Category: Southwest

  • New Year: Babayemi tasks govt on grassroots development

    New Year: Babayemi tasks govt on grassroots development

    A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State, Dotun Babayemi, has called on government at all levels in the country to place a premium on grassroots development in the new year.

    Babayemi, who expressed concern, said that the call had become imperative in view of the neglect and degradation being suffered by the people at the grassroots.

    In his New Year message released by his media office, the leader of the Ireti Osun Movement said President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Ward Development Program (RHWDP) could be used as launchpad to achieve this.

    READ ALSO; Guru Maharaj Ji predicts Tinubu, APC’s victory in 2027

    “At the risk of sounding immodest, I can talk about my state, which has 332 wards. Out of these, I visited 299 wards with 33 remaining. I can safely say that the experience was far from being palatable as it shows people going through excruciating pains and completely cut off from modernity,” he decried.

    He lamented that the absence of basic social amenities such as good roads, potable water, electricity, schools and hospitals, among others, was the hallmark of the rural areas.

  • Yayi’s town hall meeting to hold in Ogun East February

    Yayi’s town hall meeting to hold in Ogun East February

    Following a successful town hall meeting in Ogun West, which drew over 1,500 participants and guests, Senator Solomon Adeola Yayi’s town hall meeting series is set to proceed to Ogun East, with the second edition scheduled for February 12, 2026.

    According to the organisers, the Ogun Visionaries, the meeting is expected to draw the ‘who’s who’ in the Ogun East political circle to interact and engage with the electorate.

    A statement issued by the Director General of the Ogun Visionaries, Hon. Odunleye Odunjo, said the theme of the meeting is: Yayi’s Candidacy: For Equality and Innovation.

    READ ALSO; Why I walked away as Finance Minister – Kemi Adeosun

    The statement read in part: ”Feedback from November’s town hall meeting in Ogun West shows that the people of Ogun state are ready for a new leadership led by Sen. Solomon Olamilekan Adeola Yayi in 2027. From the turnout to the buzz on social media, it is important to continue with meetings from zone to zone, constituency to constituency, LGA to LGA, and finally ward to ward.

    ”As usual, discussants will be invited to discuss issues affecting critical sectors, and participants registered from the nooks and crannies of Ogun state. In an event envisaged to be the biggest political event in the first quarter of 2026, it is expected to put a colourful carpet of social acceptance for Sen. Solomon Olamilekan Adeola in the Ogun East Senatorial zone of Ogun state.”    

    ”These discussions and engagements are the first in a series of activities preceding the official declaration of Sen. Solomon Olamilekan Adeola for the number one seat of Ogun state in 2027,” Odunjo.

  • 2026 is year of victory, Adeleke tells Osun residents

    2026 is year of victory, Adeleke tells Osun residents

    The Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has described the year 2026 as an era of victory and prosperity when citizens must engage in electoral vigilance and activism.

    Adeleke, in a statement through his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed praised Almighty God for the successes and achievements of 2025 and prayed for an even more prosperous new year for all strata of Osun society.

    Describing 2025 as a challenging year for Osun state due to externally induced constraints, the Governor expressed optimism that 2026 will be a year of liberation from all obstacles impeding the delivery of good governance and democratic dividends in Osun state.

    The governor urged the people to pray fervently for Osun state for a successful, hitch-free electoral process and to ask God for the failure of evil plots by some dark forces to plunge the state into chaos.

    “2026 is a defining moment for Osun state as the election year for the governorship poll. Some people are busy beating the drums of war. We should pray to God to disappoint them and to make their plots come to nought.

    READ ALSO; Guru Maharaj Ji predicts Tinubu, APC’s victory in 2027

    “Election is not war; it is the exercise of sovereignty by the people. This is a democracy where people reserve the right to vote for leaders of their choice. Any attempt to deny the people their right to vote amounts to undermining the democratic life of the state.

    “I must also add that those seeking power through inflicting hardship on the Osun people will fail at the polls. People will surely use their votes to punish those behind the illegal seizure of Osun funds. There can be no shortcut to power in a true democracy; the votes and voices of the people are the undiluted channels.

    “Osun is enjoying good governance, and I call on our people and residents to rise in defence of their constitutional rights. We must ensure our vote count; we must defend our rights to enjoy good governance as enshrined in the constitution, the governor was quoted as saying.

