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Education, Human Development Will Be Handled Perfectly During My Administration As Chairman Odogbolu – Babatunde Diya

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By Solanke Ayomideji Taiwo

 

 

……Education is fundamental to development and growth. The human mind makes possible all development achievements, from health advances and agricultural innovations to efficient public administration and private sector growth. For countries to reap these benefits fully, they need to unleash the potential of the human mind. And there is no better tool for doing so than education.

The leading Aspirant for the position of Chairmanship in Odogbolu Local Government in the forthcoming election, Dr Babatunde Diya has said education would be handled effectively if he is given the mandate to chair Odogbolu Local Government.

He said, his blueprint shall allign with I.S.E.Y.A. objectives of Governor Prince Dapo Abiodun in building human capital development through quality education to the upcoming generation who are the future of Ogun State.
It is on record that, he succesfully organised free tutorials to students to enable them perform better in their last WAEC examination At the Oladipo Diya Library and Resource Center Odogbolu.

Also, he emphasized on how he would facilitate skill acquisition programme for the youths and mostly graduates to boost their self confidence on independence as an entity towards making them useful for themselves, the state and Nigeria.
“My administration if by the grace of God i am given the mandate to be in charge of affairs of Odogbolu Local Government as the Chairman shall ensure all the youths are independent on way or the other through skill acquisition exercise and my team would assist the participants in purchase of their various business equipment among others.” Said Dr Babatunde Diya

He restated commitment towards working with Governor Prince Dapo Abiodun in getting to the grassroots in the area of social amenities, rural development among others.

Sahara weekly online is published by First Sahara weekly international. contact saharaweekly@yahoo.com

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Osun LG Crisis: Why President Tinubu Must Call His Nephew, Gboyega Oyetola to Order

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By Rasaq Hamzat

 

Osun State has been in the news lately due to a crisis that erupted following a Court of Appeal judgment that reportedly reinstated the sacked local government chairmen, just a few days before the election of new council bosses.

 

Meanwhile, the truth of the matter is that there was no part in the judgment that instructed the sacked chairmen to return to office. The appeal court only addressed the issue of jurisdiction, not the judgment that had sacked the chairmen in 2022 under the administration of former Governor Gboyega Oyetola.

 

Immediately after the appeal court judgment, the sacked chairmen, under the instruction and backing of the former governor, Gboyega Oyetola, planned their return to the local government councils to forcefully take over. Unfortunately, this coup-like resumption destabilized Osun State and led to the death of one of the chairmen, and injuries to several others, including PDP members in the state.

 

Although these sacked chairmen are not entirely to blame, there is a Yoruba saying that goes, “Ti o ba nidi, obirin o kin je kumolu,” which means “There is always a reason for everything.” The reason behind these unlawful actions by the chairmen is simply because of Oyetola. Without his interference or input, these chairmen would have remained at home and planned how to approach the court for their reinstatement. However, they were given a separate order by Oyetola, who is believed to have the ear of President Tinubu because of their relationship.

 

It is quite understandable that Oyetola plans to return to Osun State as governor next year and would need grassroots support, which is essentially a function of the local government chairmen. However, this approach is totally wrong and will only wreck his ambition further.

 

Maybe Oyetola has forgotten the reason the people of Osun State rejected him and his party completely in 2022. His administration remains one of the worst the state has experienced in decades, with low performance, no government presence, no welfare for workers, no significant infrastructure development, no connection with the people, and gross injustices, among other issues.

 

It was so bad that even in the government house, Oyetola lost to the now-governor, Ademola Adeleke, who had never been a governor before. The margin was just too wide for any form of rigging to have taken place, yet there were still some forms of rigging, though they couldn’t overcome the disgraceful loss Oyetola suffered in Osun State.

 

When he realized that by popular vote he had lost, he approached the court and managed to get a victory at the appeal court. I can remember him driving into Osun State with a broom in his hands, signaling victory, but his smile soon turned to tears when the Supreme Court affirmed Governor Ademola Adeleke’s victory. It was an all-round loss for Gboyega Oyetola.

 

Therefore, it is not surprising that he is still behind this crisis in Osun State. He is like a wounded lion who doesn’t care about the stability of Osun State as long as his aim is achieved, no matter the consequences.

 

Sadly, this action, which has been met with resistance, because a local government election will be held today following a court order issued yesterday, will not only affect Oyetola’s ambition in 2026, but also President Tinubu’s second-term ambition in 2027. Oyetola has scored an own goal because when the LG election ends today and victory is recorded for the PDP candidates, the desperation of the former governor to return to power by any means necessary will become the talk of the town. When he contests in 2026, it will only take the grace of God for him not to be rejected by the people.

 

Governor Adeleke has performed excellently well for his people. The people of Osun State are happy, they have everything they need when due, the welfare of the people is being taken care of adequately, no one is being owed by the government, and there are several projects that have been completed while others are still ongoing. Who would come against such a government and be accepted by the people?

