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Comedian and podcaster Teju Oyelakin, popularly known as Tejubabyface, has reaffirmed his controversial stance on infidelity and confession in marriage, arguing that confessing to cheating could destabilize not only a relationship but an entire family.

Speaking on his podcast, Tejubabyface dismissed the widely held belief that ‘the truth always comes out’ in cases of infidelity, calling it ‘TV logic.’

‘People always love to say that one – the truth always comes out eventually. No, it doesn’t. That’s TV logic. That’s Days of Our Lives logic. Superstory logic. In real life, most affairs never come to light. Do you know how many people have taken secret affairs to their graves?’ he said.

He further argued that even if such secrets eventually surface, it would be less damaging compared to an immediate confession.

‘And even if it does come out years later, at least you had those years. The kids grow up in a stable environment, and your wife has peace. If she discovers it 10 or 15 years down the line, she can decide what to do then. But confessing immediately only destroys everything,’ he explained.

Tejubabyface added that confession often serves to ease the guilt of the unfaithful partner rather than protect the marriage, leaving the innocent spouse to bear the emotional burden and the aftermath of betrayal.

Aviation business magnate Chukwuerika Achum, the founder of Falcon Aero, is determined to elevate his aviation enterprise beyond conventional limits. Established in 2022, Falcon Aero is the parent company of several subsidiaries, including VivaJets, FlyPJX, and CharterXE. The company has successfully obtained a Nigerian Air Operator Certificate, enabling it to provide a comprehensive range of services, including aircraft chartering, management, and acquisition. These services are tailored specifically for executives, businesses, and high-net-worth individuals seeking efficient and luxurious air travel.

VivaJets, one of Falcon Aero’s core subsidiaries, has already logged over 2,000 flight hours since its inception, showcasing its operational viability and commitment to quality. With ambitious plans to expand its fleet, the company is set to welcome two additional aircraft this year, further solidifying its position in the competitive aviation market.

In a strategic move to bolster growth, Chukwuerika Achum has secured a significant $10 million financing facility for VivaJets. This deal, orchestrated in collaboration with London-based TLG Capital and Wema Bank, marks one of the few internationally structured aviation financings for a Nigerian air operator. The funding announcement, released through The Condia website, is a vital step towards fulfilling VivaJets’ aspirations to retire existing debts, expand its aircraft fleet, and enhance its role as a key player in connecting regional hubs throughout Africa.

The financing arrangement is designed to provide VivaJets with the flexibility needed to enhance operational efficiency and elevate customer service while simultaneously reducing interest expenses. As stated by industry insiders, ‘In the aviation sector, access to long-term financing denominated in U.S. dollars is critical.

This facility enables the company to clear past financial obligations and focus on delivering a seamless, reliable travel experience for clients across the region.’

Chukwuerika Achum’s dedication to creating a pan-African aviation platform has positioned Falcon Aero as a premier private air travel provider within the region. With aspirations to extend its influence beyond Nigeria, the company has chosen Rwanda as a launch point for its upcoming regional operations in East Africa. In addition to bolstering its aviation services, Falcon Aero integrates business incubation and tech ventures through entities like The Adrenalina and Instig Labs. This multifaceted approach not only supports travel but also fosters entrepreneurial growth across the continent, creating a broad and dynamic platform for diverse business opportunities.

Leading Marketing Communications Group, Verdant Zeal Group Limited, is set to host the 13th edition of its flagship ‘Innovention Series’ with the theme: Fintech and Inclusion: Pushing the Boundaries for Economic Growth in Nigeria.

Scheduled for Tuesday, October 28, the virtual event is billed to foster thought-provoking conversations to help shape Africa’s socio-economic development.

Since its inception in 2012, the Innovention Series has served as a trusted thought-leadership platform for challenging conventional thinking, interrogating Africa’s development trajectory, and uncovering transformative ideas that drive progress.

