The Nation Newspaper

Tag: OPC

  • OPC warns herdsmen against attack

    OPC warns herdsmen against attack

    Oodu’a Peoples’ Congress (OPC), a Yoruba socio-cultural group, has warned herdsmen against continuous attacks on innocent people and communities, saying it would not tolerate killing of farmers in the Southwest.

    The group also cautioned the Federal Government against initiating the controversial grazing bill, saying it would vehemently resist the move to promulgate a law that would give privilege to a section of the country.

    Rising from a general meeting held Tuesday in Gbagada, Lagos, OPC members described the controversial grazing bill as “insult” to the people.

    OPC National Publicity Secretary, Shina Akinpelu, said: “It is an insult to collective psyche of Nigerians to hear that a bill is being considered to allow or create grazing zones for the herdsmen. The OPC and the whole Yoruba nation reject such proposition and will resist it with all that we have.”

    The OPC members also called on Otunba Gani Adams to stop parading himself as leader of the group. They accused Adams of trading off the group for personal gains. They all condemned Adam’s style of leadership.

    More than 1,000 members of the group across states attended the meeting.

    OPC national officers, who attended the meeting, included Chief Boye Mayunpe, Alhaji Amusa Musiliu, Lagos Island chapter chairman, Alhaji Lateef Oshodi; Oyo State chapter chairman, Chief Adeola Adeagbo and his Kwara and Bayelsa states counterparts, Comrade Moruf Olanrewaju and Comrade Akeem, among others.

     

  • One dead, two injured in OPC, hoodlums clash

    One dead, two injured in OPC, hoodlums clash

    A 31-YEAR-OLD man, Rasheed Olanrewaju, was killed and two others were injured when Oodua People’s Congress (OPC) members and hoodlums clashed in Ajegunle, Lagos, last Tuesday.

    Olanrewaju was buried yesterday in accordance with Islamic rites.

    Many buildings were also torched during the incident, which occurred around 10pm on Arumo Street.

    Olanrewaju, a labourer at Wharf, was said to have gone out to look for food when a stray bullet hit him on his chest. He died instantly.

    The protagonists were said to have fought over the sharing of money collected from a land developer.

    It was gathered that an OPC leader in the area collected money from a man who wanted to develop, but refused to give others their share.

    When the others went to the man, he shunned them, saying he has given “huge sum” to the OPC leader “for the boys”.

    During the fight that lasted over two hours, guns and other lethal weapons were freely used. Many ran indoors to avoid being hit by stray bullets.

    Among the injured was an OPC member, who works in an adjourning street. One of the two persons arrested by the police over the incident allegedly sustained armpit injury.

    Riot police and Rapid Response Squad (RRS) operatives were deployed in the neighbourhood yesterday to restore peace.

    Residents said the huge police presence should be sustained for a week to avert a resurgence. Some youths gathered on Ezie lane still spoiling for a fight.

    According to a resident, the policemen, who first arrived, were stoned by the hoodlums who torched the OPC office and a nearby kiosk. Reinforcement came from the police command and RRS.

    Another witness, Patricia Udofia told The Nation that it was not the first time such a clash would happen in the neighbourhood.

    She said the OPC members and hoodlums usually attacked themselves.

    “It is not the first time. They are always having issues. But it has been long they fought last. I do not really know what happened but we heard it is about money that the vigilantes (OPC men) refused to share.

    “We heard money was given to the OPC leader but he did not give the other group their share. The two groups were attacking themselves with guns and other weapons.

    “Some people said the OPC members killed one person belonging to the opposing camp, while others said the person killed was just an innocent boy,” she said.

    Confirming the incident, the state command’s spokesperson, Dolapo Badmos, a Superintendent of Police (SP), said: “Yes, there was a fight between area boys and Vigilante group members at Arumo Street in Ajagunle over ‘Omo onile’ money. The Commander of the Vigilante group allegedly collected the money and refused to share with the area boys.

