in Nigeria.

“If you are saying there is no war in Nigeria, the Governor of Benue State was almost killed. And you are saying there’s no war? You didn’t talk when Yoruba people were refugees in Benin Republic. You will see madness. Whatever you have, bring it out, and we will bring ours too. Yoruba nation, there is no going back. Have a very good evening.”

Ondo State Governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, has warned Chief Sunday Igboho and others agitating for a sovereign Yoruba State to stay away from the state.

Akeredolu said Ondo people have elected to stay in the Federal Republic of Nigeria as constituted at present.

He said no part of the entire state, known and delineated as Ondo State, would permit any gathering or agitation which may suggest, however remotely, that the people are in support of what he termed ‘unthinking rabble rousing.’

Akeredolu who spoke while swearing in Princess Catherine Oladunni Odu as the new Secretary to the State Government and other Special Advisers said the state would not subscribe to banditry and recklessness in putting forth its demands.

He said the right of citizens to discuss, agitate and even fight to right perceived wrongs, culminating in self-determination, must be done within known and acceptable parameters and all concerned must agree to pursue the same objectives to achieve a desirable or desired end.

He noted that the reasons for the declaration of hostilities must not be fleeting fancies of disaffection engendered by perceived politics of exclusion for personal benefits.

Akeredolu who condemned attack on the convoy of the Benue State Governor, Mr. Samuel Ortom, urged security agencies to unmask the agents of darkness bent on throwing the country into a state of anarchy.

There has been indication that trouble A coalition comprising different political groups in lagelu Local government in Oyo State , under the aegis lagelu Peoples Forum (LPF) yesterday announced its intention to commence the recall of the lawmaker representing Lagelu state constituency in Oyo State House of Assembly, Honourable Akintunde Olajide popularly called AKT, over allegations of gross misconduct that led to his emergence as an hon member in the Oyo state House of Assembly.

The coalition called on the people of the lagelu state Constituency to as a matter of urgency and responsibility support the patriotic move and save the Constituency further embarrassments.

The group in a Press statement released to this Online newspaper, lamented what they described as poor representation of the Constituency by AKT.

Speaking on behalf ‎ of the group, Alhaji Abdulkareem Delaja told Journalists that lagelu state Constituency has been relegated to the back seat following the serial exuberant behavior,lackadaisical attitude ,disrespecting the traditional rulers and arrogance to the electorate that elected him.

According to Delaja, he has since his election threaded the path of infamy by neglecting his primary responsibility to his supporters and more importantly the masses , and most importantly he did not get the party Waiver to contest in the 2019 general election stating that he was not fully and properly involve in the due process of candidate representation and at this it’s has led AKT to an unwarranted political ego tripping that only serve to massage his over bloated ego and personal aggrandisement.

“As a Group, we are not out to witch-hunt any body. But we owe it a duty to ensure thay our Constituency is properly represented in the State Assembly. Unfortunately this has not been the case with him who has virtually turned an otherwise serious business of legislation to a grandeous display of infantile exuberance , cronism and other shameful vices unbecoming of a Distinguished Honourable”.

The Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, has reassured Lagosians on safety of the COVID-19 vaccine, just as he maintained that the Lagos State Government will ensure that residents get vaccinated.

Abayomi made this known on “City Talks with Reuben Abati” on Saturday where he reiterated the benefits of getting the COVID-19 vaccine, saying “Once you get the vaccine, you have immunity to the virus”.

According to him, although the vaccination comes with few side effects which include fever, fatigue, headache, muscle pain and chills, these effects are mild and can be suppressed with a good night’s rest. He added that contrary to claims, among over 40,000 people who have received the vaccines, nobody has developed a blood clot.

Professor Abayomi said the vaccine is accompanied by security to account for the vial, accountability and a cold chain to ensure Lagosians are not put at risk due to corrupt practices.

He affirmed that the focus on COVID-19 has not in any way affected the process of tackling other health issues, noting that during the first wave of the virus, healthcare provision was absolutely free and more people were able to get treatment at health centres and general hospitals across the State.

The Commissioner said one of the measures put in place by the present administration to ensure there is no collateral damage from the COVID-19 is that the containment of the virus has been centralised to designated isolation centres, while primary health centres and general hospitals have been charged with the responsibility of taking care of other health-related issues.

He averred that the government is putting more into the health sector by developing multiple strategies to put resources and infrastructure at the disposal of health responders so that Nigerian doctors can have a place where they can work conveniently and comfortably.

Abayomi said that anyone under the age of 18 years is not vaccinated because generally young people are resilient to the virus, stressing that anyone who is unwell is advised not to take the vaccine until they get well from the present ailment.

“We are majorly worried about elderly people particularly those who have underlying medical conditions”, he added.

