The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Oodua People’s Congress (OPC)

  • 2019 Elections: Fasehun warns against consequences of unguarded talks

    The Founder of the O’odua Peoples Congress (OPC), Dr Frederick Fasehun, on Sunday warned against unguarded talks ahead of the 2019 general elections, saying such might have dire consequences for Nigeria.

    The octogenarian and National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) Chieftain, who will turn 85 years on Sept. 21, gave the warning in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.

    Fasehun said that the most important task before every Nigerian now was to ensure that the unity and peace of the country was preserved as an entity.

    “At my age and looking back at the battles we fought to enshrine democracy in Nigeria through NADECO, I cannot sit and watch Nigeria disintegrate.

    “Elections are not a door die affair. Leaders come and go which is why we have tenure in Nigeria. It is not a life position but the country will always remain for new leaders.

    “I am most pained that some of the elder statesman are on the sidelines, and doing nothing to call their people to order.

    “It is not a situation restricted to any part of the country, it cuts across. This is the time for statesmen to rise and speak with one voice against violence and incitement that may negate what we stand for as a nation,” Fasehun said.

    He said that there was need for Nigerians to go beyond ethnicity and party leanings in selecting their leaders.

    “2019 is not about the Presidency alone. Attention must be given to those who represent the people in the National Assembly. The governors and their state assemblies are not left out of it.

    “The centre cannot work properly if we continue to vote in persons whose only intention are to embezzle.

    “How do we begin to justify the inability of state governors to pay workers’ salaries. There are so many issues that have become so worrisome and at my age, I fear it may end up becoming a norm to owe salaries in Nigeria.

    “The buck stops with the people. It is their decision to make. Whatever choices they make are what they will live with.

    “Voting is not for God to do. It is for humans. In doing this, our conscience must be our guide. The future of our generations must remain the priority as we go to the polls,” he said.

    He urged civil society groups to take up the task of educating Nigerians, especially the youth against being used during elections to spill blood or disrupt the electoral process.

    “My thinking is that henceforth, the security apparatus should move to pick up anyone, groups or persons who make inciting comments ahead of the polls as a deterrent.

    “We once fought a civil war, we cannot afford war in Nigeria again because at this stage of our development, war will affect every part of the nation. It will crumble the nation completely and make us all refugees, including the rich and the poor.

    “When I go, I would love to go happy, knowing that things are working right and that we did not fight in vain.

    “I want a Nigeria that will make us all proud and take it’s pride of place among the comity of nations in all aspects,” Fasehun said.

    On who becomes the next President in Nigeria, Fasehun, said, “My preference does not matter. I am an elder statesman now. My blessing goes to all and I pray that the best man will be chosen by the people in a violence-free election.”

    He restated the need for Nigeria to be restructured in accordance with agitations from the various entities making up the country.

    NAN reports that Fasehun was born in 1938 and hails from Ondo City in the current Ondo State.

    A medical doctor, he studied science at Blackburn College and furthered his education at Aberdeen University College of Medicine.

    He also studied at the Liverpool Postgraduate School after which he had a Fellowship at the Royal College of Surgeons.

    In 1976, he studied acupuncture in China under a joint World Health Organisation (WHO) and United Nations Development Scholarship Programme.

    In 1977, he set up an Acupuncture Unit at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH).

    Fasehun resigned in 1978 and immediately set up the Besthope Hospital and Acupuncture Centre in Lagos. The Acupuncture Centre once earned a reputation as Africa’s first for the Chinese medical practice.

    The OPC he founded is a Yoruba-based organisation formed to actualise the annulled mandate of Chief Moshood Kashimawo Abiola, a Yoruba who purportedly won the presidential election of June 12, 1993 but was barred from office.

    Fasehun was imprisoned for 19 months from December 1996 to June 1998 during the military rule of Sani Abacha, only ending 18 days after Abacha’s death.

  • Gani Adams, others to speak at Yoruba Koya Security Roundtable over Migrant Incursion into Lagos

    …to address world press conference over restructuring, Insecurity in Nigeria, infrastructure decadence in Yoruba land

    …to donate Hunting Gears to Informal Security Sector

     

    Prominent Yoruba leaders of thought will hold a security roundtable with several self determination groups and unions on how to checkmate the emerging threat being posed by migrants’ incursion from the Northern Part of Nigeria and outside the shores of country to the security and peace of Lagos State on Wednesday 15th August  at the Banquette Hall of Lagos Airport Hotel, Ikeja Lagos by 10am.

