Ahead of the state’s governorship election on September 21, 2024, a group running on the platform of the Obidient Movement has promised to support Senator Monday Okpebholo of the Edo State All Progressives Congress.

Due to his strong ties to the community, the group, which included members from the Edo South Senatorial District, announced their support for the APC candidate on Monday.

The Labour Party chapter in Edo State, however, denounced the endorsement of the APC candidate, stating that it was ludicrous for individuals identifying as Obidient Movement members to back candidates from other political parties.

The Obidient Movement, a youth movement which became famous during the build-up to the 2023 presidential election, was to coordinate and propagate the activities of the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Mr Peter Obi, for the election.

After the election, the party, under the leadership of Julius Abure, created the Obidient Directorate to cater to the yearnings of the members, but it was renamed after Obi’s rebuttal.

Obi had claimed that the Obidient Movement did not belong to any political party and should not be named as a directorate of any party.

Speaking during a meeting with Okpebholo, the Coordinator General of the Obidient Movement for Okpebholo, Ikhuenbor Igbinevbo, described the members of the movement as lovers of good governance, fairness and accountability.

He added, “We supported Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 election because we felt it was the turn of the Igbo.

“Right now in Edo, it is the turn of Esan and we need the most qualified to work for everybody, and not a stranger.”

Okpebholo, receiving the group, lauded the members for the support and pledged to repay the confidence reposed in him if voted to power.

He promised to surpass the achievements of Governor Godwin Obaseki in the first year of his administration.

“If they have done well, I would not have contested. I urged you to punish them with your votes because if you leave it for them, our unborn children will suffer,” he added.

Reacting, the Edo LP Publicity Secretary and Public Relations Officer, Sam Uruopa, said, “It is absurd to hear that Obidient Movement is supporting Okpebholo just the way some also said they were Obidient Movement for Asue Ighodalo.

“The Obidient Movement is synonymous with the Labour Party and integral members of the party.

“They have forgotten so soon how the party was denied the use of the Sam Ogbemudia Stadium before the presidential election. So, how can these people now declare support for Okpebholo or Ighodalo?

“For me, they have run out of ideas and do not know what they are doing at this point in time. They cannot be Obidient Movement and work against the party’s candidate, Olumide Akpata.”

The Arole Oduduwa & Ooni of Ife, Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, CFR Ojaja II, has unveiled the Equity Health Group; a pioneering healthcare conglomerate dedicated to transforming the landscape of healthcare delivery, with a mission to provide accessible, high-quality medical services globally, fostering wellness and medical excellence within communities. The facility which will be opened for public use on Monday, July 1st, 2024, will be launched officially by 15th and 16th July, 2024 in Lagos State.

Via this initiative, the Ooni wishes to establish that premium must be placed on humanity and life in particular by ensuring no patient will be denied qualitative healthcare due to financial constraints especially in time of emergencies.

This development is sequel to His Imperial Majesty’s involvement and immeasurable investment in Nigeria’s health sector since becoming the Arole Oduduwa, particularly as demonstrated when the COVID-19 pandemic disease broke out through the formation of a team of professionals and bringing together reputable medical research outfits, laboratories and other institutions to ensure that Nigerians are safe.

Addressing newsmen on the motivation for the healthcare conglomerate, the Ooni said, “the last pandemic drew my attention to a lot of untapped medical potentials of we black people especially here on the throne of Oduduwa, these stuffs (Herbs and its likes) are what saved us from experiencing major challenges faced by most developed countries when no one regardless of riches or status could travel to seek medical attention abroad.

“I had to constitute a team of scholars particularly in the medical profession and veterans in the business/practice of the ancient herbal and alternative medicine who brainstormed on exploiting the best in our local herbal medicine, and this led to the discovery of potent solution through which beneficial products with which we combated and defeated the pandemic were discovered. I must hail the collaboration with the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti, National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRID) and frontline medical research institutions in the country which brought us this far.

“I remember developing an initiative, called “Pan African Foundation for Indigenous Medical Research and Development (PAFIMERD)” in 2020 during the celebration of African Traditional Medicine Day. All these activities have now snowballed into Equity Health Group; an international hospital and diagnostic centre with a lot of interlinked arms of medical solution including drug manufacturing, pharmaceuticals and vaccine production among others. The best part of it is that this facility will source its ingredients locally, thereby strengthening the Naira while boosting the country’s productivity.

“Equity Health Group stands at the forefront of healthcare innovation, encompassing a diverse portfolio of subsidiaries. Through these subsidiaries, we endeavor to revolutionize healthcare delivery and promote well-being globally. At Equity Health Group, we believe in patient-centered care, innovation and integrity.

“Our watchword is to dignify human life by attending to all emergencies immediately regardless of the patient’s financial status. We will work to save lives first and not asking for papers or money from a dying patient.”

On his involvement, the Ooni revealed that, “to the glory of God, I co-own the company with a young visionary entrepreneur – Dozy Mmobuosi who has a very clear and similar vision to take the black race out of over dependence on the Western world for medicine. We combined efforts to make it a world-class medical institution and diagnostic centre.

