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Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona, dies at 91, hours after Buhari’s demise
Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona, dies at 91, hours after Buhari’s demise
The paramount ruler of Ijebuland, Oba (Dr.) Sikiru Kayode Adetona, the Awujale and spiritual head of Ijebu people, has passed on at the age of 91.
The revered monarch, who reigned for over six decades, reportedly died on Sunday, July 13, 2025, just hours after the announcement of the death of his longtime friend and Nigeria’s former President, Muhammadu Buhari.
The late Awujale, who ascended the throne in 1960, was widely regarded as one of Nigeria’s most influential and longest-serving traditional rulers.
He was not only a monarch but a symbol of cultural pride, political wisdom, and royal integrity. His death marks the end of an era for the Ijebu kingdom and traditional rulership in Nigeria.
Though official confirmation from the Ogun State Government and the Awujale’s palace was yet to be made public at press time, multiple sources close to the royal family confirmed the monarch died peacefully at a private hospital in Lagos.
Oba Adetona, a close confidant of the late President Buhari, was known for his outspoken stance on governance, national unity, and ethics in leadership.
Their decades-long friendship was rooted in mutual respect and shared conservative values, both men often seen as moral voices within their spheres.
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Born on May 10, 1934, the late monarch was installed as the Awujale at just 26 years old. He would go on to transform Ijebuland into a beacon of peace, development, and cultural resilience. Under his reign, Ijebuland witnessed infrastructural growth, business expansion, and social harmony.
A first-class monarch with global recognition, Oba Adetona was instrumental in advocating constitutional roles for traditional rulers and was a strong voice during military regimes and democratic transitions.
In 2021, the Olabisi Onabanjo University renamed its School of Governance Studies in his honour—a testament to his commitment to leadership and education.
Meanwhile, tributes have started pouring in from political leaders, traditional institutions, and cultural groups across the country, describing the monarch as a rare gem and a father to many.
With the back-to-back passing of two elder statesmen—Oba Adetona and Muhammadu Buhari—within a single day, the nation enters a moment of sober reflection.
Details about burial arrangements are expected to be released by the Awujale’s Palace in Ijebu-Ode in due course.
Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona, dies at 91, hours after Buhari’s demise
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Orji Kalu Admits Selling Heavy Weapons to International Buyers
Senator representing Abia North, Orji Uzor Kalu, has disclosed that he previously operated an international arms business, selling heavy weapons to buyers in different countries, including anyone willing to pay for them.
The former Abia State governor made the revelation during an interview on Arise Television on Monday, November 9, 2026, while discussing his business history and relationships with former and current African leaders.
Asked directly whether he was an arms dealer, Kalu answered in the affirmative, explaining that dealing in weapons was once one of his major business activities outside Nigeria.
He, however, said he eventually abandoned the business after his parents intervened and insisted that he should stop.
“My major business used to be outside this country to deal in arms. I was an arms dealer,” he said.
According to Kalu, his decision to leave the business followed appeals from his mother and father.
“But my parents, my mother, my father came and said I must stop, and I stopped,” he added.
During the interview, the senator was asked whether he sold weapons to people who intended to use them to kill others.
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Kalu dismissed the suggestion, insisting that his primary motivation was to make money rather than concern himself with how buyers used the weapons.
“I was selling guns to make money, whether they blow up, it’s not my business,” he said.
He also denied that his arms business was exclusively linked to the African National Congress (ANC), which fought against apartheid in South Africa.
Rather, he said he was willing to sell to any buyer who had the financial capacity, regardless of the country involved.
“No, I was selling to anybody who wants to buy. If you have the money, you want to buy in D.R.C, I sell to you, you want to buy in Namibia, you want to buy…” he said.
When asked where he obtained the weapons, Kalu declined to provide details, describing the information as his private business.
The interviewer also questioned him about whether he supplied weapons to Libya during the leadership of its late ruler, Muammar Gaddafi.
Kalu responded that he sold to anybody who had the money to buy, adding that Gaddafi was a good man.
“May his soul rest in peace. He was a good man. If you have money to buy, when I was selling, I would sell to you,” he said.
The senator further sought to distinguish his former business from the proliferation of small arms in Nigeria, maintaining that he dealt in heavy weapons traded from one country to another.
“No, these are heavy arms that were sold country to country,” he explained.
His disclosure comes against the backdrop of persistent security challenges in Nigeria, including banditry, kidnapping, terrorism and the proliferation of illegal firearms.
