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Gombe APC in crisis as two factions sack each other from party

Published

11 years ago

July 8, 2015

Efforts to unseat Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo of Gombe State by the opposition All Progressives Congress, APC, through the election tribunal appears to be suffering a blow, with the APC slipping into a serious leadership crisis.

The party is presently divided into two factions, each led by a serving Senator.

While ex-Governor Danjuma Goje leads a faction comprising of the party’s candidate for the April 11governorship election, Inuwa Yahaya, a former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives and current Senator representing Gombe north, Bayero Nafada, leads the other faction that has the state party chairman, Magaji Doho, and some other executive members.

First to fire the salvo was the Goje group, which addressed a press conference in Gombe on Monday, announcing the suspension of the state chairman of the party, Mr. Doho, and 17 others including, Mr. Nafada, a former Minister, Murtala Aliyu, a House of Reps member, Khamisu Mailantarki, and Abubakar Aliyu.

A member of the state executive committee, Umar Saifuddeen, who addressed the press conference, said the chairman and others were suspended for anti-party activities.

Part of those suspended alongside the party’s bigwigs included members of the state working committee.

Mr. Saifuddeen accused them of sponsoring acts that were against the interest of the party.

“The State Working Committee (SWC) sat just a week after the gubernatorial election to review the election and in the review, we were able to set up a committee to look into the issue of anti-party activities and the suspended exco members were found wanting of anti-party activities during the election,” he said.

“We worked throughout the state through our coordinators, exco members who were at the scene of the election at wards and local government levels and we were able to find 18 of them who participated actively in anti-party activities,” he added.

Mr. Saifuddeen also said query letters of query were issued to the affected exco members on Saturday 16th May and they were given 72 hours to reply but none of them did so.

Those suspended were Magaji Doho, the state chairman; Dauda Manu, state legal adviser; Muhammad Kwairanga, zonal vice chairman; Bawa Bungum, state assistant treasurer; Abdullahi Masad, state Assistant organizing secretary; Abubakar Gerengi, zonal youth leader and Ciroma Garkuwa, state youth leader.

Others were, Aaron Yakubu, zonal youth leader (south); Billy Garba, state public relations officer; Alhamis Maigiba, state women leader; Abubakar Dantata, ex-officio member; Micheal Luka, state assistant auditor; M. Nafada ex-officio member; A. I. Gonsis, chairman Kaltungo; Timothy Set, chairman Billiri LG; Nadabo Hamidu, chairman Nafada; Ali Kurugu, chairman Kwami and Usman Abubakar, chairman Dukku local government area.

Goje, others sacked

The state Chairman of the APC, Mr. Doho, swiftly responded to the position taken by the Goje group and also convened a press Conference Monday, where he announced the sack of Mr. Goje and others from the party.

Mr. Doho said Mr. Goje ceased to be a member of the APC as from July 1, 2015.

“Having gone through the rigours of campaigns and the 2015 general elections, some of our members, led by Senator Danjuma Goje, have decided to have parallel state executives of the party.

“Secondly, one of our senators representing Gombe-South, Danjuma Goje, is grossly involved
in anti-party activities and we have, therefore, decided to expel him from the party from the first day of July, 2015, to instill discipline in our great party,” he said.

The APC chairman said the state executive council had written a comprehensive report to the national secretariat of the party, indicting Mr. Goje.

The chairman added that members of the state executive of the party loyal to Mr. Goje have all been relieved of their positions, adding, however, that they remain members of the APC if they chose to do so.

In their letter to the national chairman of the APC, John Oyegun, intimating him of their decision, the Nafada faction said Mr. Goje was also expelled because of his decision to take sides with Senators belonging to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to produce Bukola Saraki as Senate President against the decision of the party’s national executive committee.

The letter was signed by 20 members of the state executive council of the party.

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Sagamu Plantation Row: Igimisoje-Anoko Family Challenges LG Claim

Published

5 days ago

February 9, 2026

Sahara Weekly

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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Sagamu Communities Exonerate Sir Kay Oluwo, Accuse Teriba of Land Invasions, Violence

Published

5 days ago

February 9, 2026

Sahara Weekly

Residents of Ajeregun and eight other neighbouring communities in Sagamu Local Government Area of Ogun State have distanced businessman Sir Kay Oluwo from allegations of land grabbing and unrest in the area, instead accusing one Kazeem Teriba and his associates of orchestrating violent land invasions and illegal sales of community lands.

The community’s attempts to link Sir Kay Oluwo to the disturbances were false and misleading, maintaining that he only acquired lands through legitimate family transactions backed by agreements and receipts.

Speaking on behalf of Ajeregun and Oyewole Bakare villages, Mr. Akani Awokoya said Teriba and his group had been crossing into neighbouring communities to sell lands without the consent of rightful owners.

