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Agbekoya warns protesters to stay away from Lagos, South-West

Agbekoya warns protesters to stay away from Lagos, South-West
Agbekoya Parapo, a Yoruba socio-cultural and farmers organisation, has warned those who are allegedly inciting violent protests in Lagos and other southwest states against the consequences, saying that those with ulterior motives should steer clear of the zone.
Agbekoya Parapo spoke in a statement titled, ‘Agbekoya Parapo’s position on the upcoming nationwide protest by youths and opposition against President Bola Tinubu’s government,’ made available to reporters in Ibadan on Tuesday.
The statement was issued after a meeting attended by its President General, Aare Kunle Oshodi; the Secretary General, Chief Kunle Adelakun Eruobodo; Chairman, Elders Council, Agbekoya Parapo, Prof. Ademola Onibonokuta, Prof. Amusa, Pastor Benson Olayanju, Comrade Adebayo Balogun and Chief Remilekun Oyelami.
While saluting the Nigerian youths for their courage and commitment to throw their weight behind the quest for a better country, Agbekoya Parapo advised those with ulterior motives to “reconsider their plans and move their protests to Abuja and their respective states of origin” rather than pressing their points in the South-West, insisting that “We shall never allow what happened in Lagos during #EndSARS to repeat itself.”
According to the statement, it is very sad and pathetic that the current generation of youths has waited for so long to address the inefficiency, injustice, oppression, and lack of equity from the ruling class and constituted authorities.
The statement read in part: “We are very much aware that Nigeria belongs to every one of us and that the dividends of democracy should and must be felt by every Nigerian. In view of the impending protests, there are a few salient questions and fundamental issues that the present youths, the opposition, and the organizers of the August protests need to understand to grasp the nature and complexity of the Nigerian state:
“What was the reason behind the removal of history from the secondary education curriculum? Why did the Nigerian military take over the civilian government in the January 1966 coup? And, why was there a counter-coup in July 1966?
“Why and who imposed the unitary system of government on Nigeria’s regional structures designed by the British colonialists? What were the causes of Nigeria’s military coups/rules in the 60s, 70s, 80s, and 90s, especially after the civil war of 1967-1970, and who were the beneficiaries of those coups?
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“Is there any official reason why the freest, fairest, and most transparent June (12) 1993 Presidential election was annulled? Whose interests were served, and who benefited from the June 12 annulment? Why have the coupists/perpetrators not been prosecuted to this day? Lastly, is Nigeria free from neo-colonialism?
“The fundamental truth is that Nigerians have been struggling since the military took over civilian administration in the First Republic in the January 1966 coup and the July 15 counter-coup. Furthermore, the 1999 Constitution, which was drafted by General (Sanni) Abacha’s stooges under Prof Yadudu, does not help matters.
“There is no doubt that the 1999 Constitution is a fraudulent and corrupt document, full of lacunae. This is the fundamental reason why the country is in shambles and without peace. The ruling elites exploit these constitutional deficiencies to milk the country dry, while the masses and youths are left at the mercy of God.
“Things have deteriorated in Nigeria, and there’s no magic wand under the less-than-two-year government of President Tinubu. We are all gradually approaching the end of these games. Nonetheless, the solution is bitter and hard to say, but something will surely lead to something. We can’t build something on nothing.
“We are using this medium to warn those who are hell-bent on destroying Yoruba land, including the promoters, organizers, and opposition to President Tinubu’s administration, to reconsider their plans and move their protests to Abuja and their respective states of origin, not Lagos and Yoruba land.
“Protesters should direct their grievances to Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory. We will not condone any action that may destroy our heritage in Lagos State or any of the Yoruba states. Despite Lagos being the commercial hub of Nigeria, it holds deeper significance for every Yoruba person; it is the hope of the average Yoruba man.
“The destruction and agony caused by the #EndSARS saga still linger. Who could have imagined that the palace of the revered Oba of Lagos could be attacked, a sacrilege on our temple, by uncouth, uncivilized, and irresponsible people of other tribes?
“Our experience during the last #EndSARS protest is enough for our decision. The Southwest has yet to fully recover. The properties destroyed during that single attack were estimated to be worth billions of naira, with no compensation from the federal authorities.
“Most of our farmlands have been destroyed by herders, resulting in billions of naira worth of agricultural products being lost. Many of our farmers have been killed, and many could no longer go to their farms for fear of being killed.”
It urged the governors in the zone to be more sensitive and proactive by showing greater commitment to the plights of the people in line with the ethos of Omoluabi being attributed to the region.
Agbekoya warns protesters to stay away from Lagos, South-West
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Corps member apologises to govt after calling Lagos ‘smelling state’

