Category: Nigerian Tribune

Operatives of the Zone 2 Police Command, Onikan, Lagos, have arrested three suspected cultists in the Ikorodu area of the state and recovered a locally fabricated, cut-to-size double-barrel pistol from them.

The command also said it had commenced efforts to apprehend other members of the alleged criminal network.

The Police Public Relations Officer of the command, DSP Afolayan Gbenga, confirmed the arrests in a statement issued over the weekend.

According to him, the operation was part of the command’s sustained efforts to curb cultism, violent crimes and other criminal activities across Lagos and Ogun.

He said the operation followed credible intelligence from a member of the public concerning the activities of suspected cultists allegedly terrorising residents of Ikorodu and its environs.

Afolayan said detectives attached to the Zonal Quick Intervention Squad commenced surveillance on the suspects before launching a coordinated operation on September 3, 2026.

He said the operation led to the arrest of one of the suspects, Michael Badejo, at Ifo, Ogun State, adding that his arrest subsequently facilitated the apprehension of two other suspects in Ikorodu, Lagos State.

The suspects were identified as Michael Badejo, aka Senior, 33; Fatai Oladipupo, aka Labalaba, 36; and Kamarudeen Salau, aka Otunba, 46.

One locally fabricated, double-barrel cut-to-size pistol was recovered during the operation.

According to the police spokesperson, preliminary investigations revealed that Badejo, who is based in Ogun State, allegedly served as a link between Oladipupo and Salau, who works as a security man in Ikorodu.

Investigators further established that Oladipupo, who was in possession of the firearm, contacted Badejo to arrange for its repair. Badejo subsequently introduced him to Salau for the purported repair.

Afolayan said Salau allegedly offered to buy the firearm from Oladipupo instead of repairing it.

During interrogation, Oladipupo, aka Labalaba, reportedly claimed that the pistol had been given to him by a friend who is currently at large.

He also reportedly confessed to being a member of the Eiye confraternity, alongside the other two suspects.

The police spokesperson said efforts were ongoing to arrest other members of the alleged criminal network, adding that the suspects in custody would be prosecuted after the conclusion of investigations.

The Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Zone 2 Headquarters, AIG Olohundare Moshood Jimoh, commended the operatives for their diligence and the successful recovery of the firearm.

Jimoh stressed that removing illegal firearms from the hands of criminal elements remained critical to maintaining public safety.

He charged the operatives to sustain the momentum and intensify efforts to track down other members of the criminal network.

The AIG also reaffirmed the command’s commitment to protecting lives and property and ensuring that criminal elements have no safe haven in Lagos and Ogun states.

He urged members of the public to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious persons or activities to the nearest police station or through official complaint channels.

Families of some police officers residing along Kontagora Road in Sokoto metropolis on Sunday protested the demolition of parts of their houses by a bulldozer allegedly escorted by security personnel.

The demolition reportedly took place at about 6 a.m., with the affected residents saying they were caught unaware while still asleep.

When our correspondent National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has disclosed that local pharmaceutical manufacturing in Nigeria has increased by 25 per cent following the implementation of its 5+5 policy and Ceiling List initiatiSERAP demands probe into N78.8bn allegedly unaccounted for at humanitarian ministry agenciese.

The Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, said the regulatory measures had also contributed to a shift in the ratio of imported to locally manufactured pharmaceutical products from 70:30 in 2019 to 50:50 in 2025.

Adeyeye disclosed this at the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) organised Invest in Nigeria Conference and Expo 4.0, where she urged investors from more than 43 countries participating in the event to take advantage of the Federal Government’s reforms and invest in Nigeria’s pharmaceutical and medical device sectors.

She said the number of pharmaceutical manufacturing companies in the country had risen from 174 to 190, while 176 pharmaceutical companies had undergone facility layout reviews and approvals by NAFDAC as of June 2026.

According to her, 70 of the companies whose layouts were reviewed were existing manufacturers, while 106 were new companies, a development she said reflected growing confidence in local pharmaceutical production.

The NAFDAC boss explained that the 5+5 policy, introduced in 2019, was designed to phase out the importation of selected medicines that could be produced locally.

She said products covered by the policy were prohibited from being imported into the country and could only be manufactured locally, with companies required either to establish manufacturing facilities or engage suitably qualified Nigerian manufacturers through contract manufacturing arrangements.

