Category: South West

Bamidele Adekunle, the leader of the hoodlums that attacked Majority Leader of the Ondo State House of Assembly, Oluwole Ogunmolasuyi, has said that the attack was meant to seek his attention.

Ogunmolasuyi was attacked while attending a meeting of the All Progressives Congress at Iloro in Owo local government area.

The lawmaker said the attack was carried out by hoodlums loyal to the opposition Peoples Democratic Party but spokesman of the Ondo PDP, Kennedy Peretei, said APC members carried out the attack.

Adekunle, known as Jelenke, who turned himself to the police after a manhunt was launched for him, said he was surprised that PDP supporters hijacked a simple thing to get the lawmaker’s attention.

Adekunle, who spoke to reporters in Owo, shortly before turning himself in, blamed excessive alcohol intake.He, said he was surprised that supporters of the PDP hijacked a situation meant to seek attention of Ogunmolasuyi.

Adekunle stated that he decided to turn himself in to enable him apologise to youths in Iloro quarters and the entire Owo 1 Constituency for allowing himself to be used by those he termed agents of destabilization.

He said, “We were in the place to gain attention of the Majority Leader but the PDP miscreants lurking around the scene took advantage and started throwing sachet water at the people.

Reacting to the development, Hon Ogunmolasuyi said he has forgiven the attackers saying they were misguided.

Governor Dapo Abiodun has called on the youths and the people of the state not to see the reopening of the nation’s borders as an avenue to engage in illicit activities capable of damaging the economy of the country.

Abiodun gave this charge in his address at the 10th year coronation anniversary of the Olu of Ilaro and Paramount Ruler of Yewaland, Oba Kehinde Olugbenle, yesterday where the monarch also used the occasion to formally bestow on Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola and his wife, Temitope Adeola, as Aremo and Yeye Aremo of Yewaland respectively.

The governor who noted that Ilaro nay Ogun West is quite strategic to Ogun State, urged the people to see the reopening of the borders as a mark of the Federal Government’s commitment to the development of the country.

“We are very happy that the Federal Government has reopened some land borders, among these borders are the Idi-Iroko borders, here in Ogun.  I enjoin us all to please cooperate with law enforcement agencies, we should not engage in illicit activities, such illegal activities do a lot of damage to our economy,” he noted.

While appealing to security agencies to ensure that they continue to see the people as partners in progress and ensure that they avoid the loss of lives and property that usually come with clashes between security agencies and the people.

Abiodun, who also charged the people of the state and the country as a whole to understand that they have great responsibility as a people to the overall development of the nation, urged eligible voters to get their Permanent Voter’s Card as well as participate fully in the forth coming elections.

“We are gradually getting into the next season of political activities, as we prepare for the 2023 general elections, all eligible voters should get their permanent voter’s cards as voting during elections is our civic duty.

“ It is the least you can do, people get the government they say that they deserve, if you do not vote, it means you do not have a say in those that govern you and more importantly those that represent you,” he added.

Abiodun acknowledged the calmness, disposition and sincerity of the Olu of Ilaro and said that the monarch is a true representation of royalty that has continued to contribute towards the success of his administration.

In line with his administration’s policy of equity and inclusiveness, governor Abiodun stated that construction work was currently ongoing at Atan-Agbara and Ilaro-Owode roads among others while the palliatives was being done on the Lagos-Ifo-Abeokuta road pending when Federal Government would commence its repairs.

A former deputy governor of Ogun State, Senator Adegbenga Sefiu Kaka, has revealed that he never knew he could live up to 70 years on earth, given his precarious beginning, submitting that he made it to three scores and 10 years by sheer benevolence of God.

Kaka recalled that his mother lost her first three children when each of them was less than five years old and that when he (Kaka) arrived, it was with bouts of illnesses and leaving nobody with any hope that he could celebrate the first five years on earth.

The Senator spoke with The Nation while reflecting briefly on his life at 70, shortly before donating 200 seater auditorium to Abraham Adesanya Polytechnic, Ijebu Igbo in memory of his late mother, Alhaja Idiat Adebisi Kaka, to mark his  70th birthday on Friday.

Kaka also presented a cheque of N2.5m to Awolowo Foundation for the sustenance of the goals of the foundation at the event graced by Governor Dapo Abiodun; Senator Akin Odunsi; Speaker Kunle Oluomo; Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Prof. Abayomi Arigbabu; Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), Olabisi Onabanjo University Ago – Iwoye, Prof. Deji Agboola among others.

He recalled that he was not “conscious of his environment” throughout his teenage years, noting that things did not change for the better health-wise and on other fronts until he marked the first 25 years.

He stressed that by his own standard at 70, he has “achieved all the tasks” he had set for himself, explaining that since marking his 65th birthday, he lives each day in appreciation to Almighty Allah for His mercy and benevolence towards him.

In his remarks, Governor Abiodun, who was represented by his deputy, Mrs. Noimot Salako-Oyedele said the government and people of Ogun State are proud of Senator Kaka, describing him as one who had distinguished himself with an “exemplary life in career and leadership.”

“We love Senator Gbenga Kaka for his passion for leadership, public service, and good governance. Ijebu Igbo is blessed to have Kaka, who has love of Ijebu Igbo at heart. He is a man of peace and justice who strives to consolidate good things among his people.

“He is always living a life of selfless service and we look up to him for his passion for people. We should all emulate him so that we can leave worthy legacies behind,” he said.

Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State has dismissed a report about the imposition of candidates of the All Progressives Congress in Ondo State for next year’s general elections.

Akeredolu said rumours of imposition of candidates were sponsored by those he termed ‘’disgruntled purported members whose mission is to destabilize the party ahead of the coming elections.’’

