The Nation Newspaper

Tag: monarch

  • Monarch praises govt on skills acquisition development

    The Paramount Ruler of Ikot Abasi Local Government Area,Akwa Ibom State, HRM Edidem Udo Joe Ntukubom XII, has praised Governor Udom Gabriel Emmanuel for providing  skill acquisition centres across the state.

    Ntukubom said this when he  received the  Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Skill Development Projects Centre, Dr. Majorie Abasiodiong in his palace.

    He noted that Governor Emmanuel’s administration accords priority to the welfare and well-being of Akwa Ibom citizenry, which has informed prompt actions towards rehabilitating defunct skills acquisition centres in the state.

    The former Council of Chiefs’ Chairman, Ntukubom, said  revamping  the  centres, would provide opportunities for youths to acquire various skills.

    The Senior Special aide noted that Emmanuel is poised to spread skills acquisition centres across the  state.

    She said her visit to the area was to have a first-hand knowledge of the state of the  centres, calling on all Ikot Abasi people in particular and Akwa Ibom indigenes at large to support the Governor Emmanuel administration.

  • Rivers monarch cries out as subjects abandon community over fear of military attack

    Rivers monarch cries out as subjects abandon community over fear of military attack

    Bodies were found in the bush close to the Emohua Model Secondary School in Emohua Local Government Area of Rivers State. The bodies were not of ‘bloody civilians’. They were of two members of the Joint Task Force (JTF). That was in August. The Army, whose men were killed by unknown people, was angry and it gave an ultimatum: the killers must be produced by the community in seven days. The seven days lapsed on September 1. The community has no clue as to who the killers are.

    Now, the people are running. They are afraid the military will come after them and vent their anger on the community.

    The monarch of Emohua, His Royal Majesty Eze Vincent Chituru Okor, the Nne NewEli of Emohua Kingdom, is sad that his community has been deserted.  He was at The Nation’s office in Port Harcourt at the weekend. He wants his subjects, who are leaving the community, to stay back because the army had ruled out a reprisal attack.

    The monarch said: “Because the ultimatum was given which elapsed on Tuesday, September 1,  delegation from the paramount ruler of Emohua, led by Chief Dr. Esezi Obilor, met with the Brigade Commander in-charge of the Rumuokoro Army Barracks in Port Harcourt on Friday, August 28, 2015.  The other members of the delegation are Chief Barrister Gabriel Enyi, Chief Vincent Chukwu and Engr. Nnamdi Abah.

    “The meeting was prompted by the 7-day ultimatum handed down to the Emohua Monarch to produce and surrender to the Army the killer(s) of a soldier and a policeman attached to JTF, whose dead bodies were found along the ever-busy Emohua-Kalabari highway at ending of the month of August. The same road leading to where the bodies were found stretched from the Choba East/West Road  and end to the three  Kalabari Local Government Councils of Akuku-Toru, Asari-Toru and Degema.  To be frank, apart from the mass exodus of residents from the communities, the rest are living in great fear.  There is panic everywhere.

    “The delegation commiserated with the Brigade Commander, Lt Col. A.A. Lawal over the death of the security personnel and craved the understanding of the military in the peculiar circumstances of the matter.  The history of this notorious highway mocks the very essence and meaning of the army’s ultimatum.  It was on this road that one Progress Onuekwa of the Mgbo Royal House of Emohua was abducted about three months ago.  He has not been seen since then.  The police have several reports of vicious criminal activities along this road.  Emohua, in every good sense, cannot be held solely responsible for the death of the men.

    “The delegation prayed the security and law enforcement agencies to deploy the awesome intelligence and other resources at their disposal to apprehend and punish the culprits: Emohua lacks the competence and capability to do so.  Emohua would enlist the Special Anti-Robbery Squared stationed at the Emohua-Ogbakiri junction of the East-West road in the task of dislodging violent criminals. Emohua will offer any form of help to the military and law enforcement agencies in her effort to fish out and punish all those behind that dastardly crime.”

    He further stated that Emohua had not exonerated any individual or group of persons from the killing of the two security agents. He added that it had duly taken adequate traditional measures to ensure that such heinous acts were nipped in the bud.

    He said during a meeting with the Brigade Commander, Lt Col. A.A. Lawal, he assured the delegation that the army would not go to the extreme length of a military reprisal on the people of Emohua.

    “There is no need of running away from the community; the commander has said he is not going to attack the community. He only advised that the community should do everything within its powers to assist the military authorities in identifying criminal elements in the community, especially those who masterminded the killing of the officers. The commander also assured the community that regular military patrols along the Emohua-Kalabari Highway and environs would be intensified.”

