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The Management of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB) led by the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Olusola Kehinde, has stopped no less than 7 Muslim students from attending a lecture in the school.

The incident sparked a series of protests from the Muslim Students Society of Nigeria (MSSN).

According to an eyewitness, the MSSN had set Saturday, September 9 to commence one of their routine program known as Jihad Week. It was learnt, however, that the school management instructed the Chief Security Officer (CSO) to stop Muslim students from attending the event.

It was also gathered that the leadership of MSSN in the university had prior to the event requested the approval of the university management to make use of one of the school’s auditoriums. The request was said to have been approved under the condition that the Muslim organisation signs an undertaken.

According to the MSSN Amir, Fadullah Shittu, the school management asked him to sign an undertaken that Muslim sisters adorning the niqab (veils) will not attend the program. “A laughable proposal that was sternly rejected by the MSSN,” he said in a statement.

In further explanation, the MSSN noted that aside from the public knowledge that the niqab is part of Islam, attendees of the event will not only be students of the school but also members of Muslim Communities from all parts of the country.

After rejecting the school’s demand to sign an undertaken against members of his organisation, the MSSN noted that the venue for the program was changed to the university mosque.

Saturday, September 9, 2023 – Event Day 1

The MSSN Jihad Week program commenced at the University Mosque as rescheduled after failed plea to utilize one of the university’s auditoriums. According to Live Facebook video updates from MSSN FUNAAB, the event started as scheduled but was however truncated after reports reached them that sisters on Niqob are being sent away by the university security men at the gate.

According to events seen in the video, an Alumnus of the school was on his way to attend the Jihad week program alongside his sister who is wearing the Niqob. Despite agreeing to open her face for identification, the security men noted that they are obeying instructions from the CSO not to allow anybody with niqob into the school and has nothing to do with identification.

The Alumnus argued that if identification is not the reason for stopping his sister at the gate, then it is an open attack on the niqob as a mode of dressing and consequently an attack on Islam in its entirety. He was filmed demanding the speak with the CSO but was denied access by the security men.

Shortly after, the Muslim students were seen marching in large numbers to protest against what was described as an open confrontation on Islam.

The protest which led to blockage of the school gate generated series of altercations between the Alumnus, the CSO and the students. The Alumnus however maintained that as long as the university is a public institution, no injunction stops his mother, sister or family from accessing the university just for wearing a niqob, especially when she has been duly identified.

The protesting students were later addressed by the University Librarian who pleaded with them to vacate the gate as the sisters in niqob would be allowed in with them and the issue will be unfailingly resolved.

Sunday, September 10, 2023 – Event Day 2

The Jihad Week event of the MSSN continued at the school mosque. But despite the protest that happened on Saturday, eyewitness reported that the security men at the FUNAAB gate stopped Muslim students from accessing the school in the early hours of Sunday.

Meanwhile, Intel Region gathered that the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Olusola Kehinde, had on Saturday issued out verbal invitations to the Amir of MSSN as well as stakeholders in the university including members of the FUNAAB Muslim Community.

The meeting which was said to have held at 10am on Sunday had all invitees in attendance. Sources confirmed the occurrence of the meeting but stated that the VC insisted that he is the only one that will speak and no other observation or comments will be entertained by any of the stakeholder present.

Intel Region could not immediately confirm this as no formal statement was released by the school after the meeting.

According to the Muslim students on campus, it was alleged that the VC threatened to rusticate all Muslim students as well as asking Muslims in the institution to seek his approval before organising any religious activity at the school mosque, which can include the 5 daily prayers.

Unpleased by the alleged threats of the VC, the Muslim students continued their demonstration by observing Morning prayers (Subhi) at the school gate on Monday September 11, 2023.

Onigbinde Says CYE’s Mandate Is To Ensure Unity Of Yoruba Race

By Adewale Owoade

The President, Council of Yoruba Elders (CYE), Chief Adegboyega Onigbinde, has said that the group was formed to unite all the Yoruba Sons and Daughters all around the world for the interest of national development.

Chief Onigbinde stated this during a press conference at Oduduwa House, in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

He said that this clarification was necessary in reaction to some insinuations that emerged from various groups shortly after his appointment as the president of the newly launched social cultural organisation, recently in Ibadan.

Onigbinde noted that the objectives of the CYE is to ensure that the Yorubas remains in good position, playing their roles as nation builders.

He maintained that CYE as a social cultural group is not at loggerhead with any other yoruba group.

In his words, Chief Onigbinde said, “The core mandate of CYE is to ensure that we are in best position to play our roles for the interest of our race and our country at large.

