Category: The Nation – Nigeria

The Grand Council of Fusengbuwa Ruling House in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State has rejected the purported removal of its Chairman and Olori-Ebi, Otunba Abdulateef Owoyemi, describing the meeting at which the decision was taken as ”illegal.”

Addressing reporters in Ijebu-Ode yesterday, Owoyemi said the authentic leadership of the ruling house remained intact and accused a group within the family of attempting to undermine its leadership and unity.

The chairman alleged that the group, which he said was led by Adeleke Adeyemi, Muyiwa Adeleye, Ridwan Oduneye and Olusegun Olusoga, among others, had purportedly announced the removal of him and two other senior officials – the Deputy Chairman, Otunba Oladokun Ajidagba, and Vice Chairman, Professor Fassy Adetokunboh Yusuf – at a meeting held on Sunday.

Adeyemi and others had during the said meeting removed the three leaders, saying they acted based on a fact-finding committee’s report on alleged financial inducement, document manipulation and other irregularities in the selection process for the next Awujale of Ijebuland.

However, Owoyemi, speaking in company with Prince Ajidagba, Prof. Fassy Yusuf and some key members of the Fusengbuwa Ruling House yesterday, described those behind the meeting as ‘negligible and disgruntled elements’ and maintained that they lacked the authority to convene a meeting or constitute committees on behalf of the ruling house.

He said the current leadership emerged from an intervention by the Ogun State Government aimed at resolving longstanding divisions within the ruling house.

He said the delegation to the state government comprised four representatives from each of the three factions that previously existed in the family. The 12 delegates were subsequently constituted into a Management Committee, while three additional members were later co-opted, bringing the Grand Council’s membership to 15.

Owoyemi said none of the individuals involved in the purported removal belonged to the 15-member Grand Council.

He alleged that the activities of the group were part of a broader attempt to destabilise the family and jeopardise its entitlement in the process of selecting the next Awujale of Ijebuland.

‘We have investigated the activities of these charlatans,’ Owoyemi said, adding that the leadership was convinced their actions could have a ‘devastating effect’ on the family if left unchallenged.

The chairman disclosed that members of the leadership were pursuing legal action over what he described as defamatory statements and other alleged misconduct by those involved.

In resolutions reportedly reached by the Grand Council, the ruling house declared the individuals behind the purported action and members of the alleged fact-finding committee ‘enemies of Fusengbuwa Ruling House.’

The council urged Ogun State Government and the public to disregard resolutions or allegations emanating from the group.

It further passed what Owoyemi described as a ‘resounding vote of confidence’ in the leadership comprising himself, Ajidagba and Yusuf.

The chairman appealed to mainstream and social media organisations to exercise caution when reporting disputes surrounding the ruling house, urging journalists to verify claims before publication.

He said unverified reports could damage the reputation of Fusengbuwa Ruling House and expose publishers to allegations of defamation or cyber-stalking.

The controversy comes against the backdrop of the significance of ruling houses in the traditional succession process in Ijebuland, where Fusengbuwa Ruling House is one of the houses connected to the Awujale stool.

Owoyemi called for restraint and responsible reporting, while insisting that the Grand Council remained the legitimate authority of the Fusengbuwa Ruling House.

Fielding questions from reporters, Prof. Yusuf, who responded on behalf of Fusengbuwa Ruling House, urged the state government to lift the embargo placed on the Awujale selection process.

He hinted that if the Governor Dapo Abiodun-led government failed to do what it ought to do on the matter, the family might be compelled to take every legitimate step to do what was necessary concerning the stalled Awujale selection.

Organised Labour in Osun State has called on anti-corruption and security agencies to intensify efforts to curb vote-buying, electoral malpractice and rigging ahead of Saturday’s governorship election.

The labour unions also demanded a peaceful, free, fair and credible election, urging security agencies to maintain strict neutrality and protect voters from intimidation, harassment and victimisation.

The demands were set out in a resolution signed by the Chairperson of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Christopher Arapasopo; the Chairman of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Comrade Bimbo Fasasi; and the Chairman of the Joint Public Service Negotiating Council (JPSNC), Comrade Lekan Adediran.

Organised Labour said the pre-election environment required urgent intervention by relevant authorities to safeguard democratic integrity and civil stability in the state.

It called on security agencies to ‘strictly curtail vote-buying, electoral malpractice, and rigging at all costs’ to preserve the sanctity of the ballot.

The unions further demanded the immediate disqualification or banning of any political party or partisan actor found guilty of instigating violence or committing electoral infractions before, during or after the election.

They also urged all eligible voters to exercise their franchise freely, without harassment, intimidation or embarrassment, and called on security agencies deployed for the election to operate without political interference or bias.

The labour leaders expressed concern about recent activities and utterances by Mr Gboyega Oyetola, nephew of President Bola Tinubu, in relation to the election.

