The Nation Newspaper

Tag: OPC

  • Court remands OPC leader in prison

    Court remands OPC leader in prison

    Chief Magistrate’s Court in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, has remanded in custody the State Odua Peoples Congress (OPC) leader, Adeniyi Adedipe, also known as Apase, for alleged murder.

    Police prosecutor Caleb Leranmo told the court that the accused committed the offence on or April 7 and September 25 in Ado-Ekiti.

    Leramo alleged that the accused conspired to murder the former National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) Chairman, Omolafe Aderiye and also attempted to murder Olumide Gabriel.

    The police prosecutor said he had duplicated the case file and sent it to the Department of Public Prosecution (DPP) for legal advice.

    Adedipe’s plea for bail by his counsel, Chris Omokafe, was denied by Chief Magistrate Adesoji Adegboye.

    Magistrate Adegboye adjourned the case till December 1.

     

  • Police, OPC foil robbery in Lagos

    In attempt by some armed robbers to unleash terror on residents of Bode Thomas Street and its environs in the Palmgrove area of Lagos suffered a blow in the wee hours of yesterday.

    The night marauders, The Nation gathered, sneaked into the street about 2.45am through the Awoyokun axis of Ikorodu Road, swooping on a building before they were dispersed.

    The attempt came two months after some robbers wrote to residents of the area, threatening to “visit them soon like the coming of Jesus Christ.”

    Following the notice that rattled residents, operatives from the Ilupeju Police Station promptly embarked on night patrol of the area.

    “They (the robbers) came in when everyone was deep in sleep. The overpowered the two security guards on guard at both ends of the street, beat them thoroughly before gaining entry into a building. But they could not go beyond the building when help came from some neighbours and the police, following residents’ outcry for help,” a resident, who simply gave his name as Saheed, spoke with The Nation about 8am yesterday when they stood in groups discussing the incident.

    “That was the first time I would witness a prompt response by the police in such a situation; they surprised us,” he added.

    A member of the Oodua People’s Congress (OPC) in the area, who rose to the occasion with his colleagues, said: “It was about 3am. We were woken up by frightening sounds of gunshots from the axis. We mobilised and rushed down there. We gave the robbers a hot chase but they were lucky to escape. We were still around when policemen came.”

    A lucky victim, who would not want his name mentioned, said one of the robbers was about assaulting him when the intervention came. “I thank God that I survived it,” he said.

    A worried resident, Mrs Mariam Lawal, who pleaded with the police to sustain their patrol of the area, also urged more surveillance on the notorious Awoyokun/Ikorodu Road junction where, according to her, nightfall “brings evil and tears.”

    “People avoid the spot whenever night falls, especially from 7.30pm. Some bad boys are fond of hiding there to dispossess pedestrians of money and other valuables. I have fallen victim twice. I want the police to keep an eye on the place at night to save us and others from attacks,” she said.

    Following yesterday’s incident, it was gathered that elders in the community were making efforts aimed at strengthening security of lives and property in the neighbourhood.

  • OPC gets new president

    he Dr. Fredrick Fasehun-led Oodua People’s Congress (OPC) has appointed a new president to lead the group.

    At a conference in Lagos yesterday, the new President, Comrade Dare Adesope, said the development became imperative to harmonise all the members.

    Adesope said he would liaise with other factions of OPC to actualise the Oodua agenda. “I will work with other OPC leaders, Yoruba elders and other prominent Nigerian leaders who have supported the Oodua cause.’’

    Announcing the new leadership, Comrade Godwin James said  the group acknowledges the input of Faseun who had led the organisation since it was founded 20 years ago.

     “In view of all this, we the leaders of the organisation across the nation met and unanimously choose a vibrant and resourceful youth who has served at all levels to bring the desired positive changes to OPC.”

    “There is unity between our group and that of Otunba Gani Adams in piloting the affair of Yoruba. We are still under Dr. Fasehun who is the founder of OPC; he would have been here at this meeting but he was unavoidable absent,” he said.

  • Suspected OPC members arrested for gun running

    Suspected OPC members arrested for gun running

    A suspected member of the Odua People’s Congress (OPC), Jamiu Ishola, aged 46, has been arrested by operatives of the Special Anti-robbery Squad (SARS) Lagos State Police Command, for supplying his night duty guns to armed robbers.

    According to a reliable source, the suspect Ishola, is said to be a respected member   of the group  in Ajah, a suburb of Lagos State and Atan in Ogun State because of his expertise, courage and experience in fighting armed robbers and handling of dangerous weapons.

    The source said  Ishola is so popular that he was said to be in charge of all the weapons by night guards in OPC, that nobody dared questioned him why he used to carry duty guns even to his residential house at times.