“I am pleased to inform you that the company has three subsidiaries. The first is the Equity Specialist Hospital and Diagnostic Centre; a comprehensive hospital and diagnostic service that focuses on advanced medical technology and personalized care. Presently, it is situated in Lagos State with plans for expansion to other parts of the country and the United Kingdom. The second arm is the Equity Pharmaceuticals; a company that will leverage innovative technology to provide quality pharmaceutical products and services. The last but not the least is the Equity Vaccine Laboratories; an arm that focuses on research and development of vaccines for global health security. With this, we aim to pioneer vaccines to tackle pressing global health challenges and ensure a safer future for all.

“In actualizing the purpose of this outfit, we shall bring on board our higher institutions of learning particularly the medical arms of reputable universities including the Ojaja University, Eyenkorin, Ilorin, Kwara State which I own. This will cement the “town and gown” relationship, thereby enhancing the productivity of our graduates.”

Ooni Ogunwusi who is the Co-Chairman, National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria concluded that the advancement in health facilities in the country especially with the involvement of private sector like the Equity Health Group, will provide a convenient spot for Nigerians to abolish the culture of foreign medical tourism.

“Aside from the provision of unequaled medical services for Nigerians in line with best global practice, Equity Health Group is structured to actively participate in global medical research especially in the area of vaccine production/development to safeguard global health. As the giant of Africa, Nigeria should be at the forefront in vital global medical conversations like the development of vaccines against malaria disease upon which we cannot afford to be dependent on the Western world.

“While I am neither a medical doctor nor a pharmacist, I passionately believe that we have what it takes to change the narrative of over dependence on medical tourism to the developed countries. Beyond the area of research, Africa and indeed Nigeria can be a major powerbroker in the global pharmaceutical and medical industry.” The Ooni said.

Admiral Alison Madueke, a former Chief of Naval Staff, has filed a petition in the Lagos State High Court, seeking a legal declaration to end his marriage to Diezani and requesting that she stop using his last name.

He is requesting that the former Petroleum Resources Minister be ordered by the court to use her maiden name, Agama.

This was stated in Madueke’s petition for a declaration of the dissolution of a marriage (jactitation of marriage).

Given the charges of corruption against Diezani, the former Chief of Naval Staff contends that her continued use of his name, even after their marriage was declared officially over, is bad for his reputation and may result in unexpected repercussions, such as mistaken culpability.

Madueke was a military governor of the states of Imo and Anambra in the past.

On June 30, 1999, he wed Diezani in accordance with the Marriage Act.

The petitioner, Madueke, noted that Diezani had previously filed for divorce at the Nassarawa State High Court in Mararaba Gurku in November 2021, citing an irreconcilable breakdown of their marriage, seeking to end their union formally.

He said he did not oppose the suit, resulting in the court’s dissolution of the marriage, yet Diezani persists in using his surname, despite the formal termination of their marital union.

He stated, “On the 13th day of April 2022, judgment was delivered in Suit No. NSD/MG345/2021 by Hon. Justice A.A. Ozegya dissolving the marriage between the petitioner and the respondent on the ground that the marriage has broken down irretrievably.

“The said dissolution of marriage has now become absolute by the operation of law.

“Even though the marriage has been dissolved and is now legally finalised, the respondent continues to use the petitioner’s first name (Alison) and surname (Madueke) as her own without any justification or consent from the petitioner.

“It is now more than two-years that the respondent continues to use the name of the petitioner to his embarrassment.”

Madueke revealed that he directed his legal representatives to serve Diezani a formal request on December 14, 2023, demanding that she cease using his surname and revert to her maiden name, Agama.

However, despite this legal notice, Diezani has failed to respond and continues to use his name.

The petition further read, “The respondent has continued to hold out herself as the wife of the petitioner even when the marriage has been dissolved.

“The respondent is undergoing criminal trials in both Nigeria and the United Kingdom. The charge in Nigeria is Suit No. FUC/ABI/CR/208/2010.

“The respondent faces public allegations of corruption and financial misconduct, for which trials are ongoing for both.

“The persistent portrayal of the respondent as the spouse of the petitioner is creating embarrassment, a misleading impression and tarnishing the reputation, integrity, and public image of the petitioner.

“The respondent’s continued use of the petitioner’s first and surname falsely suggests to the public a continuing relationship between the parties though same has since legally ended.

“The respondent’s continued use of the petitioner’s first and family names poses a significant risk of legal and financial harm to the petitioner.

“The petitioner seeks the intervention of this Honourable Court to prevent the respondent from further using his first name and surname, thereby safeguarding his image, personality, and reputation.”

Madueke sought an order of perpetual injunction restraining Diezani from further using his names following the dissolution of their marriage.

He also prayed for a perpetual injunction restraining the respondent from further asserting, by words or conduct, the existence of marriage between them.

He is seeking a court order that compels Diezani to revert to her maiden name and to publicly announce in a national newspaper, both in Nigeria and the UK, that she has ceased using his surname.

Diezani has held several significant positions in the Nigerian government, including Minister of Transportation, Minister of Mines and Steel Development, and Minister of Petroleum Resources.

She was also the first female President of the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, elected in November 2014.

Diezani was accused by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission of embezzling $2.5bn from the Nigerian government during her tenure from 2010 to 2015 under President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration.

Corruption allegations have led to her arrest and legal proceedings in both Nigeria and the United Kingdom.