Gani Adams & other interlopers cannot honour Dr Fasehun who they rebel against till death.

Full text of the President-General of Oodua People's Congress on the illegal activities of Gani Adams and other interlopers who are dancing on the grave of the founder and late President of OPC, Dr Frederick Isiotan Fasehun to the media on Wednesday, 28,August, 2019

Good morning distinguished gentlemen of the press, esteemed guests and my fellow dedicated OPC members. I welcome you all to this press briefing.

I would like to start by paying special tribute and eulogies to our inimitable founder, father figure and enigma, Dr. Fasehun iseotan Fasehun.

I am proud that as a people, we celebrate this visionary leader, charismatic, quintessential democrat, pathfinder, philanthropist and author everyday of our being. 

He lives on with his unimpeachable legacies of service to mankind, Spartan lifestyle, erudition and philosophy, coupled with his indelible footprints on ancestral annals and nation building. He was a rare star in the sky of the Yoruba Nation.

A man with a humble beginning, Dr. Fasehun rose to the zenith of every endeavor by a dint of hard work, resilience and devotion. As a student, he showed and twinkled like the little star in the sky. 

As a politician, Dr Fredrick Fasehun towered above his peers and contemporaries. As a statesman, he never waived nor hesitated to speak the truth to the authorities even at the risk of his life.

As a professional, he carved a niche for himself and demonstrated capacity to break new grounds and set a good example.

As a philanthropist, Dr Fasehun set the precept, touching lives of the high and low; the strong and the weak, the rich and the poor; artisans, traders, farmers, children, students and other proletariats.

As a labour leader, he was totally uncompromising on the welfare and wellbeing of workers. His record in that regard remains unassailable in the public space. As an activist, he was conscientious, steadfast and undiluted in his ideological battle and direction.

In some situation, he had to pay the price in various shades and shapes. As an ideologue, he championed the crusade that the people must take ownership of their common patrimony, dispensed it for the common good of everybody.

As a leader, Dr. Fasehun was neither assuaged nor persuaded by privilege to promote a class culture or elitism; rather, he was detribalized, dispensing favour to the man on the street and taking the battle against injustice to the doorsteps of oppressors, bigots and fascists.

Perhaps, his most striking feature as a Yoruba man was that he was passionate about the pioneering spirit of the Yoruba, their rich cultural heritage, and penchant for industry.

OPC as mustard seed

History was made 25 years ago; Precisely, tomorrow, August 29, 1994 when Dr. Fasehun founded Oodua Peoples Congress. 

The OPC, founded like the Biblical mustard seed has today grown into an oak tree. He was clear in his vision, mission and how to nurture it to an institution that will outlive generations yet unborn.

Like any good and great institution with well-defined purpose, direction and aim, the OPC had its own share of human frailties; but it rose gingerly to such challenges and remained focused on its primary ideals and goal of articulating, projecting, and defending the interest of the Yoruba Nation in Nigeria and in the Diaspora.

Till date, the OPC under my watch and leadership remains constant, unshaken and unwavering in devious manipulations of the Fifth Columnists, who like serpents, vampires and hyenas are constantly trying to undermine the rights and will of the Yoruba nation.

Interlopers on the prowl

Emphatically, nothing can ever bring down OPC because it is an institution anchored on the Yoruba nation as the pillars.  It was conceived in truth, delivered on truth and nurtured by truth. It is an establishment whose ownership is hinged on the people.

The OPC has no room for imposters. The OPC has no place for the feeble minded who will claim to be a servant of the people in the day but would collude with vampires and hyenas in the night to undermine the interest of the Yoruba Nation.

A bunch of interlopers are on the prowl again. They are desperate to reap where they never sowed. Like land grabbers, they are effortlessly trying to deface history books, dishing out tissues of lies from the pit of hell. 

They are fabricating lies on the story of the birth and dramatis personae behind the OPC.

When Fasehun toiled to found OPC, he was dehumanized and almost killed by agents of the state for insisting on the rights of the Yoruba. 

Where were these vampires and locusts currently bent on appropriating OPC for selfish and myopic reasons?

While the founder was hounded and caged in Ikoyi prison in a grand design to weaken, damage and break his soul and flesh through solitary confinement; where were these usurpers and traitors?  

When Dr. Fasehun faced the worst humiliation by a fascist regime that consigned him to the dark alley of the wizards and witches of the Ikoyi cemetery, where were these crooks bent on appropriating vision and legacy bequeathed to the Yoruba and posterity? 

Why did they stabbed him in the back and tried vainly to destroy his resolve to fight for the people and preserve their integrity?

We have resolved and agreed to take OPC back to the people through a sweeping, well calculated and deliberate restructuring to make it bolster, stronger and better for its primary goal. 

This resolve should not be taken for granted and perceived as a sign of weakness. That we have resolved to preserve the legacy of cultured behaviour of discipline and the principle of Omoluabi should not be regarded as a sign of lack of capacity, ability and capability to bite where and when necessary.