This year’s edition, with the overarching theme: Fintech and the Digital Economy, will spotlight the role of Fintech and the digital economy in shaping Africa’s future – bridging the gap between invention and innovation, fostering financial inclusion, and positioning the continent as a strong player in the global digital ecosystem.

Erudite scholar and boardroom technocrat, Dr. Segun Aina, who also is the President of Africa Fintech Network, will lead the conversation for this year’s event as the keynote speaker. Renowned for his thought leadership in the digital finance sector, Dr. Aina will share insights on how Fintech can serve as a transformative tool for deepening inclusion and driving sustainable growth.

The event will also feature a Fireside Chat session with Dr. Ogho Okiti (CEO of ThinkBusiness Africa), and Mrs. Aderonke Shogbola (Senior Manager, Business Intelligence and Analytics at eTranzact). Both speakers will unpack key issues around policy frameworks, data-driven innovation, and scaling fintech solutions for impact.

The Executive Vice Chairman of Verdant Zeal Group and Convener of the Innovention Series, Dr. Tunji Olugbodi, noted that the 2025 edition comes at a defining moment in Africa’s digital transformation journey.

‘For over a decade, the Innovention Series has championed conversations that push boundaries and inspire action. As we explore fintech and the digital economy, our goal is to create a space for collaboration – where policymakers, innovators, and investors can chart a future that is inclusive, technology-driven, and distinctly African,’ he said.

The Verdant Zeal chief added: ‘Fintech is redefining the way Africans access and use financial services. By embracing innovation, collaboration, and smart regulation, we can build inclusive systems that empower individuals, drive entrepreneurship, and create jobs at scale.’

This year’s Innovention Series seeks to inspire shared understanding, promote optimism, and accelerate Africa’s journey toward a digitally empowered future.

It also underscores Verdant Zeal’s commitment to promoting narratives of African resilience, optimism, and opportunity through meaningful conversations that drive change.

The Nigerian Postal Service (NIPOST) on Thursday joined the rest of the world to mark the 2025 World Post Day with a colourful celebration in Enugu.

The service also reaffirmed its commitment to connecting communities and enhancing service delivery across Nigeria.

The event, which featured a march by postal workers from Frie Service to New Haven, Ogui Road and other parts of the Enugu metropolis, brought together postal officials, partners, and members of the public.

Speaking during the ceremony, the Enugu State Postal Manager, Dr. Chris Uzoma Ashiedu, said this year’s theme, ‘#PostForPeople: Local Service, Global Reach,’ underscores the post’s role in linking local communities to the global network of communication and commerce.

Ashiedu explained that World Post Day, celebrated annually on October 9, commemorates the founding of the Universal Postal Union (UPU), the United Nations agency that regulates postal operations worldwide.

He said the celebration serves as a reminder of the post’s contributions to social and economic development, while recognizing the dedication of postal workers who keep the network running efficiently.

Highlighting recent achievements under the Postmaster-General, Ms. Tola Odeyemi, Ashiedu noted that NIPOST had exceeded ?10 billion in revenue, digitalized operations to improve service delivery, and signed partnerships with organizations such as SMEDAN to reduce logistics costs and support small businesses.

He assured that NIPOST would cont?inue to innovate and expand its services – from mail and courier delivery to financial services and the National Addressing System – to better serve Nigerians.

‘NIPOST remains committed to bridging geographical divides and fostering global unity through efficient postal services,’ Ashiedu said.

The Lagos State Government reiterated its zero tolerance for illegal and unapproved developments within the Trade Fair Complex, Ojo, pending full compliance with planning regulations and the attainment of a safe, orderly, and sustainable physical environment.

Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development Dr. Oluyinka Olumide

Said over time, the Trade Fair Complex has degenerated into an enclave of haphazard and unsafe structures, posing grave risks to public safety and emergency response.

In line with Sustainable Development Goal 11 – ‘Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable’ – and the State’s T.H.E.M.E.S+ Agenda, the Lagos State Government is acting strictly within its constitutional and statutory mandate, as derived from the Nigerian Urban and Regional Planning Act 1992, as domesticated by the Lagos State Urban and Regional Planning and Development Law 2019, and reinforced by the Supreme Court Judgment of 2003 (Attorney-General of Lagos State v. Attorney-General of the Federation).

