News
Davido Uncle Asks Tinubu To Caution Minister
Davido’s uncle, the Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke, has asked President Bola Tinubu to caution the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Gboyega Oyetola, over an alleged plot to create chaos and anarchy in the Southwest state.
At a press briefing on Sunday, Adeleke alleged that his predecessor had instructed the police and the Department of State Services “to effect a non-existent judgement by forcefully taking over the local governments on Monday”.
The governor said, “The bone of contention is the brazen effrontery to return to office council chairmen sacked by a subsisting court Judgment using a different court decision, which has no consequential order.
“Let me make it clear that the Council Chairmen were sacked before I was sworn in as governor of Osun State, contrary to the lies being peddled, that my Executive Order sacked the Chairmen and councillors.
“For emphasis, l want to state that I had nothing to do with the sacking of the chairmen and councillors produced by the Osun 2022 local government polls. The Chairmen and Councilors were sacked by two different Federal High Court Osogbo judgments.
“In a democratic society governed by the rule of law, we all must submit to the law. If we are dissatisfied with the outcome of a court process, we can appeal to the next court to end at the Supreme Court.”
Adeleke urged Tinubu to insist on the rule of law by instructing police and the DSS “not to obey an illegal order from his nephew, Mr Gboyega Oyetola. The Osun State security chiefs should also be called to order”.
“I call on Mr President to instruct the National Security Adviser and the Attorney General of the Federation to personally verify the fact that the Court of Appeal judgement did not reinstate the sacked local government chairmen and councillors and the fact that there is a subsisting judgement of Court that sacked the Chairmen and Councillors produced by the 2022 local government polls,” he said.
Meanwhile, the state chapter of Oyetola’s party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), in its response, dismissed Adeleke’s allegations as an attempt to evade legal procedures, advising him to approach the Supreme Court if dissatisfied with the Court of Appeal’s judgment.
Osun APC spokesperson Kola Olabisi denied that Oyetola had issued any illegal directives to security agencies, accusing Adeleke of resorting to blackmail instead of legal recourse.
“Oyetola has not instructed anyone, including security chiefs, on how to do their job. Adeleke should know that blackmail or sentiment will not change the court’s decision,” Olabisi stated.
He argued that the APC-led local government officials were unjustly removed in 2022 and had now been lawfully reinstated through the courts.
“The court has spoken, and those affected by Adeleke’s actions have been left in the cold for too long. Now that justice has been served, as the leader of the Osun APC, Oyetola is committed to ensuring the ruling is implemented,” he added.
The Zamfara Elders Forum has accused Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal of orchestrating a politically motivated campaign against nine elected members of the state House of Assembly, alleging that he is using the judiciary to suppress their legislative duties.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the forum’s spokesperson, Dr Abdulmumin Kamil Gusau, described the state government’s actions as “disturbing and embarrassing.”
The group claims that Chief Magistrate Halima Jaafar Mikaila issued an arrest order for the lawmakers without prior summons or formal charges, a move they argue undermines the rule of law.
“We are deeply troubled by how the state government is manipulating judicial mechanisms to target constitutionally elected members of the state House of Assembly,” Guasa said.
“These lawmakers are being persecuted for fulfilling their legislative responsibilities and highlighting shortcomings in the executive’s performance in the public interest.”
The forum noted that the affected lawmakers, drawn from both the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC), have already lodged a case at the Court of Appeal in Sokoto.
They have also petitioned key authorities, including the Inspector General of Police, the Director General of the Department of State Services (DSS), the National Security Adviser, and the National Assembly, seeking intervention.
Despite these pending legal and formal complaints, the forum alleges that the magistrate court proceeded with the arrest order, which they deem unlawful.
The group has called on Governor Lawal to cease what it describes as harassment and engage in dialogue with the lawmakers to resolve the ongoing crisis amicably.
“The APC will remain steadfast in upholding the law and will not tolerate the politicisation of judicial officers to serve narrow interests,” Gusua stated.
“We stand firmly against any attempts to intimidate lawmakers for raising concerns about the worsening security situation in their constituencies, which the state government has failed to address.”
By Ankeli Emmanuel, Sokoto
The Dangote Industries Limited (DIL) has entered into partnership with
Nigeria Association of Small-Scale Industrialists (NASSI), Nasarawa State Chapter, to drive fresh investment options in the State.