    Before he knew it, people suspected to be members of the underworld started befriending him to the point of  influencing him to be smuggling out the OPC duty guns to a  nine-man gang any time they wanted to go on armed robbery operation in Ajah or Atan area of Lagos and Ogun states respectively.

    The source also revealed that the suspect Ishola used to accompany  the gang to scenes of crime, to carry out robbery or car snatching operations because of his thorough knowledge of the places  visited by the criminals.  He is also said to be charging 10 to 20 percent commission on any gun he gives to the gang to work.

    However, he was  believed  to  drop the commissioning  job  and join robbery operation because he was being surchanged by his co-travellers in crime  business. At a time, he grew annoyed especially when he realised how much the gang was making in one operation including handset, phones shared. For instance,he claimed the gang made N500,000.00 from an operation but  claimed it was  N20,000.00. He was also believed to have gone  into shop breaking  and entering, sending his gang members  against  those that complain to him about stealing.

    Confessing his involvement in armed robbery operations, he said it was one Ibrahim arrested by operatives of SARS that implicated him and led police to his house at Atan Town in Ogun State and arrested him on Saturday, adding, “Police recovered one gun I supplied to the gang from Ibrahim. I left Lagos in 2008 as an OPC member when the Late State (Lagos Chairman of National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) Okaila) was alive. I used to live opposite General Hospital, Ajah, a suburb of Lagos.

    “I am a professional driver and motor mechanic opposite general hospital Ajah, I give robbers gun on commission basis and I follow them to operate sometime because I do not trust them.

    “If I regain my freedom, I will help police to arrest all the armed robbery suspects I know especially those at large.

    The Deputy Police relations officer, an assistant superintendent of police (ASP) Lelma Kolle confirmed the incident.

     

  • Confab delegates urge FG to negotiate with Boko Haram

    Confab delegates urge FG to negotiate with Boko Haram

    Some members of the National Conference have called on the federal government to enter into negotiation with the insurgent Boko Haram group for the release of the abducted 200 girls from Chibok, Borno State.

    The delegates opined that the pains of the mothers and Nigerians at large should not be overlooked while the negotiation would also provide the opportunity for government to have better understanding of the group’s grievances.

    According to Gani Adams, National Coordinator of the Odua Peoples Congress (OPC) negotiating with the group would afford the government the opportunity to have an insight into the workings of the insurgent group and help in disarming it.

    According to him, “Government should negotiate with Boko Haram because the lives of these girls is more important than anything at this point in time. Politics should not be brought into it and as we can see, the world powers are coming into it and giving their assistance.

    “If we move fast, negotiate and succeed at it, there may be no need for the assistance of these foreign powers in the area of security anymore, remember we are a sovereign state and we should be seen managing our affairs as it best suit us.

    “I think by negotiating with Boko Haram, government would be able, to know them more and have better understanding of the whole issues agitating their minds. This way, I believe this would even assist our intelligence system.”

    On his part, Mike Ezekhome (SAN) warned that Nigerians should be cautious about politicising the issue, saying, “My position is that life is supreme and cannot be duplicated. The lives of these girls should not be trivialized on the altar of grandstanding or pride.

    “This is a situation where the federal government should negotiate with Boko Haram for the release of those girls whose parents are traumatised and weeping daily.  In life, it is about give and take; you win some and lose some. Even the United Nations recognises negotiation, arbitration as an instrument for achieving peace. All the World Wars finally ended at a table leading to world peace.

    “Therefore, I don’t see anything fundamentally bad about negotiating with Boko Haram. I don’t see that as a way of encouraging them to bomb more. Rather, what we are saying is, for now, as a short term measure, these our daughters we don’t want them dead, give  them back to us alive and well.

    “In other words, let government give them back few of their detainees, especially those we learnt are family members, who were not themselves caught on the street committing the crimes.  This is what I think government should do, they should not shy away from it, they should not see it as a loss of face. After all when the militants were devastating Nigeria, the late President Musa Yar’Adua set up the amnesty panel and negotiated with them which brought about peace at the end.”

    He added, “Though the cause of the militants cannot be equated with that of the Boko Haram but we should take a cue from that, that there are times when negotiation is very important.

    “I think the federal government set up the Turaki panel to negotiate which the Boko Haram rejected. This should be an opportunity to negotiate not just the release of these girls but the causes of the insurgency in its entirety and how to bring about peace and tranquility in Nigeria.”

    Also, Ambassador Hassan Adamu, who is the Wakili of Adamawa, said he is in support of negotiation but that government should give certain conditions to the insurgent group.

