society
Land tussles : Obanyantor Elders Sue for Peace, call on aggrieved Community Members to Shield their Swords
Land tussles : Obanyantor Elders Sue for Peace, call on aggrieved Community Members to Shield their Swords
By Itohan Audrey & Issioma Egbunike
The People of Obayantor 1 Community of Ikpoba Okha Local Government Area, Edo State especially, those that stayed away from the community since 2020 has been called to come back home and join hands to promote peace and development that the community is known for in the past years.
Elder Godwin Aghimien , the Ozukpogieha of Obayantor 1 stated this while debunking allegations of land grabbing and intimidation of residents made against security operatives in the community. He described the allegations as a figment of imaginations of some unscrupulous elements from the community.
Speaking , he painfully narrated the ordeals that had transpired in the last three years where the residents of Obayantor 1 Community in Ikpoba Okha local government area in Edo State took to their heels for safety of their lives over leadership tussles of who becomes the rightful Okaighele .
He explained that the crisis started when the late Odionwere, Pa Omorose Omoruyi passed on ,then the Elders met and directed the Youth to choose among themselves who they deem fit to take the position of Okaighele which eventually they presented one Osatohanwen Oduwa to the council of elders and the Enogie, Idu Akenzua including the past CDA Chairman, Kenneth Amadin who endorsed him publicly in the full glare of all and sundry in the community.
According to Elder Aghimien ,about 16 Youths led by Endurance Omorogie ,a.k.a Ajala came forward after seven months of installing Oduwa as the new Okaighele alleged against him that he sold 270 plots of lands to Prince Builders without the knowledge of the elders of Obayantor 1 Community.
The Elders in Council met and set up a committee that investigated the allegations leveled against the Okiaghele ,Osato Oduwa, and the committee came up with a report that revealed that the allegations were all fabricated, merely seeking to indict the integrity and personality of Oduwa in other to unrobed him of his title .
The committee further reported that the Community,not( Osato Oduwa )sold 150 plots of lands to Prince Builders and that the proceeds were paid into the bank account of Enogie, Idu Akenzua before his death.
Speaking further, he emphasized that having failed in a bid to indict Osato Oduwa in the sales of land without the knowledge of the Community, One Rollins Obazee and his alleged gang came forward to allege that the Enogie and the Elders of the community do not have the right to install the Okiaghele in Obayantor 1, adducing that the Youths have the right to install the Okiaghele .
These actions of theirs got the Elders piqued whereby they informed the Youths that is against the Bini tradition for Youths to install the Ohkaighele, he stressed that Youths can only present who they want to lead them to the elders which the Obanyantor 1 Elders believed that it has been done when they presented Osato Oduwa to the Enogie and all these happened during the End Sars period.
Again, Elder Aghimien stated that the same gang of Youths on their own brought another person called Endurance Omorogie aka, Ajala to be the Okiaghele, though his presentation was resisted and rejected by the elders after realizing that the alleged gang of Youths are up to some sinister activities.
According to him, the gangs forced one of the elders , Pa Iyamu Emokpa to install Endurance Omorogie as the Okaighele after chasing away the alleged recognized Okaighele ,Osato Oduwa that was installed by the Community and also further chased away the elders that resisted Endurance Omorogie’s installation from Obanyanto1.
While in their hide outs, the elders advised Osatohanmwen Oduwa to seek redress in the court of law which he did in the High Court of Justice,Benin City and was eventually declared the Okaighele of Obayantor 1 village in Ikpoba Okha Local Government by Hon. Justice A.N Erabor on the 24th of October, 2022.
According to Elder Aghimien, all through the period Endurance Omorogie served as Okaighele after chasing the elders and the alleged original Okaigele out of the community , alleged hoodlums and non indigenes were however hired to take over the community as Obayantor 1 eventually became known for kidnapping, arm robbery, gun racketeering and other criminal activities that attracted the DSS to investigate the community .
Going forward, other security agencies were also invited to work with the DSS as a team to quell the criminal activities and the leadership tussle in the community, which led to the increase of security checkpoints in the community to ensure law and order is restored.
As a result of the daily gun shooting from the hoodlums, there was a shot-out between Security Personnel and the hoodlums which eventually led to the death of one of the security operatives’ of which as at this Press Time, his corpse has not been found to be given to his family for proper burial.