They called on the Presidency and relevant authorities to caution him against actions that could heighten political tension in the state.

The unions also invited the international community to monitor the conduct of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), security agencies and political actors throughout the electoral process.

According to the labour unions, copies of the resolution and security alert had been forwarded to relevant national and international authorities for immediate action.

Organised Labour said it remained committed to ensuring a free, fair, credible and violence-free election that would protect the interests of workers, pensioners and other residents of Osun State.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Thursday assured oil and gas workers that Nigeria’s refineries would be restored to full and sustainable operation, saying his administration was undertaking a structural and economic reset to ensure the facilities do not merely operate but become profitable and deliver value to Nigerians.

The President gave the assurance at the State House, Abuja, when he received the newly elected leadership of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), led by its Executive President, Comrade Salimon Akanni Oladiti, on a courtesy visit.

Tinubu, who was also conferred with the award of Grand Patron of NUPENG by the union, said his administration had accepted responsibility for fixing the country’s refineries and would not blame previous governments for their current condition.

‘The refineries that you mentioned is going to come back to work. We’re just building a very firm reset and structural reworking of the economy of it. Ordinary flame and smoke of refinery doesn’t mean that it’s working until it’s profitable and yield the value for which it is built.

‘I’ve accepted the asset and liability of my predecessors, no matter what has happened in the years past, it’s my responsibility now as the president to fix, make it work for the largest common value of our population. I take responsibility for that, and I’m going to do it’, the President said.

Tinubu described NUPENG as a critical stakeholder in the nation’s economy and commended the union for its partnership with successive governments as well as its cooperation with his administration’s economic reforms.

Recalling his engagement with the union ahead of the 2023 presidential election, the President said he had been forthright about his determination to remove the petrol subsidy despite the possibility of resistance and industrial action.

‘And you’ve been a very good partner of government in progress. You occupy a very critical nerve of the economy of this country, and I’m glad you recalled the Akodo Resort.

‘Akodo is now one of the greatest economic values to this country, and all the things that we contemplated and did together, that is why it was important, when I was running for this office, to serve you as a very important notice of what I will do and was very very friendly and frank discussion.

‘We had threat of possible strike and something, and I served notice; you may strike all you want, but fuel subsidy will be gone. And today, to the benefit of our great country’, Tinubu said.

The President said his administration would soon make public details of the utilisation of resources accruing from the removal of the subsidy, arguing that the policy had strengthened the capacity of the three tiers of government to meet obligations and undertake development projects.

Tinubu challenged arguments that the reform had not benefited ordinary Nigerians, pointing to the regular payment of salaries to workers at the federal, state and local government levels and the wider impact of government spending on economic activities.

‘I will soon publish the utilization of what it is. But I listen to people… they say common man and all of that. Who are the people receiving the salaries in the local government administration? Are they not common men and women receiving salary regularly at the state level, are they not common man and woman?

‘The ordinary people receiving salaries from the federal government regularly, and it affects all the market women around us, including your wives’, he said.

Tinubu acknowledged the difficulties associated with economic reforms, describing the process as a complex exercise in financial re-engineering and economic reset.

‘Yes, the economy is not a child’s play. It’s a system of financial reengineering and reset that you impress, and I want to thank you for the cooperation and collaboration, the understanding’, he said.

The President said the reforms had enhanced government’s ability to fund major long-term infrastructure projects, citing the Lagos-Ibadan, Abuja-Kaduna and Abuja-Kano roads as well as the Sokoto-Badagry highway and other road networks.

According to him, the projects are aimed at strengthening the economy, improving connectivity and enhancing the safety of Nigerians.

‘But I’m glad you have seen the effect of being able to find funding for long-term projects; Lagos-Ibadan Road, Abuja-Kaduna, Abuja-Kano, and Sokoto-Badagri and the highways and many other road network, it’s all for the good of (all of) us and the good of our economy and the safety of our people’, he said.

Tinubu also highlighted the introduction of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) as part of measures to provide cheaper alternatives to petrol and reduce transportation costs.

He, however, expressed concern that the savings from CNG were not being passed quickly enough to commuters, urging transport operators and drivers to ensure that Nigerians benefit from lower operating costs.

‘Equally, the introduction of compressed natural gas. Well, I will appeal to you, we will do more. We will encourage you, but ask your drivers to let it trickle to the commuters too, because whatever benefit that is coming from CNG is going to in the pocket of truck owners. It’s not spreading as fast as I would like it, but it should spread’, the President said.

Tinubu thanked NUPENG for recognising the partnership between organised labour and government and urged its leadership and members to continue working with the administration to strengthen Nigeria’s democracy and economy.

He described democracy as a system that guarantees freedom and opportunity, saying Nigerians must work collectively to preserve it despite the challenges associated with democratic governance.