     

     

  • Osun monarch for installation

    Prince Jimoh Isiaka Adesina will be installed today as the Alase of Ilase-Ijesa in Obokun Local Government Area of Osun State.

    Adesina, a civil engineer from Ajarabiolu royal family, will be installed following Governor Rauf Aregbesola’s approval of his nomination by the kingmakers.

    The stool of Alase of Ilase-Ijesa became vacant following the assassination of the town’s monarch about two years ago.

    He was burnt to death in his palace by unidentified men.

  • Lagos urges court to vacate order on Ikorodu monarch

    Lagos urges court to vacate order on Ikorodu monarch

    Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode has urged a Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja to vacate the order it made last Friday stopping the coronation of Kabiru Adewale Shotobi as the Ayangbure of Ikorodu.

    Justice Olabisi Ogungbesan had issued the order while ruling in a motion ex-parte brought by an applicant, Odupitan Adeniyi Eniola, through his lawyers, Joseph Okobiemen and Folarin Dalmeida.

    The court had stopped Chief Shotobi from presenting himself for coronation or to be crowned for the vacant stool and title of Ayangbure of Ikorodu pending the determination of  the suit filed by Eniola, from the Lambo branch of the Lasunwon chieftaincy family of Ikorodu.

    It also restrained Ambode or anyone acting under his authority from going ahead to crown the Odofin of Ikorodu, Chief Kabiru Shotobi, as the new Ikorodu monarch.

    The Ikorodu kingmakers had scheduled the crowning of Odofin Shotobi for last Saturday having completed all the traditional rites precedent to coronation of the new Ayangbure.                                                                                                                                                       The court had also restrained Shotobi from parading himself as the Ayangbure of Ikorodu, or from actualising any recognition thereon and from exercising any of the Ayangbure Royal functions until the determination of the motion on notice.

    In addition, the court barred Lagos State Governor, the Attorney-General, the state’s Ministry of Chieftaincy Affairs and the seven other defendants or any of their agents, from performing last Saturday coronation.

    But at the resumed hearing  yesterday, the governor, who was represented by a state counsel, Mr. S.A. Quadri, urged the judge to vacate the order, saying it was made in error.

    Quadri, who described the ex parte application that led to the order as an abuse of court processes, pointed out that the order was made after Shotobi had already been given the staff of office.

    According to him,  the former Governor of the state, Babatunde Fashola on May 25, installed Shotobi as the new Ayangbure and presented  him at the 17th meeting of the State Executive Council held on May 26.

    Quadri claimed that contrary to the facts presented before the court,  what took place last  Saturday was not a coronation but a mere social gathering to celebrate Shotobi’s installment as a monarch.

    “The ceremony which took place on August 15 is a mere fun fare organised by the Ikorodu community and the first defendant (Shotobi) to celebrate his ascension to the throne of his fore fathers and to accord notable distinguished personalities with chieftaincy titles.

    “The first defendant was surprised when it became news that a ruling was delivered on August 14 pursuant to an ex parte application restraining the 1st defendant and other defendants from proceeding with the coronation fixed for the 15th day of August.

    In an affidavit deposed to in support of Ambode’s application,  one Usman Danboyi argued that the ex parte ought not to have been granted if the facts were revealed to the honourable court.

    “The order was obtained by misrepresentation of facts and should be set aside,” Danboyi said.

    Counsel to the Ikorodu kingmakers Olusegun Fabunmi, also raised a preliminary objection, challenging the jurisdiction of the court to entertain the case.

    The kingmakers – Chief Zacheus Odusoga, Chief Afolabi Adekanyaoja, Chief Karimu Ore and Chief Jacob Adaraloye – are urging the court to not only vacate the restraining order but to dismiss the entire suit.

    Fabunmi described the suit as an abuse of court processes, claiming  that the subject matter had already been determined by Justice M.A. Savage of the Ikorodu High Court in a ruling delivered May 22.

    Fabunmi urged the court to vacate the order restraining Shotobi from exercising authority in the capacity of Ayangbure of the ancient town.

    Justice Ogungbesan adjourned the matter till October 6.

  • Enugu monarch mourns Ooni

    Enugu monarch mourns Ooni

    An Enugu State monarch has described the departure of the Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade, as “a fall of an Iroko tree”

    Igwe Charles Nwoye, the Obioha II of Amurri in Nkanu West Local Government Area of Enugu State, in a statement, by his media adviser, Nze Sam Nwanze, said the contributions of the late monarch to the peace and development of the country and Yoruba tradition and culture, “cannot be forgotten in a hurry”.

