Alleged Tinubu’s NNPCL nepotism;Shehu Sani replies Elrufai

Former lawmaker, Senator Shehu Sani has blasted the immediate past Governor of Kaduna State, Mal.Nasir Elrufai over recent comments made via his social media handle on alleged issues of Nepotism at NNPCL against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Farooq Kperogi, a US-based Nigerian professor of journalism had accused Tinubu of governing Nigeria with a Lagos mindset.

According to the scholar, Tinubu chose to dominate the economy with people from the South-West the way former President Muhammadu Buhari loaded the security sector with northerners during his administration

Elrufai later shared Kperogi’s post on his X handle and said, “Two wrongs don’t make a right”, adding that sensible inclusion trumps senseless exclusion.

However in a swift reaction to Elrufai ‘s shared post, Comrade Shehu Sani via his X handle replied, ” “There were people who were silent when Buhari was fielding political offices with his Kinsmen, and have now found their voice to speak out when the equation doesn’t favour them.

The former lawmaker, who represented Kaduna Central Senatorial District in 8th Senate overtly referred to Elrufai adding “Lets not make reference to the nepotism that marginalised Southern Kaduna for eight years.Kaduna was an apartheid state for eight years.”

According to Shehu Sani, anyone can talk or criticize President Tinubu on issues of alleged lopsided appointments or Nepotism, but certainly not Elrufai.

Former Osun Deputy Governor, Adesuyi Haastrup, Appointed Owa Obokun of Ijesaland as Well-Wishers Celebrate

Prince Clement Adesuyi Haastrup, a former Deputy Governor of Osun State from the Bilaro Oluodo ruling house, has been selected as the new Owa Obokun Ajimoko III, the Paramount Ruler of Ijesaland. His appointment has been met with celebrations from well-wishers across the country, who are sending their heartfelt congratulations and wishes for a long reign.

A statement issued by Folashade Aliu, the Executive Director of Corporate Affairs at ENL Consortium Ltd—an organization founded by His Royal Highness—expressed gratitude to the many people from all parts of the nation who have extended their congratulations to the new monarch.

The announcement of Haastrup’s ascension to the throne was made on Friday, December 27, 2024, following an election conducted by the kingmakers at the Ilesa West Local Government Secretariat in Ilesa.

The statement highlighted that Haastrup triumphed over nine other candidates in a transparent and impartial selection process. “We deeply appreciate the support from our admirers across the country,” the statement said. “We are pleased to inform everyone that Prince Haastrup emerged victorious in the election, defeating nine other contenders.”

The kingmakers who conducted the election included six Iwora mefa chiefs, High Chief Ibitoye, Oba Omokehinde Oyeleye, Ogboni of Ijebu-jesa, Oba Olufemi Agunsoye (Elegboro), Ogboni of Ibokun, Oba Festus Awogboro, Ogboni of Ilesa, High Chief Saka Fapohunda, and several Agba Ijesa chiefs from Ilesa.

The Head of Local Government Administration in Ilesa West Local Government, Mrs. Felicia Olabimtan, announced the result, confirming that Prince Clement Adesuyi Haastrup received the highest number of votes and was elected as the Owa Obokun of Ijesaland.

It was noted that six of the kingmakers participated in the election, while High Chief Adefioye Adedeji was absent, and seven other members were ineligible to vote.

Following the announcement, both the Ogboni of Ibokun, Oba Festus Awogboro, and the Elegboro of Ijesaland, Oba Olufemi Agunsoye, praised the peaceful nature of the election. They also congratulated Haastrup and the people of Ijesaland for the smooth and promising start to a new era.

In a swift response, Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State has approved the appointment of Prince Clement Adesuyi Haastrup as the new Owa Obokun of Ijesaland.

Adesuyi Haastrup Emerges New Owa Obokun Of Ijesaland

Former Deputy Governor of Osun State, Prince Clement Adesuyi Haastrup from Bilaro Oluodo Ruling House has emerged as the Owa Obokun Ajimoko III and Paramount Ruler of Ijesaland.

His emergence was announced today, Friday at election held by the kingmakers within the premises of Ilesa West Local Government Secretariat, in Ilesa.

He defeated nine other candidates in the selection process.

The kingmakers who converged at the local government complex included six Iwora mefa namely Obaala, High Chief Ibitoye; Ogboni Ipole, Oba Omokehinde Oyeleye; Ogboni Ijebu-jesa, Oba Olufemi Agunsoye ( Elegboro); Ogboni Ibokun, Oba Festus Awogboro; Ogboni Ilesa High Chief Saka Fapohunda; and Oba Odo of Ilesa.

