Flowerbud News

Author: Lawal AbdulSalam Olawale

  • Ondo: Akeredolu’s kinsmen tell Gov Aiyedatiwa to pick deputy from Owo

    Ondo: Akeredolu’s kinsmen tell Gov Aiyedatiwa to pick deputy from Owo

    Indigenes of Owo community in Owo Local Government Area of Ondo State, where the late ex-Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu hailed from, have appealed to Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa to pick his deputy from the community.

    The indigenes, under the aegis of a socio-cultural group, the Imade Development Association, IDA, said with the move, Aiyedatiwa will honour the memory of his late boss.

     

    According to the group, picking a deputy from Owo will serve as compensation for the untimely death of their prominent son, Akeredolu, who died a few days ago in Germany after a long battle with prostate cancer.

     

    The group, which expressed sadness over the demise of Akeredolu, stated that if the request is neglected, the polarisation of the state along ethnic and political lines might continue to escalate.

     

    During a press briefing, the Chairman of IDA, Segun Ogunbadeniyi, the Secretary, Femi Fadaisi, and the Publicity Secretary, Julius Adesola, maintained that the community will not rest until Aiyedatiwa picks an Owo man as deputy.

     

    Ogunbadeniyi, who read the communiqué on behalf of the group, stressed that with the passing of Akeredolu, who hails from Owo, it is crucial to safeguard the interests and aspirations of the town.

     

    In our opinion, the joint ticket that expires in February 2025 is Owo/Ilaje. We do not understand any calculations outside of it.

     

    “Whoever picks the ticket of the APC or PDP next year can therefore decide which zone to produce the Deputy Governor.

     

    “Any attempt to erase Owo from the calculation until February 2025 by Aiyedatiwa, in our opinion, is unfair, not equitable, and can cause division in body politics,” he said.

     

    The group maintained that there are prominent Owo indigenes that are capable of being deputy governors.

     

    The names reeled out that should be considered for the position include Hon. Niran-Sule Akinsuyi, who the group said was in the trenches with Akeredolu during the 2016 elections; the Majority Leader of the State House of Assembly; Hon. Oluwole Ogunmolasuyi; Mr. Zach Adetula; and Chief Jamiu Ekungba.

     

    “Picking from this list will be a fair deal for all stakeholders. The current situation is a joint ticket between Akeredolu and Aiyedatiwa, which they assiduously worked for,” he added.

  • Why I boycotted Oyetola’s re-election campaign – Aregbesola

    Why I boycotted Oyetola’s re-election campaign – Aregbesola

    The immediate past Minister of Interior and ex-Osun State governor, Rauf Aregbesola, has told his supporters that before the end of the year 2024, they would know where his interest in Osun politics lies.

     

    Aregbesola spoke in Ilesa, Osun State at an end-of-the-year thanksgiving organised by the Omoluabi Caucus, attended by many leaders of the group across the state.

     

    A video capturing Aregbesola’s speech at the event was shared on Facebook by one Lekan Arogundade.

     

    The ex-governor narrated how his efforts to ensure that the All Progressives Congress approached the 2022 governorship election as a united party was frustrated.

    Aregbesola said ahead of the election, which then-Governor Gboyega Oyetola of the APC lost to the Peoples Democratic Party’s Ademola Adeleke, he (Aregbesola) met with representatives of the APC ‘overall leader’ on how appointments should be shared.

     

    Aregbesola, however, said the ‘overall leader’ of their party failed to fulfill the agreements.

     

    He said he stayed away from the 2022 Osun APC governorship campaign, following the declaration by a leader of the campaign organisation that anyone not invited should not bother to come.

     

    Speaking in Yoruba language, Aregbesola further said, “I have not said this before. On August 26, 2021, our overall leader told us to meet two of his representatives in Abuja.

     

    Thirty-one people from my group met with the representatives of our overall leader. The meeting started around 10 pm and ended at about 4 a.m. I was not part of the meeting. But they agreed that those pushed out of the party should be reintegrated.

     

    “Those at the meeting also agreed that those in government then were more and because of that, in both appointive and elective posts that were still vacant, they should give our own side one-third while they take two-thirds.

     

    “The representative of our overall boss was impressed. I told him whatever my people had told them, I agreed to it. But I gave them some conditions that I will not reveal now if they want me to come and campaign during the governorship election. But we never heard anything again about that agreement to date.

     

    “The leader of their governorship campaign said on OSBC that anybody who was not invited should not come for the campaign. So, I had to stay away. No true Yoruba man would hear such a declaration and will still go to where he was not invited.

