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Tag: Oyo

  • Alaafin rubbishes supremacy dispute with Ooni, cites colonial-era recognition

    Alaafin rubbishes supremacy dispute with Ooni, cites colonial-era recognition

    The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Akeem Owoade, has rubbished claims suggesting a supremacy rivalry between himself and the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi.

    In a statement released Thursday by his Director of Media and Publicity, Bode Durojaiye, in Ibadan, the monarch emphasized that he holds no desire for conflict with any traditional ruler in Yorubaland or beyond.

    The clarification follows recent tensions after the Ooni conferred the chieftaincy title of Okanlomo of Yorubaland on businessman Dotun Sanusi (also known as Ilaji) during the launch of the indigenous social media platform 2geda in Ibadan. The Alaafin responded by issuing a 48-hour ultimatum for the revocation of the title, asserting that the authority to grant titles with jurisdiction across Yorubaland rests solely with the Alaafin.

    Oba Owoade described the Ooni’s action as overstepping traditional boundaries and referenced a Supreme Court judgment which, he claimed, affirmed the Alaafin’s exclusive rights in matters concerning chieftaincy titles of pan-Yoruba significance.

    According to the statement, “The conferment of titles that cover the entire Yorubaland is the exclusive preserve of the Alaafin,” and the Ooni’s actions were described as unlawful and contrary to established traditional and legal protocols.

    Despite this, the Alaafin affirmed he has no interest in engaging in any supremacy battle, citing his dedication to Yoruba unity, culture, and the welfare of his people. Durojaiye quoted the monarch:

    “Why would the Alaafin need to engage in any supremacy battle with any Oba in Yorubaland or elsewhere?”

    The statement portrayed Oba Owoade as a monarch rooted in both tradition and modernity—deeply spiritual, culturally committed, and sworn to uphold the legacy of the Yoruba ancestors, including Ifa and Sango. The Alaafin is said to have made a covenant at a sacred Yoruba shrine to uphold and promote the values and traditions of the Yoruba people.

    Highlighting the historical prominence of the Oyo Empire, the statement noted that Oyo rose to dominance through wealth and military strength, becoming the most authoritative of the early Yoruba states. It further pointed out that during colonial rule, the British recognized the Alaafin as the “Superior Head of the Yoruba Nation” in official treaties and engagements.

    Concluding, the statement emphasized the Alaafin’s unwavering commitment to the dignity of his throne and the prosperity of his subjects, describing the monarchy as a governance system anchored in tradition, royal lineage, and ancestral duty.

  • Tension mounts in Oyo APC over selection of delegates for primary

    Tension mounts in Oyo APC over selection of delegates for primary

    Tension is mounting within the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State ahead of the party’s primary to fill the vacant Ibadan North Federal Constituency seat in the House of Representatives.

    NAN reports that party’s primary election to elect a candidate to vie for the position is scheduled for Sunday.

    However, on Saturday, the social media was awash with allegations of imposition of a candidate to fly the party’s flag in the Aug. 16 election.

    Some party stakeholders and groups have raised concerns over alleged imposition of a particular aspirant reportedly backed by a top government official.

    The aspirant, who reportedly rejoined the party recently from the Accord party, was believed by some within the party to be enjoying undue advantage in the selection process.

    Sources within the party said that the allegation followed APC National Secretariat’s directive mandating an indirect primary.

    This, the source said, overruled an earlier decision by party leaders in the state and aspirants to adopt a direct primary model for the selection process.

    The stakeholders said that the reversal of the earlier direct primary model has left several party members dissatisfied and expressing a sense of exclusion.

    Sources within the party have also alleged that members of the Delegate Congress Committee and the Appeals Committee, who are camped at a hotel in Ibadan, had produced a delegates list ahead of the congress to select delegates.

    They said that the Delegates Congress Committees during a closed-door meeting at the APC state secretariat on Saturday, reportedly informed stakeholders of the cancellation of the earlier scheduled delegate congress, opting instead to adopt a pre-approved list.

    A senior party figure, who spoke on condition of anonymity, described the development as an abuse of internal democratic processes.

    He appealed to the APC national leadership and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to intervene, saying the integrity of the primary process must be protected.

  • We trek several kilometres to get water, Oyo community cries out

    We trek several kilometres to get water, Oyo community cries out

    Residents of Aleelo Village in Akufo, Ido Local Government Area of Oyo State, have lamented how they have to trek several kilometres to access potable water.

    They disclosed this on Tuesday during the inauguration of a well donated by Miss Namatai Tembo, a student of IITA International School, Ibadan.

    The Village Head, Mr Musliu Olabanji, said the village, before the donated well, had no access to potable water.

    According to him, the people had since stopped going to the only river in the village because of the fear of being killed by an evil spirit.

    This, he said, had made the villagers trek several kilometres to nearby villages to get water for their domestic use.

    One of the women leaders in the village, Mrs Akindele Olatundun, said the donated well was strategic and would help to reduce their stress.

    Olatundun said that water from the well would enable them to live a positive and meaningful life in addition to serving the neighbouring community.

