The ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, National Chairman, Senator Abdullahi Adamu and the president-elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Wednesday held a meeting behind closed-doors at the Defence House, Abuja.

Others who were in the meeting are the President of the Senate, Dr. Ahmed Ibrahim Lawan, Deputy Senate President, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege and the Secretary of the dissolved Presidential Campaign Council, PCC, Hon. James Abiodun Faleke.

Though the agenda of the meeting was withheld from curious journalists, there are strong indications that the issue of zoning of the 10th National Assembly principal offices were discussed.

The APC National Secretary, Senator Iyiola Omisore maintained sealed lips, while Senator Adamu only told journalists that the meeting was a routine exercise.

The meeting took place barely 48 hours after the President-elect returned from Europe, having travelled out after his declaration as winner of the 2023 Presidential election.

Meanwhile, in the National Assembly, Senators and members-elect lobbying for various offices in the 10th NASS have been kept in suspense awaiting the pronouncement on zoning of principal offices by the ruling party.

The waiting game has heightened anxiety, but lobbyists were undeterred as they could be seen churning out press releases in print and online news outlets canvassing for support on a daily basis.

Banners of themselves with the President-elect were hung in strategic locations all over the NASS complex with promises of allegiance to Tinubu’s government.

Tinubu’s return on Monday, DAILY POST observed, further increased anxiety among lawmakers seeking offices in the upper and lower legislative chambers.

The dust raised over the relocation of the Faculty of Agriculture, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) from Ogbomoso to Iseyin is yet to settle.

LAUTECH is one of the tertiary institutions owned by the Oyo State government.

It was named after Chief Samuel Ladoke Akintola, a former Premier of the defunct western region.

The institution was jointly owned and controlled by both Oyo and Osun states until a few years ago when it was ceded to the Oyo state government.

That Governor Seyi Makinde recently created a campus of LAUTECH in Iseyin town, which will house the faculty of agriculture.

The Iseyin campus christened College of Agricultural Science and Renewable Natural Resource is located along Iseyin-Okeho road.

The development has sparked controversy among the indigenes of two cities- Ogbomoso and Iseyin.

Indigenes of Ogbomoso are kicking against the relocation, noting that the governor should instead create new faculties for the Iseyin campus rather than move existing ones.

Ogbomoso students, under the auspices of Federation of Ogbomoso Students Union (FOGSU), LAUTECH chapter, made their views known during a recent protest.

The indigenes, who were joined by some commercial motorcyclists during the protest, maintained that they were not against the establishment of Iseyin campus but the relocation of the faculty to Iseyin.

President, FOGSU, LAUTECH chapter, Olarinde Muyideen Olamide, in his speech, advised the state government to begin new faculties at Iseyin.

He said, We are having a peaceful protest this morning concerning the issue of relocation of faculty of agriculture LAUTECH to Iseyin.

We are not against development in any other part of the state, what we are just saying is that moving the faculty of agriculture out of LAUTECH will cause more damage than good. What about all facilities tailored towards agriculture already in LAUTECH? Most of that will go to waste or require extra money to reconfigure.

So, let them begin entirely new faculties at Iseyin whether agriculture or any other. But moving an existing one in LAUTECH should not be contemplated. We are pleading with the government”.

A 500-level Urban and Regional Planning student, Adeniran Timilehin Samuel, in his own contribution, described the faculty as the oldest in the institution.

He said, This is one of the longest existing faculties in LAUTECH, it is a cardinal faculty. It is holding over 10,000 students, so how possible will a government seek to move it away.

So as students and indigenes, we are expressing concern this should not be done. It is like seeking to end LAUTECH in Ogbomoso.

They say they want to establish new faculties. Why can’t they establish those in Iseyin? Why must you take an existing one away when a new one can be established there? Let them rather go and start the new faculties in Iseyin. We had tried to engage the authorities in the past both at the state and LAUTECH levels but we were rebuffed. This is not a popular decision.

At Iseyin campus they don’t have facilities, no accommodation, no hostels, there is even the problem of insecurity. Governor Makinde should reconsider his stand.