     

    “They didn’t stop at that. They went on a campaign of calumny against me. It was after they failed that they started looking for where to lay the blame. They are shameless.

     

    “They ate their words. By their second year in office, they said it was because they were relating to me that made them not win on the first ballot during the (2018 governorship) election. In November 2020, they said we had Ebola (to avoid a relationship with us). They said we didn’t pay workers’ salaries and pensions. I wanted to come for the second anniversary (of Oyetola in office), but we were told people didn’t want to see us.”

     

    Speaking on his plans regarding politics in the state, he said, “We are unperturbed. God will judge each one of us on the role we play in the matter. I deliberately speak about it today because people are just muddling up issues. But by the grace of God, by this time in 2024, you will know where we are heading. It will be clear to everyone where Osun people are heading.

     

     

  • New Year: Mutfwang declares one week of mourning in honour of victims of attacks

    New Year: Mutfwang declares one week of mourning in honour of victims of attacks

    Jos

     

    Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, has announced a week of mourning from January 1st to January 8th, 2024, in honour of those killed in the Christmas Eve attacks across communities in Bokkos, Mangu, and Barkin-Ladi Local Government Areas of the State.

    In a state-wide broadcast on Monday, the governor also directed that flags be flown at half-mast, urged citizens to engage in intense prayers for divine intervention in the state, and appealed to Muslim and Christian clerics to dedicate Friday, January 5th, and Sunday, January 7th, 2024, respectively, for special prayers in the worship centres.

     

    governor, who described the attacks as “premeditated and coordinated acts of criminality, insurgency, and terrorism,” emphasised that the narrative of Farmer-Herder clashes is wrong as the true situation is genocide.

     

    His words: “I welcome you to 2024, our year of hope amid conflict, our year of deliverance, restoration, and progress. We indeed ended the year 2023 on a sad note because of the many precious lives we lost, including, but not limited to, over 400 between April and June 2023, as well as over 160 in the recent Christmas genocide.

     

    “These unprovoked and simultaneous attacks in different villages were premeditated and coordinated. These series of attacks on our people are a clear case of criminality, insurgency, and terrorism and must be seen and handled in that manner if we are to succeed in halting this wanton destruction of lives and property.

     

    “For the avoidance of doubt, it is a misrepresentation of facts to describe these needless and unprovoked attacks on our people as a farmer-herder clash, as has always been the traditional narrative. Let us call a spade a spade; this is simple genocide! I commiserate with my dear Plateau people on these monumental killings, especially the affected communities and the families of the deceased.

     

    “We will not rest on our oars but will tirelessly collaborate with the Federal Government to bring an end to these tragedies and bring succour to affected persons and communities.”

     

    He added, “As a mark of honour for the memory of the deceased, I wish to declare a week of mourning from January 1st to January 8th, 2024. During this period of mourning, flags will fly at half-mast. I urge all citizens to use these days for intense prayers to seek the intervention of the Almighty God in defending our territories and against wicked men who have risen against us.

     

    “I wish to plead with our Muslim clerics to dedicate Friday, January 5th, 2024, and our Christian clerics to use Sunday, January 7th, 2024, as a special prayer day for lasting peace to return to the Plateau. Monday, January 8, 2024, will be observed as our official state day of mourning.

     

    It is gratifying that, despite these onslaughts, our spirits are not broken. Our resolve to defend our land and prosper therein has remained unshakeable. I am therefore confident that 2024 will reveal our inner strength and resilience in the face of these tribulations.

     

    The Governor further highlighted some of his administration’s achievements, including efforts to revamp security, clear salary backlogs, and payments of gratuity, death benefits, and pension arrears, and announced a fuel subsidy of N10,000 per month for workers from September 2023 to March 2024, pending a federal wage review

  • New Year: Taraba Governor, Kefas, frees 31 inmates

    New Year: Taraba Governor, Kefas, frees 31 inmates

    The Governor of Taraba State, Agbu Kefas, has announced the release of 31 inmates across the state.