These legal instruments, Olumide said, empower states to regulate physical development within their territories, including federal lands, except for areas under exclusive federal use such as military formations.

He said: ‘For clarity, land ownership and title are not in contention at the Trade Fair Complex. The ongoing enforcement focuses solely on the approval status of physical developments, as every structure in Lagos State must obtain a valid planning permit from the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development in accordance with the law. The attention of the Lagos State Government has been drawn to attempts by certain political actors, particularly of South-East extraction, to misrepresent facts and discredit the ongoing enforcement at the complex. Such actions are populist, ill-motivated, and aimed at scoring cheap political points, rather than advancing the cause of public safety and sustainable development.

‘The administration of Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu remains firmly committed to promoting an orderly, inclusive, liveable, and sustainable physical environment. This commitment underpins urban renewal and redevelopment efforts across the state, which have necessitated the removal of illegal structures in several locations, including:

Pelewura and Bombata markets on Lagos Island, LSDPC Low-Cost Housing Estate, Ilasan in Eti-Osa, Otumara market in Ebute Metta and Oluwole Market, Lagos Island (predominantly occupied by Yoruba) and Alaba Rago, occupied by Hausa traders.

‘Furthermore, it is on record that several states in the East such as Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi and Imo have also embarked on demolition of identified illegal structures for the purposes of flood control mitigation efforts, urban renewal or master plan enforcements. All carried out by the respective governors without taints of ethnic coloration attached. Why should that of Lagos State be different?

‘It is, therefore, disingenuous and divisive for anyone to resort to ethnic sensationalism whenever enforcement actions involve structures owned or occupied by individuals of Igbo extraction.’

Olumide said Lagos State Government will not be drawn into political grandstanding and urged those fanning ethnic sentiments to desist and instead focus on addressing the pressing socio-economic issues within their constituencies.

‘The actions of the Lagos State government are always guided by the Law. All developers and occupants of structures within the Trade Fair Complex are hereby given a two-week ultimatum to approach the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development to regularise the approval status of their buildings in line with extant regulations,’ he said.

Nigerian Bottling Company, a consumer packaged goods company and member of Coca-Cola Hellenic Beverage Company, has reaffirmed its leadership in driving circularity and environmental sustainability by sponsoring a session at 31st Nigerian Economic Summit in Abuja.

The session: ‘Driving Industrialisation Through Circular PET Packaging: Unlocking Nigeria’s Green Economy,’ brought together senior government officials, regulators, and industry leaders to explore how circularity can accelerate industrial growth, create jobs, and power Nigeria’s transition to a green economy.

Senator John Enoh, minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, lauded the Coca-Cola System for its sustained leadership in recycling and packaging recovery. He described the company’s efforts as a model for how private sector innovation can complement government action in advancing sustainability.

‘In January, I was in Lagos at NBC’s packaging waste collection hub in Apapa,’ he said. ‘That initiative, with efforts like the National Automotive Design and Development Council’s End-of-Life Vehicle Regulation, speaks to the commitment to redefine our landscape, where manufacturing and sustainability intersect, and where industry is not just about output, but also about impact.’

He highlighted the government’s work to create enabling frameworks that support recycling and green manufacturing sectors. ‘The 20th-century model of produce, consume, and discard has run its course,’ he said. ‘The circular economy offers a new path; one where what used to be waste is transformed into opportunity, and developmental challenges are engines for new industries.’