    He said, “Government should negotiate but when dealing with terrorism it is a complex and difficult situation but no government wants to yield to the demands of terrorists while sending a clear message that terrorism cannot win.

    “I don’t like the idea of negotiating with terrorists, but I think what should be done while negotiating is that the group abide by the term of the agreement and the rule of law or decisive action be taken against them,” he said.

    On her part, Mrs. Temitope Ajayi, a delegate representing the Nigerians in Diaspora said from a mother’s point of view and concern, government should negotiate.

    She said: “For me and as a mother, my heart is bleeding. I am on my knees because I know that it is not easy to be a mother and I know all mothers around the world are appealing that these kids be released unharmed.

    “Government should negotiate because they have made their demands; the government has to dialogue to see how the genuine ones could be accepted.

    “We cannot continue to destroy ourselves and I see this as an opportunity to implore the President and support his wife, Dame Patience to negotiate with the Boko Haram and get our girls back. All the mothers of this world are saying to Boko Haram Don Allah, Don Anabi, yankuri.

    Also, a pressure group, the National Unity Forum, at the National Conference yesterday lauded President Goodluck Jonathan for accepting the assistance offered from the international community to rescue the girls.

     

  • Gani Adams marks 44th birthday in grand style

    Gani Adams marks 44th birthday in grand style

    This is indeed happy times for the National Coordinator of the Oodua People’s Congress (OPC), Otunba Gani Adams. The OPC leader, who is presently a delegate in the National Conference representing the Yoruba race, recently marked his 44th birthday celebration with a bash for friends and associates.

    The celebration, which was marked with a week-long of activities, saw the activist cum culture promoter receiving a chieftaincy title from the Ndi Eze Udo in Lagos, who conferred on Adams the title of Azi Eyindigbo on him. His friends also organised a novelty football match and a visit to an orphanage as part of other activities to celebrate their man.

    The grand finale, which held at the Sheba Event Centre on Mobolaji Bank Anthony Way, Lagos, saw dignitaries from across the business, political and other divides come out to honour Adams.

    The celebration was rounded off with a thanksgiving service at the Holy Michael Church in Surulere, Lagos. Speaking on his experience, Adams, while expressing gratitude to the Almighty for sparing his life, said he was surprised by the turnout of dignitaries who came to identify with him in his hours of joy. “I am particularly grateful to the Almighty for sparing my life to witness this day. I must confess that I am both happy and surprised by the turnout of dignitaries. I thank them all for coming out to celebrate with me.”

    Among the dignitaries at the event included the former Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Mrs. Kofoorola Burknor; leader of Afenifere group, Pa Ayo Adebanjo; Senior Special Adviser to the President on Youth and Students Affair, Comrade Jude Imagwe; Dr. Awolowo Dosunmu; Mr. Tunde Shobulo (DCP, Lagos) and Hon. Babatunde Oke, Executive Chairman, Onigbongbo LCDA, among several others.

  • OPC vows to uncover ‘hidden dungeon’

    OPC vows to uncover ‘hidden dungeon’

    There may be a spiritual approach to uncovering the whereabouts of the commercial motorcyclist, whose distress call led to the discovery of the Soka “forest of horror” in Ibadan, Oyo State.

    It is believed that the commercial motorcyclist and eight others are still in captivity.

    The Yoruba militia group, Oodua Peoples’ Congress (OPC), said yesterday that the place where the victims are being held could not be visible to the ordinary eyes.

    It vowed to use “every means available” to discover the “hidden dungeon where more victims are being held on the premises”.

    An OPC chieftain in Ibadan Rotimi Olumo told reporters that the group is working hard to uncover the purported cellar where the missing motorcyclist was phoning from.

    Olumo said: “There are strong indications that some people might still be trapped there because the missing motorcyclist who phoned his wife and friends said he heard the voices of his friends who were looking for him from the place where he was kept underground.

    “He claimed that there were eight others with him in a place there that has not been discovered. His family members and those of the other victims are in anguish.

    “The fact about it is that such places cannot be seen by ordinary eyes and that is why we cannot fold our arms. We are taking serious steps and making deep consultations in the other realm to uncover the hidden place and the people behind the horrible act.”

    Olumo, who is the OPC Chairman in Ibadan and lives in the neighbourhood of the Soka den, said the OPC at the national level has signified interest to wade into the matter.

    He said: “If Boko Haram is not disturbing us in the region, why should we allow ritualists to make Ibadan, a peaceful city, a danger zone.”

  • Akoko community killing: OPC leaders, monarch have no case to answer, says DPP

    The controversy over the murder of Igbekele Oyeleye in 2009, by unknown persons in Arigidi-Akoko, in Akoko North West Local Government Area, Ondo State, over chieftaincy tussle still lingers on.

