FUTURE OF YOUTHS IS IN THE HAND OF PARENTS, GOD - OBA LADOJA

His Imperial Majesty Oba (Dr) Rasidi Adewolu Ladoja (Arusa1) said the success and accomplishment of the youths depend on the way they are brought up by their parents and guardians

The statement was contained in the press release issued and signed by the Chief Press Secretary to Olubadan of Ibadanland, Chief Ayoade Solomon Olugbemiga shortly after the service marking the Anniversary of the birth of Christianity in Ibadanland and immortalization  of Oba Isaac Babalola Akinyele at Professor Oladapo Abraham Afolabi Chapel of Grace , Iyana Offa, Ibadan on Sunday 

" The future of our youths is in the hand of their parents,then,God will bless the efforts of the parents on their children in order to fulfill their destiny, parents should work and pray" the paramount ruler admonished 

Speaking through Mogaji Allen Tunji Ajala Odugade, Oba Ladoja warned parents not to allow their children to be used as political thugs, kidnappers, land grabbers or be involved in other nefarious activities such as drug addiction which had ruined the lives of many youths 

The monarch thanked God for sparing his life to witness the Anniversary celebration of the birth of Christianity in Ibadanland and the immortalization ceremony of the past Olubadan of  Ibadanland,Oba (Sir) Isaac Babalola Akinyele

Standing on the legacy of this great monarch, " I urgent all religious leaders and Faith communities, regardless of the difference in their religious inclinations to champion the core values of tolerance, mutual accommodation and peaceful co - existence . Let  unity ,love, brotherhood and religious tolerance be our guiding watchwords across Ibadan,Oyo State and Nigeria as a whole", the traditional ruler concluded 

In his sermon, Venerable Isaac Olaleye the Vicar - In - Charge and the church Administrator emphasized that the personal conviction, total submission, endurance and efficacy of prayers are the tools that assisted Oba  Akinyele to succeed in the evangelism of the gospel of Jesus Christ 

Referring to Revelation 3:11,Gen.17: 5 Ven. Isaac Olaleye called on the public to move closer to God especially during this trying period, abstain from sins and love one another 

To further mark the Anniversary, special posthumous Award was given to the family members of the late Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Isaac Babalola Akinyele . The award was presented by  His Imperial Majesty Oba (Dr) Rasidi Adewolu Ladoja ably represented by Mogaji Allen Tunji Ajala Odugade at the ceremony 

Present at the service were Mogaji Dele Fasola of Bolude Compound Ibadan, Baale (Venerable) Olatinwo Adeagbo Fatoki Onibudo 2, Onikusela of Kusela, family members of Oba Isaac Babalola Akinyele, Archdeacons,priests and other distinguished invited guests 

Killing the deal: Bwala’s Ibadan media round misadventure

 

By Sulaimon Olanrewaju

The quote, “Nothing kills a bad product faster than good advertising”, attributed to William (Bill) Bernbach, co-founder of the Doyle Dane Bernbach (DDB) Advertising Agency, perfectly captures Dr Daniel Bwala’s media round in Ibadan last week.

The Presidency, apparently worried by President Bola Tinubu’s sagging popularity in many parts of the country, dispatched Bwala, the President’s Special Adviser on Media and Policy Communication, to Oyo State to shore up the sitting president’s reputation ahead of the 2027 general elections, in which he will be seeking re-election. Bwala’s two-pronged strategy was to pick three of the leading radio stations in Oyo State as his channel of reaching out to the people, and to discredit Governor Seyi Makinde as a means to achieve his goal of laundering his principal’s image. 

Bwala’s expedition was part of APC’s strategy of winning the hearts and votes of Oyo State people in the ensuing election season. In the 2023 presidential election, the APC had a good showing in the state because of Governor Makinde’s support for the then candidate Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. But since Makinde has declared interest in the presidency and will be on the ballot in 2027, Oyo State looks highly unlikely for the president. Knowing that this would have a telling effect on the president’s overall performance, the president’s men and the APC have brought out all the tricks in the bag to debase, demean and diminish Governor Makinde all in a bid to sway the people away from him. There have been series of media attacks veiled as objective interventions, but which on a closer look leave no one in doubt that they are hatchet jobs because their tone and tenor are neither organic nor authentic. There have also been protests engineered with a view to rousing the people against the governor. But rather than all these injuring the governor’s public perception, they are actually enhancing it. The more they try to degrade Makinde, the more the people become enamored with him.

So, Bwala came to Ibadan to continue the ‘Pull Down Seyi Makinde By All Means’ project. His brief was clear: demonize Makinde to canonize Tinubu. He was on Splash FM, Crest FM and Fresh FM. Of the three, I was only able to monitor his Friday morning encounter with Mayor Isaac Brown on Fresh FM.