Following the keynote address, the session featured a fireside chat with the Minister and a panel discussion with thought leaders and policymakers, including, Hon. Shehu Wada Sagagi, Commissioner, Ministry for Commerce and Investment, Kano State; Engr. (Dr.) Bahijjahtu Abubakar, FNSE, Director, Department of Pollution Control and Environmental Health, Federal Ministry of Environment; Prince Adeyemi Adeniran, CEO, National Bureau of Statistics (represented by Ms. Christie Umuna, Head, Energy and Environment Statistics Division); Mr. Basheer Abdulkadri, Director, Technical Services, Federal Ministry of Finance, and Chairman, Tariff Review Board (represented by Musa Umar, Deputy Director, Technical Services, Federal Ministry of Finance).

Through its nationwide collection hubs, strategic recycling partnerships, and community engagement programmes, the Coca-Cola System in Nigeria continues to advance its global commitment to collect and recycle the equivalent of every bottle or can it sells.

By fostering collaboration between government, industry, and civil society, the Coca-Cola System is helping to shape a sustainable circular economy that supports livelihoods, protects the environment, and drives inclusive industrial growth across Nigeria.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR has made numerous appointments as the President of Nigeria, but one choice stands out as particularly astute: the selection of Hon. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo as Minister for Interior. For President Tinubu, Olubunmi represents a vital asset, bringing youthful energy and intellect to the complex task of managing Nigeria’s affairs since his appointment in 2023. Despite being one of the youngest members of the cabinet, he has demonstrated that effective leadership and capability are not solely determined by age. If there is a strong commitment to deliver results, even the youngest leaders can achieve significant impacts.

Since taking on his role, Olubunmi has made remarkable strides in transforming the Ministry of Interior, effectively rewriting the narrative surrounding its operations. His efforts have positioned him as a pivotal figure in the administration, closely aligned with the Renewed Hope mandate aimed at revitalizing Nigeria. Under his stewardship, the nation has seen substantial improvements in immigration processes. Several innovative ideas have been implemented, streamlining what was once a cumbersome and often frustrating system.

For instance, the introduction of E-gates at Nigeria’s airports has facilitated the swift collection of passports, while a contactless application process greatly enhances user experience. Additionally, the simplification of visa categories for investors and tourists has significantly bolstered Nigeria’s appeal as a destination, fostering a more inviting environment for economic growth and tourism. These initiatives represent a remarkable turnaround in Nigeria’s immigration landscape, reflecting positively on Olubunmi’s leadership.

Skeptics who initially doubted his capabilities are now left acknowledging his impactful reforms, which have garnered international recognition for Nigeria. To further ease the passport application process, Olubunmi has successfully partnered with a private investor to establish a state-of-the-art passport printing facility within Nigeria. This innovation is anticipated to produce over 500,000 passports daily, effectively eliminating the previous reliance on foreign production and reducing wait times for citizens.

Moreover, Olubunmi has prioritized national security by collaborating with data agencies to bolster safety measures in alignment with global standards. By implementing new protocols for documenting individuals entering and exiting the country, he is actively countering terrorism and enhancing the overall security framework. These improvements have not only elevated the perception of Nigeria on the global stage but also reinforced the value and integrity of the Nigerian passport.

As he continues to receive accolades for dismantling bureaucratic barriers within the Ministry of Interior, Olubunmi has also faced resistance from individuals reluctant to embrace change. However, he has resolutely communicated that those attempting to undermine his initiatives will be held accountable and removed from their positions. Sources indicate that the Akoko-born former lawmaker remains undeterred in his mission, focused on achieving a transformative turnaround for Nigeria, ensuring that the nation adopts a more cosmopolitan perspective on the global landscape.

During the public presentation of the book ‘Ten Years of Impactful Progressive Governance in Nigeria,’ authored by the Chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum and Executive Governor of Imo State, His Excellency Governor Hope Uzodinma, I reflected on Nigeria’s decade-long journey under successive progressive administrations as Chief Presenter. Though time did not allow me to deliver my written remarks in full, the message remains vital to our national conversation on leadership, governance, and reform.

There are moments for politics and moments for governance. Once elections are over, governance must take precedence. Our duty as citizens is to move beyond division and measure progress not by sentiment but by delivery, performance, and impact.