‘Thank you for your inspiring and recognition of partnership and effort that you are making, and I will just still appeal to all of you to let us work diligently and passionately on this democracy.

‘You all worked together with us to bring about the democracy, democracy is about celebration of freedom and opportunity that must be cherished by all of us’, he said.

The President acknowledged that managing a democratic government was difficult, but said perseverance, endurance and determination would ultimately produce a better country.

‘It’s not easy to manage a democratic regime, full of twists and turns, hill and valleys, and all of that. But it’s through perseverance, endurance, and good determination that we can bring about a relief of a newborn baby and a pregnancy, you see the joy of life’, Tinubu said.

Earlier, Oladiti appealed to the President to intervene in what he described as the growing casualisation of workers, particularly in the upstream oil and gas industry.

He said NUPENG and the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) had exercised restraint despite the practice because of the strategic importance of the sector and the potentially damaging impact of industrial action on the economy.

‘Your Excellency, our relationship with the International Oil Companies and the indigenous players in the upstream sector has been very cordial. However, we want to seize this opportunity to bring to your attention an unhealthy trend we have been trying to correct with little to no success. It is the casualisation of workers, particularly in the upstream sector.

‘For a sector that is strategic and taken as the economic jugular of the nation, NUPENG and its counterpart, the PENGASSAN have been tolerating these unwholesome practices, knowing full well the enormous disruption that any industrial actions could cause to the economy’, Oladiti said.

The NUPENG President said the union had engaged the management of some affected companies without securing the desired results, although he acknowledged the support and open-door policy of the Minister of Labour, Muhammad Maigari Dingyadi.

‘We have engaged the management of some of the affected companies without results. Mr. President, we urge you to use your good offices to stop casualisation of workers in our sector’, he said.

Oladiti also commended the Tinubu administration for the rehabilitation and dualisation of federal highways, saying improved roads had made journeys safer for petroleum tanker drivers and reduced the risks of accidents, product spillages and loss of lives.

‘We’ve seen real progress in the rehabilitation of federal highways, making journeys safer for our tanker drivers.

‘Mr. President, your administration has turned federal highways into massive construction sites. We must not fail to mention the ongoing, unprecedented projects, 750-kilometer, six lane Lagos-Coastal Highway and the 1,068-kilometer Sokoto-Badagry Superhighway that will traverse seven states in the country’, he said.

According to him, the state of Nigerian roads has direct consequences for the lives and livelihoods of NUPENG members.

‘For our members, a good road is the difference between arriving home safely and never arriving at all. Every stretch of highway rehabilitated or constructed, means fewer accidents, fewer spillages, fewer lives lost, and lesser stress for the men behind the wheel. Mr. President, that is a reform our members feel in their bones, and for it we say thank you’, Oladiti said.

The union leader further commended the administration’s move to revive the Warri and Port Harcourt refineries through partnerships with Chinese firms, but urged the government to extend the effort to the Nigerian Pipelines and Storage Company (NPSC) depots across the country.

He argued that rehabilitating the depots would complement efforts to restore the refineries and strengthen petroleum products distribution.

‘We also want to commend your administration’s move to revive the Warri and Port Harcourt refineries through partnership with Chinese firms.

‘Your Excellency, we want to humbly request that the same energy and drive to inject life back to the refineries be extended to the decaying Nigerian Pipelines and Storage Company (NPSC) depots of country.

‘We strongly recommend they can be handed over to private investors to manage under an equity arrangement’, he said.

Oladiti also urged the President to promote grassroots development by ensuring that state governments comply with the Supreme Court judgment granting financial autonomy to local governments.

The NUPENG leadership subsequently conferred on Tinubu the award of Grand Patron of the union in recognition of what it described as his relationship and partnership with petroleum and natural gas workers.

The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, who attended the meeting, welcomed the growing partnership between the Federal Government and labour unions, saying dialogue was increasingly replacing confrontation in government-labour relations.

‘We know that in the future more and more of unions like this, the period of the altercation we used to have between unions and government is gradually being closed and we thank them for this recognition of the efforts of Mr President,’ the Minister added.

The Office of the Tax Ombud (OTO) will, in the coming weeks, launch a Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights and Obligations designed to give Nigerians a clearer understanding of their rights and responsibilities when dealing with tax and revenue authorities.

The Tax Ombud and Chief Executive of the OTO, Dr John Nwabueze, disclosed this on Thursday at a stakeholder engagement in Abuja, where he also called on revenue-generating agencies to appoint liaison officers to handle complaints referred to the office.

Nwabueze said the proposed charter would set out the standards of fairness, transparency and accountability that taxpayers should expect from revenue authorities, while also explaining the responsibilities taxpayers must fulfil.

He said the document would be distributed through the OTO’s digital platforms and other public channels, urging tax and revenue agencies to make it available to taxpayers through their offices and online platforms.