    This decision, according to the governor, underscores a commitment to compassion and giving deserving individuals a second chance at redemption.
    During a state-wide broadcast to usher in the New Year, Governor Kefas reiterated his commitment to prioritising the security of lives and property.
    He said, “In the spirit of renewal and progress, I am pleased to announce that, in the exercise of my prerogative of power, we shall be granting clemency to 31 deserving inmates.
    “This decision reflects our commitment to justice, compassion, and the transformative power of rehabilitation.”
    While acknowledging the prevalent security challenges affecting citizens, the governor pledged to intensify efforts in the upcoming months to create a safer environment for all residents.
    He said, “Addressing the security challenges that have touched the lives of some of our citizens is a constitutional responsibility that we take seriously in the coming months of the year.
    “We will redouble our efforts to make Taraba a safer haven for all. Together, we shall overcome these challenges and ensure that our state thrives in peace and harmony.”
    Governor Kefas also assured the public of his dedication to the unity and development of the state.
  • Robot attacks Tesla factory engineer

    Robot attacks Tesla factory engineer

     

    A malfunctioning robot has attacked a Tesla software engineer, who suffered serious injuries on the floor of the electric car maker’s factory in Austin, Texas.

    Witnesses told the Information, a news site that the robot pinned the engineer and sank its metal claws into his back and arm. Tesla engineers design the robot to move aluminium car parts.

     

    The attack leaved a trail of his blood along the floor.

     

    The engineer was programming software that controls robots. The job of the robots is to cut car parts from freshly cast pieces of aluminium.

     

    He had disabled two of the robots so that he and his crew could work on the machines. He, however, inadvertently left the third one on.

     

    This resulted in the attack, witnesses said.

    The news site said it obtained an injury report submitted to federal officials and to health authorities in Travis County.

     

    The injury was apparently not severe enough to require the employee to take time off from work.

  • FCT Correctional Service gets new controller

    FCT Correctional Service gets new controller

    The Nigerian Correctional Service has appointed Mr John Francis as the new controller of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) command.

     

    A statement by Adamu Duza, spokesperson for the service, on Friday in Abuja, said Francis was deployed to the position by the Controller General of Corrections, Haliru Nababa.

     

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Francis replaces Ibrahim Idris, who was recently promoted to the rank of Assistant Controller General of Corrections in charge of training and staff development.

     

    In his handing over speech, Idris, eulogised the personnel of the FCT Prisons Command for their support, adding that without them he would not have succeeded.

     

    He expressed confidence that the incoming controller would take the command to the next level.

     

    On his part, Francis praised his predecessor for his track record in the command, and asked for his continuous cooperation.

     

    He promised to work with officers of the command to take it to greater heights.

     

    Until his deployment, Francis was the National Chaplain, Protestant Nigerian Correctional Service Headquarters, Abuja

  • NIPR appoints Stanley Ogadigo as PR Director

    NIPR appoints Stanley Ogadigo as PR Director

    The Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) has appointed Mr Stanley Ogadigo, a former employee of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.), as its Director of Public Relations.

     

    This is contained in a statement signed by the President of the Institute, Dr Ike Neliaku, on Friday in Abuja.

     

    Neliaku said the appointment was part of his administration’s efforts to reposition the NIPR for greater professional value, national relevance and global competitiveness.

     

    “The Governing Council looked at various options and settled for competence, experience and passion as key criteria for approving the appointment of Mr Stanley Ogadigo for the job,” he said.

     

    Neliaku said the choice of Ogadigo was based on the critical nature and quality of projects and services being pursued by institute’s current governing council aimed at repositioning it.

     

    He also said the appointment would be of a greater value to members and in reclaiming the country’s reputational capital and rebuilding citizens trust.

     

    Neliaku described Ogadigo as a thorough-bred professional with passion for professionalism and excellence.

     

    “We need a reputation building and management expert to drive the communication component.

     

    “Ogadigo has a deep knowledge of the workings of the PR industry and his appointment comes with tremendous sacrifice to both the profession and the institute,” he added.

     

    Ogadigo holds both Master’s and Bachelor’s degrees in Mass Communication from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, and Kogi State University, respectively.

     

    He is a Fellow of the NIPR and a Fellow, African Public Relations Association. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

    EMAF/JNC

  • Police arrest 4 suspected gunrunners, 34 others in Oyo

    Police arrest 4 suspected gunrunners, 34 others in Oyo

    The Police Command in Oyo State has arrested four suspected gunrunners and 34 others for alleged armed robbery, kidnapping, car snatching and land grabbing.

     

    The Command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Adewale Osifeso, made this known while parading the suspects on behalf of the state Commissioner of Police Adebola Hamzat, at the command’s headquarters, Eleyele, Ibadan, on Friday.

     

    Osifeso said that items recovered from the suspects included six vehicles, 60 ammunition, nine firearms, six cell phones, three cutlasses, two motorcycles, a power generator and charms.

