NAIJA TODAY NEWS ..... Relaying the latest

The candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Smart Adeyemi, has won the Kogi West senatorial district election. The Returning Officer of the election, Professor Olajide Lawal, announced this on Saturday at the collation centre in Kogi State.   According to him, Senator Adeyemi polled a total of 88,373 votes to beat Senator Dino Melaye of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who scored 62,133 votes.   Ambassador Rufus Aiyenigba of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) came third in the poll with 659 votes and was trailed by John Olabode and Adeyemi Taiwo of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and Nigeria Elements Progressive Party (NEPP who) garnered 262 and 119 votes respectively.   The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared the APC candidate as the winner of the keenly contested election two weeks after the people of the senatorial district went to the poll.

Comrade Olalere Benedict Adetunji  ( A. K. A Otunba), a student of Federal Cooperative College, Eleyele, Ibadan won the National Association Of Polytechnic Students Election( NAPS) National President, Edo State Unity Convention which takes place at IMAGERO College, Benin City, Opposite Edo State Library, Edo State. In an interview, after the convention, comrade Olalere Benedict speaks with a news man of EarlylifeMirror Aremu Ibraheem that, the record has been set because this is the first time Naps Convention was conducted on campus, a unified regime. Congratulations to all students of Oyo State and south western part of Nigeria at large.  Update shortly.... 

Governments and other stakeholders in the society have been urged to invest more on education, as it remained the only way to end entrenched poverty in any society. Oyo State Governor, Engineer Seyi Makinde, who made the call while speaking at the 8th Convocation ceremony of Wesley University, Ondo, said that education remains the surest way of breaking the chains of poverty. The Governor, who was represented by his Executive Assistant (Administration), Revd. Idowu Ogedengbe, said that investing in education would lead to accelerated development. Makinde was the special guest of honour at the 8th Convocation Ceremony of the Wesley University, where he spoke on the topic “investing in education for accelerated development.” A statement signed by the Special Assistant (Print Media) to the Governor, Moses Alao, quoted him as saying that it has become imperative to invest more on education, because it is essential in the development of a skilled workforce for the futur...

The Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes(CCII), in Ibadan, Oyo State has on behalf of Ibadan people worldwide lauded the senator representing Ibadan South Senatorial District at the Upper Chamber, National Assembly, Senator(Dr) Kola Balogun over the sponsorship of the motion, "The Need to Upgrade The Ibadan Domestic Airport to International Level". In a Letter of Appreciation to Senator Kola Balogun which was issued and signed by the trio of Chief Yemi Soladoye, Akogun Segun Obe and Bale Bolaji Adeleke who are President General, Secretary General and Chairman Public Relations & Democracy Dividends Committee respectively lauded Balogun for taking a giant stride at this material time. In their appreciation, " it is noted with joy and admiration that this motion, coming after thirty-six years of Ibadan living with a domestic airport, when finally passed will provide enormous opportunities for Ibadanland,Oyo State, The South-west and Nigeria a whole based on the...

The Peoples Democratic Party's(PDP) youths in Kajola Local Government Area of Oyo have enjoined Governor Seyi Makinde to carry the  party leaders along in the scheme of things. In a release made available to Naija TODAY News by their Secretary, Comrade Haadi Adebayo enjoined the governor to carry the party leaders along in the scheme of things so as to ensure that square pegs are found in the square holes. While justifying the reasons for carrying the leaders along, Adebayo said the importance of party leaders in building and sustaining the party could not be over emphasised, adding that leaders and most especially the ones at local levels were the ones who know who are loyal, committed and dedicated for party's progress. He also said that the leaders had the good and unquestionable records of people who worked under the sun,rain and as well turn themselves to vigilante during mid-nights of days preceding the just concluded general elections. Adebayo said that...

The First Lady, Hajiya Aisha Buhari, has alerted that things are getting out of hand in the country, noting that her husband alone cannot handle the challenges of the nation and admonished the political class to work together to bail the country of out of the challenges. She also berated state governors for failing to provide basic social amenities and infrastructure. She spoke yesterday at the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) General Assembly and National Executive Council (NEC) meeting at the National Mosque Abuja, with the theme; “Islam and National Development”. Mrs. Buhari said; “We should either fasten our seatbelts and do the needful or we will all regret it very soon because, at the rate things are going, things are getting completely out of hand.

The Senate has said it is not possible for it to initiate a bill that prescribes the death penalty for looters. The red chamber, however, pledged to support any executive or private member bill that would criminalise acts of corruption. The spokesperson for the Senate, Godiya Akwashiki, stated this in an interview with one of our correspondents on Thursday. He spoke against a backdrop of some Nigerians and groups calling for a bill that prescribes the death penalty for treasury looters instead of the lawmakers devoting time to social media and hate speech bills. Akwashiki explained that it was impossible for the Senate President to direct any senator to produce any particular bills, including one that prescribes the death penalty for looters. “It is not possible for the Senate President to direct any senator to go and produce a particular type of bill. All of us are elected to represent our constituency from various parts of the country,” he said. The Senat...

