Former Vice President and Presidential aspirant Atiku Abubakar has reacted to the death of the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi.
It was earlier reported that Oba Adeyemi had died on Friday night in Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State Capital after a brief illness.
It was gathered that the Yoruba traditional ruler was reportedly receiving treatment at the Afe Babalola University Teaching Hospital, Ado Ekiti where he later died.
It was disclosed that the rites of passage have started for Alaafin who reigned for 52 years.
Reacting in a statement by his spokesperson Paul Ibe, Atiku stated that the Alaafin was a worthy ambassador of Yoruba culture.
While describing his death as a great loss for Nigeria and Africa culture at large, the PDP chieftain said that the late Oba Adeyemi was a worthy ambassador of Yoruba culture and royal elegance.
Atiku recalled that his last encounter with Oba Adeyemi was in Ibadan during the coronation of Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Lekan Balogun.
“I admired the royal splendour of Oba Adeyemi and the fact that he remains the longest serving Alaafin means that Oyo and indeed Nigerians will not forget his reign,” the Waziri of Adamawa said.
Atiku noted that he is deeply touched by the news of Oba Adeyemi’s demise, sending his condolences to the immediate family, Governor Seyi Makinde and the people and government of Oyo State.
He prayed to Allah to grant the soul of the late king a gentle repose and to give his immediate family and the people of Oyo Kingdom the fortitude to bear the loss of a great monarch.
Top Yoruba traditional ruler, the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, has been confirmed dead.
Naija News understands that the longest-reigning Alaafin died at age 83.
Oba Adeyemi has served as Alaafin of Oyo for 52 years.
The monarch who is said to be the third from the Alowodu Ruling House passed on on Friday night at the Afe Babalola University Teaching Hospital, Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State.
An insider from the palace had told Premium Times that Alaafin’s corpse was brought to Oyo town, the Oyo State capital, very early on Saturday and that traditional rites have since begun.
Alaafin is said to have been seriously sick and a plan had been made to fly him abroad before he gave up the ghost last night.
A source who confided in the news platform revealed on Saturday morning that Oba Lamidi’s travel tickets and those of some of his few wives were already procured before the monarch suddenly went to meet his ancestors.
Naija News understands that Alaafin’s death is coming a few months after the two other senior Oyo State monarchs – the Olubadan of Ibadan, Saliu Adetunji, and the Soun of Ogbomoso, Jimoh Oyewumi had died.
The State has witnessed the death of its top monarchs just in less than five months.
The Governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde, is, however, yet to make an official statement on Alaafin of Oyo’s demise, Naija News reports.
As it stands, the Bashorun of Oyo, Yusuf Akinade, the head of the ‘Oyo Mesi’ is expected to now assume the leadership of Oyo town prior to when a new Alaafin would be installed.
The Minister of Women Affairs Dame Pauline Tallen has visited the force headquarters with the children of late gospel singer Osinachi Nwachukwu to seek clarification on the rumored release of her husband, Peter Nwachukwu.
In a statement released by Director Press and Public Relations of the Ministry, Olujimi Oyetomi, Tallen demanded that adequate punishment be meted on the suspect to serve as a lesson for men who are in the habit of constantly assaulting women.
She also stated that she would be enlisting the support of the Governor of Abia state as well as the representatives of the constituency where the late Osinachi hails from, and the assistance of the governor of Enugu state and his wife to give psycho-social support to the children.
She said: “We would pursue justice for the late singer and her family. The alleged killer must not go unpunished to serve as deterrence to other men who are in the habit of beating women.
“The four children of the deceased singer are on second term holiday from their school in Abuja and may be relocating to Enugu to join their grandmother until the present travail is sorted
“I strongly rebuke those who were in the know of the suffering of the late Osinachi without coming out with what they know. Although we are crying over spilled milk, we will pursue this matter to ensure that justice is done to that late singer’s family and to ensure deterrence to others, so that nothing like this will ever happen.”
Responding, IGP Usman Alkali, ordered that the suspect be brought in and paraded before the minister, children and others to assure that he was still in the custody of the police.
He said: “Police will investigate this matter with all alacrity and responsibility. In all cases such as this, expert opinions on cause of death are sought. We have enlisted National Hospital, Abuja and as soon as the outcome is received, we will charge the suspect to Court. It will be swift as much as possible. We just want to assure the public that the suspect is in our custody.”
The visiting family includes the twin sister of the late Osinachi, Eze Grace Amarachi, the brother, the late singer’s children (Three boys and a girl) as well as two other females which include Deborah Rukop who was simply described as a close friend to the family.
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has appointed the Senator representing Kano South in the National Assembly, Kabiru Gaya, as the head of his presidential campaign council.
Gaya confirmed his appointment at a press conference on Thursday during his assumption as the Chairman of The Progressive Project (TPP), an umbrella body of support groups for Osinbajo’s presidential campaign.
