Tag: South-West

  • Oduduwa Nation Agitators amassing weapons to disrupt elections in South-West — IGP

    Oduduwa Nation Agitators amassing weapons to disrupt elections in South-West — IGP

    The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Usman Baba has warned that some separatist agitators under the aegis of Oduduwa Nation are amassing weapons in an attempt to disrupt the February 25 and March 11 general elections in the South-West geopolitical zone of Nigeria.

    The IGP disclosed this during a meeting with strategic police managers at the Force Headquarters in Abuja on Monday, February 13.

    Addressing police officers on Monday, the IGP said,

    ?As you are aware, some crimes of national security importance could undermine our efforts towards entrenching a peaceful electioneering process, if not adequately curtailed.

    ?These include banditry and terrorism which has ravaged many communities in the North-west and North-Central with adverse effects on the economic and social well-being of the residents.

    ?Similarly, violent secessionist campaigns by IPOB/ESN members have been targeted at various symbols of democratic governance including INEC assets, police stations and personnel as well as other security agencies and Federal Government infrastructures, all in an effort to disrupt the 2023 general elections in the South East geopolitical zone.

    ?Other major crimes are the growing activities of the Oduduwa Nation Agitators who, from intelligence sources, have been attempting to amass weapons and mobilise other resources towards disrupting the peace, security and electoral process in the South-West geopolitical zone.?

    Secessionist agitation gained prominence in the South-West geopolitical zone in 2021. The agitation was led by Yoruba Nation campaigner, Sunday Adeyemo popularly known as Sunday Igboho.

    However, the agitation slowed down with the raid of Igboho?s Ibadan residence by the Department of State Services on July 1, 2021. He escaped to Benin Republic where he was detained by the security agents in that Country. He was later released on bail but has not returned to Nigeria.

  • 2023: APC South-West Presidential Aspirants Meet in Abuja

    2023: APC South-West Presidential Aspirants Meet in Abuja

    Ahead of the 2023 general elections, presidential aspirants from the South-West and key stakeholders of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) have met in Abuja.

    A source who pleaded anonymity confirmed the meeting the Channels Television via the telephone on Sunday.

    He said the meeting which held on Saturday night entered the early hours of Sunday morning.

    Although the details of the meeting could not be gotten as of the time of filing this report, it was gathered that the aspirants discussed how the region could field a candidate that will serve as a common front for the party.

    Those who attended the meeting include the Vice-President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo; APC chieftain, Bola Tinubu; Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State; former Ogun State governor, Ibikunle Amosun.

    Others are the Senate Deputy Majority Leader, Ajayi Boroffice; ex-Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole; and Lagos cleric, Pastor Tunde Bakare.

    The rest are governors Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos), Dapo Abiodun (Ogun), Gboyega Oyetola (Osun) and Rotimi Akeredolu (Ondo).

    The meeting is coming hours after APC governors from the northern region asked the party to zone its presidential ticket to the south.

    In a statement signed by 11 governors, they said it was a question of honour for the APC.

    The governors asked all Northern aspirants in the race to withdraw in the national interest.

    “This moment calls for the most sober and inclusive approach to selecting our party’s candidate,” the governors said.

  • 2023: South-West Working To Produce Next President, We‘re United — Chief Akande

    2023: South-West Working To Produce Next President, We‘re United — Chief Akande

    A former governor of Osun State Chief Bisi Akande says the South West is united and will work to produce Nigeria’s next president.

    He made the comment while speaking to journalists at the end of a meeting of presidential aspirants of the All Progressives Congress (APC) from the South West.

    Akande said it was agreed that the aspirants should shun divisiveness and go about their campaigns with maturity.

    The meeting, which was held on Friday at the Lagos House in Marina, had Vice President Yemi Osinbajo; a former Lagos State governor, Bola Tinubu, and some governors in the region in attendance.

    Others were the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila. The ministers of works and housing; trade and industry and investment, and interior amongst others also attended.

    The meeting was convened by Akande and a former Ogun State governor Olusegun Osoba.