    “Ooni Sijuwade was a colossus and one of the highly respected royal fathers in the country. He championed many peaceful and development initiatives in his domain and beyond, which is why he will be greatly missed not only by Yoruba people or those directly under his influence, but by many Nigerians across the nation who saw in him a reference point of tradition and culture and as father of all.

    Nwoye, who a successful business man,  prayed God to grant the Ooni eternal rest “as he joins his ancestors after 85 years on earth”.

  • ACF mourns Bauchi monarch

    Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has expressed shock at the death of a Bauchi State monarch, the Emir of Misau, Alhaji Muhammadu Manga III, who died on Monday.

    The northern socio-cultural group, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Muhammad Ibrahim, said: “ACF learnt with total submission to the will of Allah (SWT), the death of the Emir of Misau, Alhaji Muhammadu Manga III, on Monday.”

    It described the late monarch, who ascended the throne in 1979, as a promoter of peaceful coexistence.

    The statement reads: “The late Emir aged 79 had been on the throne since 1979. He devoted his life to the progress of his people in agriculture, education and socio-economic development of the Misau Emirate and Bauchi State.

  • How Lagos monarch, Elegbeda died, by wife

    How Lagos monarch, Elegbeda died, by wife

    •Funeral holds on Friday

    One of the wives of the late Lagos monarch, Elegbeda of Egbeda Kingdom, Olori Dele Balogun, yesterday relieved the last moments of the late Oba Samson Alade Balogun.

    Oba Balogun, who is due to travel to United Kingdom died in the early hours of Friday, August 14.

    He was 80.

    According to Olori Dele, the late monarch just paid for the ticket and scheduled to travel on September 10.

    She said: “The sickness started on Monday morning. Normally, I do bathe him after listening to news on radio station. That Monday morning, he said I should come and bathe him; I told him that the programme was still on but he insisted that he feel like having his bath immediately. When he was about to stand up, he said he was unable to lift his legs and when he tried lifting the legs, he fell down and was immediately attended to by his private doctor and another physician from Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH). Tests were run on him and the result came out on Tuesday evening.

    “On Thursday, I got really scared with the way he was breathing. He was later taken to the hospital so as to avoid emergency at midnight. He gave up the ghost exactly 9am on Friday. But before he gave up the ghost, he couldn’t talk. I tried to clean his mouth with cotton wool because he can’t open the mouth well and he bites my fingers. I became suspicious. I called him three times, he answered. As I and his personal Assistant (PA) tried to lay him down, he looked at us and gave up.”

    The late monarch’s wife told The Nation that as at Tuesday, his voice was not audible, but continue to praise God, saying: “Thank you Jesus” repeatedly.

    “I never gave it a second thought that he was going to die because that has been his usual habit,” she said.

    The late monarch’s PA, Femi Ajolopo told The Nation that Oba Balogun fought to be alive.

    “It is difficult for me, I don’t know how to explain it, he tried his best, he fought, he did not want to go, and was telling us he did not want to die, but as God would have it, we were supposed to travel to UK together, we were even planning to move when he was ill and his sickness started all of a sudden on Monday, it was indeed shocking, I can’t still believe he is gone, it is very difficult for me to bear, and not easy,” he said.

    Ajolopo described the monarch’s last moment as painful.

    “He was giving us hope that he won’t die, but until the last minute, he gave up. Olori Dele was trying to clean his mouth, she felt he bit her, so she shouted his name three times and Kabiyesi answered her, then she told me to take him back to his bed, before I knew it, he was gone. He looked at the two of us and that was it. It was very painful and difficult for me to bear,” he added.

    Meanwhile, the funeral has been fixed for Thursday and Friday at the palace in Egbeda, Lagos.

  • Palace disagrees with ruling over Ikorodu monarch

    Palace disagrees with ruling over Ikorodu monarch

    Palace sources yesterday debunked reports about a coronation ceremony of the Ayangbure of Ikorodu, Oba Kabir Adewale Shotobi.

    Justice Olabisi Ogungbesan of a Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja on Friday stopped kingmakers from crowning Shotobi as king following an ex-parte motion brought by an applicant, Odupitan Adeniyi Eniola, through his lawyers, Joseph Okobiemen and Folarin Dalmeida.

    But a palace source told The Nation that today’s event is for people who are to be conferred with chieftaincy titles and not for coronation.

    The source who spoke under anonymity said the chieftaincy ceremony will go as planned.

    “The coronation had already been carried out on August 2. We already have a monarch since then in person of Oba Kabiru Adewale Shotebi as the Ayangbure of Ikorodu. Tomorrow (today’s) event is conferment of chieftaincy titles on some respected Lagosians. It has nothing to do with coronation,” he said.