Adeyeye said the Ceiling List had further strengthened the policy by increasing the number of products restricted from importation from nine in 2020 to 36.

She said the two initiatives had resulted in a 70 per cent decline in the importation of drug products covered by the measures, while encouraging more companies to establish or expand manufacturing operations in Nigeria.

The NAFDAC DG also disclosed that the number of companies involved in contract manufacturing had risen sharply from 10 in 2019 to 87 in 2026.

She said the growth in contract manufacturing was helping companies utilise existing production capacity while reducing dependence on international supply chains.

‘The rise in contract manufacturing reflects a strategic move toward sustainable and scalable local operations,’ Adeyeye said.

She added that existing manufacturing facilities were undergoing retrofitting and upgrades to meet current Good Manufacturing Practice standards.

Adeyeye said 37 existing manufacturers were currently undertaking construction and upgrades, while 28 others had completed construction and commenced operations.

She also attributed part of the growing investment in the sector to the Presidential Executive Order providing zero tariffs, excise duties and Value Added Tax on imported machinery, equipment and raw materials for local healthcare manufacturing.

The NAFDAC boss said the government policy had provided additional incentives for investors and was contributing to the shift from dependence on imported medicines towards domestic production.

‘There has been a marked increase in foreign investment, particularly in the medical devices sector,’ she said, adding that international investors were entering joint ventures with Nigerian firms to establish local manufacturing facilities.

She said the country was also witnessing increased technology transfer of formulations for which local manufacturing capacity already existed.

Adeyeye disclosed that 16 new pharmaceutical manufacturers and six new medical device and in-vitro diagnostics manufacturers had emerged, with the new facilities aligning with regulatory requirements, including the installation of heating, ventilation and air-conditioning systems and other critical infrastructure.

She put the overall impact of the 5+5 policy and Ceiling List at 28 newly developed and retrofitted companies and 16 new facilities, totalling 44 companies and facilities and resulting in a 25 per cent increase in local manufacturing.

Adeyeye said NAFDAC would continue to support manufacturers through regulatory handholding and Corrective and Preventive Action clinics to help companies address compliance challenges.

She said the agency was also extending its local manufacturing strategy to the food and cosmetics sectors through Global Listing Re-evaluation, aimed at identifying products that could be manufactured locally and encouraging investment in their domestic production.

The NAFDAC DG urged stakeholders to collaborate with the agency in implementing the government’s local manufacturing policies, stressing that strengthening domestic production was critical to Nigeria’s food and drug security.

‘The increase in local manufacturing is in tandem with the Executive Order of the Federal Government. We should embrace it,’ she said.isited the area, parts of the perimeter fence had been pulled down, while a section of one of the houses was also affected.

One of the residents, Hajiya Safiya, widow of the late Assistant Commissioner of Police, Haliru Gwarzo, said she had lived in the house with her children for more than 20 years.

She said her late husband died after falling ill while serving in Sabon Birni Local Government Area, where he had been posted to combat banditry.

‘We were sleeping around 6am when we heard the sound of heavy machines approaching our houses. We hurriedly came out with our children, only to discover that a bulldozer had been sent to demolish our houses under the cover of some security operatives,’ she said.

Safiya alleged that the operators pulled down the perimeter fence and began demolishing one of the houses before neighbours intervened.

‘They pulled down our perimeter fence and started demolishing one of the houses before some of our neighbours came out and started throwing stones at them,’ she added.

Expressing concern over the welfare of her children, Safiya said her late husband was the family’s breadwinner.

‘He left some children for me, whom I am struggling to take care of. But this is how the Sokoto State Government is paying us for the sacrifice made by my husband, who was our breadwinner,’ she said.

She appealed to the Inspector-General of Police and the Sokoto State Commissioner of Police to intervene and prevent the affected families from losing their homes.

Another resident, Hajiya Shafa’atu Abubakar, appealed to the authorities to consider allowing the police officers to purchase the houses under an owner-occupier arrangement.

‘This is what is done to their colleagues in other states. We found out that the houses belong to the Federal Government, not the state government,’ she said.

She also expressed concern that the removal of the perimeter fence had exposed residents to security risks.

Meanwhile, a notice from the Sokoto State Rent Tribunal pasted on the affected premises showed that All Pro Developers Limited had instituted a case against the Sokoto State Commissioner of Police and nine others.