Following the death of one of the Security Operatives, the presence of security check points increased in the community that scared away the Endurance Omorogie’s alleged gang from the community. Their exit from Obayantor 1, paved way for the coming back of the elders and the alleged original Okiaghele of the community.
Upon returning back to Obayantor 1, the elders realized that most of the lands that were sold by the community before the insurrection have also been resold by Endurance Omorogie a.k.a. Ajala and his team and as a result of the findings, the elders issued a press release through Radio and Televisions calling on those who bought lands in Obayantor 1 to come forward with adequate proofs of ownership and go through verification excercise to ascertain the rightful owners of the lands.
Ozukpogieha of Obayanto 1, Aghimien pleasantly appeal to all Sons and Daughters of Obayantor 1 to shield their swords and embrace peace because Peace is the fulcrum of development.
Meanwhile,it was gathered from our security sources who prefer to be anonymous that the Obayantor 1 Community was out-runned by alleged hoodlums who were involved in all manners of criminal activities that led the residents deserting or fleeing from the community.
According to our security source, the elders of the community invited the security operatives to increase the presence of their check points in the community in order to scare the hoodlums from carrying out their heinous activities. This has contributed to the fragile peace in the community where most of the indigenes that had ran away for safety of their lives when the community became a theater of war are gradually returning home to live their normal lives.
Further investigations have revealed that some members of the community that ran away due to the presence of security operatives are not comfortable with increase presence of security check points of security operatives in Obayantor 1, thereby seeking for ways security check points can be totally removed to aid them to further carry out their heinous activities,
Speaking with some members of the Obayentor 1 community, Mrs.Osariemein Eromosele, a farmer commended the presence of security check points in the community. According to her, the residents of the community can now go about their normal lives compare to as it were before the increase of the security check points .
“ In fact, I am happy that life is gradually becoming peaceful and normal compare to how it was before now. The Okaighele tussel has destroyed the peace we used to enjoy in Obayantor 1 and I am appealing to the security officers to ensure they sustained their check points here or otherwise,we the ordinary people will be forced to leave the community for hoodlums. I am also using this opportunity to appeal to our Royal Father, O’ OMO ‘NO ‘OBA, OBA EWUARE 11 to help us call Endurance Omorogie and his men to other to enable us have Peace again.” She said.
Another resident, Osazuwa Osaretien, a business man and a Farmer expressed happiness that Peace is gradually returning to Obayantor 1 due to increase security check points in the community, however he appealed to the warring factions to respect the Court Judgment issued in Favour of Osato Oduwa on the 24th of October 2022 and give peace a chance that will promote meaningful development in the community.
“ The Issue of Okiaghele tussel in our community is quite disheartening to me because during the period of this crisis, I almost lost all my family fortunes including my inherited lands from my forefathers. As I speak to you, they have sold my lands and I pray that I will recover them”.
Mrs Adesuwa Eghosa,a pretty trader also noted that it is time for fighting members of the community to respect the Court Judgment declaring Osato Oduwa as the authentic Okaighele of Obayantor 1 Community.
According to her, there is no point crying over a spilt milk as such would result to endless crisis which is not necessary for the wellbeing of the community generally. She further called on the elders of the community to call for a peaceful meeting where all the involved actors would be allowed to air their grievances and then resolve the crisis amicably.
Also speaking in the community, Osarobo Omorodion, a farmer appeals to the declared Okaighele, Osato Oduwa to work with the Elders closely and call Endurance Omorogie for a Peace Meeting to resolve the crisis and allow Peace to reign again in the community.
“We used to be in Peace in this Community until strangers started creating enmities among us, we can not continue like this, we need to go back to our old ways of living so that we can remain as a progressive front as we use to be in the past,” he said.
All efforts made to reach representative of Endurance Omorogie who alleged land grabbing by security personnel proved abortive as at Press time when contacted on mobile call.
” When we are ready, we will invite you because we don’t want hurry hurry story”
Old Students Association rejects alleged commercialisation of Unity School land
By Ifeoma Ikem
The Unity Schools Old Students Association (USOSA) has rejected the alleged commercialisation of any unity schools land under the Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) initiative.
The association made its displeasure known during their awareness walk to protest the concession of the 33 hectares of land belonging to Federal Government College (FGC) Kano yesterday in Lagos.