According to him, the objective is to ensure that Nigerians are not only aware of their obligation to pay taxes but also understand the protections available to them when they encounter problems in the administration of those taxes.

‘We believe this will strengthen taxpayer awareness, encourage voluntary compliance, prevent disputes and build greater trust across the tax ecosystem,’ Nwabueze said.

The planned charter comes as the Tax Ombud moves to expand its presence across the country and create easier channels for individuals and businesses to challenge administrative problems they encounter with tax and other revenue authorities.

Nwabueze said the OTO was working with state governments to establish zonal offices across Nigeria, with at least three expected to begin operations within the next few weeks.

He said the expansion was necessary because access to taxpayer protection should not depend on where a person lives or on where a person operates a business.

The zonal offices are expected to make it easier for taxpayers outside Abuja to seek assistance, lodge complaints and obtain information without having to travel to the Federal Capital Territory.

The move follows the office’s broader plan to establish a presence across the country’s six geopolitical zones. The South-East, for instance, has already been designated as the location of a zonal headquarters in Enugu.

Nwabueze also called on revenue-generating agencies to appoint dedicated liaison officers who would serve as the main points of contact between their institutions and the Tax Ombud.

He said such officers would help ensure that complaints are properly referred and communicated, while making it easier to resolve disputes early and prevent them from becoming prolonged conflicts.

The proposed liaison arrangement would also allow agencies and the Tax Ombud to share information within the law, identify recurring administrative problems and follow up on recommendations made after the office intervenes in taxpayer complaints.

Nwabueze said the arrangement would create a more organised system in which taxpayer problems could be identified and addressed before they become larger disputes.

He said, ‘I propose that revenue-generating agencies designate a Liaison Officer who will serve as the institutional interface with the Office of the Tax Ombud.’

The Tax Ombud’s intervention is particularly significant because Nigeria’s traditional tax dispute system has largely revolved around objections to tax assessments, administrative reviews, the Tax Appeal Tribunal and the courts.

While those mechanisms remain necessary for determining whether taxpayers actually owe particular amounts of tax, Nwabueze said there had been a gap for people who experienced administrative or procedural difficulties in their dealings with revenue authorities.

The Tax Ombud was created to help fill that gap by receiving, investigating and resolving complaints involving taxes, levies, regulatory fees and charges, customs duties and excise matters.

The office was established under Part VI of the Joint Revenue Board of Nigeria (Establishment) Act, 2025, as part of the wider restructuring of Nigeria’s tax administration system.

Nwabueze said the creation of the office represented a shift in how government and taxpayers should relate, with revenue collection expected to go hand in hand with fairness and access to redress.

He said the modern tax system should not be built solely on the government’s power to collect revenue but should also give taxpayers confidence that they will receive fair treatment.

The Tax Ombud is also strengthening its digital operations as part of the effort to make taxpayer services easier to access.

The office has launched a website, an interactive contact centre, and a case management portal through which taxpayers can submit complaints, obtain information, monitor their cases, and receive assistance.

The digital system is being supported by the gradual movement of the OTO’s internal processes away from manual procedures. Nwabueze said the purpose of the digitalisation was to improve speed, transparency and accountability rather than simply introduce new technology.

The office has also launched a public awareness programme to educate Nigerians about its mandate and the rights available to taxpayers.

Nwabueze said this was important because taxpayer protection would have limited impact if citizens did not know their rights or where to go when those rights were affected.

The OTO’s expanding activities are set against the backdrop of wider efforts by the Federal Government to reform Nigeria’s tax system, simplify administration, and improve domestic revenue collection.

Nwabueze said the reforms initiated under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu were intended to address weaknesses in the existing system, including fragmentation, complexity and the burden created by multiple taxes.

The Tax Ombud therefore sees taxpayer protection as part of the revenue reform process rather than as a separate government activity.

In his view, Nigerians are more likely to comply voluntarily with their tax obligations when they have confidence that the system is fair, transparent and accountable and that they have access to an effective avenue for resolving complaints.

The Tax Ombud’s position is also consistent with its recent efforts to provide free and accessible mechanisms for resolving tax disputes. The office recently said it had received more than 20 genuine complaints in its first three months, with eight already resolved, including cases settled within the statutory 14-day period.

Nwabueze said the broader objective was to reduce friction between taxpayers and government agencies and to create a system in which problems could be resolved without unnecessarily pushing taxpayers into lengthy and costly legal battles.

He also called for stronger cooperation among federal, state and local government revenue authorities because some tax-related complaints involve more than one level of government.

The issue is particularly important in the context of multiple taxation, which the Tax Ombud has previously described as a long-standing problem requiring cooperation among the Joint Revenue Board, state governments and local government authorities.

