Hon. Wale Alade-Oba Inspires Youth Engagement in Politics.

Hon. Wale Alade-Oba Inspires Youth Engagement in Politics.

In a compelling speech delivered on October 9, 2023, at the First Baptist Church Kuje in Abuja, Hon. Wale Alade-Oba passionately addressed the congregation, focusing on the crucial topic of "Youth and Politics." His words resonated with the attendees as he emphasized the significance of youth engagement in shaping Nigeria's political landscape.

In an insightful start to his speech, Hon. Wale Alade-Oba referenced the biblical verse Isaiah 9:6, which predicts the birth of Jesus and prophesies that the government shall rest upon His shoulder, implying His future rule over the world. Alade-Oba drew a powerful parallel, asserting that for Christians to aspire to govern, active involvement in politics is a necessary step.

Hon. Alade-Oba commenced his speech by defining the key terms "youth" and "politics." Youth, he explained, represent the dynamic stage between childhood and adulthood, characterized by enthusiasm and a hunger for change. Politics, on the other hand, encompassed governance, policy formulation, and representation in society's decision-making processes.

In Pic: Hon. Wale Alade-Oba. 

He pointed out the alarming youth apathy towards politics, citing the substantial youth voter population of 37 million compared to the 21 million votes cast during the recent presidential election. Hon. Alade-Oba urged the congregation to redirect the same passion they exhibit in music and foreign football towards political participation.

The distinguished speaker enumerated the advantages of youth involvement in politics. He emphasized that today's youth are tomorrow's leaders, citing the remarkable journey of Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji, the current Governor of Ekiti State, who actively entered politics at the age of 29 and now serves as a shining example of youthful success in politics.

Hon. Alade-Oba highlighted that young individuals bring fresh perspectives and innovative ideas to the table, thereby contributing to the development of the nation. He also stressed the importance of representation and the youth's ability to advocate for necessary changes on issues like climate change and social justice.

The speech also delved into the disadvantages of youth disengagement from politics. Hon. Alade-Oba noted that when youth are not actively involved in politics, their voices and concerns remain unaddressed, leading to policies that do not cater to their unique challenges and aspirations.

He cautioned against political stagnation and a lack of accountability when young people do not participate in the political process. The potential of youth, including their energy and creativity, remains untapped without political engagement.

Hon. Alade-Oba outlined the challenges that young individuals encounter in political participation, including a lack of awareness about political processes, financial constraints, and skepticism about the effectiveness of their involvement.

Despite these challenges, the Honorable urged the congregation to overcome them through education, awareness programs, grassroots movements, and active participation in politics. He emphasized that the youth represent the future of Nigeria and their involvement is essential for a thriving democracy.

Hon. Wale Alade-Oba concluded his speech by encouraging support for the youth's active political participation, empowering them to be the change-makers of tomorrow. His heartfelt address ended with a call for God's blessings on Nigeria.

In a heartfelt expression of gratitude, Daniel MKORGA, the Youth President of First Baptist Church Kuje, extended unreserved appreciation to Hon. Wale Alade-Oba. He conveyed his gratitude on behalf of the church's youth for the prompt response to their invitation to minister to their spiritual needs. Mr. MKORGA concluded by bestowing his blessings upon Hon. Alade-Oba, saying, "Sir, may God bless you abundantly."

The speech delivered by Hon. Wale Alade-Oba left a lasting impact on the congregation, emphasizing the pivotal role of youth in shaping Nigeria's political future and the urgency of their active involvement.

Igboho Currently in Germany, Confirms Lawyer.

Igboho Currently in Germany, Confirms Lawyer.

Yoruba nation activists, Chiev Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, has been released from protective custody by Benin Republic.

Yomi Aliu, Igboho’s lawyer, confirmed his release.

“Yes, he has been released. He was released yesterday. He is now in Germany,” Aliu said.

Asked to speak on the state of his release, he replied: “I can’t speak about it”.

In July 2021, Igboho was arrested alongside his wife, Ropo, in Cotonou, Benin Republic, and detained at the request of the Nigerian government.