We remain law-abiding people and not vagabonds and gangsters notorious for subterfuge and intellectual theft and roguery. It is time to say it how it is, having resolved to chase out these vampires and hyenas and maggots desperate to appropriate the OPC, twist history, feed the public with falsehood and lies from the pit of hell because Fasehun is no longer with us in flesh and body.

They have forgotten that the dogged fighter remains with us in spirit. They have easily forgotten that Fasehun only transited and is watching patiently those who would want to come and dance on his earthly grave after they failed to kill the dream that has grown to an institution.

For the purpose of emphasis, I state without equivocation, that nobody can turn, obliterate and twist the history of the formation, journey from the cradle to grace and the real dramatis personae of OPC. 

OPC is one and united on the cardinal goal and dream of the visioner and founder. OPC is under one structure; it has neither splinter group nor any other leadership structure than I represent and lead.

Any other one is fake, imaginary, imposturous and delusionary. If they desire institutions similar to the status and pedigree of the OPC, let them adopt a different nomenclature and embrace the Spartan lifestyle of Dr. Fasehun and the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo that enabled them to carve a niche for themselves, in place of trying to turn logic on its head. I repeat, we have laid our hands on the plough; we are not going to look back. 

Those planning to test our will and resolve to stick to the ideals and goals of OPC from inception should quickly have a rethink. They should retrace their steps.  They should go back to the gutter where they belong because we will hit the iron when it is hot.

Enough is enough; nobody should taunt the OPC because he is seeking a credible platform to wet his gluttonous appetite and drive.

All serpents and vampires and hyenas must leave OPC alone. If they think they can appropriate OPC because Fasehun is no longer with the Yoruba physical, they better have a rethink.

All available records since the inception of the OPC strongly corroborate the painstaking account given by Dr. Fasehun on the chequered history of the organization.  In one of his books titled: “OPC: our history, our mission”, Dr. Fasehun states on pages 13 and 14, “August 29, 1994. Venue was a flat on the first floor of a two-story building. No. 110 Palm Avenue in the Mushin area of Lagos. 

This rented apartment had housed a company called Health Vouchers. A limited liability company, Health Vouchers had been owned by me. It was in this office that I invited three people---two men and one woman. All three were notable grassroots mobilisers in the area

They bought my idea of an organization to be called the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC), dedicated to salvaging our race from the cesspool disgrace into which the annulment of June 12 had collectively cast the children of Ooduduwa.

The period of mourning of our indefatigable founder will soon be over. Even though he has fully immortalized, the process of broadening the scope of his prestige and honour is at pace.

It bewilders us that a child who did recognize his father while he was alive and does not know the tombstone will want to rise to celebrate him. We must be conscious of the consequences of desecrating the dead.

Nobody can delude the Yoruba people with hypocritical honourary award after such individual and his coterie of jesters had despised, abused and attempted to kill the man and his lofty dream of restoring the dignity of a race famous for valour and setting the pace and records in all human endeavours. Nigerians should discountenance such deceitful honourary gesture. It is another Greek gift.

Thank you for coming.  Ooduduwa a gbewa o, ase !

Signed: Aare Prince OSIBOTE

National President General,

Oodua People's Congress

(OPC).

PDP BREAKS UP IN BAYELSA STATE.....OVER 2000 DEFECTS TO APC

The PDP in Bayelsa is bleeding currently. A founding member and 2500 others just flocked out of the party to join in the APC as the state gets ready for its guber election.

Hon. Waribugo Worikuma led the defecting members of the party from Nembe Constituency 3 to the APC.

The defecting PDP members said one of the major reasons why they were defecting was the inability of the ruling party to include youths of the state in its programmes and policies.

The PDP leaders in the state hve been at war over presenting candidates.

While former President Goodluck Jonathan wants his man Timi Alaibe, a former NDDC  boss and perennial contestant, to get the party ticket, Gov Seriake Dickson want somebody from within his government.

And the governor’s camp has insisted on letting Jonathan know Dickson conrols the party.

But Waribugo made a case for young blood, while presenting aggrieved members to the state Chairman of the party, Hon. Jothan Amos, on Wednesday at the APC secretariat in Yenagoa.

‘We are in APC today because of their believe in the youths, but in PDP the only believe is rotating the older people in position of power and that is why the state has remained backward, Waribugo.

“Our future was almost lost but thank God we have follow the glory to this great and progressive party. We are influential and that is the reason we always trouble this party during elections but now we will use it to the advantage of the APC.

“We are not here to deceive anybody, our body and soul is here now, and we want to assure the progressive family that the take over mission has started.”

Responding, the state chairman, Hon. Jothan Amos commended them for their courage in joining the progressive party rather than the party where everyone is self-centred.

He disclosed that a later date will be announced for the public ceremony for more defectors, adding that other major stakeholders in the PDP will soon decamp to the party.