For the Tax Ombud, the new Bill of Rights and Obligations, the proposed zonal offices, the liaison officer system and the digital complaints infrastructure are parts of the same objective: creating a tax administration in which Nigerians can understand their obligations, demand lawful treatment and obtain timely redress when problems arise.

Nwabueze said the ultimate goal was not to weaken the government’s ability to collect revenue but to build a tax system that Nigerians could trust.

‘Taxpayer protection and revenue mobilisation are not competing objectives, but complementary pillars of an effective, trusted and sustainable tax system,’ he said.

He urged stakeholders to treat the Abuja engagement as the beginning of stronger cooperation between taxpayers and revenue authorities.

According to him, a more coordinated tax administration would protect taxpayers, improve accountability within government institutions and, in the long run, support the Federal Government’s efforts to raise more domestic revenue.

The governorship election in Osun State is just 48 hours away. It is a critical process that presents the state’s 2.339 million registered voters another defining moment to painstakingly reflect before casting their ballots for the candidate who will best serve their collective interests. The registered voters, as shown in the INEC records, spread across 30 local government areas, 332 wards and 3,763 polling units that cut across the state.

Perhaps, like never before, the process is indeed a defining moment that freely offers the people the power to choose their next governor. The moment is not just significant because the state is at a point of inflection.. It is obviously so because of the promises the next poll holds for the future of Osun State or how it will shape its public governance in the next four years, even for the unborn generation that the policies and performance of the next government will either guarantee their futures or disappoint their aspirations outright.

This perspective has undoubtedly reignited the enthusiasm, energy, and commitment that the people of Osun State have demonstrated since political parties began rolling out their campaign manifestos. This is the beauty of democracy across the universe. On the one hand, it allows office seekers to present themselves to the people, indeed the electorate, who occupy the exalted seat of the ultimate judge in every democracy. On the other hand, it gives the people the power to determine who governs or leads them based on their public records.

This thesis is now more rapidly than any time in the past shaping and reshaping the perception and thinking of Osun’s teeming voters now that they are presented with a credible alternative, whom the power of propaganda and the force of incumbency could not just suppress or shove down to the wastebin of history. What is now left at this crucial time is for all party candidates to brace up for the contest; walk into the ring of the ultimate judges and patiently wait for the outcome of their decisions.

This should be a hard lesson for all political actors that the power to decide still lies in the hands of the people and not in the incumbent. If actually the candidates are in the race to serve their people, they should submit themselves to the electoral regime and be guided by the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended). That is why the people of Osun State must collectively vote for peace and not shun any form of violence in the next guber context.

As witnessed in the last 9-12 months that the electioneering has effectively commenced in the state, the contest is between the incumbent governor, Senator Ademola and the governorship candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr. Bola Oyebamiji. Different projections have been made about the outlooks of each of the governorship candidates, the outcome of the process for the state and its implications for both indigenes and residents at large.

Unlike the 2022 election that we lost purely to lack of internal cohesion, the APC is now better positioned to reclaim the state’s seat of political power. The reasons are pure and simple, and they are not connected to the claims of Governor Adeleke that Osun APC is using federal might to defeat the incumbent. This claim is unfounded and even untrue. Unlike 2022, Osun APC is now more cohesive and prepared not just to regain the political control of the state, but also to reposition it posterity. But this cannot be said about Adeleke’s political structure, which ran into turbulence midway into his first administration. What Governor Adeleke has lost due to his poor relationship management skill has now been the gain of Osun APC.

Some indicators attest to the increasingly improving public perception of Osun APC and its governorship candidate. One of the indicators is evident in the disintegration of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the political establishment that helped Governor Adeleke to win the 2022 governorship contest. This tendency has now become more complicated when the faction of the PDP to which Adeleke his allegiance lost the legal battle to control the party and secure the recognition of the electoral umpire. The tendency compelled Governor Adeleke to opt for the Accord Party (ACCORD), a largely unknown political party, to pursue his re-election.

In practice as much as it is in principle, the viability of political structure is a time-tested determinant of victory in any electoral contest. Structure, in this sense, does not directly translate to incumbency. Rather, it is about the political capital a political party has been able to build over time. It is also about confidence or deep-seated trust the people have sustainably invested in their preferred political parties. It is about enduring influence political parties convincingly commands across all the strata of a republic. It is the viability of the political capital that wins elections and not the power of incumbency. This is one formidable factor that now places the APC at a vantage position to win the next governorship poll in Osun State.

Can ACCORD pull such a formidable political capital to its advantage in the next Osun race? The outcome of the 2026 poll will answer this question more empirically. But from what we can see, the profile of ACCORD is little known in Osun’s political environment until Governor Adeleke recently pitched his tent with the party. In terms of performance, the party has not won any governorship election in our recent history. Before now, it won some state and federal legislative seats in Oyo State between 2011 and 2019 because of the influence of former Oyo State Governor and now Olubandan of Ibadan, Oba Rashidi Ladoja. Even then, his influence alone could not secure him victory in the 2011 guber contest.