The members were carrying placards, some of which read “PPP: Save the Future”, “Protect Unity Schools”, “PPP must serve Education not land conversion” and “Schools are not for Real Estate”.
President-General of the Unity Schools Old Students Association USOSA Michael Magaji says Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) was designed to improve public institutions, and not strip them of assets or reduce their land.
Over 60 Unity schools members were drawn from across the nation for the awareness walk to protest against the alleged sale of the school lands.
The P-G said the association was advocating for a sustainable funding model that would preserve educational assets while improving infrastructure, manpower and learning conditions.
“Our coming together is to restore the lost glory of Unity Schools and strengthen Nigeria’s education system. Unity schools are nation-building institutions that have produced leaders across various sectors.
“Unity Schools were not just about education, they were about integration built not by spectators but by active citizens that believe in one nation.
“ The alumni support PPP but oppose the sale of educational assets. Unity never happens by chance but designed, nurtured and protected,’’ he added.
He added that the awareness walk brought about by the alumni across the nation was also to have a stronger network to revive the vision of the Unity Schools.
Mr Humphrey Nwafor, Lagos Chapter President, Federal Government College, Kano Old Students Association said that they are pushing back against the alleged commercialisation of Unity School lands.
Nwafor pointed out that the 33 hectares of land belonging to FGC Kano was concessioned without adequate consultation with stakeholders.
“We are saying there is a better option. Instead of selling our lands and assets, we would rather fund the schools ourselves.
“If the government says it does not have enough money to run the schools, the old students can provide support without taking one inch of the land,” he said.
According to him, the concession arrangement involving the school’s land will undermine the future of unity schools, which were established in the first place to promote national integration.
“These schools were established to unite Nigerians from different ethnic and religious backgrounds and we are appealing to President Bola Tinubu to intervene and ensure that public educational assets are protected,” he added.
He called on the Federal Government to leverage alumni networks in addressing funding challenges confronting unity schools.
“We are in solution mode and impact mode and we believe alumni associations should be integrated into the process of repositioning these schools.
“We recently met with officials of the Federal Ministry of Education and discussions are ongoing toward finding mutually beneficial solutions,” he said.
Mr Alex Akindumila, President of FGC Idoani Alumni Association said the concession controversy was a national test of how public assets and educational institutions are being managed.
He said that they are concerned that reducing lands allocated to unity schools could limit future expansion, agricultural projects, sports facilities, technical workshops and staff accommodation.
“The lands allocated to unity schools were deliberate and visionary.“They were designed to ensure that the schools remain self-sustaining and adaptable to future needs.
According to him, when you shrink the land of a unity school, you do not just reduce space, but reduce possibility , reduce ability to run agricultural programs that can feed students and teach enterprise, even the space required for sports facilities that build discipline, health and national pride.
Also, Mrs Ifeoma Okeke, an alumna of FGC Nsukka, called for transparency, due process and stakeholder engagement in any PPP arrangement involving educational institutions.
She said PPP agreements should align with the public purpose of the schools and not diminish their long-term capacity.
“There must be transparency, competitiveness and proper stakeholder engagement in any concession process involving public educational assets,” she said.
society
NAPS Southwest Condemns Delay in Passage of HND,/B.SC Dichotomy Bill, Issues 30 Days Ultimatum to Nigeria Senate and Federal House of Representative
NAPS Southwest Condemns Delay in Passage of HND,/B.SC Dichotomy Bill, Issues 30 Days Ultimatum to Nigeria Senate and Federal House of Representative
The National Association of Polytechnic Students (NAPS) Southwest has strongly condemned the continued delay in the passage of the bill aimed at ending the long-standing disparity between Higher National Diploma (HND) and Bachelor of Science (B.Sc) qualifications in Nigeria. The association has described the delay as unjust, discriminatory, and harmful to the future of polytechnic education in the country.
The NAPS Southwest expressed deep frustration over what it called the unacceptable silence and inaction from the Nigerian Senate and Federal House of Representatives regarding the bill. The proposed legislation seeks to abolish the dichotomy between HND and B.Sc holders, a divide that has for years limited career progression opportunities for polytechnic graduates, particularly in the public sector.
This ongoing delay represents a significant policy gap that must be urgently addressed. The continued discrimination against HND holders contradicts the principles of equity, fairness, and meritocracy that should define Nigeria’s public service.