Oyo state government has affirmed that election would not be hold in the Local Council Development Area of the state but appointment might be made into this areas. The statement was made by the Oyo state Chief of staff, Bisi ilaka, while addressing journalist at the state government secretariat, agodi, ibadan Bisi ilaka noted that in the previous administration it was said that election was held but it was held in those areas that was not known to the Constitution of Nigeria.  He further acknowledge that the present administration in the state led by Engr. Seyi makinde is ready to carry everybody along and want it to be all inclusive, to clear any insinuations of imposing anybody on them. Recall that the Governor Makinde had upon taking his oath of office sacked the elected council bosses in an election conducted by the immediate past administration of Governor Abiola Ajimobi. The disclosure on the plans for the appointment of the caretaker council bosses was made by t...

Students of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso have appreciated the commitment of the Oyo State Government towards resolving the crisis rocking the University. They particularly commended the Governor, Engineer Seyi Makinde, for taking time off his busy schedule to visit the University on Tuesday, and his promise to release a grant of N500 million to the authorities of the University and the trade unions amid fresh threats to shut down the institution over unpaid salary arrears. The students, in a statement signed by their spokesman, Abiodun Oluwaseun aka Laurel, maintained that following Governor Seyi Makinde’s visit to the University last Tuesday and his promise to release the N500 million grant, the University “is set to resume, with staff members smiling again ahead of the festive period.” This is just as the students hailed the Governor for fulfilling his electioneering promise to increase the budgetary allocation until it matches the...

The Independent National Electoral Commission on Thursday, started the distribution of election materials to the affected areas in Kogi State ahead of tomorrow’s Kogi West supplementary and Ajaokuta Federal Constituency rerun. Eyewitnessreporters gathered that the materials, which were stored at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in Lokoja, the state capital, were delivered in the presence of INEC officials. They included the National Commissioner for Kogi, Kwara and Nasarawa states, Mohammed Haruna; the state Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Prof. James Apam; representatives of concerned political parties, security agencies personnel and reporters. Haruna said the materials were for onward distribution to the affected areas in the supplementary poll in Kogi West and Ajaokuta Federal Constituency. “We are taking the materials for the 53 polling units in Kogi West Senatorial District and Ajaokuta Federal Constituency. “We are ready. All the materials are here, and we a...

Twenty-one years after he ascended the throne of his forebears, the Eleruwa of Eruwa, Oba Samuel Adegbola. The Supreme Court this morning sacked him. We recalls that an Oyo State High Court had on January 26, 2011 removed. But not satisfied, he appealed the judgement. The sacked monarch was installed the Eleruwa in 1998 by the Oyo State Government amidst protracted protests by members of the rightful ruling house after the last Eleruwa, the late Oba Bolanle Olaniyan, who is from the Akalako ruling house, passed on , on May 1, 1994. Although his nomination and selection by the kingmakers were challenged by the Laribikusi house, which argued that he was not a member of the ruling arm, but belonged to Akalako where the previous king emerged, the state government went ahead to inaugurate him, prompting the present action. Those who challenged the authenticity of Adegbola’s claims to the throne are Mr. James Olatunde Idowu and Alhaji Ajao. Joined in the suit besides Adegbol...

The chairman, Oyo state Road Maintenance Agency, Honourable Kamil Akinlabi has renewed government  commitment to Zero potholes on all state roads in Oyo and that plans  have been perfected to assist residents report failed portion of roads in the state for prompt repairs.  Honourable Kamil Akinlabi disclosed this while addressing newsmen in his office this Thursday, he declared that the agency remains undaunted by the loopholes created by the last administration as the administration of Engr Seyi Makinde is determined to March his words with actions. He further stressed that since the governor has decentralised the agency,zonal offices will now be created in cities like Oyo, Saki, Ogbomoso and Ibarapa. He added that this directive will bring massive infrastructure to the state in general.    Honourable Kamil Akinlabi however commended Governor Seyi Makinde for not abandoning some projects embarked upon by the out gone administration hence the ne...

President Muhammadu Buhari has written the Senate, seeking approval for the 2016-2018 $30billion External Borrowing Plan of the federal government rejected by the 8th Assembly under the leadership of Dr Bukola Saraki. The 8th Assembly turned down the request in 2016 stating that such borrowing is not sustainable and will deepen the country into more debt. However, on Thursday, the President re-presented the borrowing plan to the ninth Senate in a letter read by the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan during the plenary. In the request letter, Buhari informed the upper legislative chamber that the borrowed fund would be used to fund 39 emergency projects in the power, agriculture, road and mining sectors of the nation’s economy. The president was approved by the Federal Executive Council, FEC, in August, 2016 and was first sent to the Senate in November 2016 buy was rejected by the legislative house.