Over the past ten years, Nigeria’s story has been one of courage and continuity, of institutions learning discipline, and of leaders willing to face hard truths about our economy. President Muhammadu Buhari laid the foundation of fiscal prudence, agricultural revival, and infrastructure renewal. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has advanced that legacy through decisive structural reforms such as removing the fuel subsidy, unifying exchange rates, modernising tax policy, and restoring credibility to public finance. These choices were not easy, but they were necessary. They broke habits that had become too costly to sustain and redirected public wealth toward productivity.

Since May 2023, government non-oil revenue has grown by more than 400 percent. This is not coincidence. It is the outcome of intentional policy and technological transparency. The Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reform Committee has simplified compliance, eliminated duplication, and placed technology at the centre of revenue collection. Revenue agencies that once competed now cooperate. Multiple taxation is being dismantled. Incentives for businesses are transparent and available online without intermediaries or privileged access. Every entrepreneur, large or small, can now apply for fiscal waivers or export credits within minutes. Fairness by design and technology is replacing favour by connection.

Energy stability has returned as proof that reform, though painful, delivers results. The queues that once defined our petrol stations are gone. Deregulation has reopened the downstream market and restored investor confidence in oil and gas, bringing new capital into deep-water, midstream, and modular-refinery projects. Parallel reforms in the Presidential CNG Initiative are changing urban mobility by replacing petrol fleets with cleaner and cheaper gas vehicles. At the same time, a nationwide solar-power rollout is providing electricity to schools, clinics, and small industries. Together, these initiatives reflect a balanced energy future built on efficiency, competition, and sustainability.

Security remains the foundation of every reform. In 2024, N3.85 trillion, about 13 percent of the national budget, was allocated to defence and internal security. For 2025, that figure rose to N6.57 trillion, with significant investment in equipment, intelligence, and personnel welfare. The Nigerian Air Force is modernising with 24 M-346 attack jets and 10 AW-109 helicopters. The Navy has commissioned new patrol ships and maritime helicopters to strengthen coastal and energy-asset protection. Across all theatres, joint operations by the Nigerian Armed Forces and intelligence agencies have neutralised tens of thousands of terrorists, insurgents and criminal elements, arrested many more, and rescued well over one hundred thousand hostages and displaced persons. The tempo has changed. Our armed forces now take the initiative rather than wait for it.

Infrastructure remains the bridge between ambition and opportunity. Across the country, more than 260 major projects in roads, bridges, ports, and pipelines are under construction or near completion. The Lagos to Calabar Coastal Highway and the Sokoto to Badagry Super Highway are redefining commerce and mobility. The national Bridge Fibre Project is expanding digital connectivity across cities and rural areas, strengthening the country’s broadband backbone and opening new corridors for education, innovation, and enterprise.

Digital governance reform is also deepening national capacity. The ongoing overhaul of the National Identity Management Commission has expanded NIN registration to tens of millions of citizens, creating a reliable digital backbone for planning, financial inclusion, and social protection. For the first time, national data is being harmonised across agencies, improving service delivery, strengthening security coordination, and helping the country plan development with precision.

Work along the River Niger corridor from Lokoja to Baro Port is progressing to enable future inland-waterway operations that can reduce transport costs and improve market access across regions. These projects reflect a deliberate effort to balance regional growth, from the Niger Delta cleanup and gas expansion in the South to new exploration in the North and industrial corridors across the Middle Belt.

Reform without human investment is reform without soul. The $2.2 billion Health Sector Renewal Programme is upgrading 17,000 primary health centres and training 120,000 health workers, while free caesarean care and subsidised dialysis are easing the burden on families. In education, student-loan schemes, digital-skills initiatives, and new STEM and AI curricula are preparing our young people for a digital economy. Through the Student Loan Fund, access to higher education is becoming a right, not a privilege. Its synergy with new financing institutions such as CREDICORP and the Nigeria Credit Guarantee Company ensures that young Nigerians can pursue knowledge with the same confidence that entrepreneurs pursue capital. Free technical and vocational training at the tertiary level will supply the technicians and artisans required for industrial growth.

