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Ladoja becomes ceremonial Ibadan Oba, receives beaded crown
Ladoja becomes ceremonial Ibadan Oba, receives beaded crown
The Otun Olubadan of Ibadan, Senator Rashidi Ladoja, on Monday, became a crown wearing Oba as he received beaded crown from the Olubadan of Ibadan land, Oba Owolabi Olakulehin and instruments of office from the acting governor of Oyo State, Bayo Lawal.
The ceremony held at the palace of the Olubadan of Ibadan land, Oke-Aremo, Ibadan, puts an closure to the long resistance of Ladoja regarding wearing beaded crown apart from that of the Olubadan of Ibadan land, following amendments to the Ibadan chieftaincy declaration.
Presenting certificate and staff of office to Ladoja, the Oyo Acting governor said the changes to the Ibadan monarchy system were imperative for Ibadan and for the state to progress.
According to Lawal, a rancour-free and well-established monarchy in Ibadan was crucial as it would be a reference point for monarchies across Yoruba land.
Lawal said: “The governor extends his greetings to you. In recent weeks, some things happened, that made this celebration successful. Ibadan is a great city, a city of royalty.
“When there is peace in Ibadan land, we believe the entire Yoruba land is peaceful. There won’t be friction in Ibadan land.
“We thank God that, today, all the controversies surrounding the issue of the beaded crown have come to an end even without external interference.
“Today is a day of joy for Oyo State, particularly Ibadan land. I am no novice to Oba Ladoja and he is not a novice to me. I am grateful that the governor gave me the privilege to do this ceremony.
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“We believe that for Oyo State to progress, there will be some changes in how we do things. We want monarchy to be well founded, well established in Oyo State. We believe that if monarchy is well established in Oyo State, it will be a reference point across Yoruba land.”
The crown handed to Ladoja by the Olubadan of Ibadan land, Oba Owolabi Olakulehin, bore the title, “Oba Oju Opo.”
Speaking, Ladoja said his acceptance of beaded crown finally came after the Olubadan of Ibadan land explained to him that he is receiving crown as Oba Oju Opo (king-in-line), meaning that those who are highest on the Olubadan chieftaincy line to include Otun, Osi, Asipa, Ekerin, Balogun are next in line to become Olubadan.
He explained that his resistance to accepting the beaded crown was because he kept asking over what domain would he reign as Oba and he didn’t get a response he could fathom.
Ladoja said he now understood that the amended chieftaincy declaration stated that the Otun, Osi, Asipa, Ekerin are crowned Obas and all enjoy being regarded as next king in line, thereby nullifying the question of what domain.
Even when issues and controversies reach fever pitch in Ibadan, Ladoja said Ibadan people would always find a way to resolve their chieftaincy issues without external interference.
Ladoja said: “Ibadan can arrange its chieftaincy. If people think Ibadan will burn, Ibadan will boil, they lie, that is only because we are yet to meet behind closed doors.
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“Once we come out after meeting behind closed doors, you will see a change in stance because we know what is right.
“All that happened before was due to lack of understanding as the question asked then was if we are crowned king, what domain are we king over? But we have been told that we are Oba Oju Opo (king-in-line) because it is all of us on that line that can become king.
“What the declaration stated is that if Otun cannot become king, Osi can, Asipa can, Ekerin can, that is, all of us in that line can become king. So, each of us can enjoy being king in line.
“That nullifies the question of what domain is one king over, we say we are now in line to become Olubadan of Ibadan land. I thank the Olubadan of Ibadan land for approving of my request for an answer to my persistent question of over what domain is one king over.
“He let me understand that we are all kings in line and we can become Olubadan of Ibadan land, when there is vacancy. May God grant the Olubadan long life on the throne, and it is God that grants one the grace to become Olubadan of Ibadan land.
“We have had people become Otun, people become Balogun yet did not become Olubadan. If we don’t know that of many, we know that of Kuye and Omiyale that passed at almost the same time. May God rest their souls.”
Ladoja becomes ceremonial Ibadan Oba, receives beaded crown
News
Investigation of wanted businesswoman Achimugu not linked with Atiku, Sanwo-Olu – EFCC
Investigation of wanted businesswoman Achimugu not linked with Atiku, Sanwo-Olu – EFCC
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has reacted to media reports linking its investigations of Ms. Aisha Achimugu with political undercurrents involving former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu
This is contained in a statement by the commission on Friday night.
The statement read, “We wish to state unequivocally that the investigations of Achimugu have no correlation of any kind with the two political actors. She is being investigated for alleged criminal conspiracy and money laundering and has since been declared Wanted by the Commission”.
The EFCC started investigating Achimugu in 2022. Although she approached the court to obtain an injunction restraining the Commission from arresting, investigating, inviting or detaining her for any alleged criminal act, the injunction was challenged and vacated on Wednesday, February 19, 2025 by a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja.
The court ruled that “…no court has the power to stop the investigative powers of the Police or EFCC or any agency established under our laws to investigate crimes when there is reasonable suspicion of commission of a crime or ample evidence of commission of an offence by a suspect.”