In his brief remark, Hon. Orusakwe Aseimiegha said this marks another milestone in the pursuit to dislodge the draconian government in the state, adding that another reason is the poverty and darkness that has taken over the state.

He said the strategy to actualise the political missionary mission will be persuasion, adding that there’s need for every Bayelsan to tell other members of the party of the takeover campaign.

@N/Agency.

Over 6,000 Nigerian are languishing in various detention cells in South Africa over crimes

Nigeria’s High Commissioner to South Africa, Ambassador Kabir Bala, has said that over 6,000 Nigerians were being investigated for various crimes in the country.

Bala disclosed this on Wednesday in an interview with Channels Television in Johannesburg, South Africa.

He explained that the crimes range from drug-related offences to murder, fraud and armed robbery.

Noting that the statistics were from the South African Police Service, the envoy said: “We have to look at it from a proper perspective so that we don’t tilt the balance. And then we overlook the fact that some of our nationals engage in things that are not legal here.

“We have 6,089 of them having cases that are being concluded or investigated and some of them in prison, we have them.”

The diplomat, however, explained that the accused persons, whether Nigerians or other nationals, have the right to fair trial before being convicted if found guilty in line with the laws.

Quincy Ayodele, Amb. Ashabi, K1 De Ultimate Endorse The 2nd Edition Of High Celebrity Squard Int. Magazine

When Abdul-Quadri Olowolagba sets out to publish the High Celebrity Squard Magazine in addition to his media outfit years back, he thought the journey would be so tough and somehow rough to venture into. 

He, however took it as a responsibility to start as a young man and stand firm on his own in the pursuit of climbing the ladder of success in life.

 

Although, the journey was not filled with roses nor the road painted in golden colours, Quadri has to go through thick and thin in realizing his ultimate goals of being one of Nigeria’s youngest and most sought-after media practitioners in town. 

As a man with passion for journalism and a professional multi-media practitioner, Quadri began what is today one of the countries widely read, highly circulated, educative and enthralling celebrity journals, the High Celebrity Squard Magazine which entered its second edition. 

The beautifully and graphically designed magazine with colorful illustrations was recently endorsed by top Nigerian celebrities and dignitaries. 

Top on the list of these successful humans are the founder and Chairman of Quincy Herbal Products International, Chief Mrs. Quincy Ayodele, Yoruba cultural ambassador (Asoju Asa-Ile Oodua), Amb. Morounranti Ashabi and King of Fuji Music K1 De Ultimate who endorsed and launched the magazine at the recently.

 

It was indeed fascinating and reminiscing moments for the young and upwardly mobile publisher and media entrepreneur who is a friend to top Nigerian celebrities due to his hardwork, transparency and loyalty to all and sundry. 

The High Celebrity Squard Magazine is already making waves in the events coverage arm of the Nigerian prints industry and a market leader cum readers’ favorite of all times.

 

Airport Car Hire Driver returns $24,000 forgotten in his car by a passenger

One of the drivers of Airport Car Hire Association of Nigeria (ACHAN), Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, Mr. Adeniyi Olayinka has returned a sum of N888, 000 and an international passport forgotten by a passenger in his car to the owner.

Olayinka told journalists at the airport that he discovered the items in an envelope left behind by the passenger on the back seat of the car shortly after he returned to the airport from Ibese Ikorodu, destination of the passenger.

The driver who doesn’t have a car of his own, but works as commissioned driver to another member of the association, said it never crossed his mind to covert another person’s belonging to his, because it would put another family in sorrow and it is against the orientation given to every member of ACHAN in the airport.

 “Though it could be tempting to some people to see such money and pocket it,  especially when their income is very poor. As for me, it never crossed my mind to do so. Because it would create sorrow in another family and also such idea is against the orientation we are
given at ACHAN by our leaders,” he said.

Explaining how he found the money and the passport, Adeniyi who has been operating in the airport for fifteen years said: “At about 1:30 am on Monday  I met  this passenger on arrival at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos. I negotiated with him and we agreed on N6000 to transport him to his destination at Ikorodu. I returned to the airport immediately I dropped him at his house. But no sooner I arrived and parked my car at the airport I discovered that an enveloped had been left behind on the back seat of my car. I picked
the envelope and opened it. What I saw was his international passport.
I looked further into the envelope and discovered there was another
white envelope inside. I opened the second envelope only to discover that something was wrapped in it. When I removed the wrapper I discovered it contained mint fresh notes of US currency. They were in $100 denomination. I counted and they were 24 in number totaling $2,400.  When converted at prevailing rate of N370 as at Monday morning, it amounted to N888, 000. Based on the orientation and instructions we received from the leadership of ACHAN on weekly basis, I reported the findings to the officer on duty at the arrival car park of the airport. I was instructed to drop the parcel and its contents at our secretariat at Murtala Muhammed International Airport. Since I didn’t have the passenger’s phone contact, I had to go to his the place where I dropped him to inform him or his family member of the discovery. But by the time I got to the passenger’s home at Ibese - Ikorodu, I was told he had returned to the airport to look for the lost parcel. As I was leaving the house in Ikorodu, I got the call from our secretariat that the passenger was already in the airport to
report the loss”.