    “As a result, the hoodlums attacked the vigilantes and set their office, as well as a nearby kiosk ablaze. In the process, the vigilantes shot and killed one person.

    “The police went to the scene and restored calm. Two persons were arrested, while two live and four expended cartridges were recovered. The case is under investigation.”

  • One dies, others injured as OPC, hoodlums clash in Lagos

    One dies, others injured as OPC, hoodlums clash in Lagos

    A man identified as Rasheed Olanrewaju, 31, has been killed and two others injured after vigilant members of the Oodua People’s Congress (OPC) and hoodlums clashed in Ajagunle, a Lagos suburb.

    The incident which occurred around 10pm on Tuesday at Arumo Street, caused panic among residents as buildings were torched by the rampaging youth.

    Olanrewaju, a labourer at Wharf was said to have gone out to buy something to eat when stray bullet from the OPC group hit him on his chest, killing him instantly.

    Trouble was said to have started after the vigilantes refused to give the youths their share of money collected from a land developer.

    It was gathered that an OPC leader in the area identified as Ezekiel collected money from a man who wanted to develop his land in the area, without settling other groups who went to the man for their share.

    But their demand was swiftly turned down by the developer who disclosed that he has given huge sum of money to the said Ezekiel for settlement of the ‘boys’, prompting the hoodlums to engage the vigilantes in a duel.

    The Nation gathered that the fight lasted over two hours, with residents scampering for safety for fear of being hit by stray bullets.

    It was learnt that some of the residents of Ezie lane, Ezie Street, Ugbonwankwo and adjoining streets took cover inside their homes as sporadic gunshots were fired by each faction.

    They were also said to have thrown bottles and other dangerous weapons without caution.
    It was gathered that one of the injured persons was an OPC member who works in a neighbouring street, while one of the two persons arrested by the police allegedly sustained amput injury.

    At the time The Nation visited the street, anti-riot and Rapid Response Squad (RRS) policemen on virtually all the streets in the neighbourhood, with pockets of angry, grumbling youths around the Ezie lane junction.

    The huge police presence, residents said, should be sustained for at least a week to prevent a reoccurrence.

    According to a resident who refused to be named, the policemen who first responded to the distress call were stoned by the hoodlums who torched the OPC office and a nearby kiosk, before reinforcement was sent from the police command and RRS.

    Another witness, Patricia Udofia told The Nation that it was not the first time hoodlums and vigilantes would clash in the neighbourhood.

    She said they usually attacked themselves, adding that the hoodlums always harass people for people.

    “It is not the first time. They are always having issues. But it has been long they fought last. I do not really know what happened but we heard it is about money that the vigilantes refused to share.

    “We heard money was given to Ezekiel but he did not give the other group their share. The two groups were attacking themselves with guns and other weapons.

    “Some people said Ezekiel’s group killed one person belonging to the opposing camo, while others said the person killed was just an innocent boy,” she said.

    At the deceased’s house, The Nation gathered that he was a labourer at Wharf and that he was buried on Monday morning in accordance to Islamic rites.

    Confirming the incident, the state command’s spokesperson, Dolapo Badmos, a Superintendent of Police (SP) said two suspects were arrested.

    She said: “Yes, there was a fight between area boys and Vigilante group members at Arumo Street in Ajegunle over ‘Omo onile’ money. The Commander of the Vigilante group allegedly collected the money and refused to share with the area boys.

    “As a result, the hoodlums attacked the vigilantes and set their office, as well as a nearby kiosk ablaze. In the process, the vigilantes shot and killed one person.

    “The police went to the scene and restored calm. Two persons were arrested, while two live and four expended cartridges were recovered. The case is under investigation.”

  • Gani Adams must go, Ondo, Kwara OPC state coordinators insist

    Gani Adams must go, Ondo, Kwara OPC state coordinators insist

    Ondo and Kwara states Coordinators of the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC) yesterday insisted that the National Coordinator, Otunba Gani Adams, must resign.

    Some state coordinators in February passed a no confidence vote on their estranged leader, accusing him of alleged high-handedness and financial malfeasant.