    He reassured the people of the state of his resolute determination to forge ahead with the delivery of services and democratic dividends, promising and vowing to lead the people to another victory in the August 2026 polls.

  • Terrorists attack: Ondo monarch calls for vigilance, community cooperation

    Terrorists attack: Ondo monarch calls for vigilance, community cooperation

    • Police condemn attack, launch manhunt for perpetrators

    • As Aiyedatiwa orders intensive security patrol

    The Olowo of Owo Kingdom and Chairman of the Ondo State Council of Traditional Rulers, His Imperial Majesty, Oba (Dr.) Ajibade Gbadegesin Ogunoye III has called on residents of Ipele to remain vigilant following the New Year’s Eve attack on a local police station.

    In a statement released on Friday by his Special Assistant on Media, Sam Adewale, the monarch described the assault as “very sad and condemnable,” noting that it was intended to disrupt peace and spoil the festive spirit of the yuletide season.

    Oba Ogunoye, who noted that no lives were lost in the attack, emphasized that the preservation of human life was a key relief despite the destruction of property.

    He commiserated with the monarch of the community, the Nigeria Police Force, and the entire community, assuring them of his full support and solidarity during this difficult period.

    The monarch urged citizens to be security-conscious and proactive, advising them to report any suspicious movements or unfamiliar faces to the nearest security agency or trusted community leaders.

    He stressed that community cooperation with security agencies is crucial for protecting lives and property, adding that collective responsibility remains the most effective strategy against crime.

    READ ALSO; Why I walked away as Finance Minister – Kemi Adeosun

    In his assessment of the attack on the Police Divisional Station, the Commissioner of Police in the state, CP Adebowale Lawal, vowed to clamp down on the mastermind of the destruction of the police station.

    The police boss, who visited the affected station in the company of other officers of the command, further affirmed that no life was lost and no church was destroyed during the attack.

    He explained that Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa has already held a meeting with the security chiefs, which included the police, the military, the DSS, the NSCDC, and the Amotekun Corps, in order to get a proper briefing on the attack.

    “Following the meeting held with the governor, we will be able to assess the situation of what happened yesterday and come up with strategies that we would activate to ensure this attack doesn’t occur again in our state.

    “Also, let me correct this rumour on social media. No life was lost, and no church was attacked, but I want to assure you that we are up to the task. We are going to ensure that the perpetrators of this dastardly attack do not escape justice.

  • Police warn politicians against sabotage of Osun LG workers’ resumption

    Police warn politicians against sabotage of Osun LG workers’ resumption

    The Osun State Police Command has warned politicians and other interest groups against any act of sabotage against the planned resumption of local government workers across the state on January 5, stressing that it will not tolerate actions that could disrupt peace, public order, or the smooth functioning of council activities.

    The leadership of the Nigerian Union of Local Government Employees(NULGE) had announced that its members will resume their duties after 11 months strike action over the battle for the control of council areas between the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the People’s Democratic Party(PDP).

    The spokesperson of the state police command, Emmanuel Giwa-Alade, in a statement on Friday, stated that credible intelligence indicated that certain ‘unscrupulous’ politicians are planning to disrupt the peaceful resumption of duties by local government employees at various council secretariats.

    “The Commissioner of Police, Osun State Command, CP Ibrahim Gotan, hereby warns that any individual who is not a bonafide staff member of the local government authorities must refrain from approaching or loitering around the secretariats. Personnel(police operatives) have been directed to deal firmly and professionally with anyone attempting to incite unrest or cause disturbances.

    READ ALSO; Guru Maharaj Ji predicts Tinubu, APC’s victory in 2027

    “The Command will not permit miscreants to undermine the peace and tranquillity that have been diligently sustained in the state.”

    He reassured residents of Osun State of the command’s unwavering commitment to the protection of lives and property, as he vowed that operatives will continue to discharge their constitutional duties with vigilance and professionalism.

    He urged residents to remain law-abiding, vigilant, and cooperate with security agencies, and promptly report suspicious movements or activities to the nearest police station or through these numbers and social media handle: Control Room numbers: 08039537995/ 08123823981, Complaint Response Unit (CRU) numbers: 08035143235/08066286549/08030732461.”