Don’t allow yourself to be used by politicians – Oke Ogun indigenes warn Ogbomoso students

Meanwhile, indigenes of Oke Ogun zone have appealed to their counterparts from Ogbomoso not to allow themselves to be used by desperate politicians.

A coalition of youth organisations and students from Oke Ogun made this declaration during a press conference in Iseyin.

Those who spoke included members of Progressive Movement of Oke-Ogun (PROMO), Iseyin Youths Development Group (IYDG), Ebedi Frontliners, Iseyin (EFI), Ebedi Renaissance, Iseyin (ERI) and Federation of Iseyin Local Government Students (FILGS).

They called on members of FOGSU not to allow themselves to be used by disgruntled politicians to drive a wedge between Ogbomoso and Iseyin townships, as the two ancient communities shared communal culture and development over time.

Babajide Oniyo, the Coordinator of Iseyin Youths Development Group (IYDG), told journalists that “Our attention has been drawn to a petition and protest initiated by some unscrupulous elements under the guise of Federation of Ogbomoso Students Union (FOGSU) to stop the commencement of Academic Academic activities of LAUTECH College of Agriculture and Renewable Natural Resources, Iseyin campus slated for May, 2023.

This call is highly destructive, inciting and capable of destroying the state’ peace, hence calling on concerned authorities to identify and deal decisively with those behind this satanic move.

It’s surprising that a reasonable organisation could descend so low to release such a statement and still be proud to sign the same without being shameful. We have gotten the notice of the protest which was secretly circulated amongst the group, hence calling the concerned authorities to forestall the breakdown of law and order.

We have also gone through the petition addressed to the People’s Governor, Engr. Oluseyi Makinde through one online news platform, and we cannot fathom any reasonable, authentic and substantial points other than malicious, unfounded, inciting, selfish and destructive points capable of throwing the state into confusion, destruction and anarchy.

In the petition, FOGSU noted its displeasure over the proposed relocation of the Faculty of Agriculture to Iseyin. Worried about what would become of the Facility built in Ogbomosho for the same, it also stated that the students were given admissions for a 5 years course in Ogbomoso and not Iseyin. Hence, its grievances.

The body should be schooled that government policies have procedures and the same have been completed for the relocation of the said faculty and the establishment of LAUTECH College of Agriculture and Renewable Natural Resources in Iseyin. The process successfully scaled through 1st, 2nd and 3rd readings in the Oyo plenary and was assented to by the Governor.

They should be reminded that the well read legislators, including members from Ogbomoso zone, are representing the interest of the entire state and have found same to be in order, hence, passage of same to become law.

It’s then sufficient to state that any association calling for the premature termination of this State’s well thought plan is an enemy of the state and should be treated as such by the government and concerned authorities.

In addition, if the Association is one to reckon with and has been following the trend and is abreast of the state’s happenings, it could have known that the state already has plans for making LAUTECH a conventional University where other disciplines like law, Education, Medicine and others will be read, such that other zones can also have a feel of government presence and Education will be available for the kith and kin.

It is worthy of note that the Iseyin Campus which is still undergoing serious construction already has 500-Seater Lecture Theater, 500-Seater Auditorium and College Administrative Complex, contrary to FOGSU malicious position that the Iseyin facilities are inadequate to receive the 200-level students slated for resumption in May.

Furthermore, for the ease of movement and access, the Oyo State Government has constructed a road linking Iseyin and Ogbomoso. What else can these students do to discredit the good work of His Excellency, Governor Oluseyi Makinde who’s always on fairness, equity and justice.

Outside the watery position of FOGSU, It should be noted that Iseyin and the entire Oke-Ogun has always been a friend of Ogbomoso and has since time immemorial been cooperative to all Ogbomoso development. This history is verifiable.

National President of Progressive Movement of Oke-Ogun (PROMO), Hammed Saheed Adeyemi, urged the protesting FOGSU members not to look at the development from the parochial angle of the University domiciling in their community, but the general good that will come to neighbouring communities if the College commence operation in Iseyin, part of which is the newly-constructed Iseyin-Fapote-Ogbomoso road that has become an answered prayer for the Oke-Ogun and Ogbomoso people.

