Yoruba Koya Group (YKG), a socio-cultural group fighting for the emancipation of the Yoruba, has berated Afenifere leader Pa. Ayo Adebanjo for supporting Peter Obi, the Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate in the coming general election.

The President and National Coordinator of the group, Mr. Sunday Akinyemi and Prince Fredrick Famuyiwa, condemned Adebanjo’s decision while speaking with reporters at the weekend in Ibadan.

The duo expressed concern about the development and stressed that a Yoruba group such as Afenifere shouldn’t have abandoned its son.

They said: “We the leaders of Yoruba Koya Group condemn the action of Pa Adebanjo and his cohorts in Afenifere for endorsing Obi of the LP.

“We hail Pa Reuben Fasoranti and other leaders of Afenifere for supporting a Yoruba presidential candidate.”

“This has shown their body language is in tandem with other Yoruba sons and daughters that desire good government for Nigerians.

“We are not in support of any idea or reason behind Pa Adebanjo’s decision on his choice of Obi. We rather see it as a movement that has a hidden agenda.

“Pa Adebanjo is on his own over the choice of Obi. His action is not for the entire Yoruba race.”

The governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Lagos State, Abdulazeez Adediran, has pledged to create an enabling environment for the Hausa community.

Adediran, popularly called Jandor, made the promise at the weekend during a meeting with the Council of Arewa Chiefs at the palace of the Sarkin Hausawa, Ebute Meta, Yaba, Lagos State.

He said he had taken cognisance of the challenges the Arewa community was facing.

Adediran said if voted into office, he will ensure his government creates an enabling environment for the businesses of Arewa.

He challenged Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to a fitness walk, saying anyone who desired to govern the state should be physically fit to do so.

The Waziri of Shuwa-Arabs, Sheik Adam Muhammed, urged the PDP candidate to carry them along in his administration if elected.

Wife of Lagos State Governor Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu has hailed Rotary Club of Omole Golden District 9110 for constructing and equipping Neonatal Building at Ifako-Ijaiye General Hospital in Ifako, Lagos.

Speaking at the handing over of the equipment, Mrs. Sanwo-Olu said the club, since 2012, had adopted the hospital’s neonatal ward, donating equipment to it.

She said: “I’m delighted to identify with the stakeholders that partnered to ensure the donation of phototherapy lights LED, incubators, radiant warmer machines, CPAP machines, infusion pumps, oxygen concentrators, suction machines, bilirubinometer, furniture, air conditioners, TV sets, electrical kettles, microwaves and other items at Ifako-Ijaiye General Hospital.”

Dr. Sanwo-Olu added: “Today’s event is a great development that will have a positive, multiplier effect on the health system and motivate medical personnel to give their best as we work together to improve the health of residents.”

She said the Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu administration prioritised the health of citizens, noting that that was why initiatives in the health sector had been sustained and improved on, while new ones were activated to ensure the well-being and welfare of Lagosians, in line with the THEMES agenda for a greater Lagos.

The President of Rotary Club of Omole Golden, Ganiu Lawal, praised Rotary Club of Crafton Ingram and other international partners “for assisting us to get a global grant, which we used to buy the equipment and other items for Ifako-Ijaiye General Hospital.”

Wife of Lagos State Governor Mrs. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu has admonished pupils to remain worthy ambassadors of peace, unity and communality for the good of the society and country.

She gave the admonition at the weekend when she hosted child-participants at the 35th National Festival of Arts and Culture (NAFEST) at the Parliament, State House, Marina.

Mrs. Sanwo-Olu, the Year 2022 Mama NAFEST, described the theme ‘Culture and Peaceful Co-existence’, as apt, saying culture remained a way of life.

She said hosting them at the Parliament was to give them a sense of history.

She said: “In Africa, we are blessed with traditions and values that promote peace and harmony. We have a culture that places emphasis on communality where everybody minds everybody’s business. Putting this in context with regard to security challenges confronting our nation today means that whenever we notice anything untoward, we must speak up and loudly, regardless of whether or not we are directly affected by the potential security threat.

“In your own rights as pupils, we are training you to become ambassadors of peace, unity and communality. Without peace, the development that we crave will continue to be a mirage and progress elusive. The essential ingredient of the building block of peace, unity and development is love.