Oyo State Governor, Engineer Seyi Makinde, has pledged to rehabilitate the Awotan Dumpsite off Apete/Akufo Road to prevent environmental hazard in the area. The Governor made the pledge while speaking during a visit for an on-the-spot assessment of the site in Awotan, Apete, Ibadan, assuring the residents of the area and contractors at the dumpsite that all the identified challenges at the site will be addressed by the Government. A statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, quoted the Governor as saying that the Apete/Awotan axis would witness huge government presence in 2020 fiscal year. According to the Governor, the Apete/Akufo road will be fixed in 2020, as it has been captured in the 2020 Budget. He also said that the road would benefit from the planned uplift of the Akufo Farm Settlement, which government is about to transform to Farm Estate. According to him, the project would begin in the New Year. The Governor sa...

An Oyo State-based socio-political group, Oyo Kajola Group (OKG), has flayed the Senator representing Oyo Central Senatorial District, Senator Teslim Folarin for claiming in an address to his party loyalists that the All Progressives Congress (APC) has set two traps for the government of Oyo State, Engineer Seyi Makinde, which according to him it cannot escape. The OKG, in a statement by its Media Coordinator, Mr. Adebayo Ayandele, on Thursday, said that the statement credited to the Senator has exposed the evil intention of the APC, its members and that of the Senator in question.  “By that statement, we are left in no doubt that the APC has the sinister motive of seizing power at all cost through the Court, an intention which has no basis and will fail woefully,” the OKG said. The group maintained that whatever trap has been set to derail good governance, which the Makinde administration has been delivering in the state, would hit the rocks because the Governor w...

The General Officer Commanding 2 Division Nigerian Army,  Major General Anthony Bamidele Omozoje yesterday received the newly appointed Manager,  Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria,  Ibadan Airport Mrs Aiyenuro O. Oghenetega at the Headquarters 2 Division Nigerian Army Adekunle Fajuyi Cantonment Ibadan.

The 2 Division Nigerian Army host the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists Volleyball team and the 2 Division Tigress Volleyball Team at the Sport Complex, Adekunle Fajuyi Cantonment, Odogbo - Ibadan. In a statement released to Naija TODAY News by Deputy Director Army Public Relations 2 Division Nigerian Army, Col Hassan Ifijeh Mohammed stated that, "the novelty match will go a long way to enhance better working and inter-Agency collaboration between the two organisations. The development was not only admired by Officers and men of 2 Division but by the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists. The Chairman, Nigeria Union of Journalism, Comrade Adewumi Faniran was present at the occasion.  "It is hoped that the development will not only promote better understanding between the two organisations but go further to enhance better reportage for the Nigerian Army. "At the end of the competition the General Officer Commanding 2 Division Nigerian Ar...

Soecial adviser to Governor Seyi Makinde on political matters and strategy, Babatunde Oduyoye, has assured that the people who voted the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, massively, wont allow the mandate to be taken through the backdoor. Oduyoye, a two-term former house of representatives’ member, spoke in an interview with Sunday Tribune. According to him, the judgement of the court of appeal is straight forward. Hear him, “I am not a legal luminary. But from what I have read from experts who understand the rudiments of the legal system, then there is no confusion as people claim. As far as I am concerned, taking cognizance of the Electoral Act (as amended), and in view of the 180 days deadline for trial of election petition matters at the tribunal as well as the fact that the Court of Appeal has stated that after reevaluating the APC’s evidence, which it said the Tribunal did not give them fair hearing on, then the APC’s claim to victory is valueless and baseless. “...

Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, on Wednesday, presented the 2020 budget. He presented the budget with no tilled but tagged 2020 Budget Estimate on the floor of the Oyo State House of Assembly. The budget is worth N 208,802,972,878.00. Speaking after the presentation of the budget, the Oyo  Speaker, Rt. hon. Debo Ogundoyin said, the House would scrutinise the budget.

A former senate leader, Teslim Folarin, has assured members of the Oyo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC, that the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, cannot escape one of the two traps his party has set for them. We understands that the Supreme Court would anytime from now give judgement in the governorship appeal to be brought it by Adebayo Adelabu of the APC against the election of Seyi Makinde of PDP as governor. Folarin, who is a third term member of the Nigerian Senate, disclosed this while receiving defectors into the party in Lagelu local government area of his Oyo Central senatorial district. In a short video, trending on social media, Folarin said that “When they asked me to join those who went to Kogi for the governorship election, they said I have to join because Governor Seyi Makinde has said he would use the tactics he used to defeat us here to win Kogi for PDP. I told him it wasn’t Makinde who defeated us, God only answered his prayer.”...