Speaking on the recovery, the passenger, Engr. Dele Ayeni who said he was a living testimony to the advantages of taking cabs from registered point at airports, believed "there is hope for Nigeria in many ways."

" I arrived Lagos, Nigeria from Cairo on July 29, 2019 at about 1:30 am on Monday. My intention when I arrived was to call an Uber operator to
pick me home as soon as step out of the terminal building. But as I was coming out of the terminal, I met this polite driver who agreed to
take me to my destination at Ikorodu at an agreed price of N6000. While on the way, I decided to drop my jacket on the floor  of the car to avoid been notice  as a very important man sitting in the rear seat of the car.  Immediately we got to my house in Ikorodu; I removed my jacket from where I had kept it and also my luggage, without noticing that the envelope in the jacket had dropped on the back seat of the car. Unfortunate enough, I didn’t open my luggage to bring out what I had for my family members until after I woke up in the noon. That was when I discovered that the envelope was missing in my jacket. I exclaimed. I said all my suffering during the trip has resulted to total loss. My wife began to calm me down. She advised that we should look around  the compound to see if it dropped in the compound, but I said no that if it had dropped in the compound I would had seen it as I was bringing in my luggage. I insisted that it didn’t drop in the premises but in the cab. My wife then asked me of where I took the cab; I told her it was in the airport and she advised that I should go to the airport to inquire if it has been found. I told her I didn’t know the name of the driver or the vehicle number.  However, with her encouragement I came to the airport and went to the car park where I boarded the cab. Immediately I approached and complained to one of the drivers, who happened to be the duty officer for that shift. He asked me for my name and I told him. The next thing I noticed on his face was a broad smile; he then told me that the envelope was found in the car and has been deposited at their secretariat. And that the driver who took me home, had gone to my house again to inform me of the discovery. This is a living testimony that Nigeria has hope. We are
not all bad people. I have started campaigning to people via social media to always patronize airport registered cabs. The advantages far outweigh the disadvantages. The registered airport cab may charge higher than Uber or Kabukabu but you are sure that if you forget anything in the airport cab, you would surely see it again.  I want to thank ACHAN for having this type of arrangement in Nigerian airports.
It is wonderful."

Speaking while handling the items recovered in the car to the owner, the Chairman ACHAN MMIA, Lagos Elder Olubi Ojo said Engr. Ayeni’s case was just one of the many cases the association handles on regular
basis.

Elder Ojo who recalled that one of his members once returned $15,000 left by a passenger in his car, urged Nigerian passengers to place the
safety and security of their lives and properties above any  amount they may be charged by the registered airport cab operators because
the benefits far outweighs the money paid.

“This is a regular occurrence in this airport, passengers forget many things such as passports, money and other personal belongings in our cabs, but they are very sure of finding them if truly the items are left in any of our cabs. We give regular orientation on why they should return to the secretariat any item found to have been left behind by passengers in their vehicles,” Elder Ojo said.

 L-R: Chairman ACHAN MMIA, Elder Olubi Ojo, the ACHAN driver who discovered and returning the money , Mr. Adeniyi Olatinka  ACHAN
officer on Duty Mr. Soele and the passenger Engr. Dele Ayeni   at the ACHAN secretariat  where he took possession of  the money left in the airport cab on Monday.

FG BAN ACTIVITIES OF SHI'ITES NATIONWIDE

The federal government has officially proscribed the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) led by Ibraheem El-Zakzaky.

Mohammed Adamu, inspector-general of police, anounced this at a press conference in Abuja on Tuesday.

 
A federal high court in Abuja had declared the group a terrorist organisation, following an ex parte application filed by the federal government.

The 43-man ministerial list submitted to the Senate on Tuesday by the Pesident  Buhari and confirmed by Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, includes known names like Rotimi Amaechi, Babatunde Fashola, Hadi Sirika, Zainab Ahmed, among others.

The list in no particular order below are:

  

1. Chris Ngige
2. Hadi Sirika
3. Rotimi Amaechi
4. Festus Keyamo
5. Uche Ogah
6. Emeka Nwajuiba
7. Sadiya Farouk
8. Musa Bello
9. Babatunde Fashola
10. Godswill Akpabio
11. Sharon Ikeazor
12. Ogbonnaya Onu
13. Akpa Udo
14. Adebayo (Ekiti)
15. Timipre Sylva
16. Adamu Adamu
17. Lai Mohammed
18. Shewuye (Borno)
19. Isa Pantami
20. Gbemi Saraki
21. Ramatu Tijani
22. Clement Abam
23. George Akume
24. Sunday Dare
25. Geofrey Onyeama
26. Tayo Alasaodura
27. Olorunminbe Mamora
28. Mohammed Abdullahi
29. Adamu Adamu
30. Maryam Katagun
31. Zainab Ahmed
32. Sabo Nano
33. Zubair Dada
34. Paullen Tallen
35. Abubakar Aliyu
36. Sale Mamman
37. Abubakar Malami
38. Muhammed Mamood
39. Mohammed Adamu
40. Rauf Aregbesola
41. Mustapha Buba Jedi Agba
42. Olamilekan Adegbite
43. Mohammed Dangyadi

Senate president after releasing the list said that the screening of the ministerial nominees would start tomorrow (Wednesday).