“And for us to achieve this, we must be united, all hands must be on deck, we must forget all our differences, for now we don’t have a one voice as a race.

“We must all come together, put our resources, knowledge and wisdom together, it is through this that we can have a one strong voice, it has to be collective efforts.

“This organisation is open to all Yoruba sons and daughters both at home and abroad for ideas and support of any kind, we formed this organisation with the good intention of moving our country forward.

“The interest of our race is paramount on our agenda and for us to achieve this, our unity is non negotiable.” He said.

Some of the pro tem exco of the Council of Yoruba Elders, as unveiled by the former Super Eagles National Coach, Chief Onigbinde include, Dr Victor Taiwo, Secretary General; Hakeem Danmola, National Treasurer.

Erelu Tijani, National Financial Secretary; Prince Lanre Ogundipe, Publicity Secretary; Elder Taiye Ayorinde, Chairman Mediation and Reconciliation committee; Prince Bowofade Aderemi, Legal Adviser; Retire AIG Bola Alonge, Security Adviser; Chief (Mrs) Simisade Kuku, Chairman Women Affairs.

Princess Dorcas Amusan-Fagborun, Chairman Diaspora; Mr Muhammed Babatunde Aliyu, Chairman Public Awareness; Prof. Olukayode Ogundoro, Administrative Secretary; Others include states Chairmen, and committee chairmen.

In his welcome address, the Secretary General of CYE, who also doubles as the President General of Oodua Redemption Alliance, Dr Victor Taiwo said ;

“We cannot continue to be fooling ourselves, most of Yoruba groups that we all known have been polarised with either by politics or personal interest.”

“We cannot continue to pretend as if we don’t know what is going on, Hausa people have a formidable group that champion their interest, which is Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF).

“They speak with one voice irrespective of their political differences, Igbo people also have their own which is called Ohaneze Ndigbo, but here in Yorubaland our Afenifere group have been polarised.

“We now have Afenifere Renewal Group, and so many other factions, even the Yoruba Council Of Elders (YCE) has also been factionalised, there is Pa Rueben Fasonrati group, and there is Pa Ayo Adebanjo group.

“So we are no longer speaking with one voice and it is so sad, we cannot move forward with all these mess, we need a strong and formidable group that will be championing our interest at the national level too.

“This is what gave birth to this Council of Yoruba Elders (CYE) that was officially launched on Thursday 31st August, 2023 at the House of Chiefs here in Ibadan, the event was a successful one.

“We Yorubas are so brilliant, we are known for our brilliance, but it is so sad because when it comes to wisdom to speak with one voice we are lagging behind, politics has divided us.

“Personal interest has divided us, we need to forget all these and come together for the betterment of our race and for the interest of our nation at large.”

Chief Mrs Erelu Dosumu Abiola, the Yeye Oodua of the Source, who was appointed as the Vice president of the organisation, was then elevated to grand- patroness,the official mother of the Yoruba race, as announced by Chief Onigbinde.

In attendance at the event were Prof. Kayode Ogundoro, Chief Olu Alege Olaseyi, Mogaji Ogunsola Anisere, Alhaja Bisola Quadri, Chief Dara Odunjo, Comrade Wale Alabi, Dr. Tope Taiwo, Mr Rahaman Adebayo, Mrs Bose Oni, among others.

According to NTA on its X (formerly Twitter) handle, Ahmad was arrested and detained over the alleged fraudulent acquisition of shares in Polaris Bank, Titan Bank/Union Bank.

The Department of State Services (DSS) has arrested and detained the Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria in charge of Financial System Stability, Aishah Ahmad.

According to NTA on its X (formerly Twitter) handle, Ahmad was arrested and detained over the alleged fraudulent acquisition of shares in Polaris Bank, Titan Bank/Union Bank.

The report added that the CBN Deputy Governor is currently being interrogated on how the $300 million to complete the acquisition of Union Bank was raised by Titan Bank.

Her arrest and grilling followed the arrest and detention of the suspended Governor of the CBN, Godwin Emefiele, also by the DSS.

Ahmad was appointed Deputy Governor at the CBN on March 23, 2018. As Deputy Governor in charge of Financial System Stability, she is responsible for leading the effort to promote a sound financial system in Nigeria; one of the principal objects of the Bank as specified within the CBN Act. In this role, Ahmad is a member of the CBN’s Governing Board and Committee of Governors and Chairman of the Financial Institutions Training Centre (FITC)

SaharaReporters had reported how Emefiele had perfected plans to cover up his corruption records when Muhammadu Buhari was Nigeria’s president.