The Yoruba Nation agitator had fled Nigeria after the Department of State Services (DSS) raided his residence in Ibadan, Oyo state on July 1.

Igboho had planned a “Yoruba nation rally” in Lagos two days before the raid.

The raid led to the death of two people while 12 of his aides were arrested.

The DSS had alleged that Igboho was stockpiling weapons, and subsequently declared him wanted.

Attempts by the Nigerian government to repatriate him to Nigeria after his arrest were unsuccessful.

His wife was later released by the Benenise authorities.

Igboho was arraigned at the Court D’Apeal in Cotonou and was detained in a prison facility in the country.

The charges against him bordered on arms smuggling, inciting violence and calling for a secession of the Yoruba from the Nigerian state.

Igboho and his lawyers denied all allegations levelled against him.

However, fresh allegations bordering on illegal entry and criminal association were levelled against him at the Benin Republic court.

In March 2022, he was released from prison to his medical practitioners under the agreement that he should not leave the medical centre or Cotonou for any reason

EKSG Begs Monarch not to Depose Traditional Chief for Alleged Insubordination, Highhandedness.

EKSG Begs Monarch not to Depose Traditional Chief for Alleged Insubordination, Highhandedness.

The Ekiti State Government, has appealed to the Onigede of Igede Ekiti, in Irepodun/Ifelodun Local Government Area of the State, Oba James Aladesuru, not to depose an embattled Chief Sunday Alade accused of insubordination and reckless abuse of powers by his subjects.

Chief Alade, who is the Oluri of Uri quarters in Igede Ekiti, has been facing stiff opposition from chiefs and youth in his quarters over alleged insubordination to Onigede and forceful hijack of people’s lands for personal use.

In a letter written to the state government and dated July 11, 2023 by Oba Aladesuru, the monarch, said the quarters, had in a letter dated July 4, 2023 resolved that Chief Alade be removed and replaced with Mr. Yomi Afolabi, as requested by the people.

Presiding over the lingering crisis on Monday, the Ekiti State Deputy Governor, Chief (Mrs) Monisade Afuye, appealed to the community to spare the embattled Chief and give him another three months to seek full reconciliation with his aggrieved subjects.

Mrs Afuye warned that forceful removal of any traditional title holder from office often escalate to communal crisis, saying any preventable uprising in Igede Ekiti over this matter would be antithetical to the gospel of peace being spread by Governor Biodun Oyebanji across Ekiti.

She said: “We are here to maintain peace in line with the objective of Governor Biodun Oyebanji that security of lives and property in all the towns must guaranteed , so we won’t allow bloodshed or violence in your community under any guise.

“I hereby direct Chief Alade to return all the seized lands in his custody to the rightful owners. I appeal to all of you, if you remove him, that will not solve the problem, the crisis has just started with such action because his people too will revolt against that .

“The mere fact that he went all the way to beg for forgiveness shows that he has regretted his actions, so let us forgive him.

“I learnt he has started attending the meeting of Onigede- in -Council and he also distanced himself from the litigation filed against Oba Aladesuru by some Kingmakers for promoting some lesser chiefs to higher ranks. This shows he has respect for royalty. I believe removing him from office is not the best option”.

Mrs Afuye appealed to the youth to accept the embattled chief’s apologies and attend any meeting called by Chief Alade to advance the development of that section of the town.

In his response to the barrage of allegations leveled against the estranged Chief, Oba Aldesuru, clarified that his letter to government was predicated on the request by the quarters that Chief Alade be removed owing to his recalcitrant posture and failure to convene the meeting of his quarters.

The monarch said he harbours no ill-feelings against the embattled Chief despite his shortcomings and that efforts would be intensified to pacify all aggrieved parties to soft-pedal on the matter.

He, however, noted that Chief Alade can only be spared if he changes his ways and seek true reconciliation with his subjects.

N-Power To Employ 5Million Young Nigerians In Five Years — FG.

N-Power To Employ 5Million Young Nigerians In Five Years — FG.

 ....Extends Beneficiaries Age Limit From 35 - 40 Years.

The Federal Government has said that the ongoing restructuring of the N-Power programme will bring about the employment of five million young Nigerians in five years.

