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The Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Adetunji, on Monday stormed major markets and roads across Ibadan metropolis, claiming that he remains the only monarch in the ancient town.

The road show by the Olubadan on Monday follows the installation of 21 other obas for Ibadanland by the Oyo State Governor, Abiola Ajimobi.

The family heads in Ibadanland, otherwise known as Mogajis, also paid solidarity visits to Oba Adetunji.

The monarch, who personally received all the visitors, said during the road show that he would not surrender his sovereignty to any other Oba.

The show, which took-off at the Popoyemoja palace of the Olubadan, witnessed visits to Oja’ba, Beere, Oje, Agodi Gate, Agbeni, Ogunpa, Dugbe and Molete among other places.

Shortly after returning to the palace, the Olubadan, through his Director of Media, Adeola Oloko, advised the Oyo State Government not to paint him with the tar brush of petty partisan politics as he is a monarch and not a politician.

He said: “As a monarch, I’m a father of all, irrespective of sex, ethnic and ideological persuasions.”

Reacting to Ajimobi’s remarks at the coronation of the 21 kings on Sunday, Oba Adetunji stated that the person or group who would use the royal stool of Olubadan for selfish political reason has not been born.

He said: “Since Friday, March 4, 2016 when I ascended the exalted throne of Olubadan, I have opened the gate of our palace wide to all manner of people.

“If you belong to All Progressives Congress, Peoples Democratic Party, Labour, Accord and/or more, you are most welcome.

“So, politics has nothing to do with my resistance or opposition to the chieftaincy review spearheaded by the Oyo State Government.”

Adetunji also described as unfortunate the comment by the Governor that recent utterances from the palace are tending towards the political, adding if Ajimobi has any demonstrable evidence of such, he should kindly provide it.

According to him: “There is no press statement issued from the Olubadan Media Office which did not enjoy my blessing before it was made public.

“While I am aware that people react to age differently, I am not old enough to be misinterpreted by anybody, even at 89.

“Governor Ajimobi stated that he invited us to the Governor’s Office over this matter and visited me in the palace later.

“While this is true, I wish to respectfully state that the Boade Panel was inaugurated on May 19, 2017, His Excellency, Governor Ajimobi invited me to the Governor’s Office on Wednesday, June 14, 2017 after the panel had sat for four weeks.

“At that meeting, His Excellency, the Oyo State Governor, the High Chiefs and State House Correspondents would recall my opposition to the chieftaincy review.

“My question is: did anybody put words in my mouth in that recorded tape?

“When he invited me to his office and visited me in the palace on Sunday, June 18, 2017, the Boade Panel was almost through with its job.

“When we met at the inner chamber, what the State Governor came to tell me was that he knew I should have been consulted first.

“So, it is not true that I was consulted as claimed by him.

“If I had been consulted, this error would have been avoided.

“The desecration of the crown would have been averted.”

Oba Adetunji, who congratulated all Ibadan people for keeping the peace despite the brazen abuse of Ibadan custom and tradition, stated that these times would pass.

Adetunji commended all his brother-monarchs for their solidarity and cooperation, saying his opposition to the mass coronation exercise is to prevent break down of law and order, complication and dire consequences in Ibadan chieftaincy system.

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Inside Jigawa: One Dead, Groom Hospitalised As Bride Allegedly Poisons Wedding Guests

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A wedding in Jigawa State has turned tragic after a bride allegedly poisoned food served at the reception.

The incident reportedly left the groom critically ill and one of the wedding guests dead.

The incident occurred in the Jahun Local Government Area of the state.

Eyewitnesses suggested that the bride’s actions may have been driven by a personal vendetta.

Speaking on Friday, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Shi’isu Adam, confirmed the incident and stated that an investigation was underway.

“We received a report that the bride had tainted the food served at the wedding reception, leaving the groom critically ill.

“Police have arrested two suspects in connection with the alleged food poisoning incident that occurred during a wedding ceremony in the state,” Adam said.

He revealed that the two suspects are the bride and another female, adding that they are in custody and being interrogated by the Criminal Investigation Department of the command.

The police spokesperson added, “We will do everything in our power to ensure that justice is served.”

According to the police spokesman, all the wedding attendants who consumed the poisoned food have been discharged from the hospital, except for the one person who was confirmed dead.

“The command is currently investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident, and we will provide more details as soon as possible.