    Consequently, the aggrieved members petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to probe about 17 years leadership of their former boss.

    Rotimi Akinsowon (Ondo) and Marauf Salami (Kwara) spoke in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, at a meeting with members of the group.

    Salami said: “Gani Adams must resign as OPC National Coordinator. There is no alternative because he has caused a a lot of irreparable havoc to OPC and if we fail to push him out of the system today, history will not forgive us tomorrow.

    “He used the OPC to catapult himself from obscurity to popularity. Gani Adams uses the cerebration of Olokun, Oya and other festivals to promote himself.

    “He headed OPC for 17 years but the group cannot boast of anything as he has cornered all. OPC has no account. He is the alpha and omega. He is the pencil and eraser for good 17 years. Enough is enough.

    “We don’t the group to be factionalised. It has happened once and we don’t want a repeat. That is why we are appealing to our members not to engage in any confrontation with those who still believe in him. We don’t to pick anybody now to lead the organisation until Gani Adams steps down from office.”

    Akinsowon added: “Our petition to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on the huge sum of money he received from the late Libyan President Muammar Gaddafi and ex-President Goodluck Jonathan on behalf of the OPC is still being investigated.

    “I am confident that in no distance time EFCC will invite Gani Adams for interrogation. We are insisting on his probe because he collected the money in the name of OPC.

  • Adams denies receiving $22m from Ghadaffi

    Adams denies receiving $22m from Ghadaffi

    Oodua People’s Congress (OPC) National Coordinator Gani Adams has described calls for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to probe him as misguided.

    Some OPC state coordinators, at a briefing in Kwara State by Salami Olarewaju, urged EFCC to probe how over N1billion alleged got to Adam’s account.

    Adams, in a statement, said those who addressed the press conference were former OPC coordinators for Kwara, Ondo and Oyo states.

    He said the allegation that he collected N9billion from former President Goodluck Jonathan, and $22million from the late Libyan president, Mummar Ghadaffi, were unfounded.

    Adams said he has never set foot on Libya, nor has he ever met the late Ghadaffi or any of his agents at any time.

    He said when the issue first came up, he petitioned the Department of State Services (DSS), informing them of the allegation and pleading with the Service to help investigate the source of the allegation in order to get to the root of the matter.

    “I want to once again plead with the DSS to, as a matter of urgency, make sure that these people who have accused me of this grave crime are made to prove the source of their allegation, and if they are not able to do so, should be made to face prosecution for their actions.

    “They should explain what the money is meant for and how it was sent to me. Such huge amount of money cannot be transferred to an individual secretly, so they need to do more explanation on how I allegedly received this money.

    “I am not a war mercenary, and I am not sure that Ghadaffi was a Father Christmas who would want to give out such money as a gift.

    “Our organisation is a peaceful socio-cultural group, with the sole aim of promoting the cultural heritage of Yoruba race,” Adams said.

    On N9 billion allegedly received from Jonathan, Adams said the claim is laughable because not even Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) gubernatorial candidates got such amount to prosecute their campaigns.

    He said the allegation was first made ahead of the general elections when it was alleged that his group got N9 billion for a pipelines surveillance contract.

    The OPC leader said neither he nor OPC received a kobo from the government as payment for the contract.

    Adams also dismissed allegations that he received N1.6billion from a former minister of state for defence Musiliu Obanikoro.

    “To the best of my knowledge, the last time that I saw the former minister was when he accompanied the former President to the National Confab. They need to explain to the world how I got the money and for what purpose it was meant for.

    “Let me put the records straight here. I am neither a politician nor a PDP member. I have said it several times in the past that our support for the former president was based on our belief that he stood a better chance of implementing the recommendations of the National Confab, which we believed, and still believe will serve the interest of the Yoruba race better.

    “I tell you, anything outside this is a lie and mere fabrication of those alleging it,” Adams said.

    ‎On claims that he shows disrespect to Yoruba royal fathers, Adams said: “This particular allegation is not only puerile, but also shows the level of mischief of these people.

