Category: South West

A woman, Abosede Adejoro has cried for help to save her son from incessant by persons suspected to be herdsmen in Ondo State.

Adejoro, 53, made this known in Ilesa, Osun state, saying that she was in the state to brief her elder sister, Mrs. Olufunmilayo Ilori on the ordeal of her son, Ayodeji, whose large expanse of farmland was destroyed by cattle.

“Trouble started with my son on the 10th October last year when he visited his farmland in Osi in Akure North Local Government, only to discover that crops, such as cassava, plantain, vegetables which were on the land had been ravaged by cattle. “

She explained further that her son was on his farm, thinking of the next line of action to take, after seeing the extent of damage done by the cattle when he suddenly saw some herders advancing toward him with weapons, such as guns, cudgels, bows, and arrows.

“It was God that saved him in the hands of the herdsmen who have since been threatening to harm him, whenever and wherever they set their eyes on him,” Mrs. Adejoro said,

‘’The decision of the herders to unleash violence on Ayodeji (her son), followed the order given to them by the Osi community leader, that they should pay for all the crops destroyed their cows, after her son, reported the incident to him. The herders told me no fewer than four times t warn my son to desist from demanding payment for his farm ravaged by their cattle.

The woman said that her son’s residence on 17, Ala close, Akure was recently visited by suspected herders, adding “they beat  him  with dangerous but he jumped to escape, but they destroyed and looted property worth several thousands of naira in his residence.”

“Now my son has been running from one destination to another, trying to ensure his safety in the hands of the Fulani herders, who have vowed to deal with him,” she added.

The Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes (CCII) has urged indigenes of Ibadanland to stop further comments over the throne of the late Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Saliu Adetunji Aje Ogugunniso I, currently vacant.

A statement signed by the President-General of CCII, Prince Oluyemisi Adetayo Adeaga said the arguments and discussions surrounding the vacant throne have been found to be ‘’unnecessarily preemptive, adding that they are fanning the embers of enmity and discord.’’

The statement read, “The entire membership of the Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes commiserate with the Executive Governor of Oyo State, Engr Seyi Makinde, the people of the state, especially, the citizens and people of Ibadanland on the demise of His Imperial Majesty, Oba Salliu Adetunj Aje Ogugunniso I, the late Olubadan of Ibadanland, which the sad event occurred on Sunday, January 2, 2022. This medium is also being used to appeal for caution and calm by all and sundry who have severely engaged in expressing various views and opinions on the ascendancy of a successor to the now vacant throne.

“Many people have either openly or otherwise, demonstrated his/her passion for Ibadanland and this is appreciated. However, the arguments and discussions have been found to be both unnecessarily preemptive with daily developing acidic contents, thus fanning the embers of enmity and discord among the hitherto loving people in the society and those contradicting the good intentions of all the parties contrary to the good intentions of all the parties involved.

”We also appeal to all the erudite lawyers that have engaged or have the intention to engage on the matter to please, in the corporate interest of Ibadanland, align with us to tow this path of sustaining communal love and peace, especially, our corporate image.’’

Olumide and Stephanie Aderinokun Foundation has extended its interest-free loans to 200 people in Abeokuta South and Abeokuta North Local Government Areas of Ogun State.

The beneficiaries who received their cheques at the Abeokuta office of the Foundation are expected to make the refund within six months and with no interest added.

Motorcycles were also distributed to youths to help serve as a source of livelihood amid the increasing rate of unemployment.

Akinruyiwa of the Owu Kingdom and co-founder of the foundation, Chief Olumide Aderinokun, was present at the ceremony where he assured the people of his continuous support in making lives better in the senatorial district.

“Whenever I hear of the struggles faced by my people, it unsettles me but I believe we can do much more if we remain united as one in Ogun Central,” Chief Aderinokun said.

“I don’t have enough money for myself but I’m always happy to help my people because I believe in the potentials we have in this Senatorial District.

“This is the second batch of this loan initiative, and we hope to increase the amount to hundreds of thousands later this year if the initial loans are refunded in time.”

The first batch of the loan distribution took place in October 2021 for residents of Odeda and Obafemi-Owode Local Government Area.

Men of the Ondo State Police Command have begun manhunt for the gunmen who killed a police Sergeant around Oke Maria axis in Oka-Akoko South West Local Government Area of Ondo State.

The deceased whose identity is yet to be ascertained was on duty when the gunmen attacked and shot him dead.

His service rifle was taken away while his colleagues scampered for safety.

Sources said homicide detectives drew from the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department, SCIID, in Akure have been dispatched to the area to arrest the fleeing gunmen.

Ondo Police spokesman, DSP Olufunmilayo Odunlami confirmed the incident and said the investigation has commenced.

A gubernatorial aspirant in Ekiti State, Chief Segun Oni has condemned the attack on the party’s state secretariat, describing it as “condemnable and barbaric”.

Oni condemned the violence on the People’s Democratic Party (PDP)  state secretariat in the strongest terms saying: “It’s a barbaric and heartless attack purposely directed at the Party’s secretariat, noting that such would never stop the party from attaining victory in the June 18, Governorship Election.”

He also called for urgent steps to ensure adequate security to safeguard lives and property in the electioneering time frame.

He said the vandalisation of the secretariat was an action taken too far; adding that partakers in the action should be brought to book.

All Progressives Congress (APC) faction led by Bashir Bolarinwa in Kwara State has accused the party’s National Reconciliation Committee Chairman, Sen. Abdullahi Adamu, of making prejudicial statement at the outset.

The faction, therefore, urged Adamu to approach the reconciliation assignment with caution and tact.

Adamu had during a visit to Governor AbdulRaman AbdulRazaq said that his committee “is in Kwara State to reconcile genuine aggrieved members of the party.”

In a statement, spokesman for the group Ibrahim Sarafdeen said that “we take very strong exception to such prejudicial remark from a man who is expected to be neutral in the volatile nature of his assignment.

“As a prudent statesman heading a reconciliatory committee, we expect that he would have approached this assignment with caution and tact, rather than resorting to emotions by referring to primordial relationship with one of the parties to the dispute. This, we consider as a clear case of a judge descending into the arena of dispute.

“We view such belligerent tone as a prelude to what should be expected as the outcome of his input to the committee’s report.

“Needless to say that prior to the arrival of the committee in the state, the parties had been requested to make their presentations in writing, which was done.”

“However, while we appreciate the intervention of the committee in finding lasting solutions to the lingering crisis in the state APC, we noticed that the unpleasant body language and conduct of the chairman were at variance with the stated objective of the committee.

“Even if the committee chairman has long standing relationship with the patriarch of AbdulRaman AbdulRazaq’s family, we consider it indecent to use the venue of the meeting to express such sentimental attachment.

“At this juncture, we are not insinuating or impugning on the integrity and character of members of the committee; we know them as men and women of impeccable character.”

Sarafdeen urged the leadership of the party at the national level to do justice to the crisis without fear or favour, “in the overall interest of the party.”