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Protests Against OAU VC’s Appointment Within Legitimate Right – Ooni

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The  Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, has cautioned indigenes and residents of the town protesting against the appointment of a non-native as the vice-chancellor of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife.

The monarch also assured workers and students of the institution of the safety of lives and property.

The Ooni, in a statement by his Director of Media and Public Affairs, Moses Olafare, on Wednesday, promised the protesters that their agitation would be given adequate attention, saying protests were legitimate rights and a way to pass messages of dissatisfaction across to relevant authorities.

The statement read in part, “Over the years, the good people of Ife have been a superb host to the university even as they enroll their children and equally join qualified hands to work in the OAU, a citadel of learning.

“The Ife community is proud to have partnered and still partnering with the institution through the House of Oduduwa on viable programs and projects capable of projecting Ile-Ife to the outside world as an ancient city ready for progress and development.

“While Oba Ogunwusi has rallied major stakeholders to address the issue at hand, the Kabiyesi appeals for calm, calling on all law-abiding citizens to go about their normal businesses without fear. The good relationship between the town and the gown remains as strong as ever, particularly to the benefit of the younger ones in and outside the university. OAU is Ife, Ife is OAU and we shall continue to cohabit in peace for progress.”

Traditionalists demand prosecution of hoodlums for invading OAU with masqueraders

Also, the leadership of the Traditional Religion Worshippers Association, Osun State, on Wednesday, demanded the arrest and prosecution of the traditionalists, who protested at OAU.

Some traditionalists had staged protests on the campus of the university on Monday and Tuesday during which they grounded activities in the institution by invading the ivory tower with Osun adherents and masqueraders.

But the TRWASO, in a statement signed by its Secretary, Chief Ifasola Onifade, called on security agencies to investigate and uncover those who dressed like traditionalists during the protest.

The association said although those that staged the protest had rights to express their feelings, it added that TRWASO considered it strange that sacred costumes, paraphernalia, and other items synonymous with traditional religion adherents were adorned by the protesters.

Insisting that the protesters were not members of the TRAWSO either in Ile-Ife or other branches near the community, the association dissociated its members from the protest, saying the cause of the action had nothing to do with traditionalists.

The statement read in part, “After thorough checks, we discovered that the protesters were neither members of the TRAWSO in our Ile-Ife branch, nor belong to our other branches around the Ile-Ife community.

“As respected members of traditional institutions, we were not involved in the running of the affairs of the OAU, neither were we involved in the processes that led to the appointment of the new vice-chancellor for the university, hence, we have no justifiable reason to protest the appointment of the VC of a federal university for that matter.

“We call on security agents to investigate and uncover those who dressed like traditionalists and invaded the OAU and prosecute those found wanting. Our members were not involved in the protest. The activities of those involved are self-serving and shameful. The worrisome aspect is the fact that the protesters portray us in a bad light as fetish and uncivilized, and we warn against the use of our items by people that are not known to us.

“Those that are involved should be warned seriously as our members will not take kindly to the repeat of such a show of shame, which may attract stronger reaction, or even litigation from our end to protect our integrity. We also advise whoever wants to express their displeasure through protests to take proper channel and desist from conducts capable of destroying the integrity and honor of others.”

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How I Killed My Sugar Mummy Over N100,000 — Murder Suspect, Akpoveta School

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The suspect arrested in connection with the murder of a lady, Glory Akpaku, in Delta State, Akpoveta School, has narrated how he allegedly killed the victim by stabbing her multiple times.

According to an interrogation video shared on X (formerly known as Twitter) by the Delta State Police Public Relations Officer, Bright Edafe, on Monday, the suspect disclosed that the victim was his sugar mummy before her demise.

It was gathered from the video that things went south between Akpoveta and the late Akpaku over the sum of N100,000 he allegedly kept with the deceased for safekeeping, but which the deceased allegedly refused to give him when he needed the money.

The suspect claimed that he had gone to Akpaku to demand the money but, instead of receiving it, she insisted that she would give it to him after returning from the market.

The suspect narrated further that he threatened the victim to report their relationship to her son, but the victim threatened back that if he did so, she would not give him the money in her custody.

He added that the threat from his alleged lover infuriated him, which led him to stab her with a knife in the neck, hand, and stomach.