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Sunday said the first civilian governor of the State, Alhaji Lateef Jakande, will continue to live in the hearts of Lagosians and Nigerians at large till eternity.

Governor Sanwo-Olu said the legacy left behind by the late Jakande would remain with Lagosians for a long time to come, describing Jakande, a former Minister of Works, as a detribalised Nigerian, who was outstanding in all his achievements.

Sanwo-Olu added that the former governor known as ‘Baba Kekere’ lived a righteous life and will live forever in people’s hearts.

Governor Sanwo-Olu who spoke on Sunday at the 40th day Memorial Service of the late Alhaji Lateef Jakande at the Chapel of Christ The Light, Alausa in Ikeja, said the first civilian governor has laid a foundation, which nobody can erase in Lagos State.

He said: “This service is indeed deserving for our late father, the first civilian governor of Lagos State, Alhaji Lateef Kayode Jakande. We cannot celebrate him enough and we will continue to celebrate him forever for the life that this detribalised Nigerian and outstanding Lagosian lived.

“He built the foundation that all of us are enjoying today. He will continue to live in the hearts of several children and even unborn children because he has indeed laid the foundation for something that nobody can erase.

“Romans 14:8 says that; ‘For if we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.’ This is synonymous with today’s sermon titled ‘The righteous lives forever.’ So when we say the righteous will live forever, indeed we can say that Baba Jakande has earned it and we know that he will live forever.”

Reading from Isaiah 41:10, Governor Sanwo-Olu urged family of the deceased to have faith in God Almighty.

He said: “Isaiah 41:10 says ‘Do not fear; for I am with you: be not be dismayed; for I am thy God: I will uphold you with my right hand.’ God will uphold the wife and children of Alhaji Lateef Jakande forever. Lord will also uphold Lagos State and every one of us.”

In his sermon, titled, “The Righteous Shall Live Forever” the Lord Bishop, Diocese of Lagos (Anglican Communion), Rt. Rev. (Dr) Humphrey Olumakaiye, said the definition of righteous man is not about being an angel or a saint but a man that has touched lives while he is alive and used his positions to create opportunities and touched the lives of the people who can never pay him back.

He therefore urged political office holders to see their positions as a great opportunity to serve and benefit the people, noting that righteous people are always concerned about the welfare of God’s creation, which the late Jakande stood for in his lifetime.

Bishop Olumakaiye, who described late Jakande as humble and humane, said the former governor during his tenure never used religion as a tool to divide the state in providing leadership and dividends of democracy for the people of Lagos.

He said Jakande achieved a lot within four years in office and demonstrated service to the masses by providing free education, medical care, low-cost housing and infrastructure, among others for the benefits of not only Lagosians, but entire Nigerians.

Also, Chairman of the Lagos State chapter of the Christians Association of Nigeria (CAN), Rt. Rev. (Dr) Stephen Adegbite, said his generation will never forget Jakande and other Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) governors in the Second Republic because of how they impacted people’s lives through the people oriented programmes of the party.

During the memorial service also attended by the First Lady, Dr. (Mrs) Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, Jakande’s widow, Alhaja Abimbola and her children, former Lagos Deputy Governor, Princess Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, members of the State Executive Council, Body of Permanent Secretaries, Clerics, among others, prayers were offered for the family of late Jakande, who died on February 11, 2021 at the age of 91.

Clergies also prayed for Governor Sanwo-Olu, his deputy, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat and their families, the executive, legislature and judiciary arms of government, the T.H.E.M.E.S. Agenda of the Babajide Sanwo-Olu administration, peaceful Lagos and the country in general.

A group agitating for the proposed Oduduwa Republic has launched a new National Currency which will be known as ‘FADAKA’ which means silver.

The announcement was made by the group via its Twitter account on Sunday, March 21.

A new currency for the proposed Yoruba nation, Oduduwa Republic has been introduced by a southwest group.

ODUDUWA NEWS gathered that the group posted the image of the proposed currency on its Twitter handle @OduduwaRepublic, on Sunday, March 21.

The released currency under ‘Ooduwa Reserve Bank’ which appears like a pilot design has most Yoruba cultural heritage inscribed on it. The banknote made available includes 20 Odua currencies which look identical to the N200 note.

The Lagos State Government has noted that the COVID vaccination exercise that commenced five days ago was successful with an impressive and encouraging turnout of residents.

A release signed by the Director of Public Affairs in the Ministry of Health, Mr. Tunbosun Ogunbanwo, clarified that the vaccination takes place on weekdays only i.e. Monday – Friday, explaining that the exercise will not hold on Saturday 20th and Sunday 21st March 2021 as well as other weekends.

He gave an assurance that the exercise will resume on Monday, 22nd March 2021, in all the 88 approved vaccination centres for health workers, frontline staff and essential duty personnel that have been identified to participate in the first phase of the campaign.