Ekiti govt engages Muslim leaders after Mosque demolition tension

The Ekiti government has engaged in peace talks with Muslim leaders under the aegis of the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (SCIA) in a bid to ease tensions following the demolition of a mosque in Aramoko LGA in the state.

Deputy Governor Monisade Afuye, who met with the religious leaders, assured them that the administration of Governor Biodun Oyebanji remains committed to religious harmony and peaceful coexistence.

The mosque in question was allegedly demolished to pave the way for an ultra-modern market, a constituency project of Senate Leader and Ekiti Central Senator, Opeyemi Bamidele.

Speaking during the meeting, Afuye stated that the Alara-in-Council, led by the Alara of Aramoko Ekiti, Oba Olu Adeyemi, had already allocated another plot of land for the rebuilding of the mosque.

She urged the Muslim community to remain calm and assured them of the government’s commitment to justice.

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“I am even happy that the Alara of Aramoko Ekiti is a Muslim leader. He can’t be in a place where you will be cheated,” Afuye said.

“We will convene a stakeholders’ meeting soon to ensure a peaceful resolution.”

The Deputy Governor added that the Senate Leader’s project was intended to develop the town in a way that benefits all residents, including Muslims, and that the provision of a new plot for the mosque shows the community’s respect for Islamic worshippers.

In response, SCIA President, Dr. Hameed Bakare, commended the government’s swift intervention and expressed hope for a timely and amicable resolution.

“We want this matter resolved quickly. We believe Governor Oyebanji will not allow it to fester,” he said.

Chief Imam of Aramoko Ekiti, Alhaji Abdul-Raheem Bamigbola, raised concern that two mosques had been demolished in the community within six months for development projects, with little effort made to rebuild them.

He stated that while the Muslim community supports development, their place of worship must be restored at a suitable location.

“We appreciate Senator Bamidele’s developmental strides, but he must fulfill his promise to build another mosque for us,” the Imam said.

Ekiti govt engages Muslim leaders after Mosque demolition tension

Kemi Olunloyo angry, disowns family after father’s death

Controversial media personality, Kemi Olunloyo, has officially distanced herself from the Olunloyo family following the death of her father, former Oyo State Governor and renowned Mathematician, Dr. Victor Omololu Olunloyo.

The ex-governor passed away on Sunday, April 6, at the age of 89.

In a series of posts and videos on her Facebook and TikTok pages, Kemi Olunloyo declared her separation from the family and rejected any condolences offered in the wake of her father’s death.

“I am uploading video statements on my father’s death on TikTok. I am not part of the Olunloyo family anymore and told you that in 2024 that I will never return to Nigeria even if my parents died,” she said.

She added, “I am not accepting anybody’s condolences because I am not condoling with anybody.”

While she stated that she had forgiven her father, she painted a stark contrast between the man the public knew and the man she experienced at home.

“You don’t know what’s going on in my family, and I don’t know what’s going on in your family.

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“My father, Victor Omololu Olunloyo, is two different people. He was one person to the world; he was another person to the family. My father destroyed our family unit; my father tortured us as kids. He tortured us emotionally and physically. My father ruined the family unit.

“My father marketed me as his favourite daughter and child to the world; he also marketed himself to me as that. But I was far from being his favourite. My father used me for a lot of things. My father did a lot to all of us. When I said he used me, he took advantage of my own positive energies.”

Olunloyo also alleged that her father was deeply involved in occult practices before later turning to Christianity.

“My father was into ‘juju’ heavily. My father was into occult practices and I called my father out on his 80th birthday. After I called him out, he went to Pastor E.A. Adeboye that he wanted to become born-again, and he did.”

She further revealed that a long-standing family conflict stemmed from her father’s relationship with Aderonke Omololu Olunloyo, formerly known as Ronke Sonaike, whom he met during his 1983 governorship campaign and later married. According to her, the union deeply affected her mother.

“My mother married an intellectual, a man who got his Ph.D at 26 years old. And he turned into a polygamist. Not that polygamists are not good, but the way it happened to my family,” she said.

As of the time of this report, neither the Olunloyo family nor representatives of the late former governor have publicly responded to her allegations.

Kemi Olunloyo angry, disowns family after father’s death

Amnesty Int’l slams NBC over ban of Eedris Abdulkareem’s song

Amnesty International Nigeria has condemned the National Broadcasting Commission’s (NBC) decision to ban the broadcast of Eedris Abdulkareem’s song “Tell Your Papa”, describing it as a violation of free expression and the right to information.

Amnesty International stated on its official Facebook page that the ban, which labelled the song as “Not To Be Broadcast” due to its critical tone towards the government, is an abuse of power.

The organisation urged President Bola Tinubu to immediately ask NBC to lift the restriction, underlining that the song’s criticism of those in authority does not justify suppression.

Amnesty International stated that the Nigerian people have the right to free expression and that there is no legal basis for preventing the song from being broadcast on radio and television.

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The organisation also attacked NBC’s use of the Nigerian Broadcasting Code, which they described as profoundly problematic, as the foundation for the suspension.

Amnesty International stated that such measures indicate a growing intolerance of dissenting voices in Nigeria.

The statement further stated that the prohibition is incompatible with the ability to access information and media freedom. It urged for the immediate abolition of NBC’s stringent censorship restrictions, which have been utilised to restrict freedom of expression in the country.

Amnesty International cautioned that the arbitrary character of the ban will have a chilling effect on media outlets, potentially silencing artists and suppressing creativity.

Amnesty International also stated that the restriction violates Nigeria’s international commitments under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, which safeguard freedom of expression.

The association encouraged Tinubu’s administration to act quickly and revoke the ban in order to prevent reinforcing censorship and instilling fear and repression.

Amnesty Int’l slams NBC over ban of Eedris Abdulkareem’s song