     

    The conference is being powered by a Pan Yoruba Socio-cultural group, Yoruba KOYA Movement, will be chaired by the Aare Onakakanfo of Yoruba land, Aare Gani Adams with the theme: Protecting Yoruba land: Migrant Explosion and Threat to Security and Peace of Lagos State.

     

    The leaders will also address a world press conference on national issues such as restructuring of Nigeria’s Political, Economic and Social Structures; Infrastructure Decadence in Yoruba Land; Unabated Killings across the nation, Herdsmen vs Farmers Clashes amongst others.

     

    According to a statement made available to news men yesterday in Lagos by the National Director of Organization and Publicity of the group, Mr. Maxwell Adeyemi Adeleye, Afenifere Leader and Elder Statesman, Pa. Ayo Adebanjo will lead other Yoruba leaders such as Second Republic Senator and Emeritus Professor of History, Banji Akintoye, Former Chief of Defence Staff, General Alani Akinriade (Rtd), Activist Pastor of Latter Rain Assembly Church and co-convener of Save Nigeria Group, Tunde Bakare to the event.

     

    Others expected to speak at the event are Ex-Nadeco chieftain, Dr. Amos Akingba, first Military Governor of Western Nigeria State, General Oluwole Rotimi (Rtd) and the Convener, Otunba ‘Deji Osibogun.

     

    The statement reads that the Governor of Lagos State, Akinwumi Ambode, Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Edgar Imohimi, Lagos State Director of State Security Services (DSS), Lagos Staate Commandant, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Director, Lagos State Neighbourhood Watch, General Manager, Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), and Controller, Nigeria Immigration Service, Lagos Command are all expected to grace the parley.

     

    The statement stated that self-determination groups and unions such as Vigilante Group of Nigeria (VGN), National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Oodua People’s Congress (OPC), Amalgamated Commercial Motorcycle Riders Association of Nigeria (ACOMORAN), Ohaneze Ndigbo, Arewa Consultative Forum, Community Development Association (CDA), Hunters, Farmers, Market men and Women and others are expected to participate at the roundtable.

     

    Hunting Gears such as Raincoats, Boots, Head Lamps, Hand Gloves, Torchlight, Whistles etc will be donated to members of VGN and Hunters at the occasion.

     

    The main aims of the parley, according to the statement, are to examine the motive(s) behind the alarming incursion of Migrants from the Northern part of Nigeria and outside the shores of the country into Lagos State daily and the effects on the security and peace of Lagos State; examine the causes of herdsmen and farmers crisis in Yoruba Land; and to discuss the management strategies by which the migrant incursion could be avoided so that Lagos State and by extension, Yoruba Lands are not encircled by external forces.

     

     

     

  • OPC man jailed 25 years for killing trader

    A Lagos High Court in Igbosere Thursday sentenced Jelili Falana an ‘Assistant Vigilante’ in the O’odua People’s Congress (OPC) office at Agege, Lagos, to 25 years imprisonment for manslaughter.

    Justice Sedoten Ogunsanya convicted Falana of the 20l4 shooting to death of a herbal medicine hawker, Afolashade Adedoyin Salami.

    The court found that the convict shot Salami and dumped her corpse in a disused soak away.

    The sentence followed Falana’s second re-arraignment on December 7, 2016 on a one-count amended charge of murder contrary to Section 221 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

    Read Also:Police destroy ‘OPC shrine’, arrest three suspects

    The convict was previously arraigned by the Lagos State Government on January 11, 2016 and re-arraigned on an amended charge on February 1, 2016.

    He pleaded not guilty on the three occasions following which trial commenced.

    But in her judgment, Justice Ogunsanya held that the facts of the case were more consistent with manslaughter than murder.

    The sentence, which was without an option of a fine, takes effect from 2016.

    According to prosecution counsel Adebayo Haroun and Adeyemi Bamgbose, Falana committed the offence on or about June 15, 2014 at about 10:30pm at an OPC Vigilance Office 1n Agege.

    The case was reported to the Railway Police Division, Agege, by the OPC Coordinator or Chairman in the area, Mr. Adekunle Adegoke.

    In the convict’s statement to the police, which was admitted in evidence, Falana said he knew the deceased as a “local nurse’ and drug hawker who placed him on malaria medication on the morning of the incident.