“The court further upheld the interim order of forfeiture of assets of Achimugu suspected to be proceeds of crime, dismissing her suit against it as lacking merit .
“The foregoing clearly establishes that the EFCC’s case against her has no immediate or remote nexus with any politician or any veiled or open reference to any political engagement or transaction.
“The EFCC is non-partisan and non-sectarian. We enjoin the public to continue to keep faith with the professionalism of the Commission without imputing any extraneous consideration to its works.”
News
Why governors’ forum is silent on Rivers emergency, by DG
Why governors’ forum is silent on Rivers emergency, by DG
The Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) yesterday attributed its neutral position on the recent declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State to the need to steer clear of taking positions that may alienate members with varying political interests.
Taking positions on contentious partisan issues, the NGF said, would not augur well for it, especially in view of its past experience in fundamental division.
Notwithstanding, the declaration of the state of emergency by President Bola Tinubu yesterday generated more kudos and knocks from across the country.
Special Adviser to the President on Senate Matters, Senator Basheer Lado, said the action of the president was meant to ensure protection of lives and restoration of law and order in the state, while the President’s Special Adviser on Media and Public Communications, Sunday Dare, said his principal was required to “avert needless harm and destruction .”
National Publicity Secretary of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Felix Morka, said Tinubu, by his action, cleared what had manifested as a constitutional crisis in Rivers state.
But former President Goodluck Jonathan saw it from a different perspective.
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He described “abuse of office and power by the three arms of government in the country“ as a dent on Nigeria’s image.
The NGF, in a statement by its Director General Abdulateef Shittu, said it is essentially “an umbrella body for sub-national governments to promote unified policy positions and collaborate with relevant stakeholders in pursuit of sustainable socio-economic growth and the well-being of the people.”
It added: “As a technical and policy hub comprising governors elected on different platforms, the body elects to steer clear of taking positions that may alienate members with varying political interests.
“In whatever language it is written, taking positions on contentious partisan issues would mean a poor sense of history — just a few years after the forum survived a fundamental division following political differences among its members.
“Regardless, the Forum is reputed for its bold positions on governance and general policy matters of profound consequences, such as wages, taxes, education and universal healthcare, among others.”
It asked for “the understanding of the public and the media, confident that appropriate platforms and crisis management mechanisms would take care of any such issues.”
Why governors’ forum is silent on Rivers emergency, by DG
News
Rivers: Tinubu acted to save state, economy, says Karimi
Rivers: Tinubu acted to save state, economy, says Karimi
Chairman of the Senate Services Sunday Karimi has hailed President Bola Tinubu for the decision to declare a state of emergency in Rivers State.
He told reporters on Friday in Abuja that the President acted in the best interest of the State and Nigeria, having taken his decision in compliance with the Constitution.
“No President or government worth a name, will fold its arms and watch a political situation deteriorate to what we saw unfolding in Rivers State.
“We saw that bombing of pipelines had begun, and the security situation was getting worse with the tension everywhere”, Karimi stated.
Karimi, who represents Kogi-West on the ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC), recalled the “fatherly role” Tinubu had played in the crisis since 2023 in a bid to get the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, and suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara to reach an understanding, to no avail.
He explained: “We were all here in 2023 when Mr President called that truce meeting at the Aso Rock Villa. There was the eight-point agenda for settlement reached between the factions.
“When Nigerians expected that progress should be made to achieve peace, things started deteriorating considerably to a point where the governor demolished the House of Assembly building and administered the state with only three legislators.”
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Karimi observed that with the recent judgment of the Supreme Court, which gave the upper hand to the 27 lawmakers loyal to the camp of the FCT Minister, matters merely got worse in the State as the lawmakers were set to impeach the Governor.
“What did you expect would be the implications? There would have been more destruction, killings and economic losses for the country.
“With the bombings that had already started, it was a matter of time before the whole state would be engulfed in flames. No responsible President would sit, arms folded, and allow that to happen “ he added.
The senator further argued that it took “painstaking efforts” by the administration to raise daily crude oil production to around 1,800 barrels, noting that Nigeria’s economy was already “witnessing a rebound under the renewed hope projects of the government.”
“Allowing the situation in Rivers to get worse before he would act, wouldn’t have helped the state or Nigeria as a country in any way.
“Mr. President intervened at the right time, and his actions are covered by law,” he said.
Karimi also spoke on the emergency declaration in Borno, Yobe, Adamawa and a couple of other states by former President Goodluck Jonathan without removing the Governors from office or suspending the state assemblies.
According to him, the case with those States was not generated by political crises but rather security concerns.
“So, I will advise those comparing the two scenarios to remember that one was purely about security threats resulting from the insurgency caused by Boko Haram, while that of Rivers is clearly political.
“It was the proper thing to do to suspend the political actors in the two factions to allow for tensions to diffuse. Nigerians should appreciate the President for the action he has taken so far,” he stated.
Sen. Karimi also noted that there was no cause for alarm as the National Assembly had indicated that the emergency rule could be reviewed as soon as there were signs that things could quickly normalise in Rivers State.
Rivers: Tinubu acted to save state, economy, says Karimi
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