Multiple sources told SaharaReporters how Emefiele secretly sent the names of Mrs. Aishah N, Ahmad, Deputy Governor, Financial System Stability Directorate and Mr. Edward L. Adamu Deputy Governor, Corporate Services Directorate to President Muhammadu Buhari for renewal.

The move by Emefiele to nominate his stooges for re-appointment was part of plans to cover his corruption records in the bank, it was learnt.

“Emefiele has secretly sent Aisha and Edward’s names for renewal months before time to stop the next government from appointing their own candidate and to allow them to cover his back,” a source in the bank had told SaharaReporters.

“He has paid the villa cabals millions in dollars to get the renewals approved. Edward was that one on the audio SaharaReporters exclusively leaked.

“Aisha is that deputy governor Samaila Isa Funtua and his son brought.”

SaharaReporters had reported that Emefiele; the President of African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), and Prof. Benedict Oramah; among others were under investigation over the $300 million the pan-African multilateral financial institution gave to Titan Trust Bank Limited to acquire 93.4 per cent stake in the Union Bank of Nigeria Plc.

Others being investigated were Aminu Yaro, a Northern business mogul and one Farouk Gumel.

Sources had told SaharaReporters that the EFCC, DSS, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) were all investigating Oramah, Emefiele and others.

In December 2022, the Peoples Gazette reported that Ahmad helped facilitate the sale of Polaris Bank at a favourable price in order to be considered for the position of CBN Governor.

The CBN denied these allegations and described the sale of Polaris Bank aas an institutional decision supervised by a committee of senior representatives of the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) and the CBN.

The CBN stated that no other party made a higher purchase offer as alleged by the newspaper.

It’s high time to start being deliberate about our environment and what we eat and inhale daily. That little sand portion in your compound or environment can be useful in nurturing flowers. Flowers are beneficial in the following ways:

1. Flowers brighten and beautify the environment with their range of colours. Planting flowers has a positive impact on the physical well-being of gardeners. It improves the flexibility of the muscle and helps to burn calories.

2. Flowers remove pollutants from the air. Instead of spending so much on air purifiers and diffusers, flowers are a natural way to purify the air around your home. Flower plants take in Carbon Dioxide and release oxygen during photosynthesis. More so, flowerbeds retain soil, evading erosion and flooding. These are natural ways to maintain fresh air and a more balanced earth around your home.

3. Working around the soil exposes the human body to beneficial bacteria and microbes. Through this, the body’s immune system is built and creates antibodies.

4. The beautiful colours and enchanting smell of flowers improve cognitive and emotional well-being. Waking up to the sight of beautiful colours and blossoming flowers improves one’s mood and appreciation for nature and life. If you want to be more thankful or have a brightened mood when in your home, flowers are a good source of inspiration to look out for when you are laid back and relaxed.

5. Flowers attract pollinators like butterflies, bees and moths, which are crucial to our survival. Insects are also beneficial to our human existence. According to the Federation of Wild Life, insects pollinate our crops and wild plants, providing one-third of our food and allowing wild plants to reproduce and produce the berries, fruits, seeds, and other plant foods that form the base of the natural food web. You just might be saving humanity from hunger by planting flowers.

Ogun Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Corps (TRACE), on Sunday said, two persons lost their lives, while another one sustained injuries in an accident involving a Mazda bus and a Mazda car at Ayedere , on the Lagos-Abeokuta expressway.

Spokesperson of Mr Babatunde Akinbiyi of TRACE, confirmed the incident to newsmen in Abeokuta, Ogun State capital.

Akinbiyi said, the accident occured at 7:10am at Ayedere village in Ewekoro local government area of the state.

He noted that the accident was caused by the driver of the unregistered Mazda car who drove against traffic and had a head on collision with the Mazda bus marked SEY 311 ZY.

Akinbiyi added that the drivers of the two vehicles died while a motor boy sustained injuries

He explained that the injured motor boy was rescued to a nearby hospital before the arrival of TRACE, saying that the driver of the car had been taking away by his family for burial.

He said, the driver of the bus was deposited at Ifo General Hospital morgue.

” According to eyewitness , the white Mazda bus, loaded with foodstuffs was on its rightful lane, outbound Abeokuta.

“The unregistered Mazda car, driving in a direction prohibited by traffic law collided with the bus, leaving the drivers of both vehicles dead on the spot due to the impact of the collision.

The motor boy of the white Mazda bus sustained varying degrees of injuries and has been taken to a private clinic for medical attention,” he said.

Akinbiyi warned drivers to desist from commiting route violation, saying that there are lot of dangers associated with route violation.