  • APC Unveils Zoning Formula, Zones Chairmanship to North Central, Secretary to South-West

    APC Unveils Zoning Formula, Zones Chairmanship to North Central, Secretary to South-West

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) has approved the recommendations of the Committee on Zoning.

    The decision was taken during a meeting of the Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC).

    Salisu Na’inna Dambatta, Director of Publicity made the announcement in a statement on Wednesday.

    Zonal Representatives on the CECPC will coordinate the process in each zone, Dambatta added.

    The zoning arrangement for the party is as follows:

    *NORTH-CENTRAL*: Benue, Kogi, Kwara, Nasarawa, Niger and Plateau States

    1. National Chairman
    2. National Vice Chairman (North Central)
    3. Deputy National Secretary
    4. Deputy National Legal Adviser
    5. Deputy National Publicity Secretary
    6. Zonal Secretary
    7. Zonal Youth Leader
    8. Zonal Organising Secretary
    9. Zonal Women Leader
    10. Zonal Special Leader (Persons with Disabilities – PWD)
    11. National Ex – Officio Member

    *SOUTH-SOUTH*: Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Edo and Rivers States

    1. National Vice Chairman (South South)
    2. National Publicity Secretary
    3. National Women Leader
    4. Deputy National Treasurer
    5. Deputy National Welfare Secretary
    6. Zonal Secretary
    7. Zonal Youth Leader
    8. Zonal Organising Secretary
    9. Zonal Women Leader
    10. Zonal Special Leader (Persons with Disabilities – PWD)
    11. National Ex – Officio Member

    *SOUTH-WEST*: Ekiti, Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Osun and Oyo States

    1. National Secretary
    2. National Vice Chairman (South West)
    3. National Youth Leader
    4. National Physically Challenged Leader
    5. Deputy National Auditor
    6. Zonal Secretary
    7. Zonal Youth Leader
    8. Zonal Organising Secretary
    9. Zonal Women Leader
    10. Zonal Special Leader (Persons with Disabilities – PWD)
    11. National Ex – Officio Member

    *SOUTH-EAST*: Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo States

    1. Deputy National Chairman (South)
    2. National Vice Chairman (South East)
    3. National Treasurer
    4. National Welfare Secretary
    5. Deputy National Organising Secretary
    6. Zonal Secretary
    7. Zonal Youth Leader
    8. Zonal Organising Secretary
    9. Zonal Women Leader
    10. Zonal Special Leader (Persons with Disabilities – PWD)
    11. National Ex – Officio Member

    *NORTH-EAST*: Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Taraba and Yobe States

    1. Deputy National Chairman (North)
    2. National Auditor
    3. National Vice Chairman (North East)
    4. Deputy National Financial Secretary
    5. Deputy National Women Leader
    6. Zonal Secretary
    7. Zonal Youth Leader
    8. Zonal Organisig Secretary
    9. Zonal Women Leader
    10. Zonal Special Leader (Persons with Disabilities – PWD)
    11. National Ex – Officio Member

    *NORTH -WEST*: Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto and Zamfara States

    1. National Vice Chairman (North West)
    2. National Legal Adviser
    3. National Organising Secretary
    4. National Financial Secretary
    5. Deputy National Youth Leader
    6. Zonal Secretary
    7. Zonal Youth Leader
    8. Zonal Organising Secretary
    9. Zonal Women Leader
    10. Zonal Special Leader (Persons with Disabilities – PWD)
    11. National Ex-Officio Member

  • South-West Governors meet in Lagos, Discuss Issues in Region

    South-West Governors meet in Lagos, Discuss Issues in Region

    Members of South-West Governors Forum, on Tuesday, met in Lagos State to discuss insecurity, investment, and other issues of interest to the region.

    Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu hosted his colleagues at the State House, three days after gunmen attacked a prison in Ibadan and freed inmates.

    Five Governors of member States were present at the meeting, which started at 4:30 pm and held behind closed doors.

    Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, was represented by his deputy, Mr. Rauf Olaniyan.

    After 90 minutes, the Governors rose from the meeting and offered no detailed information on matters discussed.

    Addressing journalists, the chairman of the Forum and Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, gave a brief statement on their discussion, disclosing that part of their deliberations centered on the security situation in the region.

