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How Oluwo Chased Me When I Visited Him Over Isese – Ooni Of Ife

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  The Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi has disclosed that he was chased out when he visited the Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrasheed Akanbi, in his palace. The monarch made this known in a trending video on TikTok on Sunday. Speaking, the Ooni of Ife said, “When I visited Oluwo, he chased me out like a child, since that incident, I have always maintained myself going close to him. Now that you people (attendees) are imploring that I visit him again, what if he does what he likes to me? “But I have to contain his excesses as an elder, although I am a young person sitting on the throne of the elders. Oluwo, I greet you.” Although Ogunwusi did not speak on any feud between him and Oluwo of Iwo in the viral video as both are respected monarchs in Osun State, findings revealed that Oluwo has not been pleased with Ooni’s relationship and activities with the traditionalists who he described as ‘idols worshippers’. In another video, Akanbi popularly called Telu 1 was seen telling the people of Iwo to detest traditional practices warning that anybody indulging in it should do so in their respective homes. “My work as a monarch is to stand for God and preach about him alone while challenging those worshipping things other than Him. I don’t do Ogun or any idol festival. Although, I have previously celebrated the Egungun festival with the worshippers but I will never do that again. Except that they don’t call it idol worshipping. I don’t support their activities, that’s why their dealings don’t thrive here. “And you cannot even perform sacrifices in Iwo here. Anyone who does that will eat it. Better still, litter your house with the sacrifices. Environmental sanitation has been exercised here to curb things like that. What anyone would need to be successful is to challenge the idols and their worshippers. That alone would make you a soldier of God,” he added. Continuing, Oluwo in his Facebook post on Monday clarified that Iwo used to be ruled by a traditional monarch but has ceased being that since the emergence of Oba Memudu Ayinla Lamuye in 1800 spread Islam in the town as the monarch converted the whole Iwo people to Islam. He wrote, ”Oba Ibirinade Abioye Adekanbi (Alawusa) brought Islam in 1600. He evacuated idols and converted a place of worshipping deities to the Oluwo Central Mosque. Precisely, he birthed the first Mosque in South Western Nigeria in 1600. Later in the late 1800, another Oluwo, Oba Memudu Ayinla Lamuye (pictured above) spread Islam and converted the whole Iwo people to Islam and that’s why in Iwo, every compound has a Mosque and there is no Iwo indigene that does not have a Muslim name including recent convertees when the missionaries came. “Oba Ibirinade Adekanbi was also called Alawusa because he was hospitable. He accommodated Malians who people tagged Hausa then they came to settle in Iwo. Oluwo was turbaned. New Oluwo used to be enthroned with a beaded crown before 1600. After 1600, turbanning used to come first before wearing the beaded crown. Oba Muhammad Ayinla Lamuye spent 90 years on the throne. Exactly 100 years after, the reigning Oluwo, was enthroned to complete the good work of the past monarchs.” Recall that Akanbi in 2018 alleged that Ogunwusi ordered his bodyguard to push him out of the way during a meeting of traditional rulers in Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital. According to Akanbi, the incident happened at Hotel Presidential in the oil-rich city. He said it happened just as the Ooni was called to the podium to give a vote of thanks. “The bodyguard of the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, in what seemed to be an errand message, pushed Oluwo at the public gathering of the first-class paramount rulers held at the Presidential Hotel, Port Harcourt, the capital of Rivers State last Tuesday,” Akanbi said in a statement. “Dignitaries at the event were taken aback by what they considered as a desecration of the crown as the bodyguard of the Ooni pushed a first-class paramount ruler, Oluwo. But the Ooni denied the allegation in a statement that the director of public affairs at his palace, Moses Olafare, issued on his behalf. Ogunwunsi described the claims of the Oluwo as untrue, saying, “There was no altercation between Oluwo and anybody at that venue at all.”