Akpoveta narrated in pidgin English (now translated), “She asked me to save some money with her and that she would return the money to me later. But when I needed the money, she refused to give it to me. Rather, she became angry.

“She asked me to escort her to the market, and I thought she would give me the money, but she insisted that she would give it to me after she returned from the market.

“I told her that I would tell her child, and she said if I told the child, she would not return my money. While she was going in front, I took a knife that I had with me and stabbed her in the neck, hand, and stomach.”

The suspect stated further that he regretted his action but blamed the devil for it.

Reacting to the confession, Edafe urged members of the public to learn from it.

The PPRO wrote, “I share stories like this so we can learn from the mistakes of others. So this suspect allegedly murdered his sugar mummy over her failure to give him back the money she was helping him save. When asked why he did it, he said, ‘NA DEVIL WORK’.”

Meanwhile, giving further updates on the incident, the PPRO noted that the incident happened in April and the suspect would be charged in court upon the conclusion of the ongoing investigation.

“The incident happened in April. He will be charged in court as soon as the investigation is concluded,” Edafe concluded.

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Kaduna Assembly Probes ‘Multi-Million Dollar Loans’, Projects Under Former Governor el-Rufai

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The committee set up to probe the finances of Kaduna under the administration of Nasir el-Rufai, the immediate former governor of the state, has commenced an investigation.

The committee, which is made up of 13 members, was set up by the Kaduna assembly in April.

The panel is tasked with looking at loans, grants, and project implementation from 2015 to 2023, the period when el-Rufai was governor of the state.

Suraj Bamalli, the media aide to Yusuf Liman, speaker of the Kaduna assembly, announced the development in a statement on Tuesday.

“The adhoc committee set up to conduct a comprehensive fact-finding into financial dealings, the status of executed contracts, loans, grants, and project implementation from 2015-2023 has commenced its clarification session,” the statement reads.

“The committee has engaged in detailed discussions with several key present and past government officials, including former Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce, Honorable Manzo Maigari; Former KADPPA Boss and Commissioner of Budget and Planning, Honorable Thomas Gyang, Commissioner and Administrator of Zaria Metropolitan Authority, Hajia Balaraba Aliyu, amongst others.

“The Kaduna State House of Assembly appreciates the cooperation and contributions of all individuals involved in this process and assures the public of their dedication to upholding the highest standards of governance during this process.”

On March 30, Uba Sani, governor of Kaduna, said his administration inherited a debt of $587 million, N85 billion, and 115 contractual liabilities from el-Rufai’s administration.

The Kaduna governor said the huge debt burden is eating deep into the state’s share of the monthly federation allocation.

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Rivers APC Asks Assembly To Resume Impeachment Proceedings Against Governor Fubara

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The All Progressives Congress (APC) caretaker committee in Rivers has requested that the governor, Siminalayi Fubara, be removed from office by the state parliament.

After President Bola Tinubu voiced his opinion regarding a dispute between the governor and Nyesom Wike, the minister of the federal capital territory (FCT), the house of assembly dropped their notice to impeach Fubara in December.

The two men have been at odds over who controls Rivers’ political system.

Addressing a press conference in Port Harcourt on Tuesday, Tony Okocha, chair of the APC in the state, accused the governor of “insulting” Tinubu.

“It’ll be foolhardy for us to sit down and see someone way less than Mr President insult him under our very nose,” he said.

“It is also an absurdity to see the governor espouse impunity and intimidation on people who are members of our political party, and we stand akimbo doing nothing.

“As representatives of Mr President we won’t sit here and see the governor insult the President. We won’t sit here to see the governor declare on his own as if he’s a court to declare Assembly members’ seats vacant.

“To that extent, in consultation with my party, we are directing APC members who are in the Assembly to immediately commence the impeachment of Governor Sim Fubara.

“And if they don’t do that, there’s what they call party discipline, and we shall invoke that section of the constitution and deal decisively with them.”

On Monday, Fubara expressed dismay over the attitude of the assembly members to his administration, adding that the lawmakers only exist because of him.

The governor added that he accepted the peace deal offered by Tinubu because it was a political solution to the rift.

In December, 27 Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) legislators in the Rivers assembly defected to the APC.  The seats of 25 of the lawmakers were subsequently declared vacant.

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