    Falana said the deceased was on her way home but stopped at the OPC office to check on him at about 10pm.

    As she sat beside him he began fondling his single-barreled gun, but it went off and shot her in the head, following which she died.

    He became confused and afraid so he dumped her body and the gun in the soak away.

    The office and the soak away was divided by the rail track along Old Abeokuta Road, Agege.

    A prosecution witness, Inspector Gloria Anumo, testified that during interrogation Falana stated that he seized the gun from hoodlums and was using it for vigilance work, but that he neither had a license for nor knew how to operate it.

     

  • Police destroy ‘OPC shrine’, arrest three suspects 

    Operatives of the Lagos State Police Command Tuesday destroyed a shrine allegedly used by the Oodua Peoples’ Congress (OPC) to try suspects.

    The shrine, which was situated under the Opebi Link Bridge, off Mobolaji Bank Anthony Way, Ikeja, was allegedly used by the local vigilante to torture, extort victims.

    Residents and artisans accused the vigilantes of open torture and use of force on victims, adding that they usually opened a case file and dragged an alleged suspect to their shrine.

    Police Commissioner Imohimi Edgal who led detectives to the place, said three suspects were apprehended, adding that three Point Of Sales (POS) machines, mobile phones and Automated Teller Machines (ATM) cards were recovered.

    Edgal said: “Officials of the Lagos Neighbourhood Safety Corp (LNSC) informed the command of suspicious movement of people in and out of the shrine. On the strength of the information, I directed the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) Ikeja to investigate.

    “A team of undercover policemen led by the DPO mounted surveillance around the area. So yesterday, officials of LNSC saw a man being dragged into the shrine. They were attracted to the place by the screaming they heard coming from the victim.

    Read Also:D’Banj, wife to explain son’s death – Police

    “They quickly informed the DPO who moved his men to the scene where three persons were arrested and the victim rescued.

    “In as much as we believe in community policing and community partnership, let me sound a note of warning to any group of persons, who may want to take laws into their hands that the command will deal decisively with them.

    “Members of OPC have been helpful to the command in the past. We see them as partners. But as you can see, some group of persons under the guise of OPC have erected an office under the Opebi link bridge, where they conduct trial by ordeal.

    “They also have a shrine here where they take victims to. I believe that they force victims to take oath. We will not tolerate this in any part of the state.

    “Three persons have been arrested. A victim was freed. We are investigating and all those behind this barbaric act will soon be rounded up. When they are arrested they will be made to face the wrath of the law.”

    Continuing, Edgal said those already arrested were being interrogated to unravel why they detained people.
    “As a law abiding citizen, you are only allowed to arrest and after which the suspect is handed over to the police who have the constitutional responsibility to investigate and prosecute.

    “What are POS machines doing inside their office? Investigation has revealed that some robbers go about with POS machines. They make their victims transfer money to their account at gunpoint. We are going to be thorough in our investigation. We will not allow any miscreant run amock in Lagos.

    “I have also ordered that the shrine and the office be demolished,” he said.

  • Police arrest OPC member over alleged murder of student

    Police arrest OPC member over alleged murder of student

    The Police have arrested and detained a chieftain Oodua People’s Congress (OPC), Dele Olorunfemi, over alleged murder of a student, Faramo Tope in Ikere-Ekiti.

    The deceased, who was said to be a student of University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), College of Education, Ikere-Ekiti Campus, was said to have been killed at about 9.30 pm on Wednesday, February 28.

    Tope was being conveyed with another passenger by a commercial motorcyclist when he was hit by bullets allegedly fired by some OPC men on patrol led by Olorunfemi.

    The shooting incident reportedly took place along Winners’ Chapel Road in Oke Osun area of the town but the corpse of the deceased was dumped in a bush at Ona Owuro Road behind College Demonstration School.

    The Nation gathered that the commercial motorcyclist who witnessed the killing of his passenger and identified the suspects reported the incident at Anaye Police Station in Uro Quarters of the town.

    The report of the alleged murder led to the arrests of Olorunfemi and another suspect who was simply identified as “Bebe.” Another suspect identified as “Abule” is presently at large.

    Residents of the area where the corpse was dumped also reported the killing at the same police station.

    The corpse of the student has been deposited at the State Specialist Hospital, along Ise Road, Ikere.