Others are the seven Agba Ijesa, Risawe of Ilesa, High Chief Adefioye Adedeji, Lejoka of Ilesa, High Chief Omoniyi Ojo, Lejofi, High Chief Adebusoye Onigbogi, Arapate of Ilesa, High Chief Oluwagbemiga Fadunsin Igbarool , Loro of Ilesa, High Chief Lekan Folorunso , Odole of Ulesa ,High Chief Bola Orolugbagbe and Mr Abimbola Aluko ( warrant officer representing the Saloro of Ilesa whose stool is vacant).

The process was supervised by the Head of Local Government Administration of Ilesa East.

His name is expected to be forwarded to Governor Ademola Adeleke for approval.

Haastrup served as the Deputy Governor to the late Senator Isiaka Adetunji Adeleke as the first civilian administration of Osun State.

The manner of the Arraignment of Queen Naomi And Seven Others In Court Is Discouraging Those Of Us From Helping Nigerians
-Fadojoe

A former Labour Party presidential aspirant and leader of Rescue Movement For New Nigeria aka Rescue The Vulnerable Initiative, Comrade Faduri Oluwadare Joseph popularly called Fadojoe, has spoken out in defense the ex-wife of Ooni of Ife, Queen Naomi Silekunola, and seven others arrested, detained and arraigned in respect to the Wednesday’s December 18, 2024 funfair tragedy which caused a stampede. Describing the arraignment as very ridiculous. While expressing sympathy to the family of those who lost loved ones and those injured and taking treatment, he also added that “referring to them as criminals is completely misnomer and discouraging those of us that have been sending food to Nigeria from doing it this December and may be in future”.

The USA based former Presidential Aspirant under Labour Party made this known through a broadcast from his official YouTube channel, saying he “was shocked to read on Instagram that Naomi and seven others were arrested, arraigned and detained over the stampede that occurred in an invent that was organized to give to the society, but for circumstances beyond the control of the organizers turned out to be a tragedy.

“The question we should first ask is if our country is how it supposed to be in the first place, will Naomi be distributing food or money to people? Secondly, if our country is in good shape, will that huge number of people, rush to such event just to collect what eventually they will end up getting few or little things due to the number of the people?

“Let us first establish the fact that the major reason for the stampede is because millions of Nigerians are suffering and when they hear anywhere at any point in time that someone wants to give out money and or food, no matter how small, they will bombard the venue. Even if you have one million naira to share to hundred thousand people; and you are expecting one million, you are going to see ten million people. Do you know why? Because millions of Nigerians are hungry because the situation of the country is so terrible! In fact, the only people that have money in abundance in Nigeria now are the politicians.

“This event is definitely not her first time. And some of us have been doing it. I have been doing it too, and I had the plan to give out food items this December, but I had to stop it because I don’t want my good intention to turn to serious problem. I know that if I had called for two hundred people to collect food in different locations across Nigeria, in each location millions of people will come and it may result in stampede”.

Expatiating that from the information available, the Ibadan stampede was not directly caused by the negligence of the organizers. It was said that there was actually provision for security and crowd control. And that by the arrangements, the security team was to arrive the venue one hour before the time the event was scheduled to kick off. But as the result of the serious hunger in the land as early as 5:00 am people have started arriving the venue of the event scheduled to kick off at 9:00am, and as the gate was not yet opened parents were pushing their children in over the fence just to ensure they don’t hear any story that food finished before it reached their turn.

“Therefore, it wasn’t a tragedy that was directly caused by the organizers of the event, as they obviously didn’t expect such large number of people and didn’t envisage that people will storm the venue that early. In a responsive administration, the government should have set up a committee to look into the direct and remote cause of the stampede. Then the committee will come up with the report, before the authority can now make the decision either to invite the organizers and handle the issue appropriately and go further to advise people on how to effectively organize such give away to avoid any kind of tragedy.

“Also we know that Nigerians as we are, we are never compliance. Even the president said it during his media chat that Nigerians are never compliance. You want to assist and everyone wants to be first to be attended to. When you ask them to form a line, they will not form a effective line, even if some try to do, it will be in total disorder. Because they are afraid that it may not reach them.