This was made known in a press statement by the N-Power National Programme Manager, Dr. Akindele Egbuwalo.

He appealed to Nigerians to understand the rationale behind the temporal suspension of the N-Power programme and the subsequent restructuring it is undergoing, saying the federal government was working to restore confidence in the programme.

According to Dr Egbuwalo, "This restructuring and transformation will also birth an expanded programme to reach beneficiaries aged 18-40 (the previous age limit was 35). 

'We are targeting 5million beneficiaries in 5years at a pace of 1million per year under the graduate and non-graduate stream."

Giving a further glimpse into what a restructured N-Power would look like, the National Programme Manager disclosed that it will accommodate some new programmes in Education, Health, Works, Agriculture, Technology, Fashion, Entertainment and other relevant areas of skill acquisition and employability.

"To earn the confidence of Nigerians in the expanded programme, transparency and accountability will be the benchmark. It shall no longer be business as usual as we make concerted efforts to put the nation on the right footing, ensuring that no one directly or indirectly unleashes suffering on Nigerians," he said.

Dr Egbuwalo explained that suspension of the Programme became imperative following the discovery of sharp practices and to also give room for a detailed investigation into its operations in the last twelve months.

His words; "There is a need to audit the number of people in the programme, those who have exited the programme, those who are being owed, whether they reported to work or not and how funds have been utilised".

Ekiti Assembly Summons Ikere Local Government Council Boss.

Ekiti Assembly Summons Ikere Local Government Council Boss.

... Directs its Standing Committee to investigate him over alleged abuse of office.

The attention of the leadership of the House has been drawn to the development following the allegation of verbal attack of the Ikere Local Government Chairman Otunba Oluwafemi Ayodele on the Ekiti State Deputy Governor, Chief Monisade Afuye and disrespect for institution of office of the Governor and his Deputy in the trending video on social media.

The House had during the parliamentary session presided over by the Speaker Rt. Hon. Adeoye Stephen Aribasoye on Monday 9th October, 2023 deliberated on the matter. The House thereafter resolved and referred the allegations to its Committee on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs for further investigation and to report back on or before Tuesday 17th October, 2023.

 Signed:

Hon. Babatunde Oke

Chairman, House Committee on Media and Public Affairs.

President Tinubu Appoints New Presidential Media Advisory Team Members.

President Tinubu Appoints New Presidential Media Advisory Team Members.

President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of the following men and women to serve in the Office of the President under the Media & Publicity Directorate with full respect for the tenets of Nigeria's federal character principle and the supremacy of merit:

(1) Mr. Fela Durotoye (Senior Special Assistant to the President — National Values & Social Justice)

(2) Mr. Fredrick Nwabufo (Senior Special Assistant to the President — Public Engagement)

(3) Mrs. Linda Nwabuwa Akhigbe (Senior Special Assistant to the President — Strategic Communications)

(4) Mr. Aliyu Audu (Special Assistant to the President — Public Affairs)

(5) Mr. Francis Adah Abah (Personal Assistant to the President — Special Duties)

President Tinubu has further approved the secondment of Mrs. Linda Nwabuwa Akhigbe to serve as the Communications Adviser to the President of the ECOWAS Commission.

The President tasks all new appointees who are serving in the Media & Publicity directorate to uphold the highest standards of decorum and decency in their engagements with all members of the public as they advance the President's determined bid to renew the hope of Nigerians in a restructured economy and unified society that caters sufficiently to the needs of all, regardless of any differences.

Oyebanji’s Wife Teaches Students For Free At EKSU.

Oyebanji’s Wife Teaches Students For Free At EKSU.

Wife of the Governor, Dr. Olayemi Oyebanji, on Monday began a community service at the Ekiti State University (EKSU) where she has offered to teach students of Education Management for free as a means of contributing to their development.

The First Lady was in the classroom for about two hours to share knowledge with the students in the university where she began her career as an academic and taught for twelve years before transferring her services to the University of Ibadan for family reasons.

Dr. Oyebanji said her gesture was borne out of her desire to leave her comfort zone in the Government House and doing what she knows best: teaching and imparting knowledge on the students.