    “Without any fear of contradiction, I stand to say I am one of the best Yoruba sons who have cultivated, promoted and maintained a very good relationship with all obas in Yorubaland.

    “It is on record that, through the singular efforts of our organisation, and to a large extent, my personal commitment to the ideals of ensuring the unity of Yorubaland and ensuring the peaceful coexistence of Yoruba people all over the world, I have worked tirelessly crisscrossing the Southwest and promoting one cultural festival or the other.

    “They alleged that I only bowed to our revered father, His Imperial Majesty, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Babatunde Enitan Ogunwusi.

    “Definitely, nothing can be further from the truth.”

  • OPC coordinators push for Gani Adams’ probe

    Some state coordinators of the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC) have urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate the bank accounts of the group’s National Coordinator, Gani Adams and some of his personal aides.

    The coordinators advised the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration to monitor the banking sector, asking that “how can someone save over a N1billion within one month without the bank raising an alarm if there is no connivance”?

    Speaking with reporters yesterday in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, the state coordinator, Salami Olarewaju, urged the national coordinator to react to the allegation of $22 million he collected from the late Libyan President Muammar Gaddafi.

    Flanked by Oyo and Ondo state coordinators, national publicity secretary and other national leaders, Olarewaju said: “Gani Adams has lost direction, focus and abandoned the main objectives formation of OPC.

    “He is a product of crises; he has turned OPC to his  personal property; he runs the affairs of OPC as his family company and he should know that Kwara State is not an extension of Lagos or any other state.”

    Said he: “He promised our members that if Jonathan released money, each member will get between N200,000 and N250,000 as empowerment.

    “Jonathan released N1.6 billion for that empowerment and there was nothing to show for it. He should explain how Jonathan’s money was spent.

    “Before the election, there was a publication by Alhaji Lai Mohammed that Gani Adams had collected N9 billion from Jonathan to disorganise the Yoruba race.

    “We denied that but later we realised that he collected the money.

    “At the first meeting after the election, he told us that he spent N800million on OPU outside the country. Where did he get the money? He also bought some property.

    “After the election, he went to London to establish Oodua Voice Radio, which cost him thousands of pounds, where did he get the money from if he did not collect N9 billion from Jonathan.”

    Olarenwaju listed Adams’other offences as greediness, self-centredness and unaccountablity. Others are lack of respect for elders and leaders in politics and outside politics and lack of freedom for state and local government coordinators.

    “He should explain how Jonathan’s money was spent. He should show the whole world the registration certificate of Olokun Festival Foundation, Oodua Economic Empowerment Initiative and Oodua Voice Radio,

    “Just of recent, you are all living witnesses when a former President Olusegun Obasanjo went to Ooni of Ife, he prostrated before the Ooni. But when Gani Adams went, he just bowed his head and had a handshake with the Ooni. That is disrespectful.

    “He is a disgrace to Yoruba culture. When you are promoting culture and you cannot bow in front of one of the most highly respected Oba in Yoruba land that is totally unacceptable,” he added.

  • OPC expels members for indiscpline

    OPC expels members for indiscpline

    The Oodua People’s Congress (OPC) has expelled some members of the group for alleged anti-group activities.

    Making the announcement yesterday in Lagos, the National Coordinating Council (NCC) of the group, said the expelled members were found guilty of actions that portrayed the group in bad light and as an anti-people group.

    “All the affected members were found guilty of gross indiscipline. Their actions portrayed us a group of lawless people and a group that does not work for the progress of the people.”

    According to the Director of Media and Publicity, Yinka Oguntimehin, “the OPC  frowns seriously at the expelled members who were involved in gross anti-congress activities and acts that may bring the congress to public ridicule. OPC, over the years have come out of various negative perceptions, and the congress have through its activities, which include cultural promotions and humanitarian services, complementing the efforts of security agencies, especially in South West, the formation of OPU, which spread across 63 countries over the world, carved a niche for itself as a responsible organisation,

     To allow such ill-mannered people to be in leadership positions and representing the organisation is dangerous for the well-being of both the OPC and the people.”