  • Oyebanji urges support for Tinubu’s reforms, peaceful conduct ahead of June guber poll

    Oyebanji urges support for Tinubu’s reforms, peaceful conduct ahead of June guber poll

    Governor Biodun Oyebanji of Ekiti State has urged the people of the State to support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in his bid to rescue Nigeria from saboteurs who don’t want the country and its citizens to be free from hardship.

    Oyebanji urged Ekiti people to intensify their prayers for the President and his administration to successfully implement impactful reforms that will make life better for Nigerians and rescue them from those holding the country by the jugular.

    The governor made the statement on Friday at an Inter-faith Thanksgiving Service to mark the first working day of the year 2026, which took place at the Obafemi Awolowo Civic and Convention Centre, Ado Ekiti, where he led the people, including top government functionaries, in prayers for peace, progress, and prosperity of the state and the country at large.

    READ ALSO; Guru Maharaj Ji predicts Tinubu, APC’s victory in 2027

    He reiterated his call to politicians, political parties, and the people of the state to maintain peace before, during, and after the June 20 governorship election, promising to manage the affairs of the state well, such that electioneering activities would not affect governance and service delivery.

     Oyebanji emphasised his readiness as a governorship candidate and that of his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), to play the game according to the rules, expressing confidence that his superlative performance in the last three years would earn him and his party another four-year term in office.

    While attributing the success recorded by his administration to God and the Ekiti people, Oyebanji also reserved a special commendation for President Tinubu, whom he noted had so far supported Ekiti immensely to be better than what it used to be, urging the people to reciprocate by supporting the policies of the President and praying for him to succeed.

    Speaking further, Oyebanji said the President’s policies, although painful initially, have started to yield dividends. He cited the remarkable drop in prices of food items and the pump price of petrol as some of the noticeable gains.

  • Ekiti State PDP candidate fingers APC for exclusion from INEC list

    Ekiti State PDP candidate fingers APC for exclusion from INEC list

    • Blame your crisis not us, ruling party tells Oluyede

    The governorship candidate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ekiti State, Dr Wole Oluyede, has alleged that the All Progressives Congress (APC) is behind his exclusion from the provisional list of candidates released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the June 20 governorship election.

    Addressing reporters yesterday in his Ikere-Ekiti country home, Oluyede said his omission from the list came as a surprise, stressing that his emergence as the PDP candidate was monitored and supervised by INEC.

    But Ekiti State APC Publicity Secretary, Segun Dipe, dismissed the allegations, describing the claim as baseless and a diversionary tactic aimed at covering internal crises within the PDP.

    Oluyede said although there had been legal suits challenging the party’s primary election, INEC officials had sworn affidavits in court affirming that he was the duly elected candidate of the party.

    “In fact, there have been suits against the election and INEC came to swear affidavit that I was the candidate of the party. I am not aware of any reason that should preclude me from the election,” he added.

    Read Also: Lamido’s suspension and the PDP’s unresolved crisis

    He said there was no court injunction or order restraining him or the party from participating in the election, arguing that INEC lacked the power to determine who emerged as a party’s nominee.

    “As far as I know, there is no court injunction; there is no court order that should preclude me from the election. I don’t think INEC is in a position to determine who should be the nominee of a party. They haven’t been doing that before and I don’t know why this is happening,” he said. Oluyede said he had begun consultations with party stakeholders and would also engage the electoral body formally to demand explanations for the action.

    Reassuring his supporters across the state, the PDP candidate urged them not to panic, hoping he would participate in the governorship poll and feature on the final ballot.

    “I want to reassure my supporters that I am going to be the next governor of Ekiti State, which means I am going to be on the next ballot. This is a normal process of elections. People will play games, but it is a game of futility that will not go anywhere,” he said.

    He warned against attempts to exclude candidates through what he described as political manoeuvres, noting that elections should be based on the will of the people.

    “My advice to those trying to preclude others from contesting is that it is not the right way. Elections are meant to give people the opportunity to choose their government. If you are confident in your performance or capacity to govern, then you should have the confidence to face the electorate,” Oluyede said.

    Ekiti State APC spokesman Dipe dismissed the allegations, describing the claim as baseless and a diversionary tactic aimed at covering internal crises within the PDP.