…as Makinde assures of more comfort, assistance to traders   A group of Market Men and Women in Oyo State on Tuesday, assured Governor Seyi Makinde of their unflinching support in the wake of the ruling of the Court of Appeal on the election petition filed against him. The market men and women, led by Alhaja Hamdalat Iyadunni Lawal, announced during a solidarity rally for Governor Makinde that though they earlier supported the government of the All Progressives Congress (APC), they were now solidly behind the Makinde government. A statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, quoted the traders as commending the government for its good work in the state, noting that their businesses have benefitted positively from the prompt payment of salaries and other policies. The marketers enjoined Governor Makinde to continue to better the lives of the people of Oyo State through the provision of social amenities, just as they sol...

  The Mexican boxer who first defeated the British-Nigerian boxer in June, arrived at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh on Tuesday, November 26, for their rematch on December 7. When asked how he felt about the fight, Ruiz said: ‘It feels good. You know I made history in New York and I’ll make history again in Saudi Arabia.’ This comes after Ruiz Jr took a swipe at Joshua, claiming his decision to lose weight ahead of their rematch could be a mistake ‘I saw videos where he looked slimmer. I don’t know if that’s an advantage or a disadvantage, ‘ Ruiz Jr told Sky Sports. ‘I don’t know if he will take the punches as well as he did when he weighed more.’ Ruiz Jr who also lost some weight added: ‘Me? People are saying I lost too much weight, I won’t be strong, he will move me around. I am losing eight pounds from what I weighed on June 1. I’ll still be the same, I’ll still be strong.

The Pan-Yoruba Socio-Political Organisation, Afenifere, on Tuesday warned against any situation that could foist anarchy on Oyo State in respect of the ruling of the Court of Appeal on the Governorship election in Oyo State. Afenifere, in a communique made public after its meeting in Akure, Ondo state, condemned what it called “jurisprudential anarchy” daily unfolding in the country. The communique, signed by Afenifere’s National Publicity Secretary, Yinka Odumakin indicated that Afenifere at its meeting reviewed the ruling of the Court of Appeal on the Governorship election in Oyo state and resolved to warn against anarchy in a state that has history behind it. The communique read: “Meeting reviewed the recent ruling of the Appeal Court on Oyo Gubernatorial Polls and was at a loss as to the jurisprudential anarchy daily unfolding in our judicial system. “That one decision of court confused even the media for the next 48 hours is a challenge to our judiciary to alw...

Oyo State Governor, Engineer Seyi Makinde has announced the increment of the state’s education budget to 20 per cent in 2020. The Governor, who announced the decision while speaking at a consultative meeting with stakeholders at the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) Ogbomoso, said that in 2020, Oyo State would devote 20 per cent of its budget to education. A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Makinde, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, confirmed that the Governor told the gathering at LAUTECH that the state was jerking up its budget allocation to education to 20 per cent. Besides, the Governor also announced the approval of N500 million subvention to LAUTECH to address the demands of its workforce. He stated that the only condition his government would give the university was that stakeholders in the school must submit a written agreement to his office on how the funds would be disbursed. Governor Makinde is one of the two Visitors to the institution jointly...

In line with the promise of Engr Seyi Makinde shortly after taking oath of office as the Governor of Oyo state to domesticate the anti-graft agency and wage total war against corruption and financial impropriety, the Oyo state house of Assembly has passed the state anti-corruption  agency bill into law. The bilk was passed during Tuesday's plenary presided over by the Speaker, Hon Adebo Ogundoyin This followed the third reading Abd presentation of the report of the Committee on Public Account, Finance and Appropriation read by its Chairman, Hon Kehinde (Akinyele 2) Speaking on the eventual passage of the executive billinto law, the Speaker said the anti-cortuption agency was aimed at controlling and regulating finances as well as preventing corruption among not only among the political office holders but also among public servants and other residents of the state. Hon Ogundoyin said when fully operational, the anti-graft agency in the state will assist in attra...

From Left: Mr Ajala Muyiwa (West African Observer)  Hon. Ojemuyiwa Jacob Ojekunle(Hon. Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development  )Ms Lara Suleiman (Lead Consultant) and Mr. Muhammad Abdulhameed (Media Director) In a bid to reposition and enhance resilience of livelihood in  agricultural production in the state, Oyo state Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development under the leadership of Government Seyi Makinde has  partnered with an  agricultural based organisation GESA Portal by  empowering women and youths across the state. The Honorable Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Hon. Ojemuyiwa Jacob Ojekunle in company of the Actg. Permanent Secretary, Dr.Peter Adegunwa and  other top officials of the Ministry yesterday played host to an Agricultural based organization known as GESA Agricultural Portal in his office at the state secretariat, Ibadan at a coffee session where issues that bother specifically on wome...