Brown apparently did not initially understand Bwala’s mission. 

The broadcast journalist was of the opinion that the presidential aide had come to Ibadan to market his principal and regale the people of Oyo State with what the man entrusted with the management of the country’s human and material resources had done to improve the life of the average citizen over the past 37 months. So, he tailored his questions towards unearthing the achievements of the president. But Bwala had another agenda. 

When Brown asked Bwala how Nigerians were faring under President Tinubu, instead of the spokesperson giving a straightforward answer, he talked about the increase in allocation that governors have been receiving from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) and the increase in the allocation to local government councils. Thinking the presidential aide did not have a grasp of the question, Brown talked about how the rising cost of living was impoverishing the populace and asked his guest what the Federal Government was doing to address it, but Bwala still stuck to his gun, and said Governor Makinde should be questioned by the people for holding on to local government allocations. 

That became his refrain. For every question he was asked, Bwala found a way to bring in the governor and the local government funds. He must have left Abuja with the belief that the local government fund issue was the last straw that would break the camel’s back. He obviously thought that by playing the local government allocation card he could easily turn the people of Oyo State against their governor. But Bwala failed woefully as about 70 per cent of the callers condemned his evasive tactic. They accused him of parrying the questions put to him instead of answering them. 

Mayor Isaac Brown deserves commendation for not surrendering the control of his programme to Bwala. By deflecting questions and giving a narrative that aligned with his agenda, Bwala’s plot was to pilot the programme to suit his purpose. He wanted Brown to steer the programme, not according to its philosophy, but in accordance with his mission of demonizing Makinde to canonize Tinubu.

For the record, despite the politics of scapegoatism being played by the presidency and the APC, local government financial autonomy is still an inconclusive matter because in spite of the July 11, 2024 Supreme Court judgment, which gave full autonomy to the third tier of government, Section 162 

(6), (7) and (8) of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution as amended are still in force. The subsections state as follows:

(6) Each State shall maintain a special account to be called "State Joint Local Government Account" into which shall be paid all allocations to the Local Government Councils of the State from the Federation Account and from the Government of the State.

(7) Each State shall pay to Local Government Councils in its area of jurisdiction such proportion of its total revenue on such terms and in such manner as may be prescribed by the National Assembly.

(8) The amount standing to the credit of Local Government Councils of a State shall be distributed among the Local Government Councils of that State on such terms and in such manner as may be prescribed by the House of Assembly of the State.

So, until Section 162 and the subsections are amended, direct payment to local governments would be a contravention of the constitution. That is why whether it is in Lagos State or Ogun State or Katsina State or Borno State or Ebonyi State or Cross River State, local government funds are still routed through the states.    

To clear the air, in Oyo State, the State Joint Local Government Account takes care of the wages of local government staff, primary school teachers, Primary Health Care staff, security issues, the gratuity and pensions of retired local government employees as well as local government projects, among other things.  

By all intents and purposes, the APC’s logic of deploying media saturation to demonize Governor Makinde is not only annoyingly warped, it is also gnawingly infantile. I consider it an insult that the APC could think that by pushing a puerile narrative about Governor Makinde the party can worm its way into the hearts of the people of Oyo State. Come on, APC. 

The APC needs to know that in this election cycle what will determine who gets the people’s votes is the answer to the question: Is Nigeria better off today than it was before the advent of President Bola Tinubu? The answer is not hanging in the air, it is evident in the growing hardship, worsening insecurity, deteriorating misery index, burgeoning out-of-school-children population, and the rising citizen disenchantment. 

So, despite all his efforts, Bwala’s media round in Ibadan was a misadventure. It was an ironic advertisement for his principal’s disappointing performance. It was a telling display of his principal’s indifference to the nation’s power problem. It was a stark reminder of his principal’s inability to keep his promises to the people. It was a clear promotion of his principal’s unpreparedness to change the fortune of the nation. It was a glaring display of his principal’s apathetic disposition to the plights of Nigerian youths. It was a sardonic show of his principal’s helplessness in stemming corruption in the country.

Bwala was sent to Ibadan to deodorize his principal and clothe him in borrowed robes to make him attractive and acceptable to the people of Oyo State. But rather than seal the deal, Bwala killed the deal.

 His mission in Ibadan was a complete catastrophe as his strategy collapsed on his head. 

Dr Olanrewaju is the Special Adviser (Media) to the Governor of Oyo State.

ANNUAL IBADAN EGUNGUN FESTIVAL BEGINS ON SUNDAY 21ST JUNE,2026

The Annual Egungun Festival in Ibadanland begins on Sunday 21st June ,2026

The statement was contained in the press release issued and signed by the Chief Press Secretary to Olubadan of Ibadanland,Chief Ayoade Solomon Olugbemiga on Friday 

According to the press release the Egungun masquerades will pay homage to His Imperial Majesty Oba ( Dr ) Rasidi Adewolu Ladoja (Arusa1) on Monday 22 nd June 2026 at Olubadan Palace, Oke-Aremo, Ibadan 

The Annual Egungun Festival as being observed from the time immemorial apart from entertainment of the members of the public, the Egungun masquerades will visit some notable and strategic locations in Ibadanland for Devine prayers for the security, economic emancipation, food sufficiency, peaceful co - existence, unity and progress and development of the ancient city of Ibadanland 

In the letter signed by Olori Alagbaa of Ibadanland,Chief Ojeniyi Akintunde Okugbaja said that on  Wednesday 24th June, 2026, Egungun masquerades will visit the palace of Balogun of Ibadanland Oba Tajudeen Abimbola Ajibola at Agbeni Area, Ibadan,it will be the turn of of Otun Olubadan,Oba Eddy Oyewole at Foko Area of Ibadan,the Egungun worshippers will visit the Otun Balogun of Ibadanland Oba Kolawole Adegbola at Idi - Aro Area, Ita Ege, Ibadan while the masquerades will be at the palace of Osi Olubadan Oba  Kolawole Abiodun - Daisi at Ogboriefon,Oranyan area, Ibadan on 1st day of July,2026

The Olori Alagbaa of Ibadanland said there will not be Egungun masquerades festival rally on Sunday 21st June,2026,all Egungun should celebrate the beginning of the festival within their compounds

 Egungun worshippers and their leaders are enjoined to allow peace to reign during the festival as law enforcement agents will fully be on ground to ensure there is no breaking down of law and order during the Egungun Festival celebration 

OYRLEA Enforcement Team Impounds Nine Cows at Ijaye Farm Settlement

Following complaints from farmers at Ijaye Farm Settlement over the activities of herders who have been grazing on farmlands, destroying crops, and affecting their means of livelihood, the Oyo State Rule of Law Enforcement Authority (OYRLEA) responded.

In line with its statutory mandate to enforce compliance with the State’s open grazing regulations and safeguard agricultural investments, the OYRLEA enforcement team, on Friday, led by the Chief of Staff to the OYRLEA Chairperson, Kofoworola  A.  Akinbode Esq., and accompanied by security operatives, conducted an early-morning operation at the settlement.

Upon arrival, the team encountered resistance as some herders had been tipped off, resulting in the relocation of several cattle. Despite these challenges, the operation yielded nine (9) impounded cows: six (6) from the settlement, one (1) along Ijaye Road, and two (2) at Moniya — all for violating the State’s open grazing regulations.

The action was taken to address the continuous disruption of farming activities, protect farmers’ investments, and serve as a warning against the violation of the state’s laws on open grazing.

The Oyo State Rule of Law Enforcement Authority (OYRLEA) hereby warns herders operating within farm settlements to desist from illegal grazing activities, as such actions are against the law and will not be tolerated.

OYRLEA remains dedicated to protecting communities, enforcing the law, and promoting peaceful coexistence between farmers and livestock owners.

OYSCOHEST CONDUCTS COMPUTER-BASED ENTRANCE EXAMINATIONS FOR 2026/2027 ADMISSION

The Oyo State College of Health Sciences and Technology (OYSCOHEST), Eleyele, Ibadan, has successfully conducted the first batch of its Computer-Based Test (CBT) entrance examinations for prospective candidates seeking admission into the College's various academic programmes for the 2026/2027 academic session.

The three-day examination exercise, held at the College's  ICT Centre, attracted applicants seeking admission into some of the institution's 24 academic programmes. 

In line with global best practices, candidates received their results immediately upon completion of the examination, ensuring transparency and efficiency in the admission process.

Speaking on the successful conduct of the exercise, the Provost of the College,  Mrs. Oluyemisi Moradeke Oyewo, expressed satisfaction with the smooth and hitch-free nature of the examination. She described the exercise as a reflection of the College's unwavering commitment to academic excellence and quality assurance.

According to the her, OYSCOHEST has consistently maintained high academic standards over the years, producing competent health professionals who contribute significantly to the healthcare sector within and outside Nigeria.

She encouraged prospective candidates who are yet to apply for admission to take advantage of the ongoing admission exercise by registering online or visiting the Ceollege for guidance and support.

She further called on candidates who scored 150 and above in the JAMB Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME)  to apply for admission into the College's National Board for Technical Education (NBTE)-accredited programmes; Environmental Health Technology, Health Information Management, Nutrition and Dietetics, and Dental Therapy.

The Provost urged  interested candidates to visit the College's admission portal to access detailed information on available programmes and admission requirements. She also advised applicants wishing to enrol for JAMB-regulated programmes to effect the necessary change of institution and course through accredited JAMB CBT centres.

Mrs. Oyewo commended members of the College Admission Committee for their dedication and professionalism in ensuring the successful conduct of the examination exercise.

Also speaking, the College Admission Officer, Mr Samson Olugbemiga Makinde, stated that the CBT examination was to enhance the quality of the admission process by selecting the most qualified candidates and sustaining the institution's tradition of academic excellence.

He advised successful candidates to regularly monitor their admission portals and complete all necessary admission procedures promptly.

Pastor Makinde disclosed that the just-concluded examination was the first batch in the admission process, noting that second and third batches of the CBT examinations would be conducted before the commencement of the new academic session in September.

He therefore urged interested candidates who are yet to apply to do so without delay, assuring them that admission opportunities are still available across several programmes.

Established in 1933, the Oyo State College of Health Sciences and Technology, Eleyele, Ibadan, remains one of Nigeria's foremost health training institutions. The College boasts modern teaching facilities, well-equipped laboratories, a conducive learning environment, and highly qualified personnel dedicated to producing skilled healthcare professionals.

The institution is also among the recognized tertiary institutions whose graduates participate in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme, further enhancing their career prospects and national development contributions.

Meanwhile , the Governing Council of Oyo State College of Health Sciences and Technology led by the Chairman Honourable Babatunde Olaniyan Akoro had paid a visit to the new Head of Service Dr Mrs Adenike Fasina in his office  Secretariat Ibadan on Wednesday , 17th June , 2026 to congratulate her on the appointment by Oyo State Governor , Engineer Seyi Makinde . 

The new Head of Service Dr Mrs Adenike Fasina appreciated the Governing Council for the visit . 

The College Provost , Pharmacist Oluyemisi Oyewo , the  Registrar , Mrs Dupe Ayoola ,  other Principal Officers of the College  and members of the Governing Council  and some Heads of Departments  were on ground during the visit .

GSM, Oriyomi Hamzat and the shape of things to come

By Abubakre Ajao

 

Ori okere kooko l'awo, bi a wi fun omo eni a gbo. When the owner of Agidigbo FM, Alhaji Oriyomi Hamzat, began his now ill-fated foray into politics, many people knew what might be the untoward end of such a venture. In fact, one of his numerous listeners/viewers tried to advise him against taking the step. The popular response given by the presenter of the much-loved programme “Kokoro Alate” was that “why ti e ma advise mi ki nma jade, maa jade, maa si w’ole.”

True to his word as a courageous fighter and determined individual, Oriyomi Hamzat made true his grandstanding by throwing his hat into the ring to contest for the governorship seat of Oyo State. At that point, everyone knew that the Radio Man’s dog that fated to get lost would definitely not heed the hunter’s whistling. 

I followed his political journey closely and I never ceased to tell whoever cared to listen that Oriyomi’s aspiration was just a joke being taken too far. When he joined the Accord Party, my hunch was confirmed that he was only a puppet and it didn’t take time before the public knew that a wealthy Ibadan man was behind the charade being displayed by Oriyomi.

As the saying goes that 1 + 1 in politics is not equal to 2, everyone kept waiting for the point that Oriyomi would quit his acting and his Ogbe would return oun to its owner. Sadly, however, words have it that he was outsmarted before he could even tell anyone to move closer to the microphone. According to words on the street, those more versed in politics taught Hamzat a bitter lesson with the emergence of Hon Busari Olakunle alias Goodu Goodu. Of course, bi iro ba lo ni Ogun odun, ojo kan ni otito a ba...

My interest, really, is not about the way and manner Oriyomi’s political chicken came home to roost. His boast “maa jade, maa si w’ole” won’t ever make me doubt that he is the next Oyo State Governor. My interest is the needless controversy that the man has begun to court by associating himself with an individual accused of armed robbery and then going ahead to make a wild claim that he might be targeted and that his Agidigbo FM might be demolished based on trump-up charges.

For those who are not conversant with the story, seeing Oriyomi Hamzat’s video in which he made the allegation against the Oyo State Governor would make one wonder whether Governor Makinde would stoop that low to silence opposition. However, listening to Hamzat publicly associating himself with and dropping the name of a suspect declared wanted by the Oyo State Police Command would provide a clearer picture to the distress being experienced by the wannabe governorship aspirant.

