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It began, as many Nigerian scandals now do, with a viral clip. From the glittering stage of COZA, Pastor Biodun Fatoyinbo told his congregation that Apostle Joseph Ayo Babalola, the revered revivalist who founded the Christ Apostolic Church (CAC), “had no money” and left his children poor. Within hours, the outrage was everywhere. CAC’s leadership called the claim a lie. Babalola’s family issued their own statement, warning against dragging a man who built his ministry on prayer and sacrifice into the mud of material comparison.

On the surface, it looked like another church quarrel over historical facts. In truth, it was something far deeper: a flashpoint in the long, quiet marriage between Nigerian Pentecostalism and the worship of wealth. For decades, pastors have trained millions to believe that divine favour can be measured in bank balances, that the size of a man’s miracle is the size of his mansion. It is a theology that has not only reshaped the church but has also helped normalise corruption in every sphere of Nigerian life.

In today’s Nigerian church culture, salvation is not the only product on offer. From the pulpit, affluence is preached as anointing and luxury is sold as legitimacy. CAC is not blameless. Its own leadership crises have stained its moral authority. But Pentecostal celebrity pastors have perfected the formula: lavish lifestyles paraded as sermon illustrations, “seed sowing” framed as an investment scheme, and public theology that sanitises unexplained wealth.

Pastor E.A. Adeboye of the Redeemed Christian Church of God offered a striking example earlier this month when he appealed for ₦1 billion each from ten people and ₦100 million from a hundred more without the slightest call to verify the source of those funds. In a country where politicians, contractors and oil barons routinely plunder the public purse, such an appeal functions as a moral laundering service. All it takes is a tithe envelope and a public altar for suspect billions to be transformed into “kingdom investment.”

This is not a slip of the tongue or a harmless fundraising tactic. It reflects a wider Pentecostal habit of extending spiritual legitimacy to wealth without asking hard questions. Fatoyinbo’s comments struck a nerve because they suggest that a ministry without visible opulence is somehow deficient. CAC’s defence of Babalola may be justified, but it rings hollow unless the church also confronts the wider reality: for decades, Nigerian congregations have been trained to equate cash with calling.

When pastors decline to question the provenance of vast donations, they normalise the belief that money is morally neutral as long as it is “used for God.” This thinking has seeped into Nigeria’s political culture. If stolen billions can buy a front-row seat in church, why should those same billions not buy legitimacy in public office? The sanctuary becomes less a place of worship and more a reputational laundromat.

Fatoyinbo, Adeboye, CAC, they all operate in the same religious economy. One defends a founder’s frugality, another solicits fortunes without scrutiny, but both are participants in a system where spiritual authority and financial display are hopelessly entangled.

If Nigerian Christianity is to break free from its role as a handmaiden of corruption, it must rewrite the script. That means rejecting the wealth-equals-worth theology from the pulpit to the offering basket, making financial transparency non-negotiable by publishing budgets and auditing donations, and refusing the moral laundering of dirty money regardless of how much arrives in the envelope.

Apostle Babalola’s legacy was one of uncompromising faith, not fiscal theatrics. Until today’s church leaders choose the same path and teach their congregations to measure righteousness by integrity, not bank balance, they will remain architects of the very corruption they claim to pray against.

All roads lead to Akure, Ondo State, this Saturday, August 16, 2025, as the city prepares to host an illustrious gathering of dignitaries for the public presentation of *The History of Student Unionism*, a thought-provoking book authored by Tunde Akingbondere.

This groundbreaking work delves deep into the pivotal role of student unionism in shaping the socio-political landscape of Nigeria, emphasizing its significance in grooming young leaders for national progress. The book launch, already generating buzz, is set to take place at the prestigious Royal Birds Hotels and Towers, Alagbaka, Akure, at 10 a.m.

The event will be chaired by the inimitable Mr. Femi Falana SAN, a renowned human rights advocate celebrated for his fiery rhetoric and unwavering commitment to justice. Adding royal splendor to the occasion, His Royal Majesty, Oba Aladetoyinbo Ogunlade Aladelusi, the Deji of Akure, will serve as the Royal Father of the Day.

The lineup of prominent personalities is nothing short of scintillating. Senator Babafemi Ojudu, Prophet (Dr.) Ebenezer Akinsunlola, Hon. Festus Akingbaso, Mr. Rotimi Jones (FCA), Hon. Kingsley Kuku, Professor Abayomi Onigbinde, Hon. Ebenezer Adeniyan, and Barr. George Asonja are among the distinguished guests and launchers expected to grace the occasion.

With such an impressive roster of attendees and an enlightening book at the center of the event, Akure is set to witness a truly memorable day of intellectual and cultural celebration.

‎It has been a week of the theatre of the absurd in Ondo State, a week where the stage lights of politics burned bright while the lamps of governance glimmer faintly in the background. The ₦31 billion Judiciary Village, once paraded as a monument of progress, found itself at the heart of a scandal. Quiet whispers grew into confident murmurs that a section of the project had collapsed. While anonymous judiciary workers confirmed that a section indeed came crashing down, causing panic and sending people running for safety, the administration’s response was a masterclass in denial. Drone-shot videos rolled out, carefully edited statements flowed from the Commissioner’s office, and the CPS, all harmonising in a single refrain that nothing happened. Yet, under the cover of this official chorus, repairs were carried out on the damaged portion. But, as always, the government’s instinct was not to fix the rot but to polish the lie.