    Akeredolu revealed there was also discussion on Oodua Group, a company owned by all six Southwest States, but declined to give further details. He pointed out that the Forum was not willing to share full information on the meeting.

    He said, “We, the six Governors of the Southwest under the Southwest Governors’ Forum met today. We deliberated on a number of common and personal issues. We also deliberated on our common heritage, which is the Oodua Group of Companies.

    “At the end, we agreed on a few things; a number of them, which have to do with security, are not what we can discuss in the open. This short address is just to let you (pressmen) know we met today but we don’t want our decisions discussed in the open.”

    The Governors departed the Lagos House, Marina after the short briefing.

  • Igangan attack: South-west Govs orders Amotekun to begin operations

    Igangan attack: South-west Govs orders Amotekun to begin operations

    Governors in the Southwest region have given marching orders to the South West Security Network codenamed Amotekun Corps to immediately commence joint operations in the region.

    The Southwest Governors, who encouraged security agencies to get to the roots of the attack in Igangan community in Oyo State, convoked a joint security meeting of all Amotekun Commanders in the region.

    Chairman Southwest Governors Forum Oluwarotimi Akeredolu described the attack on Igangan as horrendous, callous and highly provocative.

    The Ondo Governor said all well-meaning Nigerians must condemn what he described as assault on decency and communal harmony.

    Akeredolu, who spoke in a statement in Akure, reiterated that certain elements were bent on causing friction among Nigerians with the sole aim of achieving a pernicious end.

    According to him: “They will stop at nothing until their set goal is realised. It is, therefore, incumbent on all lovers of peace and freedom to rise against this current regression into savagery.

    “We on our part are resolved to defend our people, their property, and all legitimate means of livelihood against both internal and external aggression. On this, there will be no compromise.

    “We call on our people to remain vigilant and report any suspicious movement in their communities. In addition, they must be united in the task of defending our lives and properties. We cannot afford to fail.”

  • Group praises Bauchi Governor, condemns Benue, Southwest over Shasha

    Group praises Bauchi Governor, condemns Benue, Southwest over Shasha

    ..Say’s Northerners aren’t safe in North and South as well

    By Gabriel Udeh, Kaduna

    Northern group under the aggies of Nigerian Youth Mobilizations and Enlighten Movement (NIYEM) have condemned the “recent attacks and carnage against some Hausa traders in Shasha Market in Ibadan, Oyo State capital, but stressed that they’ll not allowed any ethnic group in the country to be subjected to reprisal attacks in the northern region.

    The group in a statement in Kaduna on Tuesday also commended Governor of Bauchi State Bala Mohammed, for standing firm on the issues affecting common interest of the Northerners through thick, and rain urging Northern
    Governors to emulate him.

    NIYEM, in the statement signed by it spokesman, Comrade Sammani Sherif Baashir Mal Yusuf Abubakar, however condemned what they described as the recent “utterances of Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom over his verbal attacks and gutter language on his Bauchi State counterpart, Sen Bala Mohammed
    The youth movement stated that “You are all aware of the recent happening of attacks and carnage against some Hausa traders in Shasha Market, Ibadan, Oyo State whereby some alleged hired miscreants destroyed the livelihood of hundreds of Hausa traders leaving in Ibadan, Oyo state.

    They also lamented that media reports revealed that many lives and properties were lost during the attacks, adding that the unfortunate incident would for long be remembered and condemned by any sensible and reasonable Nigerian due to how it was orchestrated and executed by unleashing hatred, terror and destruction on the innocent traders in the Shasha market.

    “Norths have become target of injustice by many ethnic groups in the country. We are assuring all Nigerians that our stand is clear. We will never allow anybody in the region (north) to subject other ethnic groups to reprisals due to recent happenings in Ibadan and Akure, Ondo State.

    “We will not subject our brothers from southwest that are leaving with us peacefully to any hardship because of the mistakes, mayhem and hooliganism of some miscreants in their ancestral region.”, they stated.

    The statement titled “On the Issues affecting Our Peaceful Coexistence In Nigeria, However urged all Nigerians not to allowed provocation and incitement to divide their collective stand as a people.