 

For someone like Governor Adeleke, who is doing absolutely well, Oyetola, Tinubu, and the likes can only try to be friends with him because the people are solely behind him. However, this approach of desperately trying to wrest power from him will only lead to hatred from the people.

 

Therefore, if President Tinubu doesn’t call his nephew, Gboyega Oyetola, to order, it may even be difficult for the President to campaign in Osun for his second-term ambition.

 

Rasaq Hamzat writes from Ife

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Sen. Akpabio acted in line with Senate rules”–Niger Delta Coalition insists …Accuses Natasha of repeated disrespect to Senate rules

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Bad Road: I Was Stuck In Ogun For Hours – Akpabio

 

A group, the Niger Delta Women Coalition, has rose in defence of the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio over the Thursday outburst launched by Senator Natasha Akpoti Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central in the senate over allocation of seats.

 

According to the NDWC, the Senate President acted in line with the Senate rules by refusing to hear Senator Natasha Akpoti Uduaghan on point of order from the old seat as senators are not entitled to be heard if they’re not speaking from their allocated seat pursuant to the Rules.

 

The Niger Delta Women Coalition led by the President, Mrs Ebiere Thompson and Secetary, Barr Inemesit Ukpong, the outburst of Senator Natasha Akpoti Uduaghan against the Senate President,Senator Godswill Akpabio is a sacrilege and enough is enough.

 

The NDWC in a statement issued via electronic mail states that “For the second time in less than a year, we have watched with shock as Senator Natasha Akpoti Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central in the Senate, has disrespected the person of the President of the Senate, His Excellency, Chief Godswill Akpabio and the office he occupies.”

 

“According to reports, ‘Mrs Natasha Akpoti was given a new seat by the Chief Whip who has the routine work of allocating seats to senators whenever occasion demands. With the recent cross carpeting of two Senators from the left wing to the right wing, the Chief Whip decided to reshuffle seats and this affected Mrs Akpoti’s seat alongside several other senators. Only Mrs Akpoti however refused to vacate her former seat and this forced the Chief Whip to bring her refusal to the floor.”

 

“The Chief Whip then raised a point of order citing several provisions of the Senate Rule that empower him to arrange seats whenever necessary and the rule that senators are not entitled to be heard if they’re not speaking from their allocated seat pursuant to the Rules.”

 

” The Chief Whip’s point of order was adopted and ruled favorably by the Senate President. When Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan sought to intervene, the President ruled that she couldn’t speak from her old seat until she resumed her allocated seat.’”

 

“Rather than act with respect and decorum by moving to her seat, she threw caution to the dogs and ranted against Senator Akpabio who was presiding at the session. Attempts by other senators to calm her down were futile.”

 

” Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan created a scene which brought the hallowed Senate of the Federal Republic to disrepute. It looked more like a scene from Nyanya market. The fact that the Senate is a place of honour where members conduct the sacred affairs of state with dignity did not resonate with her.”

 

“This is the second time she has brought the Senate to disrepute. The first time was last year when she spoke without being recognised by the presiding officer. When the Senate President who was presiding told her to follow the rules because they were ‘not in the club’, she blew a fuse.”

 

“We are moved to react this time for some reasons: One, the show of disrespect that Senator Akpoti Uduaghan exhibited at the plenary yesterday shows that being disrespectful and behaving without decorum is in her character. It means that the first act of last year was not a one off behaviour.”

 

” Two, we expect that Senator Akpoti who is a wife of the Niger Delta should exhibit certain virtues and values like respect for elders, endemic to the region. Three, we expect that anyone who has risen to the office of a senator of the federal republic should observe a minimum standard of decency.”

 

” Four, His Excellency, Senator Godswill Akpabio, the Senate President, is a man of honour and a distinguished statesman who deserves the respect of any right-thinking Nigerian, irrespective of gender, age and political affiliation.”

 

“We have it on good authority that her latest misbehaviour is a reaction to her removal as Chairman of the Local Content Committee. This is most unfortunate as senate committee chairmanships are not birth rights but a call to serve the country.”

 

“We want to put it on record that we find Senator Akpoti Uduaghan’s behaviour abhorrent. She is not the only female member of the Senate. Other distinguished women are there but they have conducted themselves with decorum. Rather than make herself out into a nuisance, she should follow good example.”

 

“Senator Akpoti Uduaghan is lucky that she is not representing a senatorial district in the Niger Delta. Were that the case, we, the women of this region, would have initiated a recall to remove her from the Senate so that she would no longer be a reproach to us. We call on her constituents to call her to order.”

 

“We believe it is necessary to issue this warning that the women of the Niger Delta region will no longer tolerate any behaviour on her part, which brings the women of the region into disrepute. The region has a history of producing great women in politics. She should learn from them.”

 

“Senator Akpoti Udughan should purge herself of this reproach by apologising unreservedly to Senator Akpabio. Apart from being the President of the Senate, Senator Akpabio is also the political leader of the Niger Delta. We would not tolerate nor permit any person, no matter how misguided, to disrespect his person or his office. Enough of this sacrilege.”