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‎The week also unveiled one of the most ironic turns in the Governor’s political script. Not too long ago, his media handlers danced across social media announcing the retirement of what they triumphantly called spent politicians. Today, those same elders are seated with dignified smiles on the Governor’s newly minted Advisory Council. This sudden embrace is presented as strategic wisdom, yet it reads more like political theatre. The Lagos model of such a council thrives on earned respect and proven leadership. Here, it is built on convenience, on the governor’s newfound need for allies he once dismissed when he formed his cabinet and rejected their nominees. The hypocrisy is almost artistic.

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‎And then there is the quiet figure of Deputy Governor Olayide Adelami, whose role in government now seems almost ceremonial. His days are measured in photo opportunities and appearances at social functions, standing in for a governor too preoccupied with political positioning. The ministries that once reported to his office no longer do so. His official lodge remains untouched by government funds, turning him into a long-term hotel resident. What ought to be the second heartbeat of the executive arm has been reduced to a polite silence, loyal yet redundant, present yet powerless.

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‎Numbers, however, have no loyalty to spin. Over ₦150 billion has reportedly entered the state’s coffers from Abuja between January and June 2025. Yet the projects inherited from past administrations have stalled, and the grand new ones launched with fanfare and flashing cameras have refused to rise from the ground. The people are left to wonder where the money has gone and why their governor’s gaze seems fixed firmly on the far horizon of 2027 rather than the immediate needs of today. In this one week, Ondo has seen a leader who blooms under the bright lights of political performance but withers in the quiet demands of governance, leaving the state adrift in a sea where the paddles row towards power while the ship of service drifts farther from shore.

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‎In the end, what this week has revealed is not just a government distracted, but a government defined by distraction. It is a portrait of an administration more invested in controlling the narrative than in confronting the problems that choke the state’s progress. For a governor who wishes to be remembered as a leader, there must be more than press statements, ceremonial councils, and drone shots. There must be the hard, unglamorous work of service. Without it, Ondo’s history will remember these days as the season when politics danced in the town square while governance sat abandoned at the crossroads.

Residents of Akure and its environs will witness a total closure of all markets, stalls, and shops on Thursday, 14th August, 2025, as the ancient town observes the annual Aheregbe Festival, an age-long cultural tradition.

In a statement signed by Adeyeye Michael, Chief Press Secretary to the Deji of Akure Kingdom, His Majesty, the Deji and Paramount Ruler of Akure, directed that all trading activities, including the opening of stalls and shops, be suspended for the day. The statement emphasized that the directive applies strictly to all business outlets, with no opening under any guise.

However, the palace clarified that pharmacies and patent medicine stores will be exempted from the closure in recognition of the importance of healthcare services. It also assured residents and travelers that the celebration will not restrict human or vehicular movement within the city.

The Aheregbe Festival, deeply rooted in Akure’s history, is one of the town’s most revered cultural events, celebrated annually to honor tradition and heritage.

The Sunshine Grassroots Network (SGN) has formally expressed gratitude to key political leaders in Ondo State for the warm reception accorded to its members following their decision to join the All Progressives Congress (APC).

In a statement signed by its Coordinator and former Deputy Governorship candidate of the Labour Party at the last governorship election in the State, Hon. Dayo Awude, and Secretary, Olu Egbodofo, the group commended Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa for personally receiving them and for his support towards the success of their defection. The SGN said the Governor’s assurances had proven that the APC is “home for us, and open to all.”

The network particularly acknowledged the role of the Minister of Interior, Hon. Bunmi Tunji Ojo (BTO), in initiating the conversation that led to their joining the party. The statement specially praised him for his “encouragement and immense support” for the group’s move, describing him as “a performing minister and a good ambassador” of the State.

The group also extended special appreciation to the Ondo APC chairman, Engr. Ade Adetimehin and the APC leadership at all levels for the “very warm reception” accorded to the group since the beginning of the process, culminating in their formal entry into the party.

“To the generality of our brothers and sisters in the APC, we say thank you. God bless you all.” The statement concluded.

Convener of Mekunu Koya, a former General Secretary of United Actions For Democracy UAD Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR), Comrade Wale Balogun, has delivered a stinging critique of Nigeria’s political leadership, accusing the ruling class of driving the country deeper into corruption, insecurity, economic hardship, and ethnic disunity.

Speaking on Sunday, August 10, 2025, during the monthly CDHR meeting in Lagos, Balogun lamented that 26 years into the Fourth Republic, democracy in Nigeria had been reduced to “rituals of imposition and manipulation,” with elections serving the interests of the powerful rather than the will of the people.

He condemned what he described as the “suppression of dissent” and the “targeting of activists,” warning that the harassment of journalists, freezing of civil society accounts, and deployment of security forces against peaceful protesters were “signs not of strength, but of fear, fear of an awakened citizenry.” Balogun also faulted the removal of fuel subsidies without adequate welfare measures for the poor, the plummeting value of the naira, and the deterioration of public infrastructure.

The CDHR stalwart further raised alarm over Nigeria’s worsening insecurity, arguing that the state was “gradually losing its monopoly on violence.” He called for a united front of the oppressed across ethnic, regional, and class lines to challenge elite domination and dismantle systems that “enable impunity, marginalisation, and injustice.”

On the rising ethnic tension in Lagos, Balogun accused President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s political dynasty of orchestrating anti-Igbo rhetoric for electoral gain. “The Igbo are not the enