Oyo Assembly Chief Whip, Hon. Gbenga Oyekola Advocates Permanent Presidential Seat for Alaafin in the New Oba and Chiefs law of Oyo State

The lawmaker representing Atiba State Contituency, who also serves as the Chief Whip in the Oyo State House of Assembly, Hon. Gbenga Oyekola has solicited for the elevation of Alaafin of Oyo in the ongoing  proposed Council of Obas and Chiefs ( Further Amendments) Bill ,2025 currently before the 10th Assembly in Oyo State.

Speaking on Thursday during the plenary presided over by the Speaker of the House Rt. Hon. Adebo Ogundoyin,  Hon. Oyekola declared that it's high time to Institutionalise the Alaafin of Oyo as the permanent authority and presiding President of the Council of Obas and Chiefs and equally accommodate Olubadan of  Ibadanland and  Soun of Ogbomoso as the rotational Chairmen which  should be contained in Schedule II and Schedule IA of the proposed Amendment law.

Hon. Oyekola noted that such  elevation will further place the Obas and Chiefs in the State in the appropriate hierarchy as being practised in the neighbouring and other Yoruba states.

"Mr. Speaker and my colleagues,  first and foremost, we need to put the  public in the  right perspective. Up till  today, what is in operation by law as regards the status of chairmanship of the council of Obas in the State is rotational. It's after this amendment that the new system will be effective." The Lawmaker reiterated 

"I just want to add a leg that as it's happening in other states of this Yorubaland, Osun and Lagos States for example,  the Ooni of Ife has been elevated to the Post of president,  others can be contesting and rotating the Chairmanship ditto for  Lagos State"

"I'm trying to advocate that we should just increase the seat of Alaafin of Oyo with a ladder , that Alaafin be recognised as the permanent president of Oyo State Council of Obas and Chiefs."

Seconding the motion on a bill for a law to further amend the Council of Obas and Chiefs law Cap.37 of  Oyo State,  Hon. Oyekola stated that the proposal of the amendment aims to restore historical precedence and ensure a clear leadership structure within the Council.

He stated further that the expansion of the Council will also pave ways for stability in the Oyo State traditional system,  prevent administrative uncertainties, and foster greater respect for the institution in the State.

It would be recalled that a delegation led by the Chairman of the Council of Elders in Oyo Town, Chief Olatoye, paid a solidarity visit to the Speaker of the  House, Rt. Hon. Adebo Ogundoyin early hours of the day over the proposed amendments to the Council of Obas and Chiefs law.

The delegation commended the Oyo State House of Assembly for the ongoing efforts to amend the Council of Obas and Chiefs law which has been moribund for about fourteen years.

The bill has however passed through the second reading stage and forwarded to the Standing House Committee on Local Government, Chieftaincy Matters and State Honours for further scrutiny and amendments.

2027: Bawa Working With Third Force to Target Key Tinubu Ministers — CFTI

 

The Citizens Forum for Transparency and Integrity (CFTI) has raised the alarm over what it described as “a coordinated and sinister plot” by former chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Abdulrasheed Bawa, to work with opposition leaders and third force actors to destabilise the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu ahead of the 2027 elections.

In a statement released in Lagos  on Monday, the group alleged that Bawa recently met with key opposition figures in London, where discussions were held on using his former contacts within the EFCC to target four serving ministers in Tinubu’s cabinet. 

According to the group, the plan is part of a larger campaign to discredit the government and erode public trust ahead of the next electoral cycle.

“We have it on good authority that Bawa, who is still nursing bitterness over his removal from office, has now found a new political mission —  to work with the opposition to paint this administration as corrupt and compromised,” the statement read.

The group said it is deeply concerned that the opposition is planning to use state institutions to launch politically motivated probes against top officials of the federal government.

“From the intel available to us, we can confirm that four ministers have been deliberately selected for this smear campaign,” said Alhaji Aminu Mustapha Gidado, President of CFTI. 

“Three of them are former governors — David Umahi, Atiku Bagudu, and Bello Matawalle — while the fourth, Festus Keyamo, is a former minister under the Buhari administration who now holds a strategic portfolio in Tinubu’s cabinet as Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development.”

Gidado claimed that in exchange for his role in this operation, Bawa has been promised a return to public office as National Adviser on Anti-Corruption, a newly proposed position that would oversee the EFCC, ICPC, and the Code of Conduct Bureau if the opposition succeeds in 2027.

“We find it extremely dangerous that a man who once occupied such a sensitive position is now being positioned as a political tool in the hands of those desperate to hijack power,” Gidado said.

The forum called on security agencies, particularly the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), to investigate the meeting held in London and monitor all back-channel activities aimed at weaponising anti-corruption institutions for political vendetta.

“This is not just about politics. It is about protecting our democratic institutions from manipulation and abuse. Bawa may be out of office, but his network remains embedded within the system. We cannot allow such an infrastructure to be turned against loyal public servants whose only offence is their allegiance to the current government,” the statement noted.

CFTI also warned that the growing desperation in opposition ranks is a signal that the 2027 elections may be marred by coordinated blackmail, character assassination, and institutional sabotage if urgent steps are not taken to counter these schemes.

“We are watching a dangerous script unfold. The opposition is not preparing for elections; they are preparing for subversion. They know they can’t win at the ballot, so they’re trying to destroy from within,” Gidado stated.

He further noted that President Tinubu’s cabinet has, despite challenges, made significant progress in stabilising key sectors and attracting foreign investments — achievements he said some politicians are determined to frustrate for selfish reasons.

“Is it not curious that the same ministers driving reforms in infrastructure, industrial policy, defence, and aviation are the ones being targeted? This is not a coincidence. It is a pattern of sabotage,” he added.

The group urged Nigerians to remain vigilant and to reject any narrative designed to weaken confidence in public institutions or derail the government’s momentum.

“This country belongs to all of us, and no one, not even a former EFCC chairman, should be allowed to turn anti-graft agencies into tools of political warfare. We owe our democracy more than that,” Gidado said.

“We are citizens with no political affiliation. Our only loyalty is to truth, justice, and national stability. And we will not hesitate to speak out against those plotting in the shadows.”

CFTI concluded by pledging to continue monitoring political developments and exposing any conspiracy against the current administration or democratic order.

House of Assembly Crisis: Why CBN, Accountant General Must Stop Monthly Allocations To Benue, Zamfara — Group

The Concerned Citizens Network for Democracy (CCND) has given the Benue and Zamfara State Houses of Assembly a 72-hour ultimatum to recall all suspended lawmakers or face legal action seeking to halt statutory monthly allocations to the two states.

In a statement issued in Abuja and signed by Moses Adamu, the group’s Secretary-General, CCND accused the state governments of supervising an ongoing constitutional breach, stressing that both Houses of Assembly currently lack the legal quorum required to function and pass appropriation laws. 

The group threatened to file a suit at the Federal High Court to compel the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Accountant General of the Federation to withhold monthly FAAC disbursements until constitutional order is restored.

“This is not just an internal matter within the legislature of two states. It is a clear case of abuse of democratic institutions, where state governors, in collaboration with the speakers, are running their states without the minimum legislative legitimacy required by law. It is a rape of democracy,” Adamu said.

According to CCND, both Benue and Zamfara Assemblies have unlawfully suspended nearly half of their members, leaving behind insufficient numbers to meet the constitutionally stipulated two-thirds quorum. Yet, these minority legislators continue to sit, deliberate, and pass critical motions — including budget-related matters.

“No House of Assembly can validly function, debate, or legislate without a legal quorum. When the majority of duly elected lawmakers are suspended under questionable circumstances, the assembly ceases to be legitimate. This undermines every law, appropriation, and oversight action carried out by the remaining minority members.”

He added that the direct consequence of this illegality is that both governors — Hyacinth Alia of Benue and Dauda Lawal of Zamfara — are currently running governments that no longer have the endorsement of their state assemblies as constituted by law.

“Without a legally constituted assembly, any action taken by the executive lacks the moral and legal seal of the people. These governors are not kings. They are elected heads of government, expected to govern with legislative oversight and institutional balance,” he added.

CCND argued that the only peaceful and constitutional means to correct the ongoing abuse is to apply financial pressure by halting monthly allocations until the crisis is resolved.

“Public funds are being released to state executives who are acting outside of constitutional provisions. The CBN and the Accountant General of the Federation must not continue to fund illegality. By continuing to disburse FAAC allocations to Benue and Zamfara states, federal institutions are aiding and abetting constitutional violations,” the statement added. 

The group likened the current situation to a private company operating without a functioning board of directors, stating that no legitimate financial institution would continue to release money in such circumstances. 

“The state Houses of Assembly are the people’s boardrooms. You cannot suspend half the directors and claim to be conducting lawful business.”

Beyond the technical breach, the group raised concerns over the pattern of political intimidation behind the suspensions. In both states, suspended lawmakers are known critics of the executive arm, and many were removed after raising concerns about security, budget implementation and constituency project transparency.

“This is not about disorderly conduct or gross misconduct as the speakers claim. This is about silencing opposition, clearing the path for unchecked control, and removing voices that demand transparency. It is dictatorship in democratic clothing,” the group said.

Adamu said the CCND had credible information that some of the suspended lawmakers in Benue were denied access to the assembly complex and had their benefits frozen without due process.

The group warned that the failure of civil society, federal institutions, and the judiciary to respond firmly to the situation could set a dangerous precedent where governors, in collaboration with pliant speakers, cripple state assemblies and rule without accountability.

“If this pattern continues unchecked, governors across the country will see it as a playbook: suspend dissenters, shrink the assembly, rule without scrutiny, and get paid for it. Nigeria’s democracy is too fragile to permit such a loophole,” the statement read.

The CCND said it is giving the governments of Benue and Zamfara three days to recall all suspended members and reinstate the constitutional balance of their assemblies.

“If by the end of 72 hours there is no concrete step to resolve this, our lawyers will file a suit asking the Federal High Court to declare the current assemblies illegal and compel the federal government to freeze statutory allocations until due process is restored,” Adamu concluded.

VIDEO -Oyo CPS on Monday; Makinde Came Prepared for Governance, Says Ex-Minister Onikepo Akande

 

A two-time Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Dr (Mrs) Onikepo Akande, has attributed the successes being recorded by Governor 'Seyi Makinde of Oyo State to his level of preparedness before assuming office.

Akande, who is the Iyalaje Iyalode of Ibadanland, said this in an interview with The People’s Verdict.

Recall that Makinde’s 2019 governorship campaign was hinged on a document, the Oyo State Roadmap to Accelerated Development 2019-2023, while the 2023 governorship campaign was based on the Oyo State Roadmap to Sustainable Development 2023-2027.

The two documents formed the fulcrum of his administration. 
According to the former President of Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, “Makinde is a performing governor who came prepared and continues to serve the people with humility, integrity and transparency.”
Akande, while describing Makinde as a leader who runs an inclusive government, said: “How Governor Makinde has spread physical and public works across all the zones of the state is absolutely laudable. He carries every stakeholder along, including traditional rulers, women and other interest groups, especially people living with disabilities.”

She added, “He is the people’s governor. He is running an inclusive government. I am particularly impressed by the way he has stood out in terms of workers' and pensioners’ welfare, which has in turn boosted the people’s purchasing power. He is a highly performing governor and a people-oriented governor.”

While commenting on the performance of the economy on Makinde’s watch, she said, “The economy has grown tremendously. Recently, Nairametrics rated Oyo State second only to Lagos in Value Added Tax (VAT) contribution to the federal coffers.

The Makinde administration has also boosted the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) from N1.8bn in 2019 to N6bn in 2024. This is incredible and laudable.

The governor has also transformed Fasola Farm Estate into an industrial hub.

"As a former Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, I know that industrialisation is the key to economic development, employment generation and poverty alleviation.”
She counselled Makinde to remain true to the cause to the end, adding that his legacy is assured.

According to her, “Governor Seyi Makinde is a transformational achiever whose life has been that of service and honour. He has touched many lives, including mine, in many positive ways. I congratulate him.”

The Olori of Oba Murtala Adebayo Akande, who reeled out the achievements of Governor Makinde in different sectors, gave her verdict: “Governor 'Seyi Makinde is doing extremely well.”

Watch the video.

Oyo HOS Celebrates Chief Adebisi Adesola @ 80

The Oyo State Head of Service, Mrs Olubunmi Oni, mni has described Chief Adebisi Adesola as a natural leader with unquestionable leadership and administrative prowess as he turns 80 years old.

In a statement issued and signed in Ibadan, the Oyo State Capital said Chief Adebisi Adesola’s remarkable legacy and his unparalleled commitment and leadership in the Oyo State Civil Service is worthy of emulation.