According to her, she is fulfilling one of the three core values of the academic profession which include, teaching, research and community service noting her being the First Lady cannot take her away from her love for students and helping in moulding their future.

Dr. Oyebanji, a senior lecturer at the University of Ibadan and presently awaiting her Associate Professorship where she had held various administrative positions and successfully supervised PhD students.

The Governor’s wife had earlier signified her intent to take time off her busy schedule as the First Lady to lecture students periodically at EKSU to contribute her quota to the development of students at the state-owned university.

Thereafter, Dr. Oyebanji similarly expressed her readiness to lecture at the Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti (ABUAD), a gesture seen in some quarters a model of mentorship service, sacrifice and humility in power which earned her local and international applause.

Third year (300 Level) students in the Department of Education Management at EKSU were thrilled and excited to see the First Lady in the class to teach them a course, Leadership in Formal Organizations in which she dwelt on Theories of Leadership and entertained series of questions from the appreciative students.

The students listened with rapt attention as Dr. Oyebanji who asked the students to see her as their teacher and not as First Lady diligently dissected five theories considered during the EDM 303 class which included Trait Theory, Behavioural Theory, Situational Theory, Contingency Theory and Path-Goal Theory.

Apart from the questions asked by the students, Dr. Oyebanji also gave them opportunities to share their thoughts on issues thrown up in the course of learning various perspectives in theories studied and how they could apply them to situations they find themselves especially as future leaders.

While urging the students to feel free and bare their minds during the lecture, Dr. Oyebanji said one of the aims she wanted to achieve with teaching the course was to inculcate the art of public speaking in the students, especially the female ones, noting that public speaking is an ingredient of leadership and effective communication.

Speaking with reporters in an interview after the two-hour lecture, Dr. Oyebanji said she was fulfilled to be involved in a community service at the state university teaching students describing her interaction with them as worthwhile. She added that she is contributing her quota to moulding the character and shaping the personality of future leaders in her community.

She said: “I started here as a Graduate Assistant and I worked in this university for twelve years before I relocated to the University of Ibadan where I was before we came to office. This is my own community service and I am fulfilled to give it for free in our state university.

“I have taught all my life and I want to teach here while in office to share from my experience with these students. This course, is a course that I have taught for over twenty years. When I was given the course to teach, I said ‘why not, it’s part of my community service.’ We lecturers have have three major areas: teaching, research and community service, so, what I am doing now is community service to my dear state.

“Since assuming office, it’s not that I am totally disconnected from academic activities. Recently you followed me to UI when I went to attend to my PhD students and within one year of my assumption of office (as First Lady), I have gone to UI and I have graduated four of my PhD students.”

The co-lecturer of the EDM 303 course (Leadership in Formal Organizations) with the First Lady, Dr. Omowumi Ayodele, described Dr. Oyebanji’s gesture as motivating noting that she students were excited to benefit from her intellect, experience and mentorship.

She said: “Having the First Lady around to teach our students is highly motivating, I am highly motivated that I am taking this course alongside her. She is creating a path for the students toward believing that they can be successful.”

A senior academic in the Department, Prof. Florence Adebayo, eulogized the First Lady for her act of humility in choosing to offer free service at the state university noting that Dr. Oyebanji has proved her mettle as a mother, a humble academic, a change agent and a role model to the students.

Prof. Adebayo prayed that the blessings extended by the First Lady to the students will always follow her to anywhere she goes noting that the impact made will be with the students for a long time to come.

One of the students who attended the lecture, Ismail Abdullahi, said he gained a lot from the various perspectives and true life experiences Dr. Oyebanji shared which will make her teaching to be indelible in his memory.

“Some of the examples and experiences she gave will make her lecture to be unforgettable and I am happy to have gained a lot and I will return home with many takeaways from the lecture of today,” he said.

Another student, Temitope Agbaje, said she felt excited having Dr. Oyebanji in class noting that the lecture gave her some insights about the theories and their application in real life situations.

The First Lady also used the opportunity to visit offices of some lecturers in the department exchanging pleasantries with them and the students before her departure.