Oba calls for a redraw of Nigeria's Security Architecture for better result

By. B'okuote Oguntoye

The Towulade Akinale, Oba Olufemi Ogunleye, has called for a strong synergy among the various security outfits in Nigeria to suppress the incessant killings of innocent Nigerians by armed bandits.

Speaking while receiving the new Divisional Officer of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corp in Ewekoro local government, Mr. Theophilus Omirin in his palace at Akinale weekend. Oba Ogunleye regretted that the competitive ego of the individual security outfit among the multifarious operatives, has contributed to their ineffectiveness in protecting the citizenry.

The traditional ruler cautioned against trivializing the criminality of the incessant killings by engaging in polemics over whether the culprits were bandits or herdsmen as being flaunted by the Police over the brutal murder of a prominent woman in Ondo state.

"There is need for Nigeria to redraw our security architecture and make all security outfits operate as if we are in a state of emergency so that all of them, the Police, Army, Navy, Air force, Civil Defence and other state security apparatus, to be deployed to all cronies of the country for vigil", Oba Ogunleye insisted.

He commended the Civil Defence Corp in the Ewekoro local government for their quick response to nib in the bud any surfacing security challenge in the area.

The Divisional Officer expressed appreciation to the traditional ruler for cooperation and support for security outfits, particularly the Civil Defence, accommodated in Akinale. Mr. Omirin pleaded with the traditional ruler for  further assistance on various infrastructure that could enhance their performance in the zone.

Ooni of Ife, Soyinka counsels Nigerians to defend their ancestral land against intruders

The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, and Nobel laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, have called on Nigerians across state demarcations to defend the sanctity of their ancestral lands against usage for Ruga cattle settlements.

The call was contained in a communiqué issued on Sunday to document highlights of last Thursday’s meeting between the monarch and Soyinka at the latter’s home in Idi-Aba, Abeokuta, Ogun State. The meeting focused on the state of the nation.

Oba Ogunwusi and Soyinka made the call just as the Southern and Middle Belt Leaders’ Forum raised the alarm that the Federal Government was plotting to repeal the Land Use Act, which conferred the power to control lands in states on governors.

The Ooni of Ife and the Nobel laureate, in the communiqué on Sunday, said their call on Nigerians to defend themselves became necessary as the Coalition of Northern Groups gave a 30-day ultimatum to the Federal Government to implement the Ruga project for Fulani herders despite its suspension after a public outcry against it.

The communiqué stated, “In this regard, the recent ultimatum delivered by a sectarian order to the President of this nation to set up the so-called Ruga cattle settlements across the entire nation within a stipulated time, despite the national outcry, should be acknowledged as an entitlement under the bounty of freedom of expression.

“In return, we exercise ours, and call upon Nigerian nationals across state demarcations to defend the sanctity of their ancestral lands. This birthright has never been annulled, not even under colonial occupation.”

The Ooni and Soyinka, who is the Akogun of Isara and Akinlatun of Egba, noted in the communique that the colonial contraption known as Nigeria could not survive another upheaval in the nature of the civil war of the Biafran secession.

They advised that all efforts must, therefore, be made to anticipate and douse socio-political flare-ups advancing the chances of a recurrence of such a conflict, no matter how reduced in scale, its devastating effects on the Nigerian humanity.

The traditional ruler and the Nobel laureate added, “Among such issues of urgent import are the ongoing insurrectional movements that derive from religious fanaticism and intolerance, exemplified by Boko Haram and allied tendencies, as well as aspects of commercial enterprise, in which some groups consider themselves especially privileged, singular, and above the laws and entitlements that are binding on other sectors of commercial and industrial undertaking. We have in mind destructive forms of social transactions that characterise groups such as nomadic cattle herdsmen, and their umbrella groupings in the nature of Myetti Allah.

“We confess ourselves increasingly distressed and appalled, that the hitherto harmonious cohabitation, even routine collaboration, among the productive arms of society that Nigerians have taken for granted even from pre-colonial times, have deteriorated to unprecedented levels of barbarity, contempt for human lives and a defiant trampling on the civic entitlements of other productive sectors such as farmers, the providers of both food and cash crops. This abhorrent, yet consistent pattern of sectarian, and homicidal arrogance is obviously not merely counter-productive but inhuman, criminal and divisive.”