The statement pointed out that his career trajectory marked numerous important positions such as Chief Executive of the Broadcasting Corporation of Oyo State and Director General in key Ministries, Departments and Agencies and Secretary to the Oyo State Government and Head of Service.

The Head of Service said Chief Adesola is an esteemed member of Nigeria Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies, hinting that, his influence transcends the public service it extends to community development, governance, public policy and institutional development.

The statement noted further that the Asiwaju of Ayetoro - Oke dedicated himself to the service of God and humanity, noting that, he is an embodiment of God's Grace, wisdom and peace.

She said "I extend the warmest congratulations to our highly esteemed elder statesman, former Secretary to the Oyo State Government and Head of Service, Chief Adebisi Adesola, mni as he graciously marks his 80th birthday on may, 10, 2025. It is indeed a glowing celebration of a life of excellence". 

She continued "On behalf of the entire Civil and Public Servants of Oyo State, we celebrate and wish him a joyful birthday and more glorious future.

Abiodun Atilola 

Media Officer to the SSG/HOS 

May, 10, 2025.

 

 

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT

 

     

ONLINE APPLICATION INTO NIGERIAN ARMY RECRUITMENT 89 REGULAR RECRUITS INTAKE FOR TRADES/NON TRADESMEN AND WOMEN

This is to inform the general Public that online application into Nigerian Army Recruitment Exercise for 89 regular Recruits intake for Trades and Non Tradesmen and women has commenced  from 31 March and it will close on the 17th May. 2025.

The application form is free and will be available online at https://recruitment.army.mil.ng from 31st, March to 17th May, 2025.

All applications will be screened online and qualified applicants will be shortlisted to attend the physical screening exercise at the State Recruitment Center, Adekunle Fajuyi Cantonment, Odogbo, Ibadan, Oyo State.

Interested Male and Female indigenes of Oyo State who wish to apply are here by advised to obtain Oyo State Indigeneship Certificate at room 53, Governor's Office, Secretariat, Ibadan, Liason Offices at Abuja and Lagos to confirm that they are bonafide candidates of Oyo State origin.

Listeners are enjoined to please circulate this information to eligible indigenes of Oyo State as the opportunities lapses on Saturday 17th, May, 2025.

Thank you.

                       ANNOUNCER
           Professor Olanike Adeyemo
Secretary to the Oyo State Government

Video; Oyo CPS on Monday - Oyo workers, pensioners’ll stone anyone who denigrates Makinde, says Ayorinde, Baale Ekotedo

 

The Baale of Ekotedo, Elder (Dr) Taiye Ayorinde, has said that Oyo State workers and pensioners will not hesitate to stone anyone who denigrates the state governor, ‘Seyi Makinde.

While speaking in an interview with The People’s Verdict, the nonagenarian community leader said, “While the opposition members may see Makinde as a burden, to the people of Oyo State, Governor ‘Seyi Makinde is a blessing. Go and ask the teachers, go and ask the pensioners.

 They will tell you, ‘Don’t say nonsense in our presence.’ They can stone you if you say Makinde is not a blessing. The teachers will club you if you say Makinde is not a blessing.”

Elder Ayorinde, who described Makinde as a willing performer, premised his submission on the governor’s performance in the areas of infrastructure, tourism, agribusiness and health, noting that Makinde has surpassed many people’s expectations.

While underscoring the governor’s ability for original thinking, Elder Ayorinde said, 

“During the time of COVID-19 when people were dying, the governor set up a committee to look into COVID-19 with a view to getting an alternative remedy in Oyo State. I happen to be one of the committee members. And we were able to come up with genuine working medicines. How many governors did that?” 

He added, “When it comes to infrastructure development, he knows his onions. Look also at what he is doing with tourism and the health sectors.”

The revered community leader applauded Governor Makinde for his intervention in agriculture and agribusiness, saying that the governor must have been doing the right things for President Julius Waada Bio of Sierra Leone to have visited Fasola Industrial Hub.

He stated further, “In the area of security, he has bought cars, trucks, motorcycles, etc for Amotekun Corps and the police. I rate Governor ‘Seyi Makinde highly. Do I give percentage or do I just say he is doing well, he could do better? I think Governor ‘Seyi Makinde has gone beyond 75 per cent.”

The Baale added, “Governor ‘Seyi Makinde is a workaholic, he is an independent thinker. He knows his onions, he knows what he wants to do. If you want to deviate him from what he wants to do, he will run away from you.”