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Delta state councilors protest against council chairman over contract award to his wife

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Delta state councilors protest against council chairman over contract award to his wife

Delta state councilors protest against council chairman over contract award to his wife

By Olorunfemi Adejuyigbe

Delta state councilors protest against council chairman over contract award to his wife

 

Councillors of Isoko South local government area of Delta State have protested for second time against chairman of the council, Victor Asasa, over illegal award of a N4 million contract for the printing of calendar and monthly imprest of N200,000 to his wife without approval from the legislative arm.

The councillors through their loyalists and constituents had last Thursday protested against the council chairman, Victor Asasa over what they described as “high-handedness, incompetence, absenteeism as well as borrowing without approvals” from the legislative arm among other things.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The protesters shut down the council secretariat, preventing workers from entering their offices while offices including that of the council chairman were locked.

The protesters displayed placards bearing different inscriptions including “We say no to borrowing without approval from the legislators,” “Mike Evivie is not the Isoko South LGC chairman, if he wants to be chairman let him resign,” “Asasa is not fit for the post of a council chairman,” “We say no to running of council without budget for the year 2022,” and “Asasa should be probed for diverting IGR (Internally Generated Revenue) to private accounts.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Speaking with SaharaReporters on Monday, one of the aggrieved councillors and principal officer of the Isoko South legislative arm, who spoke on condition of anonymity, disclosed that the protest was put together by the legislative arm following the alleged failure of the council chairman, whom he said had not been to the office for several months.

“As I talk to you, we the councillors are very-very bitter with the council chairman, Victor Asasa. He thinks the council is his personal business. Can you imagine that his wife is a contractor to the local government? He awarded his wife, the contract for the printing of the local government calendar for over N4 million and he also gives his wife that’s not an elected official in the local government a monthly imprest of N200,000 without approval from us, the councillors. Since last Thursday when we protested against the council chairman, pressure has been mounted on us by some of our leaders to disassociate ourselves from the protest.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“But the truth is that what should we do such when the council chairman is running the affairs of the council as his personal estate? He does not come to the office. Anytime you call him, he will tell you he’s in the hospital; always in the hospital but once the monthly allocation comes in, he will call for it. They will carry the salary wage bill to him at Port Harcourt where he’s based. He will sign it there and give instruction for some money to be paid into private bank accounts and does not come to the office.

“He’s not fit to be the chairman of Isoko South; pocketing the council’s Internally Generated Revenue as his own personal money. As we talk, he is running the council without a 2022 budget.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Asasa borrowed N5 million which the HPM and council treasurer, Ufuoma Aso, signed for him. It was when the money was bringing problems that the treasurer cried out as the council chairman refused to pay back the money. When the last allocation came, the council treasurer confronted the council chairman that they should pay N2 million from the N5 million but Asasa vehemently refused. It was then the treasurer vowed not to sign the cheque for the allocation since the council chairman, Asasa refused to pay N2 million out of the borrowed N5 million. Before we knew what was happening, the council chairman called the chairman of the local government civil service commission in Asaba and the council treasurer was summoned and intimidated.”

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Lumiegee Shines Bright: Nigerian – London Based Music Sensation Wins Silver at Global Music Awards for “Yehba”

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Lumiegee, the talented Nigerian recording artist, audio engineer, and songwriter, has been honored with two Silver Medals at the prestigious Global Music Awards (GMA) for his captivating single “Yehba”.

The GMA, a top-tier international music competition, recognized Lumiegee’s outstanding work in the AfroBeats genre and the music video for “Yehba”, solidifying his position as a rising star in the music industry.

“Yehba” has been making waves in the Nigerian music scene, earning Lumiegee recognition from Soundcity TV Africa, CMJ TV UK, and other prominent music platforms. This latest accolade further cements his reputation as a force to be reckoned with in Afrobeats.

Lumiegee’s music style, a fusion of Afropop, R&B, Soul, and World music, has captivated audiences worldwide. His unique sound draws inspiration from legendary artists such as King Sunny Ade, Fela Kuti, and Stevie Wonder.

The Global Music Awards is a respected music industry recognition platform, promoting award honorees through social media and press releases to over 20,000+ musicians, music managers, record labels, and industry contacts.


Website: https://www.globalmusicawards.com/honorees/home
For more information on Lumiegee and his music, visit @lumiegee on Instagram.

*About Lumiegee:*
Lumiegee, born Olumide A. d’Goke Adeisa, is a Nigerian recording artist, audio engineer, and songwriter with a decade of experience in the music industry. His music blends cultural influences, emotional depth, and catchy hooks, resonating with fans across Africa and beyond.

Contact:
@lumiegee (Instagram)
LumieTech

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Buratai Pays Tribute to Ihejirika at 70, Hails Mentorship and Legacy of Leadership

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Buratai Pays Tribute to Ihejirika at 70, Hails Mentorship and Legacy of Leadership

Buratai Pays Tribute to Ihejirika at 70, Hails Mentorship and Legacy of Leadership

 

Former Chief of Army Staff and Nigeria’s immediate past Ambassador to the Republic of Benin, Lt. Gen. (Rtd) Tukur Yusuf Buratai, has paid a glowing tribute to his predecessor, Lt. Gen. OA Ihejirika, as the retired General marks his 70th birthday.