The lawmaker expressed confidence that the vice president will emerge as the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate and go ahead to win the 2023 election.
Senator Gaya pointed out that Osinbajo has the qualities and competence to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari in 2023, adding that his presidential declaration showed his brilliance.
He asserted that his principal’s ambition is not personal but a response to the call of the people to serve and defend the honour of the country.
“Without an iota of doubt, I am certain that all the knowledgeable people here can attest to the qualities and competence of Professor Yemi Osinbajo,” Senator Gaya said.
He said: “You will also agree with me that his chosen method redefines presidential declarations in Nigeria; he has clearly signalled that noble citizens have no need to descend into gutters – no touts were hired by anyone and his message effectively reverberated across the entire country and the diaspora.
“Globally, climate change, insecurity, drug trafficking, economic problems such as unemployment and inflation along with many other challenges have worsened and all these impact Nigeria and many other countries.
“However, by electing someone of Professor Yemi Osinbajo’s pedigree who has direct insight into the depth of our challenges as well as current strategies and tactics being laid out to tackle them, we have a great chance to move ahead without much waste of time.
“I have total confidence that by the power of the Almighty and the electoral power of millions of Nigerian citizens across the six geo-political zones, Yemi Osinbajo will succeed President Muhammadu Buhari on May 20, 2023.”
Speaking on the N100 million for the party’s presidential nomination form, Gaya said: “Just one youth group with TPP says that they can raise N100m with rough voluntary contributions of N10, 000 each by 10, 000 of their supporters who are keen about seeing a better future.
“Our populist mathematics is flawless and very strong; moneybags within or outside APC will only lose their dollars in any contest against the people’s will.”
Manchester United has appointed former Ajax boss, Erik ten Hag, as new United manager.
Dutchman will replaces Ralf Rangnick as the manager.
Official statement by Manchester United and Ajax confirms the agreement had been sealed.
Based on the deal, Hag will stay at Oldtrafford until June 2025 and an option to extend till June 2026.
United said the 52-year-old Dutch will become the manager at the end of the 2021/22 season.
United said, “The evolution in Ten Hag’s reputation has been meticulous, mirroring a rise which has been methodical rather than meteoric. A sharp, ball-playing central defender in his playing days, Erik spent the majority of his career spread across three stints with FC Twente, with whom he won the KNVB Cup in 2001.
“After hanging up his boots, a steady ascent up the coaching ladder began, inevitably within the familiar ranks at Twente. When former Reds no.2 Steve McClaren was made manager in 2008, Erik stepped up to become assistant manager and made an immediate impression.”
Social Critic and Ex-Presidential media aide, Reno Omokri has called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC to investigate Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo if he pays for the APC Presidential nomination form.
The party made headlines on Wednesday after it announced that Presidential Nomination forms will cost N100 million. Omokri, on Thursday, in a statement via social media, said that the VP, going by his annual salary, should not be able to afford it.
“VP Osunbade’s salary is ₦12 million per annum. Ministers earn half of that. By law, they can’t have side businesses.”
“So if he, or Amaechi, or Ngige, or any government official buys that ₦100 million form, EFCC has to investigate them, or apologise to Obi Cubana!”
“If any group should say they are donating the ₦100 million that VP Osunbade, Amaechi, and Ngige, or any government official uses to buy that form, such groups should be prosecuted by INEC for going above the individual financial limits set for campaign donation!”, he wrote.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Wednesday ended the sale and submission of its nomination and expression of interest forms for all elective positions ahead of the 2023 general elections.
The main opposition party at the end of the submission of forms had 17 presidential aspirants fighting for the presidential ticket of the party.
As at yesterday, PDP had generated ₦646m from the sale of the forms.
The presidential aspirants of the main opposition party include; former Vice President Atiku Abubakar; Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal; former president of the Senate, Bukola Saraki; and a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Anyim Pius Anyim.
Others are Bauchi State Governor, Senator Bala Mohammed; Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike; Akwa Ibom State Governor, Udom Emmanuel; former Anambra State governor, Peter Obi, former Ekiti State governor, Ayodele Fayose; a United States-based medical practitioner, Nwachukwu Anakwenze and media mogul, Dele Momodu.
The likes of former banker and economist, Mohammed Hayatu-Deen; a pharmacist, Sam Ohuabunwa, former Speaker of Abia House of Assembly, Cosmos Ndukwe, Charles Ugwu, Rt Hon Chikwendu Kalu are also interested in the ticket of the party.
The only female aspirant in the race, Oliver Tareila Diana only paid for the expression of interest form which is N6m.
The primaries of the party have been fixed for May 28-29.
A yet-to-be-identified driver has crushed an official of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, Jamiu Issa, to death in the Lekki-Ajah areaof the state.
A statement by the spokesperson for the agency, Olumide Filade, confirmed the development to our correspondent on Wednesday.
Filade said the driver was driving against traffic when he rammed into Issa, who wanted to apprehend him for the traffic offense.