The interview also touched on Kalu’s longstanding relationships with South African political leaders, which he traced to his friendship with the country’s late former president, Nelson Mandela.
He said Mandela introduced him to other South African leaders, including former President Thabo Mbeki and incumbent President Cyril Ramaphosa.
Kalu also discussed his relationship with former President Jacob Zuma, saying his connections with successive South African administrations developed through those political relationships.
Orji Kalu Admits Selling Heavy Weapons to International Buyers
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“Your Connections Won’t Save You,” Police Warn Traffic Offenders
“Your Connections Won’t Save You,” Police Warn Traffic Offenders
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has warned motorists that using their connections with senior police officers, government officials and other influential personalities will not save them from arrest and prosecution for traffic violations.
The Command specifically cautioned motorists against driving against traffic, popularly known as one-way, stressing that offenders would face the consequences of their actions regardless of their social status, position or connections.
The warning was contained in a statement issued on Monday, November 9, by the FCT Police Public Relations Officer, SP Josephine Adeh.
The police expressed concern over the increasing disregard for traffic regulations by motorists who deliberately drive against traffic, ignore road signs and bypass designated diversions in an attempt to avoid congestion.
According to the Command, the practice is particularly dangerous around road construction sites, diversion points and other locations where traffic movement has been temporarily or permanently restricted.
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It also warned motorists against contacting senior police officers, government officials or influential individuals to facilitate their release after being apprehended for traffic violations.
“No individual, regardless of status, position or connections, will be exempted from the consequences of violating traffic regulations,” the statement said.
Following the warning, the Commissioner of Police, FCT Command, CP Ahmed Muhammad Sanusi, directed the Command’s Motor Traffic Department (MOTOPOL) and all Divisional Traffic Officers to intensify enforcement operations in collaboration with the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and other relevant traffic management agencies.
Sanusi directed the officers to ensure the arrest and immediate prosecution of motorists caught driving against traffic or disobeying lawful traffic instructions.
However, the police commissioner also warned officers involved in the enforcement exercise against exploiting motorists through extortion.
He stressed that any officer found engaging in such misconduct would face disciplinary action in accordance with existing police rules and regulations.
The Command urged motorists to exercise patience, obey traffic signs and comply with instructions from authorised traffic officers.
It warned that the few minutes motorists might save through reckless driving were not worth the risk of losing lives or causing damage to property.
The police also appealed to residents to remain security-conscious and promptly report suspicious persons or activities to the nearest police station.
Residents can also contact the FCT Police Command through its emergency telephone numbers: 08032003913 and 08061581938.
“Your Connections Won’t Save You,” Police Warn Traffic Offenders
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Babcock Student Survives Suspected Suicide Attempt, Receives Treatment
A 400-level student of Babcock University, Ogun State, has survived a suspected suicide attempt at his hostel and is currently receiving medical attention, following an intervention by his roommates.
The incident, which occurred on November 8, 2026, attracted widespread attention after videos circulated on social media showing the student near a hostel window as his roommates struggled to restrain him and pull him away from the ledge.
The university management confirmed that the student was alive and receiving treatment, dismissing social media reports claiming that he had died.
According to the institution, both the affected student and one of his roommates sustained injuries during the incident. The roommate was treated and subsequently discharged, while the 400-level student remains under medical care at the Babcock University Teaching Hospital.
The university commended the roommates for their prompt intervention, noting that their actions helped prevent what could have been a tragic outcome.
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In a statement signed by its Associate Vice-President for Communication, Media and Branding, Dr Johnson Akintayo, the institution said it had commenced an investigation to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Although the incident has been widely described as a suspected suicide attempt, the university has not officially established the student’s motive or the factors that may have contributed to what happened.
Management also disclosed that the student’s parents had been contacted and were on campus to support him during his recovery.
Beyond medical treatment, the university said it would provide the student with appropriate support and guidance to aid his recovery and well-being.
Babcock urged members of the public and media organisations to avoid speculation and the circulation of unverified information, particularly claims about the student’s condition and the circumstances of the incident.
The institution also appealed for sensitivity in discussing the matter, stressing the need to respect the privacy of the student and his family.
The incident has renewed attention on student mental health, emotional well-being and the importance of providing accessible support systems within higher institutions.
The university reiterated its commitment to the safety and welfare of its students, adding that it would take appropriate steps based on the findings of its investigation.
Babcock Student Survives Suspected Suicide Attempt, Receives Treatment
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