Tag: Osun State

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Accord Party screens, clears Adeleke for Osun governorship primary

Hours after announcing his defection to the Accord Party, Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has been cleared for the gubernatorial primary election.

The Guardian reports that delegates are converging at the Oasis Event Hall in Osogbo for the primary of the Accord Party, of which Adeleke is expected to participate.

On Tuesday night, Adeleke announced his movement to the Accord Party, days after resigning his membership of the Peoples Democratic Party.

Meanwhile, in a statement by Ibe Thankgod, the Chairman, Screening Committee of Accord, on Wednesday, Adeleke was said to have been screened and cleared for its governorship primary that is holding today.

The chairman of the committee, who is also the National Organising Secretary of the party, Thankgod, said the governor has fulfilled all the requisite requirements for nomination and participation at the primary.

“He said the committee subsequently cleared Governor Adeleke as the sole aspirant for the party’s governorship ticket and concluded all required documentations with relevant bodies.

The committee chairman then presented a certificate of clearance to the governor, hailing him as a worthy gubernatorial aspirant of the party.

Responding, Governor Adeleke expressed appreciation to the screening committee and the entire party leadership, noting his preparedness to lead the party to victory in 2026.

“I am ready for the primary and I am ready for the general elections. We are winning by God’s grace”, Governor Adeleke affirmed.

Other members of the committee included Abdurahaman Muhammed, Abdulahi Sani Muhammed and Mrs Awogbade Rachael,” the statement obtained in Osogbo noted.

Similarly, Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara on Tuesday defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

He announced his decision during a stakeholders’ meeting held at the Government House in Port Harcourt on Tuesday.

Fubara joins several governors who have also switched to the APC this year.

Recently, 17 members of the House of Assembly, loyal to former Governor Nyesom Wike and led by Speaker Martin Amaewhule, announced their defection from the PDP to the APC, thereby altering the balance of power in the legislature.

Meanwhile, the Kabiru Turaki-led Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has reacted to the defection of Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), describing the move as a “self-inflicted injury” and a culmination of choices the governor “willingly embraced.”

In a statement issued Tuesday night by National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, the PDP said Fubara’s exit merely affirmed the legal maxim volenti non fit injuria “to one who is willing, no harm is done.” (Guardian)

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Revered statesman Christopher Kolade dies at 93

Renowned Nigerian statesman Dr Christopher Kolade has died aged 93, his family announced in a statement.



“We are thankful for his incredible life of faith and service; and are grateful for God’s abundant blessings,” the statement read in part.

The statement said the late broadcaster died peacefully on Wednesday, October 8, 2025.

Born on December 28, 1932 in Erin-Oke, Osun State, Dr Kolade had a distinguished career as a diplomat, academic, advocate for integrity and corporate governance, among other things.

He was the son of an Anglican missionary and completed his secondary-school education at Government College, Ibadan after which he studied at Fourah Bay College, Freetown, Sierra Leone.

He holds honorary doctorate degrees of McPherson University (2016), University of Sierra Leone (1976) among others.

Kolade embarked on a diverse career path, becoming a veteran broadcaster and rising to the position of the Director-General of the Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC).

He later served as the Chief Executive and Chairman of Cadbury Nigeria Plc and held the esteemed position of Nigerian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom.

After his posting in London, Dr. Kolade continued to share his expertise by teaching Corporate Governance and Human Resource Management at the Lagos Business School (LBS), as well as Leadership and Conflict Management at the School of Media and Communication (SMC) — both institutions under the Pan-Atlantic University in Lagos.

He also played key roles in the university’s governance, serving as Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council.

Dr. Kolade’s distinguished service extends across both national and international organisations. He has led prominent institutions including the Nigerian Institute of Management, the Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria, the International Institute for Communications, and the World Association for Christian Communication.

Notably, he was awarded the prestigious Order of St. Augustine medal by the Archbishop of Canterbury and was appointed Chairman of the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P) Board by President Goodluck Jonathan in 2012.

As an advocate of business integrity, Dr Kolade also chaired organizations such as Integrity Organization Ltd GTE and The Convention on Business Integrity Ltd GTE. (Channels)

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Police arrest 20 Osun Amotekun men over killing

At least 20 operatives of the Osun State Amotekun Corps were on Wednesday arrested by a special squad of the Nigeria Police Force in connection with last week’s killings in Akinlalu, a community in Ife North Local Government Area of the state.