“It is not Sir Kay Oluwo that is disturbing us,” Awokoya said. “Kazeem Teriba and his boys are the ones causing the problem. They come into our communities and start selling our lands without permission.”

He explained that Sir Kay Oluwo purchased land lawfully from his family.

“I personally sold my father’s land to Sir Kay. We have agreements and receipts. It was a proper transaction,” he added.

Awokoya alleged that Teriba’s group had been linked to repeated acts of intimidation and violence in the area, creating fear among residents.

“These people operate like bandits. They invade communities and disturb the peace. We have reported them to the police and also petitioned the Akarigbo-in-Council,” he said.

Corroborating the claims, the Public Relations Officer representing the nine communities in Aroko Latawa village, Prince Raheem Shitta Adeoye, also absolved Sir Kay Oluwo of any wrongdoing.

According to him, the unrest being experienced across the communities began last year and was allegedly tied to Teriba and his associates.

“Sir Kay Oluwo is not disturbing anyone here. Kazeem Teriba and his boys are the ones causing the unrest. That is why all the nine communities are crying out to the government for help,” Adeoye said.

He noted that Oluwo only purchased land legitimately, while some individuals were laying claim to ownership of multiple villages.

Meanwhile, families in the affected communities, through their solicitors, Tawose & Tawose Chambers, have submitted a petition to the Inspector-General of Police over the alleged activities of Teriba and several others.

The petition accused the suspects of offences including aiding and abetting violence, conspiracy, unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition, assault, and conduct likely to cause a breach of public peace.

The solicitors alleged that the named individuals invaded Ajeregun village in Sagamu armed with guns, shooting sporadically and causing panic among residents.

They further claimed that during one of the incidents, a villager, Nasiru Semiu, sustained gunshot wounds and later died, while others were injured.

In a response dated January 5, 2026, the Office of the Inspector-General of Police acknowledged receipt of the petition and directed the Commissioner of Police, Ogun State Command, Eleweran, Abeokuta, to investigate the matter.

The letter, signed by CP Lateef Adio Ahmed, Principal Staff Officer to the Inspector-General of Police, confirmed that the case had been referred to the state command for appropriate action.

Community leaders said the development reinforces their call for a thorough investigation and urged the state government and security agencies to intervene to restore peace.

They maintained that Sir Kay Oluwo should not be blamed for the crisis and insisted that attention should instead focus on those allegedly responsible for the disturbances.

Meanwhile, Mr. Kazeem Teriba could not be reached for comment, as calls placed to his phone were not answered at the time of filing this report.

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Tinubu 2027: Bashir Backs Asiwaju, Hails Seyi Tinubu and Tayo Ayinde, Unveils Solar Jobs Scheme for Ikeja Youths

Published

5 days ago

February 9, 2026

Sahara Weekly

In a show of open political support and grassroots engagement, Oluwadamilare Sonayon Adebowale Bashir has declared that his multimillion-naira solar empowerment initiative is part of efforts to mobilise support for the re-election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027, describing the President’s leadership as one anchored on opportunity, enterprise and inclusive growth.

Bashir also commended Seyi Tinubu, son of the President, for what he described as his consistent humanitarian and grassroots interventions in Ikeja and across Lagos State. According to him, Seyi Tinubu’s outreach programmes have continued to bring relief and practical support to residents, especially young people and vulnerable groups.

In the same vein, Bashir praised Tayo Ayinde, Chief of Staff to the Lagos State Governor, acknowledging his “fatherly role” and long-standing commitment to the stability, unity and development of Ikeja.

He noted that Ayinde’s behind-the-scenes leadership has remained vital to community cohesion and progress.

Against this backdrop of political alignment and civic responsibility, Bashir unveiled a solar empowerment training programme specifically designed to create job opportunities for Ikeja youths. He explained that the initiative is not a handout scheme but a skills-driven intervention focused on preparing young people for sustainable careers in the renewable energy sector.

The programme targets youths between the ages of 18 and 40, with a total of 100 beneficiaries to be trained in batches to ensure quality delivery. The first batch of 20 trainees is scheduled to begin in March, marking the pilot phase of the project.

According to Bashir, the solar training will equip participants with practical installation and maintenance skills, opening pathways to employment, entrepreneurship and long-term economic independence. He added that the initiative simultaneously addresses youth unemployment and energy challenges, positioning solar technology as a tool for both empowerment and development.

Bashir reaffirmed that the programme reflects his belief in combining political support with tangible impact, stressing that meaningful backing for leadership must translate into visible benefits for the people. He described the solar empowerment scheme as a strategic investment in Ikeja’s youth population and a contribution to building a skilled workforce aligned with Nigeria’s evolving energy future.