Army Headquarters Denies Reports Of Chief Of Army Staff’s Death

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  The Nigerian Army has categorically dismissed speculations claiming that the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, has died, labeling the reports as fake news. The headquarter via its official X handle, @HQNigerianArmy, dismissed an online report that circulated on Sunday, stating, “Chief of Army Staff dies of cancer.” The report claimed that Lt. Gen. Lagbaja passed away in an undisclosed hospital overseas nearly 48 hours ago due to stage three cancer, according to a senior government official. Furthermore, the report alleged that the news of the Chief of Army Staff’s death had been kept secret due to intense lobbying by some Army Generals seeking to assume his position. Lt. Gen. Lagbaja, born on February 28, 1968, in Ilobu, Osun State, was appointed by President Bola Tinubu in June 2023 as the 27th Chief of Army Staff. The Army Headquarters continues to assert the importance of accurate information and has urged the public to disregard any unverified reports regarding the health or status of its leadership. Presidency reacts Also reacting, Special Adviser Information and Strategy to President Tinubu, Bayo Onanuga via his X Platform dismissed the alleged death of Lagbaja. He said: “Director of Army Public Relations, Major General Onyema Nwachukwu has dismissed fake reports about the chief of army staff, Lt. General Taoreed Lagbaja. “To be very clear, the Nigerian Army is a highly structured establishment with well-laid-out procedures and processes for dealing with different circumstances. Before proceeding on leave, necessary protocols were put in place for the Chief of Policy and Plans (Army), Major General Abdulsalami Bagudu Ibrahim, to act on behalf of the COAS while he is away,”.

Asylum: UK Deports 44 Ghanaians, Nigerians In Single Flight

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  In a record-breaking deportation flight, 44 Nigerians and Ghanaians were forcibly removed from the UK on Friday, marking a significant surge in immigration enforcement. According to The Guardian.com/uk The Home Office confirmed the action as part of a broader crackdown on immigration, which has seen the deportation of over 3,600 people since the Labour government came to power in July. This comes as news emerges that asylum seekers arriving at Diego Garcia, a UK-administered island, before the finalization of a treaty between the UK and Mauritius will be relocated to Saint Helena, a British territory in the Atlantic. This comes as news emerges that asylum seekers arriving at Diego Garcia, a UK-administered island, before the finalization of a treaty between the UK and Mauritius will be relocated to Saint Helena, a British territory in the Atlantic. The Chagos Islands treaty, expected to be signed next year, will not apply to around 60 Tamils who have been stranded on Diego Garcia since 2021 and are pursuing legal action over their detention. While the number of asylum seekers arriving at Diego Garcia has been in the hundreds, it pales in comparison to the tens of thousands who have crossed the English Channel in small boats from northern France in recent years. Just on Friday, 647 individuals made the perilous crossing in 10 boats, pushing the total for the year beyond 28,000. Deportation flights to Nigeria and Ghana have been relatively rare, with only four recorded since 2020, and prior flights carrying significantly fewer individuals—ranging from six to 21 people. The recent flight, which saw 44 deportees, more than doubled the numbers seen in previous removals. In a record-breaking deportation flight, 44 Nigerians and Ghanaians were forcibly removed from the UK on Friday, marking a significant surge in immigration enforcement. According to The Guardian.com/uk The Home Office confirmed the action as part of a broader crackdown on immigration, which has seen the deportation of over 3,600 people since the Labour government came to power in July. This comes as news emerges that asylum seekers arriving at Diego Garcia, a UK-administered island, before the finalization of a treaty between the UK and Mauritius will be relocated to Saint Helena, a British territory in the Atlantic. The Chagos Islands treaty, expected to be signed next year, will not apply to around 60 Tamils who have been stranded on Diego Garcia since 2021 and are pursuing legal action over their detention. While the number of asylum seekers arriving at Diego Garcia has been in the hundreds, it pales in comparison to the tens of thousands who have crossed the English Channel in small boats from northern France in recent years. Just on Friday, 647 individuals made the perilous crossing in 10 boats, pushing the total for the year beyond 28,000. Deportation flights to Nigeria and Ghana have been relatively rare, with only four recorded since 2020, and prior flights carrying significantly fewer individuals—ranging from six to 21 people. The recent flight, which saw 44 deportees, more than doubled the numbers seen in previous removals. The Guardian interviewed four Nigerian men held at Brook House immigration removal centre near Gatwick before their deportation. One of them, who had been in the UK for 15 years seeking asylum, expressed his distress: “I have no criminal record, but the Home Office has refused my claim.” Another man revealed he had been a victim of trafficking and bore torture scars, yet his asylum claim had also been rejected. Fizza Qureshi, the chief executive of Migrants’ Rights Network, condemned the deportations, citing the speed, secrecy, and lack of legal support. She quoted a detainee who said, “The Home Office is playing politics with people’s lives. We have not done anything wrong other than cry for help.” A Home Office spokesperson defended the move, stating that the government is committed to enforcing immigration rules and ensuring that people without legal rights to remain in the UK are returned.  