Besides, they re-affirmed their commitment to the rights of every individual, community, collectivity of human beings as primary and pre-eminent above other parameters of human development or formal associations.

They further called on Nigerians to recognise that the internal colonisation project was ever recurrent and that there were backward, primitive, undeveloped minds that failed, and continued to fail to overcome delusions in the antiquated belief in sectarian domination as the key to social existence.

They charged the Nigerian people, both at state and community levels, to convoke a series of frank encounters, across various interests and concerns to debate and determine in full freedom the future structure of the nation.

Both of them said, “We consider it a primary imperative of nation existence that the constitutive parts of the nation take steps to preserve and enhance their distinct cultural identities, including tested and relevant pre-colonial values, their spiritual apprehension of phenomena and worship, all without detriment to the principles and ideals of mutual co-existence.

“To this end, we undertake to create state-of-the-art ethnic museums for our people both at home and in the Diaspora, where present and future generations can access their histories and cultures vividly, as living expressions of their very humanity, not simply as relics of eras vanished for ever or irrelevant to the present.”

FG planning to repeal Land Use Act, SMBLF raises alarm

However, the SMBLF said there was a surreptitious plan by the Federal Government to repeal the Land Use Act and take over the control of lands from state governors.

This, it said, was to enable the government to subsequently implement the suspended Ruga project.

The forum said it gathered that the Federal Government suspended the Ruga settlement programme due to the Act which restricted its access to land, adding that the government might move to repeal the law in order to facilitate the implementation of the Ruga grazing scheme.

The SMBLF, therefore, cautioned the southern lawmakers in the National Assembly to be vigilant and to guard against the introduction of any bill intended to repeal or amend the Land Use Act.

The forum said this in a statement in Abuja on Sunday by its co-spokespersons, Yinka Odumakin (South-West), Prof. Chigozie Ogbu (South-East), Senator Bassey Henshaw (South-South), Dr Isuwa Dogo (Middle-Belt).

The group stated that it was not any way impressed by the suspension of the Ruga settlement project, which it declared as an expansionist agenda on behalf of the Fulani nomads.

The statement partly read, “It is being alleged that there will be moves to repeal the Land Use Act in the (Ruga) suspension period so the Federal Government can have authority over land which is currently under the states.

“We therefore call on all our members in the National Assembly to be vigilant about any surreptitious bill that may be introduced to tamper with control of land and thwart such without any waste of time. The 2014 National Conference debated this issue at length and resolved to retain the Land Use Act in the constitution.”

The forum further warned the lawmakers against passing the ‘Bill to establish a Regulatory Framework for the Water Resources Sector in Nigeria,’ sponsored by the executive, noting that it was meant to give the Federal Government the sole authority and control over the nation’s rivers and underground water.

The group added, “When this obnoxious Water Bill is taken alongside the Ruga programme and the speculated assault on Land Use Act, the internal colonialism agenda is complete.

“It is pertinent to ask why the Federal Government is not going ahead with Ruga in some northern states that have accepted the policy if the whole idea was not about land-grabbing in the South and Middle Belt states.”

The political pressure group stated that the Federal Government’s support for local government autonomy was hinged on the Ruga scheme to allow aliens to take over allotted land under the programme.

It vowed not to relax its opposition to the project, stressing that only outright cancellation of the initiative was acceptable to the forum.

“The whole policy has equally opened our eyes to the reason why the President has been harping on local government autonomy now and then,” the group stressed.

Be vigilant, CAN advises southerners

On its part, the Christian Association of Nigeria in southern Nigeria warned the people of the area to remain vigilant, adding that the Ruga project was not over.

In a statement on Sunday, the Secretary of CAN in the 17 southern states, Dr Joseph Ajujungwa, said despite its suspension, government was still working on the project.

Southern CAN called on every southerner “to be watchful,” stressing that “even as we pray, we don’t need to keep quiet.”

The statement partly read, “We do not have any land to give to anybody as a grazing field or a colony and we call on the South-East governors to maintain their stand that they do not have such a place. Do you know what it means to give 10 hectares of land to herdsmen? We say no to that.”

“As CAN, we will preach it from our pulpits, every Imam should peach from the mosque and the traditionalists should stand against it. Nobody should relent. No land should be given. Any traditional ruler that does that should be dethroned.

“In the North, they have largest hectares of land. Very vast land that nobody is occupying. Why are they not building the ranches or Ruga there? They can come here, take grass and go, and we buy cows in exchange, just like the governors said.”

‘Ruga not dead’

Also, the Akwa Ibom State chapter of CAN said the suspension of the Ruga project by the Federal Government was not a guarantee that the programme had been cancelled.

It said the overwhelming rejection that greeted the policy across the country was enough reason for government to completely cancel it and not to announce its suspension.

The state chairman of the association, Rev. Dr Ndueso Ekwere, in a statement on Sunday, said the Federal Government could revisit the programme.