“For now, we can confirm that the incident occurred, and we are working tirelessly to unravel the facts. We urge the public to remain calm and assured that justice will be served,” he concluded.

The identities of the deceased, the groom, and other victims have not been disclosed by the authorities.

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Peter Obi Hellbent On Inciting Nigerians Against President Tinubu, He’s A Doomsayer — APC

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The All Progressives Congress (APC) has described Peter Obi’s New Year message as “misleading and an attempt to score cheap political points.”

Obi, who was the presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 elections, used his New Year message to criticize President Bola Tinubu, expressing grave concerns over institutional corruption, mismanagement, poverty, hardship, and an escalating debt profile.

The former governor of Anambra stated that corruption has been deeply entrenched in government and nepotism has become the norm under Tinubu’s leadership.

He also demanded “vigorous, positive actions” from the administration to bring succour to Nigerians.

However, in a counter-statement on Thursday, Felix Morka, APC spokesperson, stated that Obi’s assessment contradicted all indicators showing that the nation’s economy is rebounding across various sectors.

Morka accused Obi and members of the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of relentlessly trying to incite public outrage against the Tinubu administration.

The APC further accused Obi of portraying himself as “a leading doomsayer, omniscient and philosopher’s stone” while failing to deliver “meaningful achievements during his eight-year tenure as governor in Anambra state.”

“In reality, 18 months later, the economy, under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration has shown a steady record of progress,” the statement reads.

“Despite these and other initial beneficial outcomes of ongoing reforms, the administration is doubling its effort to ensure their fullest benefits for the transformation of our country.

“It is a thing of irony that Obi, who now arrogates to himself to be omniscient and philosopher’s stone, when it comes to our nation’s challenges, left no record of significant achievement, let alone transformation of any kind, in his eight-year tenure as Governor of Anambra State.”

“Like his co-travellers in the PDP, Obi’s obsessive pessimism and endless but futile effort to incite public outrage against the administration is borne out of the realization that Tinubu is unwittingly cementing their political irrelevance by his visionary and full-throttle reform.”

“Under the banner of the Renewed Hope Agenda, President Tinubu is dutifully turning our nation’s fortunes around. We urge Nigerians to remain confident of better days ahead.”

The ruling party added that Tinubu’s goal is to reduce inflation from 34 percent to 15 percent in 2025.

“With the vigour in the administration’s war on corruption, evidenced by ongoing investigations and trial of well-heeled Nigerians, Obi’s pontification on the urgent need to tame corruption is a clear case of carrying coal to Newcastle,” the party added.

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BIG STORY

Five Arrested As Police Bust Female-Led ‘Phone-snatching Syndicate’ In Kano

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The Kano state police command has announced the arrest of members of a female-led phone-snatching syndicate operating within the Kano metropolis.

In a statement released on Thursday by Haruna Kiyawa, the police spokesperson in Kano, five members of the group, including its leader, 19-year-old Shamsiyya Adamu, were apprehended.

Kiyawa stated that Adamu was arrested on December 21, 2024, following reports of stolen mobile phones in Unguwa Uku Quarters, Kano.

He named the other suspects as “23-year-old Idris Yusuf, a tricycle rider who aided in transporting the principal suspect to commit crimes; Al’asan Dahiru, 24, who specialised in disposing of stolen items for the principal suspect; Abdulmajid Haruna, 27, who was buying stolen properties; and Salim Auwalu, 21, who was in charge of swindling money from victims’ bank accounts.”

“In the year 2024, the Kano State Police Command received numerous reports from residents of Kano Metropolis about a young lady who steals mobile phones from residential houses,” the statement reads.

“The reports indicated that the suspect was using a tricyclist and a cybercriminal to aid in her operations. The State Commissioner of Police, CP Salman Dogo Garba, raised a special intervention squad, and the principal suspect was arrested on December 21, 2024.

“The syndicate, led by Shamsiyya, specialised in stealing mobile phones from residential houses, using a tricyclist and a cybercriminal to aid in their operations. The suspects would deceive housewives, steal their mobile phones, and swindle money from their victims’ bank accounts.”

“Six mobile phones have been recovered so far, and efforts are ongoing to recover more stolen phones. Thirty complainants, including 29 females and 1 male, have lodged complaints against Shamsiyya, who confessed to stealing their mobile phones on various occasions in 2024.

“Anyone with a complaint against the suspects can contact the investigation team at 08032617800.”

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