For years, polytechnic students and graduates have faced systemic discrimination in employment opportunities, career progression, and societal recognition an injustice that undermines the value of technical and vocational education in national development. The proposed bill represents a critical step toward equity, fairness, and the full recognition of polytechnic education in Nigeria.
We therefore call on the current administration and the National Assembly to prioritize the reintroduction and immediate passage of this critical legislation. Nigeria cannot afford to sideline a significant segment of its skilled workforce due to outdated and discriminatory policies.
It is therefore disheartening that the Nigeria Senate and House of Representatives has yet to act decisively on this matter of urgent national importance. The continued delay raises serious questions about the commitment of lawmakers to addressing the challenges faced by millions of Nigerian youths in the polytechnic system.
The NAPS southwest unequivocally calls on the Senate and House of Representatives to, without further delay, deliberate on and pass the bill to end the HND/B.Sc dichotomy. The future of countless students and graduates depends on this decisive action.
The continued delay in passing this bill is a direct attack on the dignity and future of millions of Nigerian students and graduates, the statement read. We cannot continue to tolerate a system that places artificial barriers on capable individuals simply because of the institution they attended.
Failure to meet this demand will leave NAPS Southwest with no choice but to mobilize Nigerian Polytechnic Students and Graduates across the country for peaceful but firm actions to press home our demands. We are prepared to take all legitimate steps necessary to ensure that justice is served.
NAPS Southwest has therefore issued a strong warning to the Senate and House of Representatives, urging lawmakers to prioritize and immediately pass the bill without further delay. The association made it clear that failure to act promptly would trigger nationwide protests and coordinated actions by Nigerian polytechnic students and graduates.
We urge all relevant stakeholders to initiate comprehensive reforms that will harmonize qualification frameworks, ensure equal opportunities for career advancement, and restore confidence in the civil service system.
NAPS Southwest remains committed to advocating for the rights and dignity of polytechnic students and graduates across Nigeria. We will continue to engage constructively with policymakers and mobilize support until justice is achieved.
Signed
Comr Ogunsola Adewale John
NAPS Southwest Coordinator
+234 704 720 2907
society
African Focus Historic Royal Visit of Olúkòyí of Ìkòyí Ọba Iyiola Akande Morenigbade in Los Angeles, CA —
African Focus Historic Royal Visit of Olúkòyí of Ìkòyí Ọba Iyiola Akande Morenigbade in Los Angeles, CA —
African Focus Inc. its 20th Anniversary with Goodwill Awards and Induction Ceremony in April, 2026, held at the Renaissance LAX in Los Angeles, California.
The landmark event brought together distinguished guests, cultural leaders, and members of the African diaspora for an evening of recognition, reconnection, and celebration.
The ceremony honored outstanding community leaders and cultural champions whose contributions have strengthened African heritage and unity across generations.
The evening featured an elegant dinner, and an inspiring awards presentation, commemorating two decades of impactful service.
Highlight of the event was the African Family Induction, a signature tradition of African Focus.
18 Diaspora Africans were formally welcomed into native African families for a meaningful cultural experience.
The Inductees received certificates bearing their native names, along with cultural artifacts symbolizing their new lineage.
This initiative continues to foster cultural identity, bridge generational and geographical divides, and encourage deeper engagement with the African continent.
Many past inductees have gone on to travel to Africa with their host families, strengthening cultural bonds and understanding.
This year’s event was graced by a Yorùbà monarch His Royal Majesty, Oba Iyiola Akande Morenigbade, the Olukoyi of Ikoyi in Osun State, Nigeria who doubled as special guest of honour and historically served as Royal Father of the Day.
His royal presence brought cultural significance to the celebration.
The event was hosted by Uchenna Nworgu, Founder and Director of African Focus Inc, alongside a distinguished team of Cultural Ambassadors and leaders, including Paul Babatunde, Director of Cultural Initiatives; Dominique DiPrima, Cultural Ambassador; Wole Nipede; Ojise Isedale (also known as Olubunmi Olukanni); Ade James; and other notable contributors.
The event was concluded with vibrant music and dance, reflecting the spirit of unity and cultural pride that has defined African Focus for the past 20 years.
African Focus is a nonprofit organization dedicated to reconnecting the African diaspora with their cultural roots through education, cultural exchange, and community engagement initiatives.
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