The rational, educated and well informed people of Oke-Ogun and Oyo State at large supports and appreciates the ingenuity of His Excellency, Governor Seyi Abiodun Makinde not only for the peaceful dialogue to take absolute control of the great citadel of learning but also to think of multi campus system which will improve the economic and social development of many other regions and cities in the state.

This focus on urbanisation and job creation have started to materialise as a lot of people participated in the construction of the Institution among other areas of job creation. It is of no doubt also that the social status of Oke-Ogun has improved from a region without any university to one hosting a modernised infrastructural campus.

Students’ resumption to this university will improve the lives of many and will also improve the state’s revenue. However, it is very unfortunate that some set of people or groups, ‘likely sponsored’, are planning to frustrate the success of this project by going against student’s resumption.

We call on such individuals or groups that doing so means declaring war against the Oke-Ogun region and such won’t be taken lightly. We will respond to them in the language they understand if they proceed with such a hidden agenda.

Meanwhile, Federation of Iseyin Local Government Students (FILGS), has said there is no going back on the resumption of the College in Iseyin.

National President of FILGS, Andrew Adisa called on the Governor to ignore those calling for the suspension of the College’s resumption.

Their so-called views or protests are nothing but an act of political biases and regional hatred. Many universities and colleges have multi campuses and are functioning absolutely well. Why should the case of LAUTECH be different? Why should some regions take themselves too superior to others?

He said, Why will some regions be left underdeveloped? Many schools run multi campus system and run them perfectly like the Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT), Osun State University (UNIOSUN), UniUyo, Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), Delta State University (DELSU), FUOYE, Lagos State University (LASU) among others, ours will not be an exception.

No going back on relocation of agriculture faculty to Iseyin- Oyo government

As the controversy rages, the Oyo state government has declared that there is no going back on its plan to move the faculty of agriculture from Ogbmooso to Iseyin campus.

The government noted that the establishment of the College of Agriculture and Renewable Natural Resources, Iseyin has become law.

Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism in the state, Dr. Wasiu Olatubosun made these declarations.

He added that more faculties and departments are coming to Ogbomoso.

He appealed to the residents of Ogbomoso not to nurse any fear over the movement of the faculty.

He said, It is now a law. No going back on the relocation of agriculture faculty to Iseyin. Many faculties are now going to Ogbomoso.

LAUTECH is now a conventional university and faculties like Law and Humanities that have students more than science courses are coming to Ogbomoso.

I am now using this opportunity to appeal to Ogbomoso people to allow the relocation. More faculties are coming to Ogbomoso. It is a win-win thing.

President-elect, Bola Tibubu’s assemblage of transition committee members has become a subject of controversy.

The incumbent President, Muhammadu Buhari was roundly criticised for favouring his kinsmen in appointments against other segments of the country, especially the South-East.

Buhari’s government has no Southeasterner in the top security echelon.

Upon assumption of office, Buhari had made it clear that his appointments and infrastructural development would be based on the votes he received across the zones.

His administration has been dogged with allegations of marginalisation against the South-East zone, fueling the various agitations from the area.

A few days ago, Tinubu released members of his transition committee with no single person from the South-East.

Nobody from the South East zone made the cut in the committee made up of names such as Bayo Onanuga, Abubakar Kyari, Stella Okotete, Makinde Araoye, Betta Edu, Imam Faud, Donald Wokoma, Samira Saddik, Andrew Abuh, Danladi Bako, Hadiza Kabir.

Indications are equally rife that the zone would lose out in the contest for the 10th National Assembly leadership.

The outcome of the last general elections showed that the Igbo dominated Southeast and the people of South-South voted massively for the Labour Party candidate, Peter Obi.

It is still unclear if the transition committee list has anything to do with the voting pattern during the election.

However, even the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Atiku Abubakar has condemned the composition of the list.

The outgoing President Buhari was also consistently accused of marginalisation and total disregard for Federal Character principle.

Among other major appointments by the President, at one point, the South-East had no representation in the internal board of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and its subsidiaries.

This is despite the zone having two oil-producing states – Imo and Abia. Anambra and Enugu have now joined.