    He dismissed Justice Olabisi Ogungbesan of an Ikeja High Court’s ruling, saying those that sought the injunction are unaware of what today’s event is all about.

    “Jagaban (Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu) is the one receiving chieftaincy title tomorrow (today); no one is being installed as monarch as it has done in the past. The crown has been wear since August 2; what we want to do is purely a reception and decorating new chiefs. The ruling obtained is Jankara judgement,” he said.

    It would be recalled that former Lagos State Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola had handed over staff of office to Oba Shotobi before leaving office.

    The monarch had on August 2 held a World Press Conference after leaving Ipebi where he had 60 days seclusion as parts of the rights for mounting the throne.

    At the briefing, Oba Shotobi urged members of the Lasunwon Ruling House, particularly those of the Adegorushen Royal Family who contested the stool with him, to sheath their swords and join hands with him to build the ancient town.

    He said: “To my brother princes, I equally thank you for showing keen interest in the stool of our fore fathers. It is our birthright and it belongs to all of us. I recognise your desires, the resources and the energy you all expended, which is an indication of the worthiness and significance of the throne.”

  • Olubadan mourns monarch

    The Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Samuel Odulana Odugade 1, has expressed sadness over the passing away of Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade.

    In a statement issued yesterday on his behalf by his Personal Assistant, Chief Isiaka Akinpelu, Olubadan described Oba Sijuwade’s death as a huge loss to the people of Ile-Ife and the nation in general.

    “The 35-year reign of Oba Sijuwade was highly remarkable for its contribution to the peace, progress and development of Yorubaland in particular and the country as a whole.

    “The late Ooni of Ife’s wise counsel and timely personal interventions which contributed in no small measure towards resolving national issues and questions at critical periods in the nation’s history would be sorely missed,” he said.

    Olubadan noted that Oba Sijuwade’s historic role and efforts aimed at forging bonds of unity between the Yoruba in Nigeria and the Yoruba in the Diaspora, especially in West Africa, Brazil and the Carribean, will remain forever in the history of the Yoruba race.

  • Monarch seeks ministerial slot for community

    Monarch seeks ministerial slot for community

    The Deji of Akure , Oba Aladetoyinbo Aladesulu has urged the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to make its “change” agenda be noticed in Akure, the Ondo State capital by appointing one of his subjects as a minister in its proposed cabinet.

    The monarch spoke through the Asamo of Akure, High Chief Rotimi Olusanya when APC leaders in the state visited him in Akure.

    Oba Aladesulu noted that the last time Akure community felt Federal Government’s presence in terms of political appointment was during the era of the Military President, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, when the Olu of Ilu-Abo, Chief Olu Falae was appointed as the Minister of Finance and Secretary to the Government of the Federation(SGF).

    According to the traditional ruler, the people of Akure will support the government and ensure the sustenance of peace in the community.

    The visit to his palace was led by the chairman of the state chairman of APC, Isaac Kekemeke with a promise that the party would support his reign for the development of Akure, the state capital.

    He said the APC would work assiduously with Akure traditional council for the socio-economic development of the kingdom.

    Kekemeke said: “Our leader, President Muhammadu Buhari is seen as a man of integrity by most world leaders. Now we want to change Nigeria, Ondo State and Akure and we know you too as a change agent.”

    He described Oba Aladesulu as a man of integrity, stressing that APC members are for progress and development in all spheres of life.

    His words: “Kabiyesi, we have many things in common to develop your domain. We know by next year, we will be working together because APC is forming the next government in Ondo State.

    “We want to have a traditional rapport with the palace to have a common goal to develop Akure in particular and the entire state in general. Akure is vital to the development of the state.

    “We have a great luck in having you as our monarch at a time we are preparing to take the mantle of leadership.”

    Kekemeke called for peaceful co-existence among residents in Akure, saying “APC is committed to peace and progress of the ancient community.”

    He condemned the recent protest by commercial motorcycle operators in Akure, emphasising that APC would not support the destruction of public property in the name of protestation.”

    The former Secretary to the State Government (SSG) however criticised the alleged mismanagement and politicisation of all issues of governance in the state by Governor Olusegun Mimiko.

    He urged the monarch to prevail on all unions in the state to operate within the confines of the law.

    Another APC leader, Prince Olu Adegboro said the party was for transformation.

    He lamented that Akure has been relegated to the background politically by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) administration in the state, promising the traditional ruler that the APC government would ensure that all glory of

    the ancient town is restored.

    Other APC leaders on the visit to the palace were Prince Olu Adegboro, the Vice-Chairman (Central), Gboyega Adedipe and the State Secretary, Rotimi Rahman.