“When you truly love your co-pupil, you will not harm, cheat or lie against them, but instead look out for their welfare and interest. This is what we want you to take away from here, and replicate in your homes, schools and communities at large.”

Highlight of the event was a tour of the parliament building by the pupils, NAFEST officials and other state commissioners of Tourism, Arts and Culture. Mrs. Sanwo-Olu also presented the pupils with gifts of mobile tablets and school bags.

Family heads (mogaji) in Ibadanland have hailed the governorship candidate of Accord Party in the 2023 governorship election in Oyo State, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, for donating one million naira to Ibadan Compound Peace Initiative.

They said Adelabu donated the money when he visited them during their meeting at Mapo Hall, Oja-Oba, Ibadan.

A statement signed by the President, Association of Ibadan Mogaji, Chief Asimiyu Ariori and the Coordinator of Ibadan Compound Peace Initiative, Mogaji Nurudeen Akinade, noted that the donation would assist them (Mogaji) in their efforts to tackle insecurity in Ibadanland and its environs.

They said the commendation became necessary because of Adelabu’s gesture towards security, adding that it had nothing to do with politics.

The mogaji, however, urged stakeholders, as well as sons and daughters of Ibadanland to contribute their quota towards the development of Ibadanland, which, according to them, was the pacesetter and political capital of the Southwest.

The former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) deputy governor was accompanied by the director general of his campaign organisation and the Aare Onibon Balogun of Ibadanland, Chief Adegboyega Adegoke, who earlier described him (Adelabu) as the most qualified governorship candidate in Oyo State due to his antecedent, entrepreneurship and philanthropic gesture.

Also accompanying Adelabu were Oyo South senatorial candidate of Accord, Idris Kolapo Kola-Daisi; Ibadan North Federal Constituency candidate, Hon Arisekola and Chief Wasiu Ajimobi, among others.

Lagos State House of Assembly Speaker Mudashiru Obasa has urged committees of the house to ensure proper screening of the Year 2023 budget, to close the gap between the estimated figure and revenue generated.

Dr. Obasa spoke yesterday at a three-day budget retreat tagged: ‘Consolidating the gains of the current administration in Lagos State in a transition year: prospects, opportunities and recommendations’, organised for lawmakers and workers of the Lagos Assembly.

Hailing the lawmakers for their passion to ensure a greater Lagos, the speaker told the committees to  be steps ahead so that their members could ask ministries, departments and agencies the right questions during budget defence and oversight.

“All over the world, the economy has been bad and affects whether a budget will be surplus or deficit. Here in Lagos, we have our own challenge.

“So bridging the gap between the budget size and revenue is what the House of Assembly should do. When the executive arm determines the cost of projects, the committees should be able to check for the value of such projects.

“I am sure everyone recognises what we have been doing in Lagos and I urge you to continue so that you can always be appreciated,” he said.

The convener, Yoruba Global Unity Summit, Dr Victor Taiwo has said the dummit would address security challenges facing the nstion, especially the Southwest. 

He noted that the summit billed for Kakanfo Inn, Ibadan would have major security stakeholders in attendance.

Speaking with journalists in Ibadan at a briefing, Taiwo noted the summit would serve as platform towards providing holistic approach in addressing insecurity.

He decried the lingering insecurity in the Southwest, saying there has not been ways to addres the issue.

While commending Southwest Governors on their efforts in nipping insecurity in the bud, he called on Yoruba organisations in to embrace unity and attend the security summit for the best of the Yoruba race.

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According to him: “The issue of discussion is what affects every single soul in Nigeria as it affects Yoruba land. So, I don’t think we need to plead with anybody with human skin to support this project with all his heart and brawn, the issue is that wave if insecurity is consuming the lives and property of the citizens and sojourners in the country.

“Everybody is shouting crying and wailing on all available channels of information decrying that high wave of the insecurity menace but there has never been any holistic approach towards addressing the issue from any quarters in Yoruba land up till now, yes we thank the southwest Governors for taking a good step in that direction with the emplacement of Amotekun, but let the truth be said, all the Amotekun can do and which it has done is just a little.”