According to the statement, Ekwere stated this when he led other members of the association on a visit to the OkuIbom Ibiobio, Solomon Etuk.

Ekwere said, “The recent suspension of Ruga settlements by President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government is not a guarantee that Ruga is dead or is done away with. The policy can still be resurrected with a full force anytime.

“We are, therefore, calling on the OkuIbom and his council to lend voices to the aspiration of Christians in the state and other parts of Nigeria to persuade the Presidency to withdraw Ruga permanently.’”

He said farmers in Akwa Ibom State would not surrender any part of their lands for Ruga.

He also called on the OkuIbom to advise traditional rulers and their subjects in the state to stop selling lands to strangers in their communities.

Coalition’s ultimatum to govs senseless – IYC

Meanwhile, the President of the Ijaw Youth Council, Eric Omare, said the ultimatum issued by the northern coalition was senseless.

Omare said, “With respect to the ultimatum given to the governors, I think it is a senseless ultimatum. In the first place, they are a faceless group that has not demonstrated any capacity to do anything.

“They (northern coalition) should be completely disregarded. The ultimatum is a voice from an inconsequential element.”

On the assurance given by the group that it would resolve the crisis between the herdsmen and farmers, the IYC president said, “A problem that cannot be resolved by the Federal Government cannot be resolved by an inconsequential group from the remote part of the North.”

However, the Coalition of Niger Delta militants called on southerners in the northern part of the country to consider returning home or be ready to defend themselves.

The coalition of militant groups in the Niger Delta in a statement on Sunday described the threat by the northern group as ill-advised.

It said, “We are earnestly waiting for the northern youths to start the fight and see what would happen. Any killing would be responded to. We are not afraid of your threat.

“Our land is not for Fulani herdsmen. We therefore advise all the southerners in the North to return home or be ready to defend themselves. We also advise all northerners in the South to either leave or be ready for any eventuality.”

The statement was signed by General John Duku, the Leader of the Niger Delta Watchdog and Convener of the Coalition of Niger Delta Agitators and 12 others.

Threat, not a solution to Ruga crisis, says ACF secretary

But the Secretary-General of the pan-northern socio-political organisation, Arewa Consultative Forum, Mr Anthony Sani, said the threat was not the solution to the crisis over the Ruga settlements programme.

Sani, added that the suspension of the Ruga programme was not the solution to the crisis.

The ACF secretary appealed to the northern youths to withdraw their ultimatum. He also berated those that were opposed to the programme on the grounds that it was entirely a private enterprise.

Sani said, “They (those opposed to Ruga) should not feign ignorance of government’s involvement in many private ventures like former President Goodluck Jonathan’s Almajiri’s schools which the administration had hoped would solve the problems of banditry as well as herdsmen and farmers’ clashes.

“We know governments have been involved in the establishment of river basins and dams in support of private agricultural ventures. Government has subsidised tractors and fertilisers.

“While I can understand the basis of the group’s’ anger that those who oppose open grazing by nomads are the ones that are opposed to government’s involvement in establishment of ranches, I do not think the ultimatum is the solution to the crisis. Therefore, I appeal to the youths to withdraw their ultimatum in favour of due process of overcoming such challenges.”

Abiodun urged to compensate victims of herdsmen’s incursion

Meanwhile, in Ogun State, a social development advocate, Gbenga Akinwande, has urged Governor Dapo Abiodun to begin the process of compensation of farmers who lost their crops to the incursion of herdsmen in the Ogun West Senatorial District.

Akinwande also appealed to Abiodun to establish farmers’ resuscitating fund as a way of compensating farmers who lost their farm produce to herdsmen.

Akinwade, who made the call in an interview with journalists in Abeokuta on Sunday, claimed that farmers in Yewaland were mostly affected by the activities of the herdsmen, hence the need for the government to establish the fund.

Source:Punch

OPC CALLS ON F.G TO BE ON THE TRAIL OF GANI ADAMS OVER SECURITY THREATS

.....Berates some self acclaimed Yoruba elders for betraying the race

The attention of Oodua People's Congress (OPC) is highly disappointed that an event for the book launch on late Chief Obafemi Awolowo was turned into a political 'sweet' talk gathering by some elements in the South West.

To say the least, that event which was turned into security meeting chaired by Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi and co-chaired by the Aare OnaKakanfo of Oyo land, Otunba Gani Adams was a fraud of the highest order meant to deceive the Yoruba people.

Such a forum, meant to honour late Chief Awolowo, was inadvertently turned into discussing issue of herdsmen and security  matters by the Alaafin of Oyo and those that attended the gathering as if they love Yorubas more than the ethnic tribe love themselves. 

Some people who called themselves elders in Yorubaland are not worthy of representing our race.

They are known for betraying the race and turn around to say they are fighting for the cause of the race. 