Out of 40 senior management positions within the Corporation ranging from chief operating officers and managing directors of its subsidiaries to general managers’ roles in the corporation, 24 are occupied by Northerners, while those from the South head 16.

The President also totally left out the South East from his appointments into the key offices in the military and paramilitary security architecture of the country. For instance, the Chief of Defence Staff, Leo Irabor is from South South; Chief of Army Staff, Ibrahim Attahiru (North); Chief of Naval Staff Awwal Zubairu Gambo, (North); Chief of Air Staff, Ishiaka Oladayo Amao, (South West); Inspector General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba, (North); Director General of DSS, Yusuf Magaji Bichi, (North); Ahmed Rufai Abubakar-NIA, (North); John Mrabure, NCS, (South South); Muhammed Babandede, NIS, North; Hameed Ali, NCS, (North); Ahmed Abubakar Audi NSCDC, (North); Boboye Oyeyemi, FRSC, (North); Liman Alhaji Ibrahim, FFS, (North); Abdulrasheed Bawa, EFCC, (North), Bolaji Owasanoye, ICPC, (South west); Buba Marwa, NDLEA (North).

And following Tinubu’s decision to omit South-East from his recently constituted presidential transition committee, individuals and groups such as Ohanaeze Ndigbo, are wondering if the in-coming administration has inherited the perceived neglect shown to the South-East by the Buhari administration.

This issue, Dr. Emeka Nwosu, a political analyst and former Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs to ex-Senate President, Evan Enwerem feels it was too early to start to make projections based on the formation of the transition committee.

He explained, It is too early to start to make projections whether he is going to be sectional or non-inclusive going by the composition of the transition council.

I think it is not enough parameters to start to make any conjecture as to what will definitely happen in the next few months and weeks, so let us be positive because when you talk about transition council, it’s not appointment of people who are going to mount the different sectors of the economy or serve in the government.

I think it is a technical group of people who are going to engage the outgoing administration to look at their balance sheet. Let us not start on that trajectory (of whether an Igbo man is in the committee or not).

Because once you start with that, the question they will now ask you is- ‘did you vote for us?’ I think the most important thing is, let’s even allow the committee to do its work. Don’t forget that this matter [Tinubu’s victory] is still in court.

No one knows what is going to happen tomorrow. For me, this is not the parameter to judge anything. It is when the government takes off, by their actions, that’s when we’ll now know whether this government will be run according to the constitutional provisions, because section 14 is clear.

You must not run the government in a way any section of the country will dominate. The last administration did and got away with it because we had a National Assembly that is incompetent and could not question it either because of primordial reasons.

They are the ones that are supposed to question those things but when you present those things, they throw them away.

Don’t forget the way the leadership of the National Assembly emerged. People see leadership as a rubber stamp. We expect that the incoming government must have learnt from Buhari’s non-observance of the Constitution.

Popular singer and half of P-Square music duo, Peter Okoye, aka Mr P, has revealed the role he played in Grammy-award-winning superstar, Wizkid’s days of little beginning.

He said he had high hopes for Wizkid during his early days as an up-and-coming artist when he was signed to Banky W’s EME Records.

Mr P appeared on the latest episode of The 77 Podcast alongside his partner, Paul.

He recalled how he tackled some reporters from snubbing Wizkid when the ‘Ojuelegba’ crooner came to perform at one of their concerts as an opening artist years ago.

He said he told the reporters that Wizkid was going to dominate the music industry in the near future.

Mr P said, We [P-Square] were never the type of artist that looked down on anybody. If you remember, there was a video that went viral where it was P-Square concert and Wizkid was opening for us. So, they [reporters] kept on interviewing only P-Square and we were like, okay, guys, hold on. What about him? They said… I said no, this guy is going to take over tomorrow.

Wizkid is currently the most streamed African artist on Spotify, with over four billion streams. His song ‘Essence’, which featured Tems, is the longest-charting Nigerian song on the US Billboard Hot 100.

Days after the 2023 general elections, insecurity in Rivers State appears to be on the rise.

Within one week, several persons have been reported missing in the State.