Agriculture and food security have become the centre of national resilience. Beyond grains, the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development is unlocking a trillion-naira value chain in meat, dairy, and leather. Expanded fertiliser blending, mechanisation, irrigation, and storage are supporting millions of smallholders. With increased investment in rice, cassava, and cash-crop processing, Nigeria is moving toward genuine food sovereignty. Food security is not an aspiration but a necessity for economic stability.

The government’s economic renewal is also anchored on access to finance, enterprise, and inclusion. The establishment of CREDICORP, the Nigeria Credit Guarantee Company, and the Student Loan Fund has strengthened the foundation for a credit-based economy as well as human capital and domestic productivity. Together, these institutions expand access to credit for small businesses, farmers, civil servants, individuals, and students while derisking lending and empowering citizens to build their future without political connections. In promoting local production over import dependence, the Nigeria First Policy is not only conserving foreign exchange but also creating pathways for skilled youth employment and industrial apprenticeship across states.

I say this not out of any search for appointment or reward, but from a place of patriotism and perspective. From where I stand, and for every Nigerian, the true beauty of the Nigeria First Policy is that it invites us all to become participants in our country’s renewal. We can each now go into productive enterprise and live the Nigerian dream, so long as we care enough to believe in this nation and invest in our people, resources, and future.

In the midst of reform, President Tinubu’s words have been both compass and caution: ‘As we continue to reform the economy, I shall always listen to the people and will never turn my back on you.’ That statement captures the essence of progressive governance which I define as courage guided by compassion. Under this directive, Nigeria’s social-protection system has been rebuilt on transparency and technology. The Conditional Cash Transfer programme now reaches more than 15 million households on a verified digital register, each linked to a NIN-validated wallet or bank account for direct payment. No intermediaries and no leakages. In addition, N344 billion has been disbursed in three tranches to the 36 states and the FCT to support local welfare and enterprise programmes. The Renewed Hope Ward Development Programme, which will operate across 8,809 wards, will economically engage over 10 million Nigerians and ensure that national policy translates into local opportunity.

The humanitarian principle of progressivism is simple. Reform must lift, not leave behind. Fiscal discipline restores credibility. Social investment restores trust. When citizens see roads being built, hospitals working, and social payments arriving on time, faith in reform deepens and the social contract is strengthened. Special attention is also being given to women, rural communities, and persons with disabilities through targeted enterprise and skills-support initiatives under the Renewed Hope framework.

The numbers also tell their own story of impact and renewed hope in Nigeria. Non-oil revenues continue to rise. Exports are diversifying. Nigeria has recorded its first trade and balance-of-payments surplus in years, a sign of growing production and renewed confidence in the naira. Oil output is improving, new investments are flowing into the upstream and midstream segments, and our current account is gaining strength as reforms take hold. President Bola Tinubu and his government recognise that inflation and living costs remain a strain on households, but the fiscal discipline now taking root is designed to restore purchasing power in a sustainable way. President Tinubu has also acknowledged that meaningful reform takes time. While citizens are beginning to see the first trickles of progress, the greater task is to ensure that these trickles flow downward to communities, markets, classrooms, and farms where growth becomes tangible and human.

The task ahead is to sustain this momentum but it won’t be easy. Every child must be in school. NIWA must be further strengthened to expand partnerships for safer and cleaner waterways. NDLEA must receive greater support to combat the rising threat of drug trafficking and addiction, and NAFDAC must be empowered with stronger laboratories and technology to protect the public from counterfeit medicines and unsafe food. These are not peripheral agencies. They are frontline guardians of national wellbeing, and their effectiveness determines the credibility of our progress.

Communities themselves must also understand that with all the support given to our security agencies and the military, their partnership is vital. Cooperation between citizens, traditional institutions, and security operatives will solidify these gains, strengthen intelligence at the grassroots, and prevent a return to disorder. National security is not the burden of the state alone. It is the shared duty of all Nigerians determined to protect their future.