Here is the story: a recent news story from the Oyo State Police Command indicated that they arrested five suspected armed robbers and recovered firearms, ammunition and suspected criminal charms during a raid on a hideout in Ibadan.

The Police Public Relations Officer of the command, DSP Ayanlade Olayinka, said the suspects were arrested on June 12, 2026, during an intelligence-led operation carried out by operatives of the command at Gbeku Area, Olodo, Ibadan.

According to him, the operation targeted the residence of one Surajudeen Babatunde Adio, popularly known as “Surii Ilupeju,” following credible intelligence linking the location to criminal activities.

A few hours after the news of that arrest broke out, the social media became awash with photos of Oriyomi Hamzat moving with the said Ilupeju Surii in Accord Party regalia and some commentators hinted at how he, Surii, was/is Hamzat’s Chief Security Officer during his ill-fated governorship ambition.

On Tuesday, the Oyo State Government moved into Gbeku Area to demolish the building just as it did with the criminal hideout where the kidnappers of Oloye Adebayo Adelabu’s sister kept the woman and her twin sons.

In what would be a direct reaction to the demolition of the Gbeku house where the police said it found ammunition, Oriyomi Hamzat could be seen in the video criticising the governor for demolishing the home of an opposition politician. He also said that he knew Ilupeju Surii and that the said individual now at large joined his political movement. In a sane clime, Oriyomi Hamzat would have been invited by the police to help their investigation on Surii and the other suspects, but the Radio Man would be on social media soon making another video about how Makinde would want to imprison him so that he (Oriyomi) would not defeat the APM Governorship Candidate at the polls. 

Everyone who knows Oriyomi Hamzat knows that he loves controversy and he hates to be called to account for his errors, most times unforced and self-inflicted. He courted problems under former Governor Abiola Ajimobi and when that one tried to make him pay for his sins; he deployed sentiments and tried to turn the public against the government. As good as his going was with Makinde, his self-caused crisis that led to the death of scores of children in December 2023 soured that relationship, as the governor allowed the law to take its course despite pleas from many individuals. Now, Oriyomi Hamzat has called for another problem with the video. But like an Atobimaseebawi that he is, the Kokoro Alate maestro will make all the noise and try to pollute people’s minds so that he will not be called to order for making a nuisance of himself. Whether the public believes him or not is left to the public, but the Radio Man must know that his Ijimere has to so igi gun, especially with the pervasive insecurity in the country. If he uses his mouth to cause problem for himself, he should blame no one but himself.

Ajao writes from Oyo

Oyo HOS Charges Media Officers to Uphold Ethics in Information Dissemination

 

The Oyo State Head of Service, Dr. (Mrs.) Adenike Fasina, mni, has urged Information and Public Relations Officers in the State Civil Service to embrace professionalism in the discharge of their duties.

She hinted further that the power they (Information Officers) wield through information management can either positively or negatively shape public perception.

Dr. Fasina gave these charges while receiving members of the Forum of Information and Public Relations Officers, Ministry of Information, Oyo State, who paid her a courtesy visit in her office, 

Addressing the officers, the new Head of Service acknowledged their continued support for the state government and stressed the importance of using their platforms to promote truth, transparency and accurate information.

"There is power in what you do, so be mindful of how you use it. It can be used positively and it can also be used otherwise. If you use it positively and responsibly, it will present a true picture of who we are as a state and reflect the exact situation on the ground." 

She warned against allowing external influences to distort factual reporting, adding that such actions could undermine the values of transparency, sincerity and openness being promoted by the government.

Dr. Fasina  emphasized the need for wisdom in carrying out official responsibilities, noting that information officers play a strategic role in protecting and projecting the image of the state.

"We all need wisdom, just as we pray for wisdom, you also need wisdom in carrying out your responsibilities. We must protect the image of the state and prevent any damage to it." 

The Head of Service also expressed appreciation to members of the forum for the visit and the gift presented to her, describing the gesture as a demonstration of goodwill, support and solidarity.

She then prayed for continued cooperation between the forum and the state government, expressing optimism that their collective efforts would contribute to the progress and development of Oyo State.

In his remark, the Chairman of the Forum, Mr. Fasasi Ismail, who led the delegation congratulated the new Head of Service on her well-deserved appointment, he prayed to God to grant her wisdom, strength and guidance required to successfully steer the affairs of the State's Civil Service and excel in the responsibilities of her new office.

The visit provided an opportunity for members of the forum to formally congratulate Dr. Fasina on her appointment and re-affirm their commitment to supporting the administration through effective information dissemination and public relations activities.