It can be argued that some remnants of the PDP are still with Governor Adeleke. But what is the political strength of these remnants? Can they defeat Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola in his areas of political influence? Can they override the influence of the Turaki-led PDP faction that has already pledged their support to the APC in the next guber election? Apparently, the ACCORD lacks a formidable political structure that can mobilise much-needed support for its governorship candidate and guarantee his re-election next Saturday. This pattern reinforces the view that the APC remains the foremost contender in the next Osun poll.

Another indicator that glaringly favours the APC lies in the shrinking support base of the incumbent governor within his political circle. The real question is: how did Governor Adeleke manage the political capital that supported him to win the 2022 governorship contest? Evidence in the public space revealed that he mismanaged his relationship with key political actors and figures that generously supported him in 2022. His poor relationship management has forced former political allies to re-evaluate their ties with him and make decisive moves to protect their political interests.

Adeleke’s strained political alliances, however, have worked strictly to the APC’s advantage. Most of these political actors have completely withdrawn their support from him because he could not deftly manage the people. In the Senate, for instance, two out of the three senators from Osun State regretfully parted ways with Governor Adeleke because they were almost utterly excluded from the state’s governance process. Today, Francis Fadahunsi (Osun East) has found a new vibrant political family in the APC. They have also been integrated into the structure of the APC, where their views are always respected and their concerns are treated fairly and justly.

Likewise, three of the nine members of the House of Representatives have painfully parted ways with Governor Adeleke. The members include Hon. Omirin Olusanya (Ijesa South), Hon. Wole Oke (Ijesa North) and Taofeek Ajilesoro (Ife Central). These are time-tested political actors, who have built formidable grassroots support bases in their constituencies that they deployed in support of the incumbent in 2022. They had to quit the government they tirelessly worked for and embrace the APC. Defecting to the APC was, for them, a hard political choice that they had to make not really because of their personal interests. Rather, they made that crucial choice because the Adeleke administration could not guarantee the aspirations of their constituents any longer.

With all these tendencies, is it right for Governor Adeleke to accuse Osun APC of leveraging federal might to win the next governorship election? He might point at the decision of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to restrict the statutory allocation account of the Osun State Government domiciled in First Bank Plc. But the intervention of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, demonstrated the neutrality of the federal government in Osun State.

Similarly, the President has cautioned all security agencies against any form of professional misconduct before, during, and after the upcoming governorship election. This directive further underscores the President’s commitment to ensuring a credible, peaceful, and transparent election in Osun State, notwithstanding the participation of the APC in the contest. From all indications, the President has been fair to all parties in the interest of peace and stability.

In response, all parties are under obligation to play by the rules and avoid all practices that can endanger the peace and stability of Osun State. In the end, it is the people, not the federal government, that will determine who will govern them. For this reason, all parties and their candidates should concentrate on marketing their manifestoes to the people and embrace only practices that encourage peace and deepen stability in all parts of the state.

Obviously, APC is in good stead to win the Osun race. In 2022, interestingly, the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola lost his re-election to Adeleke as an incumbent governor due to lack of internal cohesion that now unsettled the Adeleke political hegemony. Then, it did not matter that APC was the ruling party at the federal level. It should not, and indeed, would not matter if Governor Adeleke loses to a more organised, better structured, and united APC in the 2026 guber contest given the prevailing political circumstances. It is all about political institutions and strength, not about individuals or sentiments.

Air Peace Airlines said yesterday that it lost over N2 billion to the disruption of its operations in Lagos and Abuja by aviation workers on Tuesday.

Over 85 per cent of its 100 daily flights were not operated on account of the picketing of its counters by striking members of the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN) and the National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE).

The three aviation unions embarked on the industrial action over alleged anti-union practices, and withholding statutory funds, including the five per cent Ticket Sales Charge (TSC) by domestic airlines.

Air Peace, which bore the brunt of the strike, called on the Federal Government to investigate the real reasons for it.

”The disruption caused significant financial damage to Air Peace, estimated at over N2 billion. Yesterday, some of our employees were physically assaulted while peacefully expressing that choice, including a female employee who was left bleeding and bruised, the airline’s Chief Operating Officer (COO), Oluwatoyin Olajide, told reporters at a news conference in Lagos.

Olajide said the union members violated the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulation (NCAR) security regulations.

Olajide described their action as unlawful interference punishable under extant aviation regulations.

She added that Air Peace was mulling placing the union members on a ‘No Fly List, ‘ or pushing for the possible arrest of any one of them that flies abroad.

Olajide stressed the need for the union members to be severely cautioned, placed under watch and advised never to cross the red lines again.