Some of the people at the said event were the same set of people that betrayed the late Dr Fasehun when he founded the OPC. This was the reason why they connived with renegades to betrayed the just cause laid down by the OPC founder.

In Youba culture, a child cannot drive his parents out of the house. All these self acclaimed Yoruba elders were the people that supported Gani Adams to breakaway from Fasehun. With the current trend, we are watching with keen interest. 

At the appropriate time, we shall reveal more on the " supposed elders of Yorubas" who are more of Judas Iscariot of Yoruba race.

We are also aghast at what was credited to Gani Adams by the Punch that he has not less than 1million members ready to fight the herdsmen, meaning that he has a standing soldiers more than the Federal Government's soldiers Navy and Airforce men all put together. Are we at war ? 

This we see as a security threat not only to Yorubaland but also to the country as a whole and he should be taken up on that and produce the one million fighters he boasted of.

Even if he had such numerical strength of fighters in reality, a tactical 'leader' don't go public with it.

Be that as it may, we in the mainstream OPC founded by the the immediate past president Dr Frederick Fasehun will not allow anybody to drag the Yoruba race into senseless crisis/war with any other ethnic group in the name of fighting Fulani herdsmen, which eventually may lead to shedding of innocent citizena blood.

If Gani wanted to fight a war, he should form his own organization and not hide under OPC to be issuing threats to anybody or group.

Since he led some people away from the mainstream OPC of Dr Fasehun, he should by now be contented with his honorary title of Aare Ona Kakanfo of Oyo, and leave OPC alone. 

In the days of old, (Oyo Empire), traditionally, the Alaafin does not sit side-by-side with his war Lord-Aare On a Kakanfo. It's forbidden ! 

Gani should stop parading himself as national coordinator of OPC henceforth and be contented, once again with his Kakanfo title.

We shall resist attempt or repetition of wanton killings that characterized his exit when he rebelled against Dr Fasehun and refused to publicly apologise to the old man for his tresspases before his death in December 2018.

He should stop this deceit and balderdash he has been peddling around. Enough is Enough !

By Lateef Lawal

Spokesman to the

National President

Oodua People's Congress (OPC).

Industrialist, Chief Rasak A. Okoya, organises Fidau Prayer in honour of late parents patriarch

On Sunday 16^th of June 2019, all roads led to the gigantic and expansive Oluwanishola Estate of Nigeria’s most successful industrialist, Chief Rasak Akanni Okoya situated on the Lekki-Ajah Expressway, Lagos, when the billionaire business titan hosted Islamic clerics, business associates, friends, politicians and staff of his multi-award winning business empire, The Eleganza Group to a Fidaus Prayer in memory of their late parents patriarch and matriarch Alhaji Tiamiyu Ayinde Okoya and  Alhaja Idiyat Abeke Okoya.

The grand event witnessed the attendance of The Executive Governor Of Lagos State; Babajide Sanwo-Olu, The First Lady Of Lagos State; Dr. (Mrs) Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, The Deputy Governor Of Lagos State; Obafemi Hamzat, and top dignitaries including with the noble members of Islamic communities that cut cross across virtually all the meaningful zones of the country. 

Guests were clad in customized Ankara outfits that donned the pictures of the late parents of the very successful and highly religious Okoya Dynasty. The event kicked off at exactly 12pm.

Islamic Clerics who prayed for the continuous repose of the souls of these departed devoted Muslims asked for the Almighty Allah to grant the departed caring Alhaji and Alhaja Tiamiyu Okoya a peaceful rest while also supplicating for Allah’s blessings on the children, grand children and great grand children left behind by the late Alhaji and Alhaja Okoya.

Ably supported by his indefatigable wife, Mrs. Afolashade Okoya, Chief Rasaq Akanni, President of the Okoya Group with the Eleganza Industrial City as one of the group’s most flourishing subsidiaries thanked the Almighty Allah for the lives of his parents, stressing further that the duo lived exemplary lives worthy of emulating as religious, committed and very prayerful Muslims. Chief Okoya, the most successful and irrefutable industrialist in Nigeria also thanked all and sundry who made it to the event despite the needs for them to relax in their various homes on a Sunday.

The ever-smiling multi billionaire investment guru wishes his parents a continuous rest in the bosom of the Almighty Allah. 

He also urged all members of the Okoya family to keep learning from the Godly virtues and strong Islamic characters inculcated into the lineage by both Alhaji Tiamiyu Ayinde and Alhaja Idiyat Abeke of blessed memory.

The beautiful, elegant and glamorous wife of the celebrant, Chief Mrs. Afolashade Okoya ensured all invited guests were well taken care of exquisitely. 

The late Alhaji and Alhaja Okoya, parents of one of Nigeria and Africa’s most successful manufacturers of household items, Alhaji Chief Rasak Akanni Okoya slept peacefully in the Almighty Allah years back and till date, the rich businessman and his siblings have been holding fort positively for the family, upholding the noble and respectable image left behind by their parents.