Akeredolu who urged aspirants to focus on their campaigns said he was committed to the principle of party supremacy.

He said the same principle of party supremacy produced the peaceful and rancour-free congress that was held recently in the state.

In a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Richard Olatunde, the govemor said the allegation that candidates were being propped to be imposed ahead of the party primaries was an attempt by those with tainted party loyalty to box the APC into a state of helplessness in order to whittle down the supremacy of the party.

He said:, “Blackmail cannot stop the resolve of the party to enforce individual and collective discipline through democratic processes as enunciated in the various stakeholders’ sessions in the last three weeks.

“As an incurable democrat, Governor Akeredolu has always preached and supported fairness, equity, and justice even in playing his leadership role in the affairs of the party in the state and at the national level. Governor Akeredolu is a loud voice in the struggle for fairness and the need for the party to walk the path of equity in the forthcoming elections. He will not lead any struggle that will defeat his beliefs and strong convictions.”

“It should be noted that Ondo APC is the only rancor-free chapter of the party in the Southwest. This was made possible by the fair and principled leadership of Governor Akeredolu. His commitment to a united party devoid of groupings and factions is unparalleled.”

Hundreds of students of the Adekunle Ajasin University Akungba-Akoko (AAUA), on Friday, began a peaceful protest over the ongoing strike action by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

The placards carrying students blocked the highway and main entrance into the institution.

President of the institution’s Students’ Union Government, Kolade Ogunsanmi, said the strike action has caused many unpleasant things in the various institutions.

Ogunsanmi who said public universities were now retarded due to incessant closure urged both ASUU and Federal Government to come to an agreement.

He said: “It is an undeniable fact that our University had been shut just because the FG failed to honour the 2009 agreement it made it ASUU”

“We Nigerian students, Adekunle Ajasin University students are on the street of Akungba to express our displeasure to the Federal Government and in no distant time the government should answer ASUU so that our Universities can reopen”

“Our education is being truncated, we are tired of sitting at home with no job, we are using this medium to plead with Federal Government to meet with ASUU and the strike”

“We want to learn, Nigeria’s tomorrow is in our hands, we are being deprived of our rights so we want an end to strike”.

Professor Adenike Temidayo Oladiji has been appointed as the eighth substantive Vice Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology, Akure(FUTA).

Prof. Oladiji, of the Department of Biochemistry, University of Ilorin, would be the first female to be appointed as VC of the institution in its four decades of existence.

She was among the two females and 27 males that applied for the job.

Her appointment was approved by the institution’s Governing Council headed by the Pro-Chancellor, Ambassador Godknows Igali, at its Special Meeting held on Thursday, May 12, 2022.

A statement by the Registrar and Secretary to Council, Mr. Richard Arifalo, said the Council shortlisted 20 candidates for interview at the close of application for the post.

The statement explained that the Joint Council and Senate Selection Board recommended three candidates for appointment in line with extant regulations governing the process.

The statement disclosed that Prof. Oladiji came top when the Council decided to vote following the closeness of the score of the three recommended candidates.

Oladiji’s appointment which takes effect from Tuesday, May 24, 2022, is for a single term of five years.

Oladiji holds a B.Sc Biochemistry, Second Class Upper Division Degree from the University of Ilorin and was appointed a Professor in September 2011.

She succeeds Professor Joseph Fuwape, whose term ends on Monday, 23rd May 2022.

A cult member, Tijani Olagunju yesterday confessed to having killed three rival cult members to get promoted to the number two position in his group in the Ilorin zone.

Tijani, a member of the Eiye Confraternity, said he used a pistol belonging to his late Army Captain father AbdulAzeez Olagunju, to carry out the killings.

He added that he was chosen by his gang members to be the executioner of rival cult members in superiority brawls.

The suspect told our correspondent in Ilorin, the Kwara state capital on the sidelines of his parade by the state command of the Nigeria Police.

Tijani also revealed that he dropped out of the University of Ilorin, adding that he joined the cult gang in 2019.

He added that the accompanying benefits of being the number two person in the zone include food, drinks, women, and money.

”My gang members picked me as their hitman (executioner) to accelerate my rise to the number two position in the Ilorin zone, “he added.

Parading Tijani, the police spokesman, Ajayi Okasanmi said the suspect was arrested for belonging to a gang of thieves and cult gang.

Okasanmi said: “The suspect, during one of the cult’s escapades, himself and the other suspects at large, armed with one English Pistol and a locally fabricated pistol attacked and killed one Ismaila Alabi a.k.a Abbey, a barber at his shop in Agbooba area of Ilorin on 21st of April.

“Tijani further confessed that sometime in February 2021 he also shot and killed one Emmanuel, a student of Human Kinetic Education, University of Ilorin, in a bid to fast track his ascension to the top position in his cult group. Upon inquiry as to the source of his weapons, he confirmed that he took possession of his late father’s pistol, a retired army captain which he used in the killings he participated in.

“The pistol according to him is currently with a member of the Eiye cult group presently at large. Investigation into the matter is ongoing for possible arrest and prosecution of the suspects.”

The founder of the Atiba University Oyo (AUO), Dr. James Adesokan Ojebode, has disclosed that it was the late Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi 111 that gave the university its name.

He said the late Oyo monarch, died at a time the state, nation, and Yorubaland still need his wealth of experience.

He disclosed that he had a personal relationship with the late monarch while he was alive.

Ojebode said: “The Alaafin was highly instrumental to the establishment of Atiba University. He was the one that gave the University the name, Atiba University Oyo.”

Ojebode stated further that the demise of Oba Adeyemi III has left a big vacuum that will be very hard and difficult for anyone to fill. “We feel extremely naked, we feel like somebody has undressed us, deprived us of the blanket that covered us.”