Author: Gbenga Oluranti Olaleye

Pa Ayodele Adebanjo, a prominent Nigerian nationalist and elder statesman, will be laid to rest in his hometown of Ijebu Ode, Ogun State, on May 3, 2025. The announcement was made in a statement signed by his children, Ms Ayotunde Ayo-Adebanjo, Mrs Adeola Azeez, and Mr Obafemi Ayo-Adebanjo, on behalf of the Adebanjo family. According to the statement, funeral proceedings will commence with a Day of Tributes and a Service of Songs at Harbour Point, Victoria Island, Lagos, before the burial. The main burial ceremony will take place on Friday, May 3, beginning with a wake at Adebanjo’s country home…

Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has expressed his heartfelt gratitude to friends, associates, and well-wishers who celebrated his 65th birthday. However, he couldn’t resist taking a subtle dig at those he claimed initially refrained from acknowledging his milestone until President Bola Tinubu’s birthday message prompted them to do so. In a statement shared via his X (formerly Twitter) handle on Monday, El-Rufai thanked those who sent him birthday prayers and well-wishes, while poking fun at his critics. He remarked, “I want to thank everyone that sent me their prayers and best wishes, including those that didn’t want to until…

The Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation has announced the postponement of the National Council for Art, Culture, Tourism, and Creative Economy meeting, initially scheduled to take place in Osun State from February 25 to 27, 2025. The decision follows rising political tensions in the state, triggered by the ongoing local government elections. The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, conveyed the postponement through an internal memo titled ‘Urgent Action Against Hosting of National Council for Art, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy from 24-27 February 2025, in Osun State’. The memo, directed to State Commissioners, Directors of…

The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) has given the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) a seven-day ultimatum to settle outstanding bridging claims amounting to N100 billion. The association has warned that failure to fulfil the payment within the specified time frame will result in a nationwide withdrawal of services. The announcement came after the NMDPRA failed to honour a commitment made 40 days ago in the presence of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, to clear the debt. According to IPMAN, the situation, if unresolved, could lead to a severe scarcity of Premium Motor Spirit…

A three-man delegation from the World Bank has concluded a five-day visit to the Lagos State Public Procurement Agency (LASPPA) to evaluate the state’s electronic procurement system. The delegation, led by Procurement Specialist Akin Onimole, was following up on a previous visit by the Bank’s Regional Manager last year, during which the agency requested the World Bank’s support. Onimole, a former General Manager of LASPPA, expressed his admiration for the agency’s progress, particularly its implementation of the e-Government Procurement (e-GP) system. He commended LASPPA for its achievements, especially the live demonstration of the e-GP system by agency officials and the…

The Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), has urged Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, to call off Saturday’s local government elections, warning that the poll would be unconstitutional and invalid. In a statement issued on Thursday, Fagbemi emphasised that conducting the election would breach the Constitution, as the tenure of the allegedly sacked local government officials remains valid according to a recent Court of Appeal ruling. The judgement, delivered on February 10, 2025, restored the ousted chairmen, rendering any new election unnecessary and unlawful. The political crisis in Osun State, sparked by a…

Renowned constitutional lawyer and human rights advocate, Professor Mike Ozekhome (SAN), has called for fresh local government elections in Osun State to resolve the ongoing dispute that has sparked violence and political tension across the region. In a statement issued on Thursday in Abuja, Ozekhome described new elections as the only viable solution to avoid “needless orchestrated violence” and restore peace to the state. He emphasised that the Court of Appeal’s recent judgement did not reinstate the sacked local government officials, as widely misconstrued, but rather struck out the case brought by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). “I watched with…

The House of Representatives has set up an ad hoc committee to investigate the activities of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in Nigeria, following allegations made by US Congressman Scot Perry that the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is funding global terrorism, including Boko Haram. The investigation, spurred by a motion from Gombe lawmaker Inuwa Garba, aims to uncover the identities, sources of funding, and expenditures of NGOs operating in the country, particularly those in the North-East, which is the epicenter of terrorism in Nigeria. Garba expressed concern that if the allegations were true, they could undermine Nigeria’s fight against…

Former military president, General Ibrahim Babangida (retd.), has for the first time publicly acknowledged that the late Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola won the June 12, 1993 presidential election, but described its annulment as the “most difficult decision” of his life. Babangida made the revelation in his newly launched autobiography, A Journey in Service, unveiled in Abuja on Thursday, February 120. The book offers a deep dive into pivotal moments of Nigerian history, including controversial decisions during his time in power. While reviewing the book at the launch, former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo quoted Babangida as saying that Abiola, who…

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State has officially withdrawn from the upcoming local government election scheduled for Saturday, February 22. The party’s decision follows a controversial Court of Appeal ruling earlier this month that reinstated its sacked chairmen and councillors. In a letter dated February 17, which was signed by the APC State Publicity Secretary, Alao Kamorudeen, and addressed to the Secretary of the State Independent Electoral Commission (OSIEC), the party announced its withdrawal from the electoral process, citing the implications of the February 10 judgment. The Court of Appeal’s ruling in Akure nullified a previous Federal High…