“To arrest Queen Naomi Silekunola (Ooni’ ex-wife), Oriyomi Hamzat (Broadcaster), Fasasi Abdulahi (The Principal of Islamic High School, venue of the event) and five others and arraigned them on four-count charge bordering on conspiracy, murder, and negligent acts causing harm; is not the right step to take.

“With the way the government is handling this issue, the masses will be the people to suffer it, because this will totally discourage many of us that have been doing it before now from continue to do more. If something happen, let’s look at it in people’s way and not just in criminal way.

“We have never witnessed this in Nigeria before, that where people are to collect food and other support, stampede occur leading to death. This should be a wake up call to the government that Nigerians are seriously hungry and there is need for the government to be proactive in handling the issue of economy nosedive that has thrown the nation in jeopardy.

“In conclusion, I call on the federal government lead by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to reconsider their actions on this Ibadan stampede tragedy and don’t continue to handle it in such a way to make Nigerians feel as if those helping others are being victimized. Once again, my condolences to the family of those that died and I sympathize with those injured and are receiving treatment”, he concluded

A NEW NIGERIA IS POSSIBLE
-Fadojoe (In his Christmas good wishes message)

A former presidential aspirant under Labour Party and the leader of Rescue Movement for New Nigeria aka Rescue The Vulnerable Initiative, Comrade Faduri Oluwadare Joseph popularly called Fadojoe, has said that despite the present terrible state of Nigeria as the result of bad governance, the country can still be rescued and a new Nigeria can be built again, if the youths will be more proactive from 2025 and be more determined to take over their nation through the forthcoming general election in 2027.

This he said in his Christmas good wishes made available to pressmen on Tuesday December 24, 2024. While wishing Nigerians, Merry Christmas and happy new year in advance, he observed that, “this Christmas is one of the hardest Christmas in the history of our country, as Nigerians have experienced too much hardship in this 2024. Thanks to Nigerians abroad (in diaspora) who have been cushioning the effects of the hardship, hunger and poverty: by always standing by those in the country, always sending them money as the hardship ravaging Nigeria people has become more unbearable since the last one and half year that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the All Progressive Congress (APC) took over power.

“Unfortunately, those who are supposed to be the voice of opposition, care little as their only concern is waiting for 2026 to start campaign ahead of 2027 (next election) as usual. Precisely Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and Mr. Peter Obi that supposed to give formidable opposition, have not been able to stand as real opposition to this government. They hardly speak for the suffering masses.

“Since after the 2023 election, it has been my humble self and my team, Rescue Movement for New Nigeria, that have been consistently speaking for the suffering masses as the lone voice of opposition. And this 2025 our voices will be louder, seriously louder, to continue speaking for the masses and of course if at any point, the government gets it right, we will also talk about it”.

Noting that the hardship, poverty and the bad governance in Nigeria is not only affecting those in Nigeria, it’s affecting some of them in diaspora, because the burden of what is going on in our country is shared by those of them in diaspora who have to keep sending more home to support those afflicted.

Adding that, “immediately Mr Tinubu took over power in 2023, he announced removal of subsidy and as the result of that, fuel pump price has risen to over N1,000 per litre in just less than a year later. They said removal of subsidy means more money for the country. But rather than the more money, it has been more suffering. And they are borrowing more money for the country and still looking for where to borrow more money, despite that this country has borrowed more than what the next ten generations can pay back. It then means that the more money from the removal of subsidy must be diverted to their private accounts for their private and family embezzlement. So it has been more money for politicians to share and not more money to cater for Nigeria citizens.

“In the last one year, this government has gone round different parts of the world trying to woo investors to our nation. This is the end of a year and it’s obvious none has come to invest in Nigeria. Because no investor will put his/her money in a country that the economy is on free fall, where there is hardship and insecurity all over. That is why instead of been able to woo any investor, most companies are closing in Nigeria, leaving the shores of our country for neighbouring countries like Ghana, South Africa etc to set up again.

“Between last week and this week alone, many people died resulting from stampede from different parts of the country (South West, East and North): as parents were scampering to get food from giveaway to give their hungry children. What a disaster in a country that was once supplier of agricultural produce not only to other Africa countries, but to the rest of the world. Our dear nation now turn to a country where the people can no longer eat and people are dieing going to collect food somewhere.

“A bag of rice is now over a hundred thousand, even gari that supposed to be a common man’s food is no longer affordable. That is how terrible the economy has become under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Yet some Nigerians still have the audacity to say this government is doing well.