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Police Officers Forced Out Of Service Drag IGP, PSC, Other To Court, Seek Enforcement  Of Earlier Unappealed Order

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Police Officers Forced Out Of Service Drag IGP, PSC, Other To Court, Seek Enforcement  Of Earlier Unappealed Order

Police Officers Forced Out Of Service Drag IGP, PSC, Other To Court, Seek Enforcement  Of Earlier Unappealed Order

 

By Ifeoma Ikem

 

LAGOS-POLICE officers of course 18, 19 and 20 who were forcefully retired on accusation of age and entry falsification have dragged the Inspector-General of Police IGP,  the police service commission PSC and the Force Secretary of the Police to court; demanding the enforcement of an earlier unappealing Court order of the Nigerian Industrial Court.

 

Police Officers Forced Out Of Service Drag IGP, PSC, Other To Court, Seek Enforcement  Of Earlier Unappealed Order

 

The officers averred that when the issue reared its ugly head in 2017, the matter which became that of litigation had been settled since 13th January 2021 by the industrial court of Nigeria in Abuja judicial Division in suit Nos NCIN/ABJ/345/2019 and NICN/ABJ/353/2019 stressing that they are shocked that both the police authority and the police service commission have yet to enforce the judgement.

 

The affected officers, who were part of Force Entrants Courses 18, 19, and 20, were wrongly accused of falsifying their service records. However, court documents reveal that the issue had been settled in their favour by the Industrial Court of Nigeria in Abuja, with judgments delivered on January 13, 2021, in suit numbers NCIN/ABJ/345/2019 and NICN/ABJ/353/2019.

 

They have therefore, approached the court again because of insinuation that over 200 policemen falsified police records and have resigned following the Police authority order on 10th February 2025 in a signal No DTO 101845/02/25 asking the affected officers to evacuate their offices.

 

The present Suit with No: NICN/ABJ/28/2025 filed by Edwin Okoro Esq, has ACP Chinedu Ambrose Emengaha & seven others as Claimants, with the Police Service Commission, Inspector General of Police and Force Secretary, Nigeria Police as 1st, 2nd and 3rd Defendants.

 

In the their Originating Summons, the Claimants are seeking the determination of the following relieves:

“Whether taking into consideration the judgement of the National Industrial Court Abuja delivered by Hon. Justice O.O. Iyewunmi in Suit NHS NICN/ABJ/ 345/2019 – ACP Chinedu Ambrose Emengaha & Ors Vs PSC & Ors and NICN/ABJ/353/2019- CSP Sunday Okuguni & Ors Vs PSC & 2 Ors, resolving the issues of date of appointment of Cadet officers(Force  Entrants) as the date of their first appointment and the said judgement having been implemented by the defendants since 29th July 2021, the defendants are not estopped from reopening the issue of their first appointment.

 

“A declaration  that the date of first appointment into service of the Claimants as contained in their respective appointment letters are not subject to a review by the defendants; a declaration that members of Cadet ASP (Force Entrants) of course 18,19 and 20 who are yet to serve 35 years of pensionable service nor attained the age of 60 years are by virtue of the said judgement of the National Industrial Court delivered by Hon. O.O Oyewunmi in suit no NICN/ABJ./345/2019 – ACP Chinedu Ambrose Emengaha & Ors Vs PSC & 2 Ors and NICN/ABJ./353/2019 CSP Sunday Okoguni & Ors Vs PSC & 2 Ors, excluded from the decision of the first extraordinary meeting of the 6th Management Board held on Friday 31st January 2025,approving the immediate retirement of those officers who have spent 35 years in service or above 60 years in age.

 

The officers are seeking a further declaration that, by virtue of the said judgments of the National Industrial Court affirming the dates of appointment of Claimants as Cadet Officers as fresh appointment, the said appointment is not a merger of service.

 

“A declaration that the defendant cannot by any decision, set aside the valid and subsisting judgements of the National Industrial Court delivered by Hon. Justice O.O. Oyewunmi  in suit Nos NICN/ABJ./345/2019 – ACP Chinedu Ambrose Emengaha & Ors Vs PSC & 2 Ors, and NICN/ABJ./353/2019 CSP Sunday Okoguni& Ors Vs PSC & 2 Ors, already implemented by the defendants since July 29th 2021.

 

“An oder setting aside the 1st defendants directive to the 2nd paper 3rd Defendants  contained in the press release of 31st January 2025 as it concerns Courses 18, p19, and 20 ( Force Entrants); a further order of perpetual injunction, restraining the Defendants jointly and severally from unlawfully and illegally reviewing the issue of dates of appointment of Cadet ASPs of Force Entrants –Courses 18, 19 & 20 already settled by the Judgments of the National Industrial Court and  an order of perpetual injunction, restraining the Defendants jointly and severally from unlawfully and illegally retiring any member of Cadet ASPs of Force Entrants – Courses 18, 19 & 20 who has not served 35 years in service nor attained the mandatory retirement age of 60 years.”

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