With 68,000 hectares, the Dangote’s Nasarawa Sugar Company Limited (NSCL) in Tunga, is considered Nigeria’s biggest Backward Integration Policy (BIP) project in the sugar sector.
Speaking to newsmen, Chairman of the Nigeria Association of Small-Scale Industrialists (NASSI), Nasarawa State Chapter, Nidan Sambo Manasseh, said the 2025 Trade Fair and Exhibition has provided the chance for the Dangote Group and NASSI to consider the numerous business opportunities in the State.
According to Manasseh, “We are actively exploring opportunities to deepen our collaboration with the Dangote Group, particularly in expanding employment programmes through youth and women’s skills acquisition and other vital support services.
“We deeply appreciate the Dangote Group’s invaluable collaboration through financial support and sponsorship of NASSI’s programs. Their contribution has been exceptional, and we are profoundly grateful.”
Continuing, Manasseh said the Nasarawa Trade Fair Exhibition (NASTFE) is a vital catalyst for the State’s economic transformation, adding that the strategic initiative by NASSI directly aligns with Governor Abdullahi Sule’s vision to stimulate investment and unlock significant growth.
He said Nasarawa State’s wealth in mineral resources is a central highlight of NASTFE, adding that the exhibition will showcase how its natural endowment can drive economic growth by encouraging value addition in raw material processing and manufacturing, particularly benefiting Small Scale Industries.
“NASTFE serves as a premier platform to showcase Nasarawa State’s considerable potential, connecting discerning investors with its abundant natural resources and dynamic human capital. Governor Sule’s commitment to a business-enabling environment is evident, with NASTFE designed to effectively communicate this compelling value proposition,” he added.
The chairman of NASSI said its objective is to leverage Nasarawa State’s rich natural resources to fuel economic growth by promoting value addition in raw material processing and manufacturing.
“This focus will enhance economic value, particularly for Small Scale Industries, attract crucial investment, generate employment opportunities, and contribute to poverty reduction,” he said.
A statement from the Dangote Group’s Chief Branding and Communication Officer, Anthony Chiejina, said: “Nasarawa State is central to our overall investment in Nigeria. It is home to Dangote’s Nasarawa Sugar Company Limited (NSCL). The sugar project, when completed, will be one of the biggest sugar investments on the African continent.”
The statement quoted the Senior Special Adviser to the Dangote Group’s President, Fatima Wali Abdurrahman, as saying that: “We are not taking this partnership for granted. Our Strategic Business Units (SBUs) are participating.
According to her, some of the Business Units participating from the Dangote Group are: Dangote Peugeot Automobiles Nigeria Limited (DPAN), Dangote SinoTruck, Dangote Sugar Refinery, Dangote Salt (NASCON) and Dangote Cement, among others.”
Mrs. Abdurrahman said the Trade Fair offers the company an opportunity to interact with stakeholders and Nigerians who may want to do business with the company.
She said a special Help Desk will be created for inquiries to enable the company to receive feedback from participants.
She urged participants to visit the company’s pavilion and take advantage of its innovative products.
By Ankeli Emmanuel, Sokoto
Sokoto State Governor, Ahmed Aliyu, has pledged to intervene in the workers’ loan repayments that were deducted from their salaries but never remitted to the respective banks.
The Governor made this commitment while responding to an appeal by the Sokoto State Chairperson of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Abdullahi Aliyu, who urged the state government to intervene in the matter.
According to the NLC chairperson, many workers who took loans through salary deductions have continued to suffer due to the failure of officials in the previous administration to remit the deductions to the banks.
“Your Excellency, please come to the aid of these people. They have been at a crossroads for years,” Comrade Abdullahi appealed. “We know you to be firm in defending people’s rights. Please apply your popular slogan, in kudi kudi in aiki aiki, to recover the diverted funds.”
Governor Aliyu assured the labour leader and affected workers that his administration will investigate the matter and ensure that the right thing is done .
“This administration prioritizes human rights and will not condone any violations under any guise,” the Governor said. “We are committed to protecting the rights of the weak, the less privileged, and the downtrodden in our state.”
a statement by Abubakar Bawa, the Press Secretary to the governor quoted his principal as appealing to the people of State to continue their support and cooperation with his administration so that they can continue to benefit from the dividends of democracy.
The governor further expressed gratitude for the public’s fervent prayers to his administration and urged them to mentain the tempo.