The state governors of Nigeria, under this Renewed Hope and progressive compact, also have a historic role to play. We have faith that with President Tinubu’s commitment, they can write their names in gold, but that gold must first be mined in proper service of the people.

The progress of any nation is not measured only by its wealth, but by the collective will of its people to do right, even when it is hard. That is the essence of progressive governance and the covenant that must bind us for the next decade.

I imagine a Nigeria where every child learns, every farmer prospers, every hospital has power, and every young person earns a dignified living. That is the spirit of renewal behind this progressive decade. It is the belief that courage and compassion are not opposites but partners in building a fair and prosperous country. Tomorrow’s Nigeria is not waiting to be discovered. It is waiting to be delivered with courage, competence, and care. I am Rabiu Isyaku Rabiu and I endorse the publication of this message.

God bless our President.

God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Prominent individuals and stakeholders from across 22 local government areas of Oyo State, under the aegis of G22 Renewed, have condemned what they described as the political dominance of Ibadan in occupying the governorship seat to the detriment of other regions.

The group, which called for a rotational governorship arrangement, comprises representatives from four of the five political zones in the state – including the ten LGAs in Oke-Ogun, five in Ogbomoso, four in Oyo, and three in Ibarapa.

They lamented that despite Ibadan being only one of the five zones, it has produced governors for a cumulative period of 26 years.

Speaking at a press conference held at the House of Chiefs, Parliament Building, Oyo State House of Assembly Complex, Agodi Secretariat, Ibadan, the group said the event was organized to draw public attention to what they termed an ‘intolerable imbalance and insensitivity’ in the state’s political structure.

Addressing the gathering on behalf of the group, Chief Ademola Ayoade stated that G22 Renewed is made up of respected and responsible individuals who have consistently championed the unity and progress of Oyo State.

He added that for peace to reign, governance in the state must be guided by the principles of fairness, equity, and justice.

He said, ‘The purpose of this Press conference is to draw attention of the general public to the historic and intolerable imbalance and insensitivity being perpetrated in Oyo State as far as the office of Governor of Oyo State is concerned.

‘Going by the Federal Character Principle as enshrined in Section 14(3) of the 1999 Conatituion (as amended), Oyo state is divided into five administrative zones viz: Ibadan (11 LGAs), Oke-Ogun (10LGAs), Ogbomoso (5 LGAs), Oyo (4 LGAs) and Ibarapa (3LGAs).

‘Historically, we like to invite attention to the hegemonic trend of governance of Oyo State since the advent of civil/democratic rule using 1979 as starting point:

‘Dr Victor Olunloyo (3 months/Ibadan), Chief Kolapo Ishola (1year 11month/Ibadan), Alhaji Lamidi Adeshina (4years/Ibadan), Senator Rashidi Ladoja (4years/Ibadan), Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala (4years/Ogbomoso), Senator Abiola Ajimobi (8years/Ibadan) and Seyi Makinde (8yrs/Ibadan).

‘As could be seen, the governrishp of Oyo State has been dominated by Ibadan Zone to the exclusion of the remaining four zones. Ibadan Zone, apart from being the state capital with 11 LGAs is just one-third of the entire state in voting strength.

‘Excpet for accidental emergence of Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala between May 2007 – May 2011, none of the remaining four zones comprising 22 LGAs has ever produced a governor in the state. The cumulative period of Ibadan dominance of the governorship of Oyo State is about 26years whereas it is one of the remaining zones (Ogbomoso) that ruled for only four years.’

He said further, ‘We also wish to forward attention to the pattern of governorship candidates and elections in other Southwest states contrary to the winner takes all situation in Oyo State, no particular Zone has been dominating the political landscape of their respective states.

‘For instance, since the creation of Ondo, Osun and Ekiti states, apart from rotating the governorship slot, no indigenes of the state capitals of Alure, Osogbo and Ado- Ekiti has been elected as governor of these three states. The citizens of the state capitals have always ensured that the governor comes from outside the state capital.