Corps member apologises to govt after calling Lagos ‘smelling state’
A National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member serving in Lagos, Ushie Rita Uguamaye, popularly known as Raye, has issued an apology after facing backlash over a viral video in which she described Lagos as a “smelling state.”
In a statement made available on her Instagram account on Monday, Raye acknowledged that her comment may have offended residents of the state and expressed regret for her choice of words.
She clarified that her intention was not to insult those born and raised in Lagos but to express her observation as a visitor.
According to her, the remark was part of an initiative—a 30-day rant challenge she had started in a bid to draw attention to pressing issues in the country.
She explained that her goal was to be heard and to encourage others to speak up about the country’s worsening economic situation.
Raye noted that although her plan was to post 20 videos highlighting various concerns, the first video quickly drew significant attention because many Nigerians were equally frustrated.
She wrote, “I want to first of all state that “I AM SORRY” to the people who were born and raised in Lagos State if you feel offended by what I said. I am sorry.
“But as a visitor here, I could tell there was a difference in the atmosphere and quality of air here. If the way that I put it triggered your emotions and the love for your birth state, I am sorry. I didn’t mean to talk down on your birth state.
“When I started the 30 days rant challenge I said I just wanted to be heard. I believed that if I got to DAY-20 people would begin to hear me and join me to speak to the government. My Target was to make atleast 20 videos complaining until I was heard. But lucky for me I didn’t even have to get to DAY-2 because alot of us are actually angry, and Day 1 of the challenge was enough for people to join me.
“I want better for myself. (And I hope you do too) the complaints I made are valid regardless of whatever “lifestyle” you think I am living.
“I work 45+ hours a week and I should be able to afford hanging out with my friends every weekend. However I can’t. But how many of us can actually afford hanging out with our friends, how many can afford that in reality? You spend all week working and can’t even feel alive during the weekends.
“I Encourage all of us to ask for what we believe we deserve. I know distractions will take us again, very soon. But if we stay committed to asking for better we will get better. Thank you.”
Raye has been trending on Nigeria’s social media platforms since Saturday after a video she posted on her TikTok account went viral. In the video, she decried Nigeria’s economic hardship and inflation, expressing frustration that hard work no longer translates into financial stability.
She criticised President Bola Tinubu, labelling him a “terrible leader” and questioning what the government was doing to ease citizens’ suffering.
She also took a swipe at the alleged poor living conditions in Lagos State, which she described as a “smelling state.”
Shortly after the video gained attention, Raye claimed she began receiving threats, allegedly from NYSC officials, pressuring her to take down the post.
She took to her Instagram page to express her disappointment at what she described as an attempt to stifle her voice, insisting she had only spoken the truth about the country’s reality.
Corps member apologises to govt after calling Lagos ‘smelling state’
metro
JUST IN: Wike revokes land allocation to PDP national secretariat

JUST IN: Wike revokes land allocation to PDP national secretariat
The Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has revoked the land of the Peoples Democratic Party’s national secretariat, which is situated in Abuja.
Wike issued the revocation notice in a letter dated March 13, 2025, titled, “Notice of right of occupancy with file no: MISC 81346 in respect of plot no: 243 within central area district, Abuja,” on Tuesday.
It was signed by the Director, Land Administration (FTC), Chijioke Nwankwoeze.
JUST IN: Wike revokes land allocation to PDP national secretariat
metro
NLC replies Obasanjo, says he can’t rewrite history

NLC replies Obasanjo, says he can’t rewrite history
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has hit back at former President Olusegun Obasanjo over his criticism of trade union leaders, calling his remarks unfair and historically hypocritical.
In a scathing statement issued by NLC President, Comrade Joe Ajaero, the union dismissed Obasanjo’s claims that labour leaders have failed their members, pointing instead to past government actions—including those under Obasanjo’s watch—that have systematically weakened workers’ rights.
“We are delighted to have an ally in a personality as distinguished as our former President,” Ajaero remarked, referencing Obasanjo’s recent book, Nigeria: Past and Future, where the ex-president acknowledged that the minimum wage does not even cover transportation costs for some workers, let alone food, housing, and family upkeep.
However, the NLC leader was quick to counter Obasanjo’s claim that workers had been “victims of those meant to protect their interests.”
“It is malevolent governments and predatory employers that deny workers these rights and not union leaders,” Ajaero fired back, rejecting Obasanjo’s attempt to blame labour leaders for workers’ struggles.
The NLC reiterated that its demand for a ₦610,000 minimum wage was based on the harsh realities of Nigeria’s economic crisis.
Instead, it said the government, backed by the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA), offered a paltry ₦50,000 without any clear breakdown of how workers were expected to survive on such an amount.
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“This inevitably led to a stalemate in negotiations and ultimately, a strike action which was suspended only after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu took over negotiations and made the offer of ₦70,000,” Ajaero explained.
He added that the union had little choice but to accept the inadequate offer to “minimise the pain” for Nigerian workers.
But Ajaero made a shocking revelation: “President Tinubu did accept to pay ₦250,000, which was our last threshold, but subject to raising the pump price of petrol to ₦2,500 or more per litre.”
Faced with this ultimatum, he said the NLC opted for ₦70,000 rather than plunging Nigerians into even deeper economic hardship.
The NLC statement also took direct aim at Obasanjo’s history with trade unions, questioning his credibility on labour matters.
“Which founding fathers is he talking about here? The ones the colonial masters harassed or the ones he, Chief Obasanjo, either banned or detained?” the statement read.
The NLC reminded Nigerians that under Obasanjo’s presidency, labour leaders were arrested, detained, and even killed for standing up for workers’ rights.
“Who knows, he might find himself culpable,” Ajaero declared, accusing Obasanjo of trying to “proscribe the Nigeria Labour Congress” when he failed to bend it to his will.
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The statement further exposed Obasanjo’s past actions, including his alleged attempt to create a rival labour centre when he couldn’t control the NLC.
Obasanjo had also accused some labour leaders of seeking political office while in union positions.
But the NLC dismissed this as unfounded criticism, pointing out that the 1999 Constitution (as amended) grants union leaders the right to contest elections.
“We would like to let him understand, with all due respect, that the right to political leadership is enshrined in the law. The Supreme Court decision on this is affirmatory!” the NLC stated.
It further reminded Obasanjo that during his tenure as president, the NLC had already produced governors directly from union leadership, making his criticism baseless.
In a final statement dripping with defiance, Ajaero warned that governments should stop undermining unions for their selfish interests.
“Do you still arrest or beat up people after paying them to keep quiet? There is something amiss here,” he declared, demanding that a so-called “senior government official” who made allegations against union leaders should come forward with evidence or remain silent.
Despite the strong words, the NLC maintained that it still respects Obasanjo as an elder but made it clear that it will not accept misrepresentation of facts.
NLC replies Obasanjo, says he can’t rewrite history
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