He added that Isa was rushed to the hospital where he was confirmed dead.
The statement read, “The driver of a green Toyota Sienna vehicle, with number plate, FST 901 AR, knocked down and run over a LASTMA official, Jamiu Issa, who was later confirmed dead, on April 19, 2022.
“The late Issa was said to have approached and accosted the Sienna vehicle driver who was driving against the direction of flow of traffic, facing oncoming vehicles from Chevron towards the Conservation Toll Plaza.
“It was reported that Issa was knocked down and run over by the traffic law offender. Issa’s colleague at the scene of the event quickly put a call through to the zonal head while some good Samaritans/eyewitnesses pursued the escaping Sienna driver to the Chevron Waterfront area where he was eventually apprehended and taken first to Ilasan police station, and eventually to Ajiwe police station, under which jurisdiction the event happened for proper investigation.
“Also, according to other eyewitnesses’ accounts, the Sienna driver also knocked down another person while trying to escape from the scene before the driver was apprehended.
“At the same time that the above scenario was going on, the fatally injured Issa was rushed to the Lagos Island General Hospital where it was confirmed that he was brought in dead. His remains have been deposited at the morgue of same hospital.”
Filade said the General Manager, LASTMA, Bolaji Oreagba, commiserated with the family of the deceased officer, adding that those who refused all entreaties to desist from assaulting and injuring government officials, would be made to face the full wrath of the law.
The Kuda Microfinance Bank has blamed one of its customers for the way he was manhandled by security officers on the bank’s premises in the Yaba area of Lagos, Nigeria.
A video had surfaced online showing law enforcement officers rough handling the yet-to-be-identified customer of Kuda Bank.
The video was shared by the brother of the customer who lamented the inhumane treatment meted out to his brother, saying that the officers went as far as releasing tear gas on his brother’s face.
Reacting in a statement released on its Twitter page, the bank defended the harsh treatment, saying that as a financial institution licensed by the Central Bank of Nigeria, they are obligated to comply with the mandate of all applicable government and law enforcement agencies.
While failing to mention the customer’s exact offence, the bank added that it was the customer’s failure to cooperate with the officers that led to them manhandling him.
“It has come to our attention that a couple of videos are being circulated online regarding the experience of one of our customers yesterday. The videos show the customer being forcefully escorted off our premises by members of the Nigerian Police Force.
“As a financial institution licensed by the Central Bank of Nigeria, we have an obligation to comply with the mandates of all applicable government and law enforcement agencies, supported by the appropriate documentation. While complying with such mandates, we liaise with the affected customers so that any pending matters between the customers and the agencies are resolved.”
“It is also expected that such affected customers will cooperate fully with the law enforcement agencies involved in order to reach a resolution on each matter. It is truly unfortunate that the customer’s failure to cooperate with the law enforcement officers unfolded in the manner that it did, particularly as the customer was being apprehended by the members of the Nigerian Police Force further in their investigation into alleged criminal activity on the customer’s account,” the bank said.
Kuda bank also attempted to absolve itself of any blame, saying that no staff of the bank was involved in the incident which played out in the video.
“We wish to reiterate that no staff of the Kuda MFB was involved in the unfortunate incident that was captured in the video,” the statement said.
The bank concluded by saying that it had, “commenced internal investigations into this matter would liaise with the customer as well as the relevant law enforcement agencies to ensure that the matter is addressed.”
The brother of the customer first spoke out against the bank on Sunday, 17th April 2022, narrating how the bank locked his brother’s account after he transferred the sum of N577,491 from his Moneypoint POS into the account on the 13th of April.
“For someone that has sent a huge amount of over N10 million at once without you guys locking it, so why did you suddenly lock the account for an amount less than that? You locked his total amount of 1.2 million naira without even feeling remorseful or thinking about how this person would feel after locking his account,” he tweeted.
The customer’s brother, who tweeted via his handle (@I_Am_Jamotech), asked that the bank opened the account because his brother needed the money for his business activities.
“Please kindly open back his account (because) the money is for his business and he needs it to continue his daily activities. You can do whatever investigations but I’m telling you that it is not fraud money and we need you guys to open his account so he can continue with his business, thank you,” he said.
He further tweeted on Tuesday that his brother eventually had to visit Kuda Bank’s customer support office in Yaba, Lagos to rectify the issue when he was accosted by law enforcement officers.
“So my brother went to @kudabankhelp office today at Yaba to know the reason why his account was locked and still not opened after dropping his proof to them that it’s legit money and not fraud money at all.
“So funny how when he got there this morning, they sent their MOPOL to arrest him and started harassing him for no reason. So, every young guy’s money has to be fraudulent? Do they who our father is? He called me on the phone and I was listening in the background while they were harassing him, trying to detain him. Please twitter help us do your thing,” he said.
After this, he posted the video showing the security operatives manhandling his brother who could be seen lying on the floor and pleading for water while an officer held him by the belt.