    She appreciated the donor and appealed to the Oyo State Government and other well-meaning Nigerians to provide them with boreholes in order for them to access potable water and enjoy the dividends of democracy.

    Earlier, Tembo, the donor of the well, said the idea of providing rural communities with water came a few years ago when she was in Grade 3.

    She said the idea to sink a borehole for communities surfaced during their end-of-year project while in Grade 5, but it was not successful due to its huge financial involvement.

    Tembo said they ended up donating buckets and a tank to the community in need of water, a gesture she was not satisfied with before graduating from primary school.

    “I wanted to make a difference in the lives of people and communities that are in critical need of water.

    “After several searches, we were able to locate Aleelo Village where they really need water, and with the help of my parents and financial support from others, I was able to donate this well water to this community,” she said.

    Tembo said she was excited that her dream of providing water to those in dire need of water was successful.

    The Head, IITA International School, Ibadan, Mr Shepherd Timothy, said the students’ projects aimed at enabling them to think on their own outside classroom learning.

    Timothy said the impact of the project would not only be for the local communities and the school, but the world in general.

    He prayed that the donor would be successful in all she does.

    The project coordinator, Mrs Edith Ekun, said the project was to give students the choice and ownership of their learning.

    She said it also gave them the chance and opportunity to research and find out things themselves, without the teachers giving them information to follow.

  • Oyo gov, Makinde carries out minor cabinet reshuffle

    Oyo gov, Makinde carries out minor cabinet reshuffle

    Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde has carried out a cabinet reshuffle.

    The governor, in a letter signed by his Chief of Staff, Mr Segun Ogunwuyi, made this disclosure on Monday.

    According to Ogunwuyi, the Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources, Mr Seun Ashamu, is now to oversee the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources.

    He said that the Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, Mr Abdulmojeed Mogbonjubola, has been moved to the Ministry of Public Works, Infrastructure and Transport.

    In also said that the Commissioner for Public Works, Prof Dahud Shangodoyin, has been moved to the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, while that of Education, Science and Technology, Prof Solihu Adelabu, is now to oversee the Ministry of Establishments and Training.

    He added that the current Commissioner for Establishments, Mr Segun Olayiwola, will now man the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology.

    Ogunwuyi said that the movements were with immediate effect.

    He quoted the governor as charging the commissioners to continue to discharge their duties with utmost loyalty and commitment to the state.

  • Late Olunloyo ‘ll get state burial – Makinde

    Late Olunloyo ‘ll get state burial – Makinde

    Gov. Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, says a former governor of the state, Dr Omololu Olunloyo, who died on April 6, will be honoured with a befitting state burial.

    Makinde said this on Tuesday when he paid a condolence visit to the deceased family at Molete area of Ibadan.

    He disclosed that his government and the deceased family had begun arrangements for the state funeral that would reflect the legacy and stature of the late statesman.

    Makinde  described Olunloyo as a towering figure in Oyo State’s political and intellectual history.

    The governor noted that the contributions of the deceased to governance, Mathematics, and public service spanned decades and inspired many.

    He maintained that the Olunloyo was not just a former governor “but a brilliant mind, a respected leader, and a symbol of integrity and excellence”.

    NAN reports that the governor was received by Mrs Aderonke Olunloyo, the deceased’s wife.

    Pa Olunloyo was born in 1935, he was one of Nigeria’s earliest PhD holders in Mathematics.

    He served as governor of the old Oyo State for three months in 1983 under the platform of the defunct National Party of Nigeria.

  • Police arrest 3 suspected hijackers of petrol truck in Oyo

    Police arrest 3 suspected hijackers of petrol truck in Oyo

    The Police Command in Oyo State  has arrested three suspects allegedly linked to the hijacking of a DAF truck loaded with 45,000 liters of petrol belonging to NIPCO Ltd.

    The command’s Public Relations Officer, Adewale Osifeso made this known in a statement made available to newsmen on Sunday in Ibadan.

    Osifeso said that the command’s Monitoring Unit on April 5, at about 1.00 a.m, received a report of a hijacking incident of the truck with registration number ADAMAWA YLA 575 ZY on the Ijebu-Ode-Ibadan Road.

    He said that preliminary investigations indicated the involvement of an armed group equipped with sophisticated firearms, adding that specialised operatives were immediately deployed to investigate and bring the perpetrators to justice.

    “Their efforts led to the discovery of the hijacked truck at Lincoln Filling Station, Odo-Ona Kekere, Ibadan, where the suspects were in the process of siphoning the Premium Motor Spirit (PMS).

    “Upon arrival, police operatives apprehended two suspects at the scene.

    “During preliminary investigations, the suspects disclosed that the hijacked truck was transferred to them by a third individual known as Femi, who allegedly masterminded the hijacking alongside his accomplices,” Osifeso said.

    He said that further revelation led to the identification and subsequent arrest of another 30-year-old suspect, who was a pivotal figure in the operation.

    Osifeso said that the suspect had confessed to his role in orchestrating the hijacking and provided details on how the truck was diverted after the crime.

    The command’s spokesman assured the public of the command’s continued diligent investigations aimed at dismantling the criminal network and holding all individuals involved accountable for their actions.