ENDSARS Anniversary: Police Fire Tear Gas To Disperse Protesters At Lekki Toll Gate

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    Officers of the Lagos State Police Command have fired teargas to disperse protesters rallying to mark the fourth anniversary of the #EndSARS protest. Videos seen on Sunday morning showed protesters fleeing as the police fired shots. The protesters had converged around 8:30 am at the toll gate with several banners and placards, calling for the full implementation of the reports submitted by various judicial panels of inquiry set up after the 2020 protests. In October 2020, thousands of youths gathered in major cities acro css the country to protest against the constant harassment, killings, and extortion by officers of the defunct Special Anti-Robbery Squad, a unit of the Nigerian police. The protest culminated at the Lekki Toll Gate in Lagos, where several youths were reportedly killed and many others severely injured following the intervention of the Nigerian military. In the aftermath of the protests, judicial panels were established across various states to assess and review the protesters’ demands. However, almost four years later, protest leaders have expressed deep regret that many of the panels’ recommendations remain unimplemented. Speaking on Sunday, one of the protesters, identified simply as Excel, said he fell into the gutter while running from the teargas fired by the officers. “They have started firing teargas at us. I fell into the gutter; I was hit on the head,” he told PUNCH Online. Another protester, Bayo Are, said, “I was hit too. I’m not really injured, just a few scratches on my body. Some people have also been arrested.” When contacted, the Public Relations Officer of the Lagos State Police Command, Benjamin Hundeyin, stated that there was no confrontation, but the police had to disperse the protesters to prevent traffic disruption at the Lekki Toll Gate. “They were told to disperse, but they were adamant; we had to use minimal force to disperse them,” Hundeyin said.

Ogbomoso Residents Protest, Issue One-Month Ultimatum to Federal Government Over Poor Road Conditions

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  Scores of Ogbomoso residents took to the streets on Saturday morning to stage a peaceful protest, drawing attention to the deplorable state of the Ogbomoso-Oyo road. The protesters expressed their frustration over the long-standing neglect of the road, which has caused significant gridlock in recent months. The protest comes just a day after the Soun of Ogbomosoland, Oba Ghandi Afolabi Olaoye (Soun Orumogege III), announced the commencement of temporary repairs on the road. However, the youths insisted that the government must take immediate and decisive action to permanently fix the road. During the demonstration, the protesters carried placards and banners with various inscriptions, calling on the federal government to expedite the road’s rehabilitation. The youth leaders issued a 30-day ultimatum, demanding that the road be fully repaired. They warned that if the government fails to act within the given timeframe, they would block the road for seven days in protest.

Renowned Nigerian Filmmaker Biyi Bandele, Commits Suicide

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  New revelations have emerged regarding the death of Biyi Bandele, the acclaimed Nigerian filmmaker and novelist, who tragically took his own life in August 2022. The news follows an announcement made by his daughter, Temi Bandele, at the time of his passing, which occurred at the age of 54. The circumstances surrounding his death were not disclosed initially. According to a report by The Guardian UK, Bandele’s suicide came a day after an engaging conversation with his editor, Hannah Chukwu, about his latest novel, *Yorùbá Boy Running*. Following their discussion, he sent her a revised manuscript and, the next day, took the irreversible step of ending his life. The Guardian’s report highlighted the profound loss felt by the literary and film communities, as Bandele left behind a remarkable and diverse body of work. His contributions included the film adaptation of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s *Half of a Yellow Sun*, which took seven years to complete, as well as stage adaptations of renowned works such as Chinua Achebe’s *Things Fall Apart*, Aphra Behn’s *Oroonoko*, and Federico García Lorca’s *Yerma*. Additionally, he authored several novels, including the poignant *Burma Boy*, which chronicles the harrowing experiences of his father as a British soldier during World War II. Temi Bandele reflected on her father’s final project, expressing her belief that he felt fulfilled with *Yorùbá Boy Running*, sensing it would be his last literary statement. “He wanted it to be the beginning of multiple conversations that would happen when he wasn’t here,” she noted, underscoring the depth of her father’s creative vision. Biyi Bandele’s sudden passing shocked friends, family, and colleagues worldwide, who have been mourning the loss of a talented storyteller and innovator in the arts. Born in Kafanchan, Kaduna State, to parents from Abeokuta, Ogun State, Bandele pursued his passion for the arts by studying Dramatic Arts at the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University). His poignant storytelling abilities first garnered recognition when he won the BBC Playwriting Competition, after which he relocated to England to further his career. Before his death, Bandele directed and adapted the screenplay for *Elesin Oba: The King’s Horseman*, based on Wole Soyinka’s classic drama, which was produced for EbonyLife Films and released shortly after his passing on October 28, 2022. His legacy continues to inspire and resonate within the creative communities he left behind.

