Raila Odinga, former Prime Minister of Kenya, has died in India after suffering cardiac arrest during a morning walk at an Ayurvedic hospital.

His family confirmed the incident to The Standard, a Kenyan newspaper, stating that Odinga had been undergoing treatment at the facility for “bacterial infections” and had been placed on bed rest before the tragedy occurred.

The 80-year-old politician reportedly collapsed on the hospital premises and was pronounced dead upon arrival at a medical facility nearby.

Odinga served as Kenya’s Prime Minister from 2008 to 2013 and was the leader of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), one of the country’s most prominent opposition parties.

Known for his outspoken stance on African governance, Odinga’s political influence extended beyond Kenya. In 2019, he cited Nigeria as an example of how “public officeholders amass wealth illegally,” a remark that sparked wide debate at the time.

He contested Kenya’s presidency five times without success, repeatedly alleging that his mandates had been stolen. Despite often clashing with ruling governments, Odinga had a pattern of reconciling with incumbent presidents following disputed elections.

After losing to President William Ruto in 2022, Odinga accepted an invitation to join a broad-based government, leading to the appointment of several of his allies to key positions.

Earlier this year, he was considered Kenya’s top candidate for the position of Chairperson of the African Union (AU) Commission. Former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo openly supported his candidacy, but Odinga eventually lost to Djibouti’s Mahmoud Ali Youssouf despite significant regional backing.

The politician also endured personal tragedy in 2015 when his eldest son, Fidel — named after former Cuban leader Fidel Castro — passed away.

Odinga is survived by his wife, Ida, and three children. President William Ruto is expected to address the nation on the passing of the former statesman.

The Lekki Automobile Dealers Union has expressed full support for the ongoing structure clearance exercise being carried out by the Lagos State Ministry of Environment and Water Resources along the Lekki–Ajah corridor.

In a statement issued over the weekend, the union—representing auto businesses in the fast-developing axis—acknowledged that the state government properly engaged stakeholders ahead of the demolition.

“We were duly notified well in advance and were given the grace period and necessary support to move our vehicles from the affected lots,” the statement read, countering claims that the exercise was abrupt.

The dealers commended officials supervising the operation, saying, “We extend our sincere appreciation to the Honourable Commissioner, Mr. Tokunbo Wahab, the Honourable Commissioner for Transportation, Mr. Oluwaseun Osiyemi and their team for their understanding, communication and coordination throughout this process.”

According to the statement, the clearance drive is a “vital and necessary measure” to safeguard lives and property by ensuring that drainage channels remain unobstructed and safety risks from high-tension cables are reduced.

In a strong response to critics, the union “categorically” distanced itself from what it described as “malicious and misinformed narratives about the ongoing exercise which have been released on some social media platforms.”

Reaffirming its support for the state’s environmental safety drive, the union described its members as “responsible citizens and partners in progress” working toward a cleaner and better-organized Lagos.

The statement ended with an appeal to customers for patience, assuring that operations would resume soon despite temporary disruptions caused by the exercise.

Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, has directed all newly sworn-in commissioners and special advisers to wear the Asiwaju cap to executive council meetings.

The distinctive cap bears the insignia of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, whose popular title “Asiwaju” means “forerunner” in Yoruba.

Okpebholo issued the directive on Tuesday during the inauguration of new commissioners and members of various state commissions at the New Festival Hall, Government House, Benin City.

The governor warned that failure to comply with the dress rule would attract sanctions, saying those who appear in traditional attire without the Asiwaju cap would not be allowed into meetings.

“If you are wearing a traditional dress and you come to the exco without an Asiwaju cap, you’re going back,” Okpebholo declared, drawing applause from attendees.

He credited President Tinubu for his victory in the November 2024 governorship election, describing the president’s support as pivotal to his emergence.

However, the governor’s comments have triggered a wave of backlash on social media, where many users described the order as an “excessive display of political allegiance.”

Critics argued that the move blurs the line between governance and party loyalty, while supporters defended it as a symbolic gesture of gratitude to the president.