  • ‘OPC’ll support Ooni’

    ‘OPC’ll support Ooni’

    Founder and President of the Oodua People’s Congress (OPC) Dr. Frederick Fasehun has sent a congratulatory message to the Giesi Ruling House and the people of Ile-Ife on theappointment of Prince Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi as the Ooni.

    Fasehun, who holds the Ataalase Oodua title in Ile-Ife, promised that OPC would support the Ooni, assuring of his and the organisation’s support.

    In a statement in Lagos, Fasehun said the rancour-free selection of the monarch, from the many eligible aspirants, showed that the Yoruba were a great people who cherished their cultural heritage.

    “Ten successor kings would usher in 10 different eras, but Ooni Ogunwusi must bring himself to build on the solid foundation of peace, dignity and development that his predecessors laid for Oodua sons and daughters.

    “Ooni Ogunwusi is taking the throne at a challenging period in Nigeria’s socio-economic life and he must lend his voice and his experience as a humane philanthropist and a successful entrepreneur to push for the development of Nigeria and the welfare of our people,” Fasehun said.

  • OPC joins search

    Oodua People’s Congress (OPC) founder Dr. Frederick Fasehun has directed its members to join the search for the former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Chief Olu Falae.

    Fasehun, who described the elder statesman’s abduction as an insult, assault on the Yoruba, warned his kidnappers to release him without delay or face reprisals.

    According to him, Falae’s kidnap was politically motivated.  He warned that the OPC will protect its own.

    “We believe this is a political issue. Any politician in Nigeria must make sure that Chief Falae is released immediately. Otherwise, OPC will take any step available to defend its own.”

    An emergency meeting of all OPC leaders has been fixed for Sunday.

    The OPC founder said OPC members would search the nooks and crannies of the state and beyond to ensure that Falae is released unhurt.

    Fasehun also took a swipe at the Federal Government for “not reacting to Falae’s kidnap 24 hours after the incident”.

    He challenged security agencies to produce the former SGF within 48 hours, describing his kidnappers as “enemies of Nigeria’s unity”.

    “OPC is not interested in crisis because it was founded primarily for the protection of its own and for building bridges in Nigeria.

    “Falae is by any standard a Yoruba leader, a Nigerian leader and a significant leader in Africa.

    “He is a leader of Afenifere. He was a leader of NADECO. And any assault on him is an assault on Nigeria and Nigerians.”

     

  • ‘Include OPC in Southwest’s security plans’

    The  Odua Peoples Congress (OPC) has asked Southwest governors to make it part of the region’s security plans.

    It said it was well-placed to complement security agencies’ efforts in tackling insecurity. In a statement by its President, Comrade Dare Adesope, the group said its antecedents in providing security were well-known, yet it was excluded from strategic security meetings in the Southwest.

    OPC said: “We should be empowered to continue our support of the law enforcement agents. The task of reducing crimes should not be left for the police alone. A combination of police and our organisation will make it easier because we have the antidote to crime.

    “I want our governors to know that they have the final say in their states and they will be praised for a brilliant performance or blamed for failure, not the Federal Government.”

    The body, which said it had re-branded to OPC Reformed (OPC-R), urged kingmakers to ensure they picked the successors of the Ooni of Ife in Osun State and Elegbeda in Lagos State in a fair manner.

    “The kingmakers should be honest in their Ifa consultation to ensure the best candidates are picked. They should not let money be their priority so that they will not pick someone who will bastardise our culture,” the statement said.

    The group urged President Muhammadu Buhari to be fair in his appointments and to ensure that no geopolitical zone is neglected.

    On Southwest’s development, OPC-R said since Chief Obafemi Awolowo died, the region’s progress had been stalled.

    It advocated the return of free education in the Southwest, saying: “If truly knowledge is power, then please give us free education and you will forever be our heroes.”