According to her, the industrial action was unwarranted because the violence, intimidation and disruption meted out on her airline and its employees is not only deeply disturbing, but raises fundamental questions that demand answers.

She said the reasons cited by the union members- five per cent ticket sales charge remittance and lack of unionisation of employees – for picketing Air Peace are untenable.

Olajide argued that the Director- General of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority had publicly confirmed that airlines, including Air Peace, comply with the directives of the regulator on applicable payments.

She said: ‘ This raises a fundamental question: if the issue is industry-wide, why was Air Peace singled out for violent and disruptive picketing?

”On unionisation, over 98 per cent of Nigerian airlines do not have unions. The staff members of Air Peace have made it abundantly clear that they do not wish to form any union within Air Peace. This is within their constitutional rights.’

Residents of Anambra State have raised fresh concerns following an alleged demand for N1.5 billion ransom by the kidnappers of billionaire businessman, Chief Sir Joseph Ezeokafor.

Ezeokafor, owner of Jezco Group of Companies, was abducted last week and is still being held by his abductors; security agencies have yet to make an official statement on the development.

The Nation gathered that the kidnappers initially demanded N700 million, which the family was reportedly prepared to pay to secure Ezeokafor’s release before the abductors allegedly increased the ransom to N1.5 billion.

A resident of one of the communities close to Ezeokafor’s home, who spoke on condition of anonymity, expressed concern over what he described as the slow response of security agencies to the incident.

The resident said that rather than intensifying efforts to rescue the businessman, the police had been engaging stakeholders.

‘This kidnapping issue has started again because Christmas is fast approaching, and nobody can tell whether we are to blame some of the security operatives, especially the local ones, in such an arrangement.

‘The Federal Government is talking about state police; is this what we are going to face when it materialises? The Jezco kidnapping has really heightened tension in Anambra again,’ he said.

A source close to the family also confirmed that the kidnappers had established contact with the family after the abduction.

According to the source, the abductors initially demanded N700 million, a figure the family reportedly accepted as part of efforts to secure Ezeokafor’s release.

‘The kidnappers initially demanded N700 million, a figure which the victim’s family reportedly accepted as part of efforts to secure their father’s release, but the new demand of N1.5 billion is what many people do not understand,’ the source said.

The source said the family remained willing to negotiate with the abductors but expressed concern that the kidnappers had since stopped further communication.

Ezeokafor, an oil magnate from Ekwulobia in Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra State, is the owner of Jezco Group of Companies. His son is also a prominent figure with an international profile.

The Anambra State Police Command has yet to issue an official statement on the reported ransom demand.

The Command’s spokesperson, Superintendent Tochukwu Ikenga, did not respond to enquiries by The Nation as his phone message platform showed him as unavailable.

Meanwhile, the newly deployed Commissioner of Police in Anambra State, Nnanna Oji, has continued his tour of police formations across the state and engagements with stakeholders in the three senatorial districts – Anambra North, Anambra Central and Anambra South – as part of efforts to address insecurity.

A coalition of unions, labour leaders, workers, professionals and artisans under the aegis of Working People United (WoPU) has endorsed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for re-election in 2027 and backed the candidacy of Lagos State Deputy Governor, Dr Obafemi Hamzat, for the governorship of Lagos State.

Speaking at the inauguration of the WoPU Lagos State Chapter, the National Coordinator of the group, Comrade Prince Akporeha Williams, said WoPU was fully in support of President Tinubu’s re-election, citing his administration’s policies and programmes aimed at improving economic opportunities for Nigerians, particularly workers.

Pledging to mobilise support for the President’s re-election bid, Williams said the decision followed extensive consultations and deliberations among members.

He commended Tinubu for approving a new minimum wage and for plans to review the minimum wage cycle, reducing the interval between reviews from five years to three, adding that the group’s mission is to mobilise working people and promote the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

‘We will unite working people across all sectors in Lagos, ensuring that every voice is heard, every concern is addressed, and every working person in Lagos is mobilised. We will educate our people on the policies and reforms of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and support the 4+4 Vision,’ he said.

‘This is not a decision taken lightly. We have assessed the President’s performance since assuming office on May 29, 2023, and we are convinced that the Renewed Hope Agenda has brought tangible benefits to Nigerian workers.’

Williams commended the President for introducing the Student Loan Scheme, which he said ensures no child is left uneducated, as well as for supporting small businesses and expanding social investment programmes.

‘Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has taken bold and decisive steps to reposition Nigeria for sustainable growth and shared prosperity,’ he said.

On Lagos politics, Williams described Hamzat as an experienced grassroots politician who had spent years in government and was well-positioned to tackle the state’s growing infrastructural and population challenges.

He said WoPU was ready to actively participate in campaigns for Hamzat and other progressive candidates standing for election in Lagos State.