    Chairman of the Landlords Association of the area, Pastor David Owotobi, said the corpse was dumped when members of his church were having all night prayer.

    “After our programme in the church, our members were going back home and they came back to report that a corpse was dropped very close to our church.

    “I went there when and I saw the corpse there; on the second day very early in the morning, I went to the police station to report what happened on our street.”

    Confirming the incident in a telephone chat, the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Abdullahi Chafe, said only one person has been arrested.

    Chafe said: “I can confirm that such an incident occurred, one person has been arrested and he will be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for further investigation.”

    Read Also: OPC warn IPOB chief stop attacking Obasanjo, Tinubu

  • OPC abolishes ‘Factions’ as Frederick Fasehun, Gani Adams unite

    OPC abolishes ‘Factions’ as Frederick Fasehun, Gani Adams unite

    The Pan-Yoruba militant movement, Oodua People’s Congress (OPC) has resolved to abolish ‘Factions’ that has decimated the unity of the group over the years.

    OPC regret that the hitherto factions led by Dr. Fredrick Fasehun and Otunba Gani Adams respectively was “a vain of unity and development in Yoruba land”.

    According to the Congress, “the Oodua People’s Congress (OPC) is now one with no allegiance to any of the two leaders for the peace, greatness and development of Yoruba Nation”.

    This was contained in a communique issued and signed by the trio of OPC chieftains, Comrade Razaq Arogundade, Comrade Dare Adesope and Hon. Mutiu Balogun Ololade respectively after participating in the Yoruba Unity Retreat held in Ibadan and organised by The Yoruba Leadership and Peace Initiative.

    The communique urged all Yoruba sons and daughters as well as Yoruba leaders and the entire citizens of Nigeria “to henceforth see Oodua People’s Congress, OPC, as one with no affiliation to any faction or any of the two leaders who have mortgaged the future of Yoruba Nation for their own selfish interests.”

    Specifically, the communique declared that “the entire members of the group have equally resolved to relieve the erstwhile leaders, Dr Fredrick Faseun and Otunba Gani Adams of their positions.”

    “We decided to make this decision in the interest of all Yoruba sons and daughters as these two leaders have failed Yoruba Nation due to political partisanship which had been a cog in the wheel of development of Yoruba Nation,” it said.

    The communique states further:  “As Oodua People’s Congress, OPC, is now one; we have resolved to defend Yoruba Nation from any form of attack either internal or external attacks. Any attempt by any tribe, group or people to attack, molest or tamper with the fundamental human rights of Yoruba sons and daughters will be met with equal response from Oodua People’s Congress, OPC.,

    “We equally commend Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi (III) for clarifying the controversy making round on the instalment of new Aare Ona Kakanfo. The position of the first class Oba on the issue has shown that the royal father is an upholder of merit as the position is not for charlatans and morally bankrupt individuals.

    “The entire members of Oodua People’s Congress, OPC equally condemn some persons of questionable characters who have been parading themselves as the next Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yoruba land. As such misleading members of the public.

    “We are also calling on Oodua descendants both at home and in the Diaspora that reformation is ongoing in the organization now and we welcome advice, suggestions or any form of contributions that will bring about positive transformation to the organization from concern descendants in any part of the world. United we stand and divided we fall. We are ever ready to work with all other Oodua groups in other to get to the Promised Land.”

     

