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Osun 2026: Why Osogbo should produce next governor – Oladimeji

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A leader of Osogbo Progressive Union (OPU), Osogbo in Osun, Dr Yemi Oladimeji, has decried the inability of the town to produce a governor since the creation of the state 33 years ago.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that OPU is the umbrella body of all Osogbo indigenous groups.

Oladimeji, in a statement on Sunday in Osogbo, said that the attitude of “pull him down syndrome” by some indigenes of Osogbo was responsible for the inability of the town to produce a governor.

He charged the indigenes of Osogbo to work together and as a team to produce the next governor of the state in the 2026 election for the development of the town and the state.

Oladimeji noted that Osogbo parades quality, qualified, competent and very sound political leaders, urging all indigenes of Osogbo in various political parties to work for the interest of the town ahead of the next governor election.

He noted that prominent indigenes of the town had several opportunities in the past to become the governor of the state but such opportunities were deterred by some people.

“In the last 33 years that Osun State was created by the military administration of retired Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, Ede in Osun West has produced the governor twice through late Sen. Isiaka Adetunji Adeleke (1992/1993), and his younger brother, who is the incumbent, Sen. Ademola Adeleke, from 2022 till date.

”Also, Osun Central has produced the governor thrice through Chief Abdulkareem Adebisi Akande from Ila-Orangun (1999-2003), Okuku through Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola (2003-2010) and Iragbiji through Alhaji Adegboyega Isiaka Oyetola, 2018-2022.

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“Ilesa in Osun East produced the governor through Ogbeni Abdulrauf Adesoji Aregbesola (2010-2018).

“Our great leader and my big uncle, Sen. Olu Alabi, from Osogbo had a good chance to become the governor of Osun State when he came out to run for the exalted office in 1999 on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

“He fought tooth and nail to emerge the PDP governorship candidate but lost to Chief Bisi Akande of the Alliance for Democracy (AD) because some of our people in Osogbo worked against him.

“The history repeated itself in my own case too when I ran the primary for the Osun State governorship under the Alliance for Democracy (AD) in 2007.

”I am bringing up this issue not because of my own interest but for us to learn from history and begin to make an amend so that we don’t fall into the same booby-trap when such an opportunity for Osogbo comes up again,” he said.

According to him, there is a lot to gain by working together to advance the course and interest of Osogbo.

Oladimeji, who is a member of the United States chapter of OPU, urged Osogbo indigenes in the diaspora to always work towards the development of the town and be willing to assist the less privileged.

“We should also love one another and support whoever God wants to use to represent Osogbo politically.

”I am now appealing to all of us to rally support for the development of Osogbo and Osun State.

”Let us show commitment to this course and make it a collective responsibility,” he said. (NAN)

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Trump threatens attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities as talks continue

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U.S. President Donald Trump has reiterated his threat of drastic consequences for Iran over its nuclear programme, including a potential attack on Tehran’s nuclear facilities.

During a meeting at the White House with Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele, Trump said: “They can’t have a nuclear weapon, and they got to go fast, because they’re fairly close to having one, and they’re not going to have one.

“And if we have to do something very harsh, we’ll do it. And I’m not doing it for us.

“I’m doing it for the world, and these are radicalised people, and they cannot have a nuclear weapon.”

When questioned by a reporter if this included an attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities, Trump affirmed, “Of course it does.”

The U.S. government and other Western states as well as Israel aim to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons.

During his first term in office in 2018, Trump unilaterally withdrew from the Vienna nuclear deal, which was designed to limit Iran’s nuclear programme and lift sanctions in return.

Following this, Tehran also ceased adhering to the agreement’s stipulations.

Last Saturday, the U.S. and Iran resumed talks about a possible new nuclear agreement after years of deadlock, with Oman acting as a mediator.

The next round of talks is expected to hold on Saturday in Rome.

Trump confirmed the scheduled date and expressed confidence in resolving the issue with Iran, describing it as “almost an easy” problem.

Earlier Monday, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Rafael Grossi announced that he would travel to Tehran this week ahead of the next round of nuclear talks.

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According to Iranian media reports, Grossi is expected in Tehran on Wednesday.

“Continued engagement and cooperation with the agency is essential at a time when diplomatic solutions are urgently needed,” Grossi wrote on X on Monday.

Tehran’s lack of cooperation with IAEA inspectors is a main cause of the growing tensions surrounding Iran’s nuclear programme, along with its production of near weapons-grade uranium. (dpa/NAN

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Alleged N33.8bn fraud: Court adjourns trial of ex-Power Minister

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The Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday, adjourned the trial of former Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman, until May 2.

Justice James Omotosho adjourned the matter after the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)’s video evidence to counter the allegations by Mamman that his extra-judicial statement was not voluntarily made, was played in the open court.

Justice Omotosho had ordered that the video clip of the interview session conducted by the commission’s officials during their investigation be played in a trial-within-trial, following allegation that the ex-minister did not voluntarily make the statement.

The ex-minister had, through his lawyer, Femi Atteh, SAN, insisted that his statement tendered by the EFCC in the alleged corruption trial was not not made voluntarily.

The EFCC counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, disagreed with Atteh’s submission.

The judge consequently ordered that the video clip be played in the open court to ascertain the veracity of the argument.

In the video on Monday, Mamman insisted that he could not write statement due to his ill-health.

Counsel to the EFCC, Abbas Muhammed, asked the EFCC investigator and a witness, Abubakar Kwaido, whether he read the statement of caution to Mamman before the session.

Kwaido confirmed that the cautionary statement was read to the defendant before the video recorded and the statement taken.

Justice Omotosho adjourned the matter until May 2 for continuation of trial.

Oyedepo, the lead prosecuting counsel, had, on Thursday, asked Kwaido whether he harassed Mamman or threatened him with detention but the witness responded in the negative.(NAN)

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Ghastly accident claims 7 lives in Ebonyi– FRSC

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The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Ebonyi has confirmed the death of seven persons in Sunday’s auto crash at Nwafia Oga, Onueke in Ezza South Local Government Area.

The Sector Commander of the corps, Mr Henry Igwe, confirmed the incident to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday, saying that it occured at about 7.30pm.

Igwe also said that the crash involved a commercial Toyota Bus, with Registration Number UWN 429 ZY and an articulated vehicle, with Registration Number XW 294 ENU.

He said: “20 persons were involved in the crash, consisting of six males and two females.

“The dead include four males and three females, while two females were injured.”

According to him, 11 persons, comprising two males, eight females and one child, escaped unhurt.

The FRSC chief also said that the crash was caused by speed violation.

He said that while the injured were taken to St. Saviour Hospital, Onueke for treatment, the remains of the deceased were taken to the Onueke General Hospital’s morgue.

He said that investigation into the crash had commenced.

“We still urge drivers to drive carefully and obey road signs because it is only the alive that travels,” he said. (NAN)

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