The National Coordinator of Operations at WoPU, Comrade Prince Billy Gillis-Harry, said the movement was created to ensure workers have a seat at the decision-making table rather than merely reacting to policies after they are introduced.

He said the organisation brings together workers from different professions, including farmers, traders, artisans and oil workers, to contribute to governance.

‘Over 90 million Nigerians are working people, and we are ready to support the continuation of this administration.

‘We are also ready to support the candidacy of Dr Obafemi Hamzat as the next governor of Lagos State,’ Gillis-Harry said.

He called for stronger participation by Nigerian workers in government policy formulation, adding that government policies would struggle to achieve their objectives without the support of workers across different sectors of the economy.

The convener, Comrade Funmi Sessi, said the group came together to endorse Tinubu’s re-election and Hamzat’s candidacy for Lagos State Governor, to ensure the continuation of the present administration’s work.

‘This administration has taken bold and decisive steps to reposition Nigeria for sustainable growth and shared prosperity. So, we have to support it to continue this good job,’ Sessi said.

The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Rivers State Branch, has expressed deep sadness over the death of Dr. Stephen Vanman, a medical officer whose lifeless body was reportedly found at Market Junction along Aba Road, Port Harcourt.

The NMA disclosed the incident in a statement, signed by its Rivers State Branch Secretary, Dr. Diamond Tonye-Obene, and posted on its official Facebook page.

The association said its State Officers Committee (SOC), led by the branch Chairman, Prof. Ureh Oparaodu, was alerted earlier on Tuesday that Vanman was missing after reportedly leaving for work at an unidentified private hospital.

NMA said it immediately contacted the deceased doctor’s relatives and roommates, who confirmed that the victim had been unreachable since Saturday night.

The statement said the SOC later accompanied Vanman’s family to the Mini-Okoro Police Station, Rumuobiakani, Port Harcourt, where they were told that his body had been found by police personnel at Market Junction on Sunday morning, August 9.

‘The SOC also accompanied the family to the mortuary, where the corpse was inspected and confirmed,’ the statement said.

Vanman, according to the NMA, was a medical officer who completed his compulsory housemanship at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH) earlier in the year before taking up employment in private medical practice.

The association described his death as a ‘tragic loss’ and extended its condolences to his family, friends, colleagues and other loved ones.

The NMA Rivers State Branch also pledged to cooperate with security agencies investigating the circumstances surrounding the doctor’s death.

‘NMA Rivers State will work closely with the security agencies and provide every necessary information within its capacity to support the investigation and ensure that the perpetrators of this heinous crime are apprehended and brought to justice,’ the association said.

The body of the doctor was reportedly deposited at a mortuary after it was found on Sunday.

The Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrosheed Akanbi, and 24 other traditional rulers in his Federal Constituency in Osun State have commended President Bola Tinubu and the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, for facilitating the rehabilitation of the 82-kilometre Ibadan-Iwo-Osogbo road.

The monarchs described the project as a major development that would boost economic activity, ease transport, and strengthen connectivity across communities along the corridor.

During the event organised to commend President Tinubu and Oyetola, who is also a former Osun Governor, the Oluwo lauded the duo for awarding the long-abandoned Osogbo-Iwo road to Peculiar Concerns Limited, which hails from the constituency.

The Oluwo expressed confidence that Tinubu will secure a second term, noting that ‘Nigerians will repay him for his efforts, because he improved our worth. He is the best President since Nigeria’s independence.

‘Today, Nigeria is creditworthy; people will be talking about the legacy of Tinubu. If you are not creditworthy, will you be able to secure a loan? Let everyone check themselves: how many loans can you secure?’

‘We see NELFUND, autonomy, and funds going to states. If funds go to states, they reach the grassroots; the government should take care of its citizens and avoid selfishness. It was a a bit tough at first, but now we see the network of roads that will last for over 60 years. Nigeria is turning into a great nation with the emergence of President Bola Tinubu,’ Oluwo said.

Commenting on the political situation in Osun State, Oba Akanbi tasked politicians in Osun State to desist from any thuggery and the spilling of blood in the coming gubernatorial election.

‘I am not a politician but a traditional ruler; what I ask is for all politicians and their followers in each party to sheathe their swords in Osun. Stop killing each other. Seek peace. There is no election that is worth the life of any Osun indigene. Election will come on Saturday, and it will go, but if you do not live to tell the story, it will be a loss to you.’

‘If you do otherwise, I personally will put a curse from God Almighty and even your families on anyone killing our children in Osun. All Osun residents are our children. We do not want all this bad news coming from Osun State,’ he stated.

Dr. Akin Ogunbiyi, the APC senatorial candidate, disclosed that ‘This road has been abandoned for the past 15 years. It was awarded under the Oyetola administration and neglected by the Adeleke administration. How well will it be for us if we are in the mainstream? In Iwoland, we are progressive to the core. We have never lost any election,’ he declared.