    There was a public outcry recently by some aggrieved indigenes, calling on the government to probe Oyeleye’s killing whose corpse is still in the mortuary at the Federal Medical Centre, Owo, where it was deposited five-years ago.

    However, the Department of Public Prosecutions (DPP), of the Ministry of Justice has entered a ‘no case’ submission against the three accused.

    The accused according to a petition by one Mallam Gani Ashiru, to the Commissioner of Police are the National Coordinator of Odua Peoples Congress (OPC), Otunba Gani Adams, who is an indigene of the town, his personal assistant, Mr. Segun Akanni, and Arigidi’s monarch, Oba Yisa Olanipekun, the Zaki of Arigidi-Akoko.

    Speaking during a protest by some members of Arigidi community at the Governor’s office, Akure, the spokesman of the group, Mr. Amos Ogunleye, said many residents of the community now live in fear over alleged attack on some of them by supporters of the embattled monarch.

    He appealed to the state government to release the White Paper on the report submitted by a commission of inquiry set up to look into the crisis in Arigidi community in 2011.

    However, the OPC coordinator, Adams, has cautioned that those who are fond of accusing him and Oba Olanipekun of killing Oyeleye should stop such accusation or face prosecution since the DPP has already entered a ‘no case’ submission on the case.

    According to the legal advice sent to the Assistant Commissioner of Police, ‘D’ Department by the DPP and signed on behalf of the state Attorney-General by a senior legal officer in the Ministry of Justice, J. M. Itiola, the petitioner has no credible evidence linking the suspects to the alleged killing.

    The legal advice conclude thus; “In view of the above, I have so many unresolved doubts in my minds considering the gap in the period of years between the incidences and the fact that several other names were mentioned in connection with the incidence, who were never arrested or interrogated.

    “I am of the view that the issue is premised on malice and to this end, I humbly suggest that the uninve-stigated and unresolved doubts should be resolved in favour of the suspects, while the statements of the purported eyewitness, Mrs. Beatrice is considered an afterthought.

    “I therefore humbly advice that all the suspects in this case, i. e. pages B1-Oba Olanipekun, B2-Otunba Gani Adams and B3-Segun Akanni, be let off the hook for lack of credible evidence.”

  • OPC vows to uncover hidden dungeon at Soka evil forest

    There may be spiritual approach to uncovering the where about of the commercial motorcyclist who blew the lid open on the Soka forest of horror.

    The Okada man and eight others are believed to still be in the den of the kidnappers and ritualists.

    The Yoruba militia group, Oodua Peoples’ Congress (OPC) who said the place where the victims are kept could not be visible to ordinary eyes, Tuesday vowed to use every means available to discover the hidden dungeon where some kidnapped victims are still believed to be kept within the premises.

    A chieftain of OPC in Ibadan, Comrade Rotimi Olumo, who made the disclosure while addressing journalists, said the group is working round the clock to uncover the purported cellar where the missing Okada rider was phoning from which led to the initial discovery of the horrific
    kidnappers’ hideout.

    He said, “There are strong indications that some people might still be trapped there because the missing Okada man who phoned his wife and friends said he heard the voices of his friends that were looking for him where he was kept under the ground.

    “The okada man who claimed there are eight others with him there is yet to be discovered up till now, his family are in real anguish and that of every other victims of the Soka den.

    “The fact about it is that such places cannot be seen by ordinary eyes, and that is why we cannot fold our arms, we have been taking serious steps and making deep consultations in the other realm to uncover whatever hidden place and people behind the horrible act”.

    Olumo who is the Chairman of OPC in Ibadan South-West and had his private residence located in the neighbourhood of Soka den added that the OPC at the national level has signified interest to wade into the matter, saying ” if Boko Haram are not disturbing us in the region, why should we allow ritualists to make Ibadan which is noted as a peaceful city a danger zone for people”.

  • And Kura goes for the mic

    And Kura goes for the mic

    Nasir Kura, a representative of the civil society, lost his cool yesterday. He was shouting and dragging the wireless microphone from a conference staff. Kura’s action was not long after a delegate complained openly: “Must we behave like thugs before being recognised?”

    The defiant Kura was placated by an elderly delegate, Mrs Felicia Sanni, but when the delegate refused to be placated, the National Co-ordinator of the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC), Gani Adams, squared up to him and dared him to do his worse. Some pockets of “OPC, OPC” were heard across the hall.

    At this point, the floor got rowdy with noise reverberating across the auditorium until the Chairman, Justice Idris Kutigi, started shouting ‘return to your seats’. This later calmed the delegates and the debate resumed.