The worst hit locations are Igwuruta, Eneka, Nkpor in Rumuolumeni and Mile 3, Diobu axis of Port Harcourt.

About 7 days ago, one Chukwuebuka Julius was reported missing in Obio-Akpor Local Government Area of the state. His whereabouts remain unknown.

Similarly, one 25-year-old Chukwuebuka, who is into interior decoration and furniture, was reported to have left his home at Rumuolumeni community in Obio-Akpor area last Tuesday to Wimpy in Port Harcourt for a job.

The elder brother to the missing young man, Ejike Julius in an interview with DAILY POST disclosed that his brother’s colleague told him that Chukwuebuka received a phone call to come for a job estimation in Choba but never returned.

My mum and my sisters were calling me saying that they’ve not seen Ebuka since Tuesday and his line was not connecting.

On Friday, I had to invite the apprentice that worked with him to my mum’s place to question him about my brother’s whereabouts.

He said he was at home when Ebuka called him to meet him where they are working at Wimpy.

He said Ebuka told him he was going to Choba to take measurements, but he was uncertain if he used public transportation or used a bolt.

We have reported his disappearance to the police.

He said, It’s been about seven days now since he went missing.

On his part, Prestige Ikechi, who is the boss to the missing Chukwuebuka Julius, also spoke on his inability to reach out to his apprentice.

I travelled and i communicated with him earlier on Monday.

I got back Wednesday morning; I saw his mother at my gate, she was crying that she cannot find Ebuka.

So, I told her that maybe he went for a job and was unable to come back.

That Wednesday, we were calling his phone but he wasn’t picking, until in the evening, the phone stopped ringing.

He disclosed, On Wednesday, we reported to the local police around here.

Meanwhile, the spokesman of the Rivers State Police command, Grace Iringe-Koko when contacted, assured that once the incidents were properly reported to the police, adequate action would be taken.

Tno ransom demand has been placed on any of the missing persons as of the time of filing this report.

The incoming government led by president-elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu has been urged to focus on fixing oil and gas security to avert total collapse of Nigeria’s economy.

Dr Osagie Okubor, Chairman of Shell Companies in Nigeria, disclosed this recently at the just concluded Nigeria International Energy Summit in Abuja.

He lamented that vandalism had heavily affected the nation’s oil and gas production capacity.

Accordingly, the country continued to produce crude and gas below capacity due to damage vandals had done to pipelines in the Niger Delta region.

He said the country had lost N2.3 trillion in oil revenue if the prevailing $83 per barrel rate was used.

The amount translates to about 65, 700, 000 crude Brent loss to vandalism and oil theft in under one year.

He cited the example of TNP, a Joint Venture operated by SPDC, which is a major pipeline capable of transporting about 180,000 barrels of crude per day to the Bonny export terminal.

Okunbor added that the TNP was shut down for a year due to oil theft but was reopened for operations after over 460 illegal connections were discovered by the company.

Okunbor said, So, if you ask me what the number one issue has to be for the incoming administration, it has to be the security of oil and gas infrastructure. If you don’t fix it, we have a huge problem,

A group, Nigerian Diaspora Academics and Campaign for Democracy in the United Kingdom and Europe has appealed to President-elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to lead Nigerians out of the bad economy and the insecurity doldrums in the next four years.

The group stated that the country required urgent surgeries.

The President of the group, Dan Farauta, in a statement in Kaduna on Monday, cautioned the President-elect that the mandate freely given to him was not for absenteeism or ghost president.

The group stated that what Nigerians need at this critical juncture of their existence as a people is the person that would be physically available to salvage the country and emancipate them from neocolonialism and brigandage of looters that had invaded the country both internally and externally.

The group noted, Nigerians have invested their political franchise for you which led to your victory in the just concluded presidential election.

The statement also explained that at the moment, Nigeria as a country is badly divided along different strata and was at the brink of collapse due to the current government’s mismanagement of the commonwealth and resources.

The African Union Ambassador, Ousmane Yara has revealed how President-elect, Bola Tinubu got his Guinean citizenship.

Reports had emerged that the All Progressives Congress, APC, Presidential Candidate is a dual citizen.