The company is seeking, among other reliefs, an interim order of ejectment against the occupants. It claimed to have been engaged and authorised by the state government to undertake development of the property.

The tribunal, however, directed that the defendants be individually served and appear before it on September 8, 2026.

A senior police officer, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the state government had made alternative accommodation available to the police.

He said 10 houses had been allocated to the police at the Marafa Danbaba Housing Estate in Konnawa as replacements for the affected properties.

However, the Sokoto State Commissioner for Lands and Housing, Barrister Nasiru Dantsoho, said he was unaware of the demolition.

‘First of all, I’m not aware. Secondly, the case is already before the courts,’ Dantsoho said.

The commissioner said he made inquiries after learning of the demolition and was informed that a court order had been served on the affected premises.

‘I made some inquiries and I realised the court had given them an order which, I think, was placed in their respective houses last week,’ he said.

Dantsoho said he was not familiar with the details of the case or the parties involved.

‘And the case is not even between the state government and them. I don’t know. I don’t know because we are neighbours; we don’t know anything about the case,’ he said.

Asked again whether he was aware of the demolition, the commissioner replied: ‘I’m not aware. I don’t know.’

Efforts to obtain the reaction of All Pro Developers Limited were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report.

The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has urged Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, to urgently resolve the lingering welfare crisis involving doctors at LAUTECH Teaching Hospital, Ogbomoso, to avert disruption of medical services.

In a statement issued at the weekend in Abuja, NMA National President, Dr. (Prof.) Afekhide Ernest Omoti, urged the governor to personally intervene and ensure the immediate implementation of outstanding agreements reached with the Association of Resident Doctors (ARD), LAUTECH, Ogbomoso.

The NMA said the outstanding demands include payment of State Minimum Wage arrears from January 2025, the 2026 Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF) for eligible resident doctors, implementation of the Corrected Professional Allowances Table, the Call/Work-Hour Regulatory Policy and payment of upgrade arrears to affected doctors.

Prof. Omoti said the demands were legitimate welfare and workplace concerns which directly affect the quality and safety of healthcare delivery, warning that excessive workload, poor remuneration and an overstretched workforce could undermine clinical performance, patient safety and health outcomes.

He said, ‘A healthcare system cannot thrive when those entrusted with saving lives are themselves pushed beyond sustainable limits,’ adding that implementing the outstanding commitments would help end the dispute while boosting the morale, motivation and productivity of resident doctors.

The NMA President said extensive advocacy had been employed since early this year, noting that the leadership and members of ARD LAUTECH Ogbomoso had shown remarkable professionalism and patience by exercising restraint for nearly three months.

He, however, said formal advocacy without corresponding government action could not continue indefinitely.

Omoti reaffirmed the NMA’s solidarity with the resident doctors and commended the Oyo State NMA Branch for its professionalism

He stressed that agreements freely entered into must be honoured and legitimate commitments implemented promptly.

Omoti further assured that the NMA remained committed to constructive dialogue and partnership with the Oyo State Government, stressing that while the health of the people must remain paramount, ‘the welfare of the doctors entrusted with protecting that health must not be treated as an afterthought.’

Governor of Ekiti, Biodun Oyebanji, will resume official duties on Monday, September 7th, 2026, following the conclusion of his two-week annual leave.

The governor had announced the commencement of the annual leave two weeks earlier to enable him prepare for the second-term administration.

The Special Adviser to the governor on Media, Yinka Oyebode, in a statement on Sunday, said the two-week leave was part of the governor’s statutory annual leave entitlement.

The statement added that, ‘While on leave, Governor Oyebanji, however, attended to crucial matters relating to governance and administration of the State.

‘The Governor is resuming with a renewed vigour as preparations for the commencement of his second-term administration gather momentum.’

Governor Oyebanji will, on October 16, be inaugurated for a second term in office following his victory during the June 20 governorship election in Ekiti.

Lagos-based human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Femi Falana, on Sunday, asked the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate and recover N33.75 billion in cash transfers allegedly not accounted for under the Federal Government’s social investment programmes.

The senior legal luminary equally tasked the commission to prosecute any public officials found culpable in the alleged diversion of funds meant for more than 3.29 million vulnerable households across the country.

Falana, who is the Chairman of the Alliance on Surviving COVID-19 and Beyond (ASCAB), in a statement, suggested that the anti-graft agency should liaise with the Auditor-General for the Federation to investigate the whereabouts of the funds.