    He urged members of the public to stay vigilant and report suspicious activities to the police, emphasising that active participation is vital to the command’s collective efforts in the fight against crime.

  • NDLEA raises alarm over rising use of cannabis, ‘loud’ in Oyo

    NDLEA raises alarm over rising use of cannabis, ‘loud’ in Oyo

    The Oyo State Commander of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Mr. Olayinka Joe-Fadile, has expressed deep concern over the increasing consumption of illicit drugs, particularly cannabis and its stronger variants, in the state.

    Speaking during the “Public Destruction of Drug Exhibits” event held in Ipara, Ogun State, Joe-Fadile highlighted a disturbing trend in the abuse of Cannabis Sativa, which has evolved into more potent and expensive variants such as Scottish Loud, Canadian Loud, and Arizona Loud.

    “These ‘loud’ drugs are more dangerous and expensive than regular cannabis,” he warned. “They kill slowly and painfully.”

    Joe-Fadile appealed to young Nigerians to steer clear of drug use, cautioning them about the long-term damage these substances cause. “You may feel inspired now, but drugs will eventually destroy you,” he said.

    He also praised the collaboration between security agencies, which made the destruction of 1.6 million kilograms of illicit drugs possible.

    “Previously, each state command handled its drug destruction independently. But today, in a unified effort, Oyo, Ogun, Lagos, and other strategic commands joined forces,” he noted.

    The joint operation included Lagos Strategic Command, Ogun Command, Oyo Command, the Murtala Mohammed International Airport Command, Lagos Seaports, Idiroko Border Command, and the Seme Command — all operating under NDLEA Zones 9 and 11.

  • BREAKING: Former Oyo gov, Omololu Olunloyo is dead

    BREAKING: Former Oyo gov, Omololu Olunloyo is dead

    Former Governor of Oyo State, Chief Omololu Olunloyo, has died at the age of 90 years.

    TheNewsGuru reports that the nonagenarian, who was also Balogun of Oyo and Otun Bobasewa of Ife, died in the early hours of Sunday.

     A former Editor of the Nigerian Tribune, Barrister Oladapo Ogunwusi confirmed Olunkoyo’s death  in a statement on Sunday morning.

    The statement reads, “With a heavy heart but gratitude to the Almighty, we announce the passing into glory of Dr. Victor Omololu Olunloyo, former governor of Oyo State, mathematician and engineer, and renowned technocrat, a few days before his 90th birthday.

    “The Balogun of Oyo and Otun Bobasewa of Ife, Dr. Olunloyo, was the first Rector, Ibadan Polytechnic and first Rector, Kwara State Polytechnic, among other notable appointments. His long record of service to the nation and humanity is a source of pride to his family and associates, even as we come to grip with this devastating event.”

  • Oyo govt. begins bursary payments to indigene students

    Oyo govt. begins bursary payments to indigene students

    The Oyo State Government has begun paying bursary awards to indigene students of the state studying Law, Medicine, and Aviation.

    This is contained in statement on Saturday in Ibadan by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Dr Sulaimon Olanrewaju.

    Olanrewaju said the bursary payments also covered final-year students of Oyo State origin in universities and polytechnics across Nigeria.

    “The beneficiaries, numbering about 2,950, were selected from a pool of approximately 3,000 applicants, having met the required criteria.

    “Out of the 2,950 beneficiaries, around 105 are medical and clinical students.

    “There are also four maritime and aviation students, while the remaining beneficiaries are final-year students in polytechnics and universities,” he said.

    He revealed that the governor had earlier approved N554.9 million for the bursary awards.

  • ‘Olubadan of Ibadan is alive’ – Oyo govt debunks death rumour

    ‘Olubadan of Ibadan is alive’ – Oyo govt debunks death rumour

    The Oyo State Government has debunked false rumours of Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Owolabi Olakulehin’s death.

    Some media reports on Monday night claimed that the revered monarch was dead at the age of 89.

    According to PUNCH, the Oyo State Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Wasiu Olatunbosun, refuted the rumours.

    Olatunbosun stated that the Olubadan of Ibadan is alive, hale and hearty.

    “Yes. Olubadan is alive, hale and hearty. I spoke with one of the sons who represented the family at the coronation committee, Prince Olaseke Owolabi Olakulehin,” he said.

    Also, in a chat with our correspondent, the Chief Press Secretary to the Olubadan, Gbenga Ayoade, debunked the death rumours, saying that the monarch is hale and healthy.

    “By the time I left the palace around 8 pm, there was nothing of such incident. Things were moving well. There was no crisis. And when I contacted the palace after I left, they told me Baba is hale and healthy.

    “The Olubadan just finished eating amala. He is hale and healthy. It is just a rumour. There is nothing of such,” he said.

    Ayoade further debunked the rumour that the traditional ruler had been flown out of the town for medical attention.

    He added, “Baba is still in Ibadan. He was not flown anywhere. He is doing very fine ”

    Oba Olakulehin, who received the staff of office from the State Governor, Seyi Makinde, on July 12 2024, will clock 90 years on July 5.