There had been controversy following the discovery of the passport after a viral video of him and Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, in a helicopter belonging to the Guinean government.

Speaking to the Sun, Yara said Tinubu got his Guinean citizenship because the former President of Guinea, Alpha Conde, saw him as a special envoy.

He stressed that Tinubu’s recognition was as Ambassador extraordinaire (special envoy) of Guinea.

According to him, Tinubu is the biggest pan-Africanist and was given the Special Envoy status by Conde as a show of appreciation for supporting African presidents.

Confirming the viral video, he said Tinubu visited Guinea in 2016 as a guest of then-President Conde during the country’s independence anniversary celebration.

He said, President Conde invited Tinubu to the independence anniversary. Since the official function at every independence anniversary was done in different regions, Tinubu was required to fly from the country’s capital, in a helicopter, to Mamu, where that year’s event was held. That was the video being circulated. At the independence anniversary celebration, President Conde gave Tinubu the honour and privilege of a president, in appreciation of what he did for him during his reelection bid and towards the economic development of Guinea.

He added that the governments extend honorary citizenship to important people who may not be their citizens as a mark of recognition of their contributions to socio-economic and political developments in the countries, which does not make such persons citizens of the countries.

A human rights activist, Festus Ogun, has predicted many Certificates of Return issued after the February 25 and March 18 polls in Nigeria would be handed back.

The legal practitioner advised successful candidates not to get too comfortable.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has been accused of delivering controversial conduct despite receiving billions of naira for preparation.

The umpire’s sins include the malfunction of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the failure to promptly update the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV).

Ogun noted that the “failure on the part of INEC to conduct a free, fair, transparent and credible” exercise has brought about hundreds of cases across the country.

The lawyer, however, expressed confidence about the shocker that awaits a number of winners that will be sworn in on May 29 and in June (federal and state lawmakers).

I am involved in quite a number of election cases where I, alongside others, represent both petitioners and respondents.

This gives me a broad view that even the supposed winners acknowledge that the electioneering process was flawed. Worryingly, some of INEC officials, including RECs and returning officers, were not neutral.

Lots of the Certificate of Return issued by INEC will be returned. I know, as a matter of fact, that there will be review of some of the outcomes.

On how to avoid a repeat of the irregularities witnessed during the elections, the Principal Partner of Festus Ogun Legal demands a system that makes the electoral body “truly independent”.

This starts from the appointment of INEC leadership; the mode of appointment needs to be reviewed. The Adamawa experience shows clearly that some INEC officials are not neutral.

Ogun added, These characters, with respect, are a misfit and a product of a system that allows rogue politicians to appoint their cronies into INEC key decision-making positions.

Section 132 (7) & (8) of the Electoral Act, 2022 allows for petitions to be filed within 21 days after the declaration of results, while the respondents have 21 days to respond.

The judges at the tribunals have 180 days to deliver judgment, and taking into account the April 15 supplementary elections, verdicts are expected between May and October 2023.

The Arewa Youths Consultative Forum, AYCF, on Tuesday, said the South-South and Southeast should be allowed to produce the next Senate President.

AYCF National President, Yerima Shettima, said Senators should avoid picking a leader that would be a rubber stamp to President-elect Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.

Speaking with DAILY POST, Shettima said competence and character should be the basis for selecting the next Senate President.

According to Shettima: “The South-South and Southeast have come to the fore, but it’s left to the National Assembly to look inward because we expect that the Senate Presidency should come from there.

They should look out for a competent hand and consider it. The Southsouth and Southeast are more qualified, and they should come from there. They should consider selecting a more serious-minded person from those zones; they should not consider a rubber-stamped leader.

They should look out for the character before deciding who emerges so that there would be a truly democratic process in the National Assembly. If we have a rubber stamp like this ninth Assembly, then we would have a problem; there must be check and balances.

Shettima also urged Tinubu to ensure his administration provides justice for all Nigerians.

he added, As Tinubu assumes office, I want him to look inward and discharge his duty as the president of Nigeria, he shouldn’t be seen as a sectional leader. He should do justice to all.