     

    Osifeso said that credible information about the suspected gunrunners was received by the Command’s Monitoring Unit on Dec. 19 at 12.30 p.m.

     

    He said that one of the suspected gunrunners was sighted in his hideout at Danzaria, Owode, Oyo Town, and was arrested while in possession of a Pump Action rifle with number 2659.

     

    “Upon interrogation, the suspect was unable to give any satisfactory explanation about the firearm.

     

    “Further investigation led to the arrest of three other members of the criminal gang, who were found in possession of another locally-fabricated Pump Action riffle, one live cartridge and six empty shells of expended cartridges,” Osifeso said.

     

    He said that all the suspects were unable to give satisfactory explanations about the rifles.

     

    On the armed robbery suspects, he said that two of them, who were armed with guns, Jack knives and other criminal charms, were arrested on Christmas Day at 11.00 p.m.

     

    Osifeso said that the armed robbery suspects rode a Bajaj motorcycle and invaded a restaurant located at Bodija, Ibadan, and attacked the owner and her customers, dispossessing them of money and other valuables.

     

    “During the armed robbery operation, some of the customers, who managed to escape, raised alarm which attracted people in the area.

     

    “In the process, two of the suspects were apprehended.

     

    “The suspects and exhibits were immediately handed over to the police at Bodija.

     

    “From there, they were transferred to the Command’s Monitoring Unit for investigation,” he said.

     

    Osifeso said that the suspects, on interrogation at the unit, confessed to the armed robbery and other armed robbery operations they masterminded at different locations in Ibadan metropolis. (NAN)

  • JUST IN: Peseiro names Osimhen, Musa, 23 others in Super Eagles final AFCON squad

    JUST IN: Peseiro names Osimhen, Musa, 23 others in Super Eagles final AFCON squad

    Super Eagles coach, Jose Peseiro, has announced his final 25-man squad for the forthcoming African Cup of Nations in Cote’d’Ivoire.

     

    The African football showpiece will run from January 13 to February 11, 2024.

     

    The Nigerian side, gunning for its fourth title, has been drawn in Group A alongside hosts Ivory Coast, Equatorial Guinea, and Guinea Bissau.

     

    The Portuguese manager whose future is up in the air had in earlier December unveiled a 40-man provisional squad, including three goal-keepers from the local league.

     

    However, in the final cut, Peseiro on Friday named African Footballer of the Year, Victor Osimhen, captain, Ahmed Musa, and Chippa United goalkeeper, Stanley Nwabili.

     

    Nwabili, drafted in to solve the team’s goalkeeping crisis is joined by long-standing first-choice, Francis Uzoho and Enyimba FC goal-stopper, Leke Ojo who is the only home-based player in the squad.

     

    The return of captain, Musa is expected to raise some eyebrows from the fans who believe that his time in the team has lapsed.

     

    4former Kano Pillars forward is not the only returnee, Vice-Captain William Troost-Ekong, is back in contention after missing the Eagles’ recent games over a reported rift with Peseiro.

     

    FULL LIST.

     

    Goalkeepers: Stanley Nwabili (Chippa United, South Africa); Francis Uzoho (Omonia FC, Cyprus); Olorunleke Ojo (Enyimba FC)

     

    Defenders: Olaoluwa Aina (Nottingham Forest, England); Chidozie Awaziem (Boavista FC, Portugal); Bright Osayi-Samuel (Fenerbahce FC, Turkey); William Troost-Ekong (PAOK Salonika, Greece); Bruno Onyemaechi (Boavista FC, Portugal); Kenneth Omeruo (Kasimpasa FC, Turkey); Oluwasemilogo Ajayi (West Bromwich Albion, England); Calvin Bassey (Fulham FC, England); Zaidu Sanusi (FC Porto, Portugal)

     

    Midfielders: Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England); Raphael Onyedika (Club Brugge, Belgium); Joe Ayodele-Aribo (Southampton FC, England); Frank Onyeka (Brentford FC, England); Alex Iwobi (Fulham FC, England)

     

    Forwards: Ahmed Musa (Sivasspor K, Turkey); Victor Osimhen (Napoli SC, Italy); Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City, England); Sadiq Umar (Real Sociedad, Spain); Moses Simon (FC Nantes, France); Ademola Lookman (Atalanta FC, Italy); Samuel Chukwueze (AC Milan, Italy); Victor Boniface (Bayer Leverkusen, German