Anambra Evacuates Residents From Flood-Prone Areas

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  The Anambra State government has commenced the immediate evacuation of those living in riverine areas due to a rapid rise in water levels in the Niger and Benue rivers over the past few days. The Executive Secretary of the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Chief Paul Odenigbo, disclosed this while speaking with journalists in Awka, the Anambra state capital. On Thursday, the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) issued a fresh alert urging communities along coastal lines to relocate without further delay. Chief Odenigbo stated that the state government had provided the necessary support to relocate people to safer areas and mitigate the worsening impacts of the floods as rainfall persists. He noted that in some local governments, plans had been finalised to use boats to evacuate over 3,000 inhabitants willing to move to higher ground. According to him, Governor Charles Soludo has made available essential items for those in various holding camps in the state to ensure they are comfortable during their stay. Items distributed to the local government areas of Ogbaru, Anambra West, and Ayamelum include blankets, mattresses, buckets, and cartons of soap and detergents. The SEM boss stated that the camps had been well prepared with conveniences, water supply, and other relevant logistics provided by the government. Chief Odenigbo urged the public to heed the latest warnings from relevant agencies and to pack essential items such as certificates, documents, and medications that they will need while in the camps. Daily Trust

Jigawa Tanker Explosion: Kano Gov Donates N100M To Victims As Death Toll Hits 167

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  Governor Abba Yusuf of Kano State has donated N100 million to assist the survivors and families of the deceased from the recent tanker explosion in Majiya town, Taura Local Government Area of Jigawa State. The tragic incident, which occurred on Tuesday night, claimed the lives of over 150 people and left more than 50 others injured. Governor Yusuf made this announcement during a sympathy visit to Governor Umar Namadi of Jigawa State in Dutse. Expressing his profound grief over the devastating event, Yusuf described the explosion as one of the greatest tragedies to befall Jigawa and Nigeria as a whole. What he said : “On behalf of the government and good people of Kano state, I’m here to commiserate with you over this unfortunate and tragic fire incident that cost the lives and properties of innocent citizens of your state in Majiya town of Taura local government. “It is unfortunate that the Jigawa government and indeed Nigeria lost over 100 lives of innocent citizens. “The people of Kano and Jigawa are brothers and sisters, therefore, on behalf of the government and good people the state, I wish to announce a token donation of N100 million so that the government can take care of victims at hospital, as well as the families of those that departed,” Yusuf said. What to know Governor Namadi, in his response, expressed deep gratitude to Governor Yusuf and the people of Kano for their generosity and compassion. “On behalf of the government and the people of Jigawa, I want to thank you for this show of solidarity and brotherhood. Your support means a lot to us during this difficult time,” said Namadi. The ill-fated event was caused by an overturned fuel tanker which exploded in northern Nigeria on Tuesday night, resulting in the deaths of at least 153 people who had gathered to collect leaking petrol. The explosion occurred in the town of Majia, Jigawa State, at approximately 23:30 local time, following the crash of the tanker, which had been en route from Kano to Nguru in Yobe State. Authorities had cordoned off the site and warned the crowd to stay away from the area, but were unable to disperse the growing number of people before the explosion occurred. According to police spokesman Lawal Shiisu Adam, officers attempted to control the situation, but the crowd continued to approach the tanker, leading to the tragic outcome. In addition to the fatalities, around 100 individuals were seriously injured and taken to nearby hospitals, with many in critical condition. The incident has prompted renewed concerns over safety measures and crowd control at accident scenes involving hazardous materials. The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has also launched an investigation into the cause of the tanker explosion. In a statement, the NSIB Director of Public Affairs and Family Assistance, Mrs. Bimbo Oladeji, said the bureau is “aware of the tragic petrol tanker explosion” and is working to determine the exact circumstances surrounding the accident. The investigation aims to prevent similar incidents in the future by identifying any lapses in safety protocols related to the transport of hazardous materials.   Nairametrics