“In the midst of this all, the insecurity is at alarming rate as nowhere is safe in Nigeria. Farmers cannot go to farm for fear of bandits and for those farming around the community, some Fulani will use their cows to destroy their crops”.

The Labour Party former presidential aspirant laments further that the supposed giant of Africa, is groaning in economy nosedive, hardship, insecurity and political instability. The power grid has been falling over and over again, and on some occasions remain fallen for weeks throwing the entire nation in continuous blackout for weeks.

“However, I want to call on Nigerians to keep hope alive: there is ray of light at the end of the tunnel. Nigeria will be rescued one day. And there will be a country called Nigeria, the giant of Africa, that we all can be proud of. But it will not be by the present crop of politicians; but by the youths, by people like us, who are ready to take the bull by the horn and go extra mile to rescue our dear nation.

“The battle and the journey to rescue our country has to be intensified from this coming 2025, because the politician that have gone back to their businesses and relaxation since after the 2023 general elections will start coming back in preparation to buy your conscience and attempt to bribe their way to power. Are we going to continue to sell our country for peanut every four years only to return to social media and continue crying in the usual circle?

“If we say no to the above! Then we have to rise up and prepare to take our country back through the 2027 general elections. So that the youths that are still agile and very sound, can take over leadership as we start the mission of rescuing our dear nation and rebuilding a new Nigeria.

“God bless you all. Merry Christmas and happy New Year in advance”, he concluded.

OPEN LETTER

To Honourable Yusuf Hamisu Abubakar (Mairago),

We, the Coalition of Concerned Citizens (COCOCI) of Chikun/Kajuru Local Government Area, Kaduna, are writing to express our deepest admiration for your selfless service to our senatorial zone. Your unwavering dedication to the welfare of our people has not gone unnoticed. In light of this, we are compelled to appeal to you to contest for the position of Senator representing the Kaduna Central Senatorial Zone in the 2027 elections.

As we navigate these challenging times, we believe that your leadership, wisdom, and experience are urgently needed in the Nigerian Senate. We are confident that your representation would be a game-changer for the Kaduna Central Senatorial Zone.

We implore you to consider our appeal to contest for the position of Senator. Your presence in the Senate would serve as a beacon of hope for our senatorial zone, and we are certain that you would champion our causes with passion and integrity.

We look forward to your positive response and to working closely with you to ensure that our senatorial zone receives the representation it deserves.

Sincerely,

Mr. Manasseh Bitrus
Acting Coordinator,
Coalition of Concerned Citizens (COCOCI)

GOVERNMENT HOUSE, KATSINA

PRESS RELEASE

Gov. Radda Vision Propels Katsina Youth Craft Village To Lead Youth Skills, Economic Development – KYCV Coordinator

The Katsina Youth Craft Village (KYCV) has completed a comprehensive capacity-building programme for both the technical and management staff of the agency.

The training programme, conducted from 18th – 20th December, 2024, at the ITF Industrial Skills Training Centre in Kano, represents Governor Radda’s ongoing effort to enhance vocational education in Katsina State.

According to the Center Coordinator of Katsina Youth Craft Village (KYCV), Engr. Kabir Abdullahi Kofar Soro, the programme was facilitated by Cranewood Integrated Services Ltd. The exercise equipped KYCV staff and management with modern teaching techniques, advanced vocational training methodologies and preparation for National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) and ISO compliance.

In a notable expansion of youth development agenda in Katsina State, Engr. Kofar Soro noted that Governor Radda has transferred four additional skills acquisition centres in Daura, Danmusa, Kafur and Malumfashi to KYCV’s management.

Engr. Kofar Soro further praised Governor Radda’s visionary leadership, noting that it has propelled Katsina Youth Craft Village to lead charge in skills, vocational and economic development.

“His Excellency’s commitment to youth empowerment has positioned KYCV to become a world-class vocational training institution,” Engr. Kofar Soro stated. The Governor’s strategic support and resource allocation demonstrates his dedication to creating sustainable economic opportunities for our youth.

According to the KYCV Coordinator, the training programme covered crucial areas including modern teaching techniques, accreditation preparation, workplace safety and technology integration in vocational training.

This initiative aligns with Governor Radda’s broader vision of transforming Katsina State into a hub of skilled workforce development and economic growth.

The closing ceremony was attended by Senior staff of KYCV, trainers, ITF Zonal Director and representatives of Cranewood.

MEDIA DIRECTORATE
KATSINA STATE GOVERNMENT HOUSE