‘It is also pertinent to state that even at the federal level, if the North had weaponised its famed voting population, no Southerner would have emerged as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. This is where the seeming uncompromising posture of Ibadan co-patriots becomes an issue. All told, the voting pattern in Oyo State has consistently shown that only 30percent of the voting population in Ibadan are Ibadan indigenes. The implication of this is that the remaining 70 percent belong to the other zones of the state as well as non-indigenes of Oyo State.

‘In the light of the foregoing, we on behalf of the 22 local governments outside Ibadan in the state are, by this Press conference making a clarion call on all stakeholders to effect the following changes in the political landscape of our dear state:

‘That our Ibadan co-compatriots should, in the interest of justice, peaceful co-existence, equity and fairness allow the 22 LGAs to nominate candidates for the governorship position in Oyo State for the forthcoming 2027 general elections.

‘That all political parties in the state should support this peaceful and legitimate demand of the remaining four zones in the state by ensuring that their respective parties nominate governorship candidates from any of the 22 LGAs for the 2017 general elections.

‘I’m thanking all and sundry for giving thoughts to this our humble consideration, we are confident yahy as true Democrats and dogged fighters for justice, equity and fairness, tou will join hands with us in our collective quests for changing the narratives in the political landscape of Oyo State.’

Former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has called for a fundamental restructuring of Nigeria’s legal and judicial philosophy, especially the tendency of courts prioritising technicalities over substantive justice.

Osinbajo, a professor of law, spoke yesterday in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, at the second Prof. Yusuf Ali’s Annual Lecture organised by the Kwara State University (KWASU), Malete.

The former Vice President said the essence of any justice system is to serve the people, not to glorify procedural formalities.

He expressed concern that many judicial decisions, including those of the Supreme Court, often leaned towards form rather than substance.

‘Even English courts, whose practices we inherited, have evolved beyond such rigid technicalities by allowing amendments at any stage to ensure justice is done,’ he said.

Osinbajo posited that Nigeria’s continued attachment to outdated technicalities undermined justice and eroded public trust in the judiciary.

‘In view of this, I urge legal practitioners, academics, and policymakers to adopt critical, decolonised thinking to reform legal education, legal practice, and the administration of justice,’ he said..

‘Though the Supreme Court has occasionally adopted a more flexible approach, particularly in electoral matters, inconsistency remains a major concern.

‘It is important to note that a justice system that glorifies form over substance risks losing its relevance and effectiveness,’ he said.

The guest lecturer, Prof. Chidi Odinkalu (SAN), urged Nigerian lawyers and law students to confront and dismantle the lingering colonial legacies embedded in the nation’s legal system.

Odinkalu, who spoke on the topic: Towards Decolonising Legal Briefs: Effective Implementation of the Local Content Law for the Benefit of Nigerian Lawyers, noted that Nigeria’s justice system is still hooked to the rest of the world.

He said it was high time Nigeria transitioned from political independence to ideation independence by promoting local content.

The professor of Practice and International Human Rights Law said that though Nigeria is independent politically, we lack occupational independence.

Odinkalu stressed that the country’s legal framework still bore the imprint of the colonial intrusion and needed to be changed.

The guest lecturer emphasised the need to build an independent and credible judiciary as a core part of the decolonisation process.

KWASU’s Vice Chancellor, Prof. Jimoh Shaykh-Luqman, expressed gratitude to God and stakeholders for the progress recorded in the institution’s Faculty of Law.

He announced that several infrastructural projects, including a departmental building, 500-seat auditorium, and two 250-seat lecture theatres, would be completed and delivered to end users by December.

Also, Prof. Ali said all nations must have a rallying point, which Nigeria currently lacks.

The eminent lawyer said the only time Nigerians truly become united is during international football matches, a fleeting moment of togetherness that quickly faded afterward.

He urged citizens to confront the reality of systemic failures instead of romanticising the past, noting that the country still exhibited all the parameters of failure.