  • OPC coordinator Adams off to Saudi Arabia for lesser hajj

    OPC coordinator Adams off to Saudi Arabia for lesser hajj

    …Says Nigerian hide under religion to castigate their culture, customs, tradition
    …Canvass restructuring of the country
    The National Coordinator of Oodua People’s Congress (OPC), Otunba Ganiyu Adams on Thursday spared a thought for Nigerians who hide under religion to castigate their culture, customs and tradition.
    Adams said it amounted to being a religious fanatic to condemn the tradition and customs of the Yorubas.
    He said it is wrong for anybody irrespective of his religion to paint in bad light the tradition, customs and culture of his people.
    Adams said as a Muslim, he owes it to his belief  not to pull down the values of his culture because religion should serve as a rallying point to advance the traditions of a people.
    Speaking in an interview at the Departure Hall of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos on his way to Saudi Arabia for lesser hajj, Adams said unknown to most people that he is a practicing Muslim.
    He said he decided to make known because a lot of people think his Muslim faith will make not respect the culture, customs and traditions of Yoruba race.
    Adams said his Muslim faith will not in any way stand as a stumbling block to his struggle for self determination  and adherence to Yoruba culture and tradition.
    He said: “I am a Muslim, I am traveling to Saudi Arabia for Lesser hajj to carry out the obligations of my faith.
    But, even as a Muslim, that does not stop me from promoting the customs and tradition of our people .
    The problem with most Nigerians is that they hide under the guise of religion to castigate their customs and tradition.
    This I think is contrary to the beliefs of self determination struggle.”
    He said religion should play a key role in the promotion of culture affirming that the Islamic religion has helped to propagate the Arab culture, language and tradition .
    Adams said: “We must use our religion to promote our culture whether we are Muslim, Christian or traditional believers .
    Religion should not be about self benefit, or exploitation, but must be used to promote education, cultural promotion and charity.
    Many countries in world that are not fanatical about religion have achieved advances in education, technology and social welfare.
    These some countries in Asia and Far East, Europe and other places.
    We need to use religion as a unifying and rallying point to advance socio and economic development, not to castigate our culture and tradition.
    In Nigeria, we need to take a cue from some climes to use religion as a tool to promote our tradition.”
    He said it is wrong for religious organizations to pursue self interest but advance educational promotion and socio economic development.
    He said government needs to restructure the country such that every region could develop at their own pace.
    He said the regional structure will affirm every state the opportunity to utilize resources in their domain.
    Adams called on government to diversify the economy by expanding frontiers in solid minerals, agriculture and tourism.
    He said the poor state of electricity supply in the country is serving as a huge disincentive to investment in the critical a sectors of the economy.
    The OPC leader said it is time government embarked on serious reforms that will create business friendly polices and environment at the ports, airports and other economic sectors .
    Without such reforms, the economy he said will not be in solid footing.

  • Gunmen kidnap two guards, five farmers in Epe

    Barely 24 hours after an Isheri North landlord, Dr. Dayo Adekoya regained freedom from kidnappers’ den, seven other victims have been abducted.

    The victims including two members of Oodua People’s Congress (OPC) and five Eliasa farm workers were kidnapped in Igbodu-Isiwo, Epe, a Lagos-Ogun border community.

    It was gathered that the kidnappers clad in military camouflages, stormed the farm around 7am, whisking away their victims.

    The two guards, who were employed to secure the farm and workers in the wake of incessant kidnapping, were said to have been overpowered by the kidnappers numbering about 15.

    At the time of filing this story, the kidnappers who took their victims through a bush path to their speedboats, were yet to establish contact with the farm management.

    According to a source, six farmers and a customer were kidnapped two weeks ago by gunmen who usually attacked in broad day light.

    He said: “The state government and security agencies should focus more attention on the area because of the increase in kidnappings.”

    The Nation reports that incidents of kidnappings have remained unabated around border communities.

    Last month, 24-year-old Ifeoluwa Olabiyi was kidnapped alongside three others, all workers at Tanda Farms, and they only regained freedom after N2million cash and two cartons of Red Label whiskey were given the criminals.

    Olabiyi’s fiance, Ayodeji Akinyemi who negotiated with the kidnappers disclosed that they had a room for babies and first aid kit to treat the injured.

    Confirming the incident, Dolapo Badmos, a Superintendent of Police (SP) said: “It is true, seven farm workers were kidnapped at Igbodu area and we are working assiduously to rescue them.”

     

  • OPC applauds Buhari for dislodging Boko Haram

    OPC applauds Buhari for dislodging Boko Haram

    The Oodua People’s Congress (OPC) in Kwara has commended President Muhammadu Buhari and the Nigeria military over their victory against Boko Haram insurgents in Sambisa forest in Borno.
    Mr Maruf Olanrewaju, the Coordinator of OPC made the commendation in an interview with newsmen in Ilorin on Wednesday.
    Olanrewaju said that the Federal Government deserved to be lauded for the destruction of the insurgents base, which he said, signalled their defeat in Borno.
    He said the feat was in line with the electioneering campaign of the president, and urged the military personnel, who he said, made the victory possible,  not to relent in their efforts to finally dislodge the group from the country.
    The OPC leader asserted that the congress would continue to partner with security agencies to ensure that the remnants of Boko Haram did not regroup and infiltrate the society.
    He also called on the public to be very vigilant with those coming in and out of their neighbourhoods in order not to give space to the fleeing insurgents.