    He said APC had no control over INEC and could not interfere with its constitutional responsibilities, arguing that PDP’s omission was a result of internal leadership crises and ongoing court cases within the opposition party.

    Dipe advised the PDP governorship candidate to seek redress through legal means, rather than making what it described as “wild allegations” against political opponents.

  • Abiodun signs N1.669 trillion Budget 2026

    Abiodun signs N1.669 trillion Budget 2026

    Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun has signed the N1.669 trillion 2026 Appropriation Bill into law, marking another milestone in the state’s fiscal planning and development drive.

    The governor had on December 3, 2025 presented the Appropriation Bill tagged: ‘Budget of Sustainable Legacy’, to the House of Assembly for consideration and approval.

    The signing, done at the Governor’s Office, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, was witnessed by Speaker Oludaisi Elemide, principal officers and members of the assembly, as well as members of the State Executive Council.

    Speaking after assenting to the bill, Governor Abiodun said his administration would begin implementation of the budget to ensure improved performance in revenue generation and expenditure.

    He noted that the 2026 Budget represented a leap in the state’s financial profile, recording a 58 per cent increase over the 2025 Budget of N1.054 trillion.

    “We are excited that Ogun State is making progress. This time last year, we signed into law an appropriation of about N1.054 trillion. This year, we are signing into law an appropriation of N1.669 trillion, which represents 58 per cent increase over the 2025 budget,” the governor said.

    Read Also: Sule, Otti, Soludo, Adeleke, Aiyedatiwa, Abiodun, Zulum, Yusuf sign 2026 budgets into Law

    He added that implementation would begin after the holidays, with a commitment to achieving better budget performance on the financing and expenditure sides.

    He said the timely passage of the Appropriation Bill by the house and its signing before the end of the year aligned with the administration’s tradition of ensuring fiscal continuity, predictability and effective governance.

    Prince Abiodun expressed appreciation to the Speaker and members of the House of Assembly for their diligence and cooperation, describing their swift action as a demonstration of dedication to the service of the state and its people.

    “Let me first thank the Speaker and the entire Ogun State House of Assembly for working hand in glove with the Executive. Once we presented the bill, they immediately went to work. They thoroughly interrogated it, engaged all the Ministries, Departments and Agencies, and did so expeditiously, despite the encroachment of the holiday period,” he said.

    Speaker Elemide said the passage of the bill followed scrutiny by lawmakers to ensure its alignment with the developmental needs and aspirations of Ogun State.

    “A lot went into the process of passing this bill. Members worked very hard and tirelessly to ensure the budget was passed before the end of the year. We thank God that the governor has now signed it into law,” he said.

  • Oyebamiji’s posters, billboards flood Osun

    Oyebamiji’s posters, billboards flood Osun

    Posters and billboards of the candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC) in the forthcoming governorship election in Osun State, Asiwaju Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji (AMBO), have flooded strategic places across the state.

    The standard-bearer urged the residents to await people-oriented government from August 8.

    Oyebamiji, whose posters and billboards dotted Osogbo, the capital, Ikire, Ede, Gbongan, Iragbiji, Ikirun and other places, speaking with reporters yesterday, rejoiced with the people on the occasion of New Year celebration.

    He extolled the high sense of resilience and patriotism exhibited by the citizens since the creation of Osun State.

    He told them to await masses-focused and people-centred progressive government this year.

    Read Also: Akande, Oyetola: Oyebamiji will win

    “As we all walk into the year of manifestation, let’s continue to champion the virtues of love, unity, sacrifice, resilience and peaceful coexistence that define us as a people and as a state. Let’s demonstrate high sense of ‘Omoluabi’ as we approach election period. Let’s scale up our support for the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as he continues to stimulate our economy and build a virile nation where everyone triumphs.

    “As the candidate of APC, I am ever ready to lead our party and our people to victory on August 8. My pact is to build a state, when elected governor, where every sector works for the benefit of all, regardless of our political, cultural and religious affiliations. Let’s rekindle our hope and set our state on the path of sustainable growth and development.’’

  • Obi enters coalition of chaos, says Lagos APC

    Obi enters coalition of chaos, says Lagos APC

    Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) says it views the formal defection of Mr. Peter Obi to the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as the long-awaited unveiling of a contraption deliberately assembled to undermine Nigeria.