The police team, said to have been deployed from Abuja, reportedly stormed the corps’ operational bases in Oke-Fia, Osogbo, and Ife Central Division, Ile-Ife, where they arrested operatives and sealed the facilities.

Sources told The PUNCH that the officers arrived unannounced and whisked away all Amotekun personnel found on the premises.

While the bases in Oke-Fia and Ife Central were later sealed, the corps’ headquarters at Powerline, Osogbo, remained open when our correspondent visited around 7:40 p.m.

Confirming the arrests, the spokesperson for Osun Amotekun, Yusuf Idowu, said the police action was connected to the Akinlalu incident.

“Some policemen came, but they didn’t seal our headquarters. They burst our operation base in Oke-Fia and the Ife Central Command. They also arrested about 20 of our operatives. We don’t know where they took our personnel,” Idowu said.

The Osun Police Command spokesperson, SP Abiodun Ojelabi, confirmed the arrest but said only five Amotekun men were taken into custody, not 20 as claimed by the corps.

He added that the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, had taken over investigation into the killings and the reported assassination attempt on the Amotekun Commander, Brig. Gen. Isaac Omoyele (retd.).

“The IGP has ordered the elite investigative body of the Force, the IRT-FID, to take over the case,” Ojelabi said.

“Investigation revealed that the attackers were members of Amotekun Corps. Five suspects have been arrested, while others remain at large.”

Ojelabi also disclosed that Omoyele was invited to explain his role in the attack but failed to honour the invitation.

“Efforts to reach him on phone proved abortive as his line has been switched off. He later went on social media on October 6, 2025, claiming he was attacked by unknown armed men wearing masks, which preliminary investigation shows to be a figment of his imagination aimed at derailing justice,” the police statement read in part.

The command urged the public to disregard the alleged assassination claim and remain law-abiding, assuring that peace had been restored in the state.

The arrest of the operatives came in the wake of the September 29 invasion of Akinlalu, where Amotekun personnel allegedly opened fire on residents, killing three people and injuring several others.

The victims were identified by police as Ibrahim Oyebamiji (26), Sefiu Oyebamiji, and Abiola Olutayo, while those injured included Adeagbo Kadijat (22), Oke-Ila Oyebamiji (60), and Fayomi Toheeb (19).

Police said the corps operatives took away the corpses of the deceased after the incident.

Amotekun, however, claimed that its men were ambushed by hoodlums while on a mission to recover two rifles earlier seized from its operatives, insisting that the deaths occurred during a crossfire.

The incident triggered outrage across the state, with residents and families of the victims demanding justice and a thorough review of Amotekun’s operations.

On Sunday, the Deputy Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, Gbenga Oyewusi, led a delegation of lawmakers to Akinlalu, where he sympathised with the families of the victims.

Speaking at the palace of the Alakinla of Akinlalu, Oba Oluwabusola Oloyede, Oyewusi assured residents that the state government and security agencies were investigating the killings and would ensure justice.

“Ife North is a peaceful region. We want to assure our people that the government and the police have begun investigations, and justice will be served,” Oyewusi said.

He appealed to the community’s youths to remain calm and allow due process to take its course, adding that the government would support the affected families. (Punch)

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Adeleke unveils scholarship for Osun best SSCE students

Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has unveiled the ‘Imole Statewide public and private schools students Senior Secondary Certificate Examination Scholarship .

Adeleke said the initiative was to reward the best-performing students in the SSCE across the state.

A statement signed by the state Commissioner for Education, Dipo Eluwole, obtained in Osogbo on Tuesday said the scholarship supported by Electronic Collections Group was designed to recognise and support outstanding students from both public and private schools in all 30 local government areas and the area office of Osun State.

Eluwole stated, “The initiative will award a ₦1,000,000 (One Million Naira) scholarship to the overall best student in the state. Additionally, each of the best students in both public and private schools per local government will receive a ₦100,000 (One Hundred Thousand Naira) scholarship award.

“Beyond individual student awards, the best-performing public and private schools will also be granted a ₦500,000 (Five Hundred Thousand Naira) educational support fund to enhance their academic programs.

“Furthermore, to recognize the role of educators in shaping academic excellence, teachers of the best students from both public and private schools in each local government area will be rewarded with exciting gift items.”

He emphasised the government’s commitment to improving education standards and fostering intellectual growth among Osun students.

He urged teachers and school administrators to prepare their students adequately for the 2025 SSCE, to ensure they perform exceptionally well to qualify for the scholarship awards. (Punch)