    “We will never allow our people to subject other economic tribes leaving in the North to any inhuman treatment. Be assured that we are one as the constitution of our land give everybody equal rights to stay and do his business in any part of Country. For example, Igbo are everywhere in the north going about their trades without fear unlike what happened few years ago where they were attacked and ordered to vacate commercial city of Lagos.

    “The attacks on Hausa traders in Ibadan is too barbaric, unfair and disrespect to the unity and cohesion of the survival of the country. Yoruba should learn to be respectful and reciprocate the gesture of being tolerated by all other ethnics, as they scattered around the country.

    “Our Northern governors should emulate governor His Excellency, Senator Bala Mohammed of Bauchi state by standing firm on the issues affecting common interest of the Northerners through thick and rain.
    “His intervention and supports to the victims after the carnage in Ibadan and role he played to douse the tension of reprisal attacks in the north has contributed immensely in bringing our leaders together that has resulted in the visit of some governors to ascertain the level of damage and destruction made by miscreants on Hausa traders in Shasha Market and environs”, it stated.

    The NIYEM added that “Northern governors need to urgently put their house in order over present unfortunate scenario played by some of their members brazenly attacking each other for a reason that has nothing to do with the issues on ground but escalating tension and hatred among Nigerians.
    The predicament that had bedeviled the forum due to recent unwelcome division and acrimony being generated as a result of unguided utterances, intolerance and lack of cohesion will create a lot of problem for the survival of unity of this great region and its people.

    “We condemn the recent utterances of Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom over his verbal attacks and gutter language on his Bauchi State counterpart, Sen Bala Mohammed. We consider that unnecessary, provocative, callous, disheartening and irresponsible statement capable of heightening another tension that can aggravate insecurity, political tension and misunderstanding within the region.

    “Governor Ortom is becoming a more danger to the peace and political unity of the north. Its better as a leader to be managing his words whenever he speaks rather than putting millions of people into disrepute and danger because of that reckless statement”, it stated.

  • ACF warns against Attacks on Fulani in South-West

    ACF warns against Attacks on Fulani in South-West

    -Say’s it may trigger civil war if …
    By Gabriel Udeh, Kaduna

    Northern Nigeria, The northern socio cultural organization, Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), is asking Governors of the South Western Stats and the Federal Government of Nigeria to stop the alleged ongoing attacks on Fulani communities in the region, warning that the attacks may lead to counterattacks in the North and even a repeat of the 1967 civil war, if not immediately stopped, 

    In a statement issued on Saturday in Kaduna, titled; ‘Stop the drift in the southwest’, ACF noted that the civil war in the 60’s started with attacks and counter-attacks akin to what is happening presently in the southwest.

    ACF statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Emmanuel Yawe, however, said that those who carried out the attacks on the Fulani communities, including Sunday Igboho, who allegedly issued a quit notice to the Fulani in Oyo, must be apprehended and be made to face the full wrath of the law.

    According to the body, the Federal and State Governments in the South West must move quickly to avert a social upheaval that may destabilize the whole country.

    It read that, “The Arewa Consultative Forum this morning received reports of an attack by Yoruba Youths on Alhaji Saliu Abdulkadir, the Serki Fulani in Oyo State.

    “In the reports, he was attacked and driven out of his house, eleven cars and his house burnt with his family members now living in the bush.

    “There are allegations that one Sunday Igboho an agitator for the Oodua Republic and who issued an ultimatum giving Fulani people seven days to leave Yorubaland is the instigator of the attack.

    “The most disturbing aspect of the attack is the allegation that the security agents who were earlier warned about its imminence stood by helplessly as the attack was carried out.

    “The ACF is worried about this trend and calls on the Federal and State Governments in the South West to move quickly to avert a social upheaval that may destabilize the whole country”, they stated

    It added that “We  recall that the civil war in the 60’s started with attacks and counter-attacks like this.

    “The governments must be proactive and stop history from repeating itself.

    “Those who carried out these attacks must be apprehended and the due process of the law allowed to take its course.

    “If this is not done there maybe counter attacks in the north and the country will be up in flames. The authorities must act. The ACF is very worried and calls on them to act fast,” ACF stated.