    ‘’What has occurred is not political evolution; it is the public activation of a coalition forged in grievance, sustained by falsehood and animated by an unhealthy appetite for national dislocation,’’ the party added.

    Spokesman Seye Oladejo in a statement in Ogba, said: ‘’We congratulate the ADC that Mr. Peter Obi eventually yielded to their prolonged plea -or is it their instruction – to come on board. Either way, the pretence of independence has now been formally abandoned. The choice of venue for this declaration is also not lost on discerning, pan-Nigerian electorate who understand political coding and symbolism. Nothing about this exercise was accidental; everything was calculated.

    ‘’It is now abundantly clear that a predictable opposition can neither thrive nor have a meaningful place in a vibrant democracy. Long before this moment, even a political neophyte knew that Mr. Obi would not contest elections twice on the platform of the same political party – judging by his well-documented record of political promiscuity. ‘’His latest move merely confirms a pattern of convenience politics masquerading as principle.

    ‘’Let us be clear: ADC has not discovered ideology overnight. It has merely confirmed its true identity as a political scrapyard where rejected ambitions, electoral failures and serial aspirants converge to rehearse recycled anger. This is not a coalition of ideas; it is a cartel of convenience. It is not about Nigeria; it is about power without responsibility.

    Read Also: APC pledges renewed commitment to Nigerians

    ‘’Obi’s entry seals what Nigerians already knew. This so-called coalition was conceived with a sole beneficiary in mind – process be damned, zoning suspended, internal democracy euthanised. The loud pretence of moral purity has collapsed under the weight of naked ambition. The hypocrisy is now official.

    ‘’Indeed, Nigerians cannot but wonder when Obi will summon the courage to inform his handful of sympathisers that he has already agreed in principle to serve as a running mate to a pre-determined, perennial presidential candidate – a political factory-reset decision taken even before the coalition’s public unveiling. In this arrangement, consultation is cosmetic, participation is decorative and ambition is centrally-allocated.

    ‘’More worrisome still is the tragic symbolism with which Obi chose to end the year – by returning to the very political ecosystem he often described as a nest of criminality and corruption. Having built a brand on performative moral outrage, he has now openly embraced the same characters and structures he once condemned with evangelical fervour. History, it appears, is repeating itself: Peter Obi, like the first Peter, continues to betray the people – not under pressure, not under duress, but out of calculated self-interest. Nigerians must therefore take note: a man who can so conveniently return to his vomit, without remorse or even a whimper, cannot be trusted with the destiny of a nation. Those who choose to place their hopes in such political inconsistency do so at their own peril.

    ‘’More troubling – and Nigerians must not look away – is the shameful refusal of the principal actors in this coalition of confusion to unequivocally condemn terrorism and its many murderous offshoots. This silence is deliberate. It is a cowardly calculation designed to avoid upsetting home-based sympathies and regional comfort zones. Any political formation that cannot clearly denounce the slaughter of innocent Nigerians, for fear of losing sectional applause, has forfeited the moral right to seek national leadership. Silence in the face of terror is not neutrality; it is complicity.

    ‘’While this coalition sharpens propaganda as weapons against the Nigerian state, the APC-led Federal Government under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is confronting hard truths – stabilising the economy, dismantling criminal networks, restoring investors’ confidence and rebuilding institutions weakened by years of reckless governance. One side traffics in noise, sabotage, and wishful failure; the other delivers governance.

    ‘’This explains the coalition’s obsession with exaggeration, misinformation and international pity-seeking. With no record of transformative leadership to present, chaos becomes their campaign strategy. Hardship is weaponised. National challenges are converted into talking points. They pray for failure because they have nothing credible to offer.

    ‘’Nigerians have seen this script before -and they will reject it again. No amount of political make-up, hurried alliances, or sanctimonious sermons can disguise the emptiness of this project. Democracy is not strengthened by desperation, nor is nationhood built by those who wish the country ill merely to validate their personal ambition.

    ‘’Lagos APC assures Nigerians that the Renewed Hope Agenda remains irreversible. The coming together of political weapons fashioned against Nigeria will fail spectacularly.

    ‘’At the polls, Nigerians will once again rise above deception and decisively reject their nemesis.

    ‘’The future belongs to builders, not professional complainers; to patriots, not political tourists; to courage, not cowardly silence in the face of terror.’’