Protesters In Ibadan Demand Military Takeover Amid Economic Hardship

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  A group of protesters in Ibadan has taken to the streets, blocking Nigerian Army vehicles and urging military personnel to intervene in the country’s governance. Video footage that emerged on Thursday shows demonstrators calling for an end to the current administration under President Bola Tinubu. The unrest is fueled by rising discontent over the surging cost of living, particularly following recent hikes in fuel prices. Many Nigerians have expressed frustration over the resultant spike in commodity prices, which they say has made daily survival increasingly challenging. While some protesters claim that even the worst civilian government is preferable to a military dictatorship, many in Ibadan argue that the realities of their daily lives have reversed this sentiment. The protesters are demanding decisive action from military authorities, believing that a military government could provide a solution to the economic turmoil they are facing.  

Oyo CSDA Funds Another 132 Micro-Projects In 66 Communities …Reiterates Makinde’s Commitment To Eradicate Out-of-school Children Syndrome(Photos)

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  The Oyo State Community and Social Development Agency (OYCSDA) has disbursed funds for the implementation of another 132 micro-projects across sixty-six communities in Oyo State. This was disclosed at a training programme organized by the agency on Monday at the House of Chiefs, Oyo State Secretariat, Agodi Ibadan, where focus was directed at project implementation procedures, aimed at bolstering resilience and economic recovery. In his keynote address, Hon. Abideen Adeaga, who is the Board Chairman of OYCSDA, expressed gratitude to Governor Seyi Makinde for his unwavering support in approving the collaboration programme with the World Bank and the Federal Government to achieve the gains of the Nigeria Community Action for Resilience and Economic Stimulus (NG-CARES) programme in Oyo State. The NG-CARES initiative, domesticated as OYO-CARES, according to Adeaga, seeks to mitigate the negative impact of COVID-19 on vulnerable population, unemployed youths, small businesses and farmers. He highlighted the program’s significant interventions across 66 communities, marking a historical milestone in the State’s community development efforts. He also acknowledged the Governor’s recent decision to increase project funding from ₦15 million to ₦18 million due to rising costs, ensuring that community-driven micro-infrastructure projects in areas like healthcare, education, water, and erosion control are successfully completed. These efforts, according to the Chairman, are tailored towards eradicating the out-of-school children crisis by construction and renovation of schools with furniture and toilets, mitigate the effects of erosion on communities through intervention in culverts construction, as well as construction and renovation of community health centers and provision of motorized boreholes for the people in the various communities. “This gesture from our Governor for approving the disbursement of funds to sixty-six communities across the State is unprecedented, so that OYCSDA would embark on such massive micro-projects. “It is also noteworthy to State that the Governor approved the review of each Community Development Plan (CDP) from #15million to #18million, so as to take care of the economic realities of the day. “All these are tailored towards total eradication of the out-of-school children syndrome in our State, eradication of water-borne diseases and to guide against untoward occurrences caused by erosion in these communities,” he added. The General Manager of OYCSDA, Mr. Jelili Salau, emphasized the training’s dual purpose of building the capacity of CPMCs and initiating the disbursement of funds to kick-start community projects. He applauded the Governor’s foresight in approving funds for 66 concurrent projects and underscored the importance of collaboration among all stakeholders for the program’s success. The NG-CARES initiative, as stated by Salau, designed, using a Community-Driven Development (CDD) approach, empowers communities to identify, plan, implement and manage their own micro-projects, with OYCSDA ensuring quality standards, supervision, and effective financing throughout the process. Goodwill messages were delivered by the former Speaker, Oyo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Moroof Atilola, the Special Adviser to Governor Makinde on Education Projects Intervention, Hon. Tiamiyu Suraju, a former Permanent Secretary and General Manager of OYCSDA, Alhaji Busari Olalekan, Engr. Abisola Adabanija, a member of the OYCSDA board, Mrs Jadesola Ajibola as well as the representative of the OYO-CARES Coordinating Unit among others.

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