 

Buratai Pays Tribute to Ihejirika at 70, Hails Mentorship and Legacy of Leadership

In a heartfelt message released in Abuja on Friday, Buratai described Ihejirika as not only a distinguished soldier and statesman, but also a commander, mentor, and “architect of leadership” whose influence shaped a generation of senior military officers.

 

Buratai recalled that his professional rise within the Nigerian Army was significantly moulded under Ihejirika’s command, citing key appointments that defined his career trajectory.

Buratai Pays Tribute to Ihejirika at 70, Hails Mentorship and Legacy of Leadership

 

According to him, the trust reposed in him through early command responsibilities, including his first command posting at Headquarters 2 Brigade and later as Commandant of the Nigerian Army School of Infantry, laid a solid foundation for his future leadership roles.

 

“These opportunities were not mere appointments; they were strategic investments in leadership,” Buratai noted, adding that such exposure prepared him for higher national responsibilities.

Buratai Pays Tribute to Ihejirika at 70, Hails Mentorship and Legacy of Leadership

He further acknowledged that the mentorship and professional grounding he received under Ihejirika’s leadership were instrumental in his eventual appointment as Chief of Army Staff and later as Nigeria’s Ambassador to the Republic of Benin.

 

Buratai praised Ihejirika’s command philosophy, describing it as professional, pragmatic, and mission-driven. He said the former Army Chief led by example, combining firm strategic direction with a clear blueprint for excellence that continues to influence military leadership practices.

Buratai Pays Tribute to Ihejirika at 70, Hails Mentorship and Legacy of Leadership

 

“At seventy, General Ihejirika has earned the right to reflect on a legacy secured,” Buratai stated, praying for good health, peace, and enduring joy for the retired General as he enters a new decade.

 

He concluded by expressing profound gratitude for the leadership, mentorship, and lasting example provided by Ihejirika over the years.

 

The tribute was signed by Lt. Gen. Tukur Yusuf Buratai, who described himself as a grateful mentee and successor, underscoring the enduring bonds of mentorship within the Nigerian Army’s top leadership.

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Sagamu Plantation Row: Igimisoje-Anoko Family Challenges LG Claim

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The Odumena Igimisoje-Anoko family of Orile-Ofin in Sagamu Local Government Area of Ogun State has strongly disputed claims by the Sagamu Local Government that a large expanse of land near the Sagamu–Ikenne Road belongs to the state government, insisting that the property remains ancestral land belonging to their forefathers.
The family’s reaction follows a public warning issued by the Chairman of Sagamu Local Government, Ogbeni Jubril Olasile Odulate, cautioning residents against purchasing or occupying portions of what he described as a “state-owned rubber plantation” located beside the Ogun State Low-Cost Housing Estate near the NYSC Orientation Camp.
In the statement, the council alleged that some individuals were illegally selling and developing the land and maintained that the property had been earmarked for the proposed New Sagamu Government Reserved Area (GRA).
However, the Akarigbo family has countered the claim, describing the land as private ancestral property and not government-owned.
Speaking on behalf of the family, Omoba Babatunde Adegboyega Igimisoje, Secretary of the Odumena Igimisoje-Anoko family, said the land forms part of Orile-Ofin, which he described as the ancestral headquarters of Remo before the creation of Sagamu town.
According to him, the area is an inheritance from their forefathers and historically belongs to the Akarigbo lineage.
“Orile-Ofin is our ancestral land and the headquarters of Remo in those days. It was during the reign of our forefathers that Sagamu was later formed and settled in 1872, while Orile-Ofin remained our village,” he said.
He explained that the specific portion currently in dispute historically belonged to Oba Odumena Igimisoje-Anoko, whom he described as the last Igimisoje-Anoko to reign as king on the land.
Reacting to the local government’s ownership claim, Adegboyega insisted that the rubber plantation was never government property.
He said the land was only temporarily acquired by the old Western Region government in 1959 for agricultural purposes.
“In 1959, the Western Region acquired the land for rubber plantation, but that did not transfer ownership to the government permanently,” he stated.
The family further claimed that the land was later returned to the original owners.
According to him, during the administration of former Governor Gbenga Daniel between 2008 and 2011, steps were taken to return the land to the family, while his successor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, allegedly revoked lingering government control and formally handed it back to the Odumena Igimisoje-Anoko family.
“It was duly returned to the rightful owners. So it is surprising to now hear that the land is being described as local government property,” he said.
He cautioned the council chairman against interfering in what he called a family land matter.
“The rubber plantation land is not government land and does not belong to the local government. The chairman should not join an issue he does not fully understand,” he added.
In the same vein, Prince Abdul Fatai, an executive member of the Anoko family, also warned the local government to stay away from the land, describing it as their forefathers’ heritage.
He appealed to the Ogun State Government and the Akarigbo of Remoland to intervene in the matter to prevent tension and ensure peace in the community.
“We are calling on the state government and the Akarigbo to step in so that this issue can be resolved peacefully. This is our inheritance, and we want justice,” he said.
Meanwhile, Sagamu Local Government had maintained that the land belongs to the Ogun State Government and warned that anyone found buying, selling, fencing or developing plots in the area would face arrest and prosecution.
The dispute has now set the stage for a possible legal and administrative battle over ownership, with both sides standing firm on their claims.
Residents say they hope authorities and traditional institutions will urgently intervene to clarify ownership and prevent further conflict or losses for unsuspecting buyers.
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