The SAN’s call came consequent upon revelations by the Auditor-General for the Federation, Shaakaa Kanyitor Chira, that the FG could not provide sufficient evidence to auditors showing that N33.75 billion earmarked for cash transfers had reached genuine beneficiaries.

According to the SAN, the revelation was contained in the Auditor-General for the Federation’s 2024 Annual Report on Non-Compliance/Internal Control Weaknesses in Ministries, Departments, and Agencies of the Federal Government.

He recalled that the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari enacted the National Social Investment Programme Agency Act 2022, transforming the National Social Investment Programme Agency (NSIPA) into a statutory agency.

Falana stated that the legislation provided NSIPA with the legal framework and powers to design programmes, manage beneficiary databases, strengthen payment and accountability systems, and collaborate with state governments and development partners.

The programmes administered under the agency include N-Power, the National Home-Grown School Feeding Programme, National Cash Transfer, National Social Safety-Net, Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme and Grants for Vulnerable Groups.

But Falana alleged that the agency had become vulnerable to corruption and mismanagement by some public officials.

The SAN further recalled that former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar Farouq, was investigated by the EFCC over alleged money laundering involving more than N37.1 billion.

He explained that a charge was instituted against Farouq and that, in April 2026, a Federal Capital Territory High Court issued an arrest warrant against her and former Permanent Secretary, Bashir Nura Alkali, following repeated failures to appear for arraignment.

The senior lawyer referenced the controversy surrounding former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Dr Betta Edu, who was suspended after a December 2023 memo became public.

The memo reportedly directed the Accountant-General of the Federation to transfer N585 million in public intervention funds into a private bank account.

Falana equally recalled that Halima Shehu, then Chief Executive Officer of NSIPA, was suspended and questioned over alleged suspicious movement of funds.

He said the EFCC should have concluded its investigation into the matter to establish whether Betta Edu and Shehu have any case to answer.

The SAN noted that following the controversies surrounding the management of social investment funds, the Federal Government introduced tighter tracking and verification measures.

Under the measures, beneficiaries are required to link their profiles with their Bank Verification Numbers (BVN) and National Identification Numbers (NIN) to help eliminate ghost beneficiaries and improve transparency in the distribution of public funds.

However, he queried the effectiveness of the system in light of the Auditor-General’s latest findings on the N33.75 billion in cash transfers.

The SAN prayed to the anti-graft agency to, without any further delay, collaborate with the Auditor-General for the Federation to determine what happened to the N33.75 billion.

Falana also requested a comprehensive investigation into the alleged failure to account for the funds and urged the anti-graft agency to prosecute anyone found to have diverted or unlawfully benefited from the money.

According to the senior legal luminary, ‘The EFCC should liaise with the Auditor-General of the Federation with a view to recovering the missing N33.75 billion.’

The SAN added that those found responsible for the alleged diversion should be arrested and prosecuted without delay.

Falana also raised concerns over the Federal Government’s recently announced $3.05 billion development package.

It would be recalled that in July 2026, President Bola Tinubu unveiled the package, comprising development programmes designed to deepen poverty reduction, strengthen human capital development and expand economic opportunities across Nigeria.

According to Falana, the initiatives, supported by the World Bank, were intended to ensure that the benefits of the Federal Government’s economic reforms translated into tangible improvements in the lives of ordinary Nigerians.

He urged the government to establish a transparent mechanism involving credible civil society organisations to oversee the disbursement of the funds to poor and vulnerable Nigerians.

Falana expressed concern that without stronger safeguards, public officials could exploit funds intended for poverty reduction.

He further claimed that the World Bank had concluded arrangements to withdraw the funds if the Federal Government failed to prevent alleged abuse by public officials.

The Federal Government and relevant agencies may be expected to respond to the allegations and clarify the status of the N33.75 billion identified in the Auditor-General’s report.

The publication by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of the particulars of candidates for the 2027 governorship election has formally set the stage for the contest for the Kwara State Government House.

The list places All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Salihu Yakubu Danladi, and his running mate, Bello Mubarak Salau, among the contenders for the governorship seat, with the development already generating discussions around political succession and generational change in the state.

Thirteen candidates are now in the race in what political observers have described as a potentially fiercely contested election.

Tribune Online reports that the INEC list shows Danladi facing candidates including the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Engineer Sulaiman Bolakale Kawu, from Kwara Central, and the African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate, Zakari Mohammed, who hails from Kwara North.

However, a joint statement by youth stakeholders drawn from the three senatorial districts of the state said the emergence of the candidates had brought into focus a contest that could go beyond the search for a successor to Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq.

The statement was jointly issued by the Kwara North Integrity Youth Forum (KNIYF), Ilorin Emirate Dynamic Youths (IEDY) and Kwara South Young Professionals in Politics (KSYPIP).

The groups described Danladi’s candidacy as a significant development in Kwara’s political evolution, particularly because of his age, political background and the possibility of a new generation moving from participation in governance to seeking executive leadership of the state.

According to the Coordinator of KNIYF, Aliyu Likofu, the development has placed the APC ticket at the centre of a contest with implications beyond the search for Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq’s successor.

He said the election presented an opportunity to alter the political history of a state where, according to the group, the governorship had never been held by an elected politician from Kwara North since 1999.

‘The 41-year-old Speaker of the Kwara state House of Assembly was born in Gwanara, Baruten Local Government Area, and has built a political career through student activism, youth mobilisation and legislative leadership.

‘He has also served in student union positions at Kaduna Polytechnic before moving into partisan politics, including campaign coordination roles in 2011 and 2015.

‘His breakthrough came in 2019 when he won the Ilesha/Gwanara constituency seat and was elected Speaker at 34. He returned to the Assembly in 2023 and was again elected Speaker. So he is prepared for the race’, he said.

For his part, the Coordinator of IEDY, Abdulwaheed Olamilekan, said Danladi’s political trajectory had made his candidacy symbolic of a generation that entered mainstream politics through mobilisation before gradually moving into positions of institutional authority.

‘The symbolism is strengthened by the changing political environment in Kwara state.

‘The AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq administration has repeatedly promoted youth participation in governance, with younger people occupying cabinet and other government positions.

‘But the election will determine how far the movement has matured into an electoral force’, he submitted.

Also speaking, Owodunni Rasheed Adekunle of KSYPIP said Danladi’s candidacy represented both continuity and change for the APC.

‘For the APC, Danladi’s candidacy, therefore, represents both continuity and change: continuity with the political order established in 2019 and change through the elevation of a younger generation into the race for executive power.

‘As campaigns for the governorship formally commence on September 9, attention will increasingly shift to the candidates’ programmes, records and capacity to build statewide support.

‘For Danladi, the February 6, 2027 election will ultimately answer whether his political generation is ready not merely to participate in governing Kwara but to take charge of it’.

The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Akeem Owoade I, on Saturday formally installed former Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of First Bank of Nigeria, Dr Adesola Kazeem Adeduntan, as the new Balogun of Oyo.

The ceremony, held at the ancient Alaafin’s Palace, Oyo, attracted the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja, the Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrasheed Akanbi, other traditional rulers, government officials and indigenes from across Yorubaland.

Ladoja’s visit was significant as it marked the first time the Olubadan would visit Oyo since the coronation of Oba Owoade as the Alaafin, providing an opportunity for the two prominent traditional rulers to appear together publicly and reinforce the unity of traditional institutions in the state.

The Balogun title is one of the most revered and senior traditional offices in the old Oyo Empire. Historically, it designated a war leader or commander responsible for leading soldiers to defend the kingdom, secure its borders and organise community defence.

Following the fall of the old Oyo Empire, the title remained a high-ranking traditional honour reserved for distinguished public figures and leaders who exemplify courage, service and leadership.

Adeduntan, an indigene of Ibadan, is widely recognised for his role in transforming First Bank into a digital-driven institution during his nine-year tenure as GMD/CEO, during which the bank’s customer base grew from 10 million to more than 42 million.

He currently serves as Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of Abiola Ajimobi Technical University, Ibadan, and is also the Apesin Ola of Ibadanland.

Speaking at the ceremony, Oba Owoade described the new Balogun as a complete gentleman with a heart of gold who combines refined manners with kindness, humility and genuine concern for others.

The Alaafin noted that he had never seen a top professional with so many innovative ideas and unique thinking in advancing the banking sector.

Oba Owoade urged Adeduntan to uphold the values of the institution and deploy his experience towards the development, peace and unity of the Oyo Kingdom.

‘As a renowned Banker with over three decades of experience, you are indeed a man of conscience being guided by an internal moral compass, acting with integrity, empathy, and a strong sense of responsibility toward others rather than mere self-interest.

‘You are defined by your commitment to truth, and dedication to service. As a man of integrity and authenticity, you live in alignment with your values, ensuring that your actions match your words. You consider the impact of your decisions on others and act with kindness and understanding,’ he added.

Responding, the new Balogun of Oyo described the Alaafin as a dependable and stabilising monarch who provides a calming force and builds deep personal bonds with the people.

He pledged to serve with humility, integrity and commitment to the progress of Oyo and Yorubaland.

‘Alaafin is kind, social, giving, and known for being able to resolve conflicts peacefully. He works to avoid having people feel uncomfortable or anxious. He is a dynamic Ruler,’ Dr Adeduntan said.

As part of the ceremony, the wife of the new Balogun, Chief Mrs Adenike Adeduntan, was installed as the Yeye Balogun of Oyo by the Alaafin’s Queen Consort, Ayaba Abiwunmi.

Adeduntan succeeds the late Dr Victor Olunloyo, former Governor of the old Oyo State, who held the title with distinction.

In a congratulatory message, President Bola Tinubu described the installation as a call to greater service and urged Adeduntan to promote peace, development and the preservation of cultural heritage.

The ceremony, initially scheduled for July 18, was postponed as a mark of honour to victims of the Oriire abduction.

Other dignitaries at the event included the Akogun of Egbaland, High Chief Adebayo Shoyoye; the Ward Onikoyi of Yorubaland, High Chief Tomori Williams; the Statistician-General of the Federation, Prince Semiu Adeyemi Adeniran; and renowned architect, Bayo Ajisafe, among others.

Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has directed an investigation into the emerging kingship dispute in Koka-Ilase, Obokun Local Government Area, following reports that another monarch had been appointed for the community.

The governor’s directive came as he departed Nigeria for a vacation in Europe, during which he is also expected to undergo medical examinations.

A statement issued on Sunday by his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, said Adeleke departed the country through the Lagos airport and would visit the United Kingdom and other destinations during the trip.

The governor described the vacation as a short break intended to enable him to refresh and prepare for further service to the people of the state.

‘I am taking a short break to refresh and get further prepared to serve the good people of Osun State,’ Adeleke was quoted as saying before his departure.

Meanwhile, the governor has directed the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs to investigate the circumstances surrounding the reported appointment of another king in Koka-Ilase.

The development has reportedly raised concerns over the emergence of two claimants to the traditional stool in the community, prompting the state government to intervene.

Adeleke instructed the ministry to review the circumstances surrounding the development and establish whether due process was followed in accordance with the state’s chieftaincy laws and the traditions governing the community.

The governor said the ministry should submit a report clarifying the situation and establishing the status of the traditional stool.

‘I read of another King appointed outside the one on the stool. The ministry is hereby directed to look into the dispute and issue a report to set the records straight,’ he said.

He stressed that traditional rulership in the state was regulated by extant laws and established customs, adding that the government would ensure that the relevant legal and traditional procedures were followed.

Adeleke also appealed to parties and other stakeholders in the dispute to maintain peace while the government carries out its investigation.

‘Kingship is governed by extant laws and regulations and the government will stand by the law and tradition of our people,’ the governor stated.

The governor’s intervention came amid the reported controversy over the traditional stool of Koka-Ilase, with the state government seeking to prevent the disagreement from escalating into a wider communal dispute.

The Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs is now expected to examine the circumstances surrounding the reported appointment and advise the government on the appropriate steps to take.

The government’s position, according to Adeleke, is to resolve the matter through the applicable laws and traditions while ensuring that peace is maintained in the community.

The governor’s European trip will take place alongside the administrative process initiated to resolve the Koka kingship controversy, with the relevant ministry expected to conduct the probe and submit its findings.

Asiwaju Bola Tinubu should not have been president in 2023. He really was almost not. A witness told me the story of the moment a faction of the ruling APC National Working Committee, led by a former Nasarawa governor, Adamu Abdullahi, in cahoots with the presidency of now-late General Muhammadu Buhari, announced then Senate President Ahmad Lawan as the ‘consensus’ candidate as requested by the then president. Today’s president, then a leading aspirant, reportedly ‘slumped’ on the laps of a former House of Representatives’ Speaker, Yakubu Dogara, who was with him in Abuja, when the ‘devastating’ news came. It is the kind of momentary collapse you do when overwhelmed, according to the eyewitness.

Dogara, a minority Christian from predominantly Muslim Bauchi State, was reportedly high on the shortlist for the vee-pee search, considering the widespread assumption that the religiously ‘balanced’ presidential ticket of either Muslim/Christian or Christian/Muslim would be the norm for a party serious and desirous of winning a pan-Nigerian mandate.

But Asiwaju was neither a ‘normal’ aspirant, candidate nor even president and his trajectory to the seat was everything but normal too.

So Dogara’s arms of empathy lifted the man he thought would be his future direct boss but subsequent events showed that even if Dogara has presidency in his destiny, 2023 wasn’t the appointed time. Neither 2027 too, except a last-minute miracle happens. Any day I run into the almost-reticent politician, I intend to ask him about the Lawan moment for Asiwaju.

For standing in Asiwaju’s corner during the nomination battle with the Buhari forces, the president eventually appreciated Dogara with the chairmanship of the board for the newly launched National Credit Guarantee Company Limited (NCGC), with a N100 billion take-off grant, when his administration clocked two. The former number four didn’t become number two, but a new agency designed to help the poor and with a jumbo-sized off-the-blocks budget isn’t an unfair deal.

Let me leave a short note for the president at this juncture: he should do everything possible not to embrace the reported Ajimobi model on how to repay good because God says those who repay good with evil, evil will not depart from their own household. Scary!

Each time Chief Niyi Akintola tells the story of Ajimobi telling him that he could choose to repay the learned Silk’s good deeds to him with evil, during an altercation between them in the buildup to the 2019 gubernatorial election in Oyo State, I usually worry for the household of the former governor who is now late. Hopefully, his wacky philosophy was just for what the street will capture as ‘just making mouth’ (a threat one doesn’t intend to carry out). If he was truly giving vent to the mindset when alive, then may God have mercy on his household. Let me summarise his take on repaying good. According to him, good can be repaid with good, not repaid at all or repaid with evil and in his relation with the Silk, he allegedly said he chose evil. Some talk!!!

Days to the ruling party’s presidential nomination exercise for the 2023 poll, then President Buhari publicly pleaded with the governors elected on the platform of the party to do him the honour of allowing him to choose his successor by single-handedly nominating the party’s candidate whom he believed would win the election. He also granted the governors the freedom to handpick their successors through the nomination exercise. What a democracy!

Asiwaju Tinubu, a supposed political ally of President Buhari who was then the real national leader of the party, was not the choice of his ‘political friend’. But ultimately, because there is a God who forever rules in the affairs of men (Daniel 4:17), President Buhari got a successor on the platform of his party but not his preferred pick.

Despite the desperate attempt by Buhari to distance himself from the debacle that followed the Lawan announcement, Adamu Abdullahi, as the main enforcer then, later confirmed in multiple media interviews that the Lawan project was real and Buhari Villa’s. My people will call someone owning his truth with full chest, even if as bitter as the water from the Biblical Marah Falls, ase aje mase (a self-outed witch). The Yoruba will say there is no death that will kill an elder that you won’t find his hollowed-out skull in place. In the Lawan North-replacing-North saga, Adamu demonstrated more nobility, even in error, than Buhari. May God rest the latter’s soul.

There are times you want to cut Asiwaju’s hero-worshipping supporters some slack, in their deification of their man. Some stuff of his politics is truly impressive. If a sitting president who is also a retired military general, trained in the art of warfare, says he doesn’t want you as a successor, especially in an African democracy where everything begins and ends with the president and you are now in the same party, the fellow’s fate would be deemed sealed. But not Asiwaju’s, and not because he wasn’t human like the rest of us, but because he would appear to be God’s choice in 2023.

No, I’m not a prophet but I remember a significant dream of an uncle before the general election in 2023, in which he accosted the former Lagos governor, telling him to do what he promised God he would do as president. Then his choice wasn’t Asiwaju but it was clear to him what the night vision meant. Tinubu was going to be president and he became.

The question is, has he been fulfilling his promise to God? What exactly was even the promise he made to Him? Did he tell God he would instil financial discipline in us by squeezing everyone and everywhere?

Last Friday, I was in a banking hall when a visibly distraught woman came in for an explanation. She had received a message from her bankers that going forward a sum of N32,000 thereabouts would be deducted monthly as tax from her company account. She came to draw the entire account down. For heaven’s sake, who is making all these decisions for the federal government? I found out from the manager that it was a policy from the Central Bank of Nigeria which all commercial banks must enforce.

Why are we doing this to ourselves?

Whatever promise Asiwaju made to God, which likely cleared the hurdles for him to berth at the presidential villa, is between him and Him. However, Solomon has an admonition in Ecclesiastes 5:4-6, which those seeking to lead Nigeria in 2027, including the president, should not disregard, especially when their vows are directed at God.

‘When you make a vow to God, do not delay to fulfil it. He has no pleasure in fools, fulfil your vow. It’s better not to make a vow than to make one and not fulfil it. Do not let your mouth lead you into sin,’ the Preacher says.

Maybe that is why you hardly hear politicians make direct vows to God. It’s always to men, who they know they can always disregard with little or no consequence for four years before returning again to them with loaves of bread and pasta, topped with N10,000 for their votes.

Learnt some audacious ones are now buying votes on credit!!

And talking of audacity, as politically bold as Asiwaju’s supporters would want us to believe he is, it would be an error thinking he climbed Nigeria’s Rushmore Mount just by his sagacity. He was a mentee of sorts to M.K.O Abiola and we all know how the latter’s presidential run, almost a perfect precursor to Asiwaju’s, ended, amid similar forces that battled Tinubu’s.

God denied a man and allowed another.

A man of God was recently quoted asking politicians to leave Jesus out of their matter and focus on delivering on their campaign promises.

If the substance is left out, of what use is what is left.

Nigeria’s brutal politicking may not interest God, but voting is biblical and Islamic.

Everywhere you read lots being cast in the Quran and Bible, that is voting. In replacing Judas Iscariot after his suicide for treachery against his Master, the rest of the apostles cast lots to choose between Matthias and Justus.

But not until they had prayed.

Acts 1:24-26 reads, ‘So they nominated two men: Joseph called Barsabbas (also known as Justus) and Matthias. Then they prayed, ‘Lord, you know everyone’s heart. Show us which of these two you have chosen to take over this apostolic ministry which Judas left to go where he belongs’. Then they cast lots and the lot fell to Matthias, so he was added to the eleven apostles.’

May the God who knows the heart of men give us a president next year. Not necessarily your fav, not necessarily my candidate.

Gospel music minister and founder of Echoes of Mercy Ministry, Evangelist Opeyemi Adefunso Olusola, has celebrated her 50th birthday, the 11th edition of her annual gospel concert, Iyin Re Ree, and the release of her latest single, Pantokrator (The Almighty).

The three-in-one celebration, held on Monday, August 31, at Jesus Discipleship Ministry Church, Ibadan, Oyo State, brought together family members, church members, gospel music lovers and other well-wishers from within and outside Nigeria.

The event was marked by spirited praise and worship, music performances and the preaching of the word of God, as guests joined Olusola in celebrating what she described as God’s faithfulness over her life and ministry.

Reflecting on her personal life and ministry, Olusola expressed gratitude to God for blessing her with her husband, Pastor Emmanuel Ayodele Olusola, whom she described as her God-ordained partner and a pillar of support to her music ministry.

She said, ‘I started singing at the age of 12, when I was always called upon to minister in different churches. I started my evangelical ministry fully as a song minister on September 3, 2016, when I launched my first album titled Iyin Re Ree. I have ministered in songs at countless churches. I have four gospel music albums and seven singles.

‘By the grace of God, I got married to my God-ordained heartthrob, Pastor Emmanuel Ayodele Olusola, a church planter, who is a pillar to my music ministry. I give all the glory to God Almighty.’

The celebration featured musical performances and ministrations by several gospel ministers and clerics, including Evangelists Yemi Owolabi, Opeyemi Olusola, Omolara Olaore and Femi Success.

Pastors Akin Akintayo, Joseph Olajimi, Olusola Ayodele, Segun Oladiran and Johnson Oluniyi-Ajulo, as well as Apostles Joshua Oladapo Ojo, Paul Adebayo and P.A. Alimi, were also among those who ministered at the event.

Olusola’s ministry, Echoes of Mercy, is known for gospel songs centred on praise, worship, prayer and the preaching of the word of God, with her music aimed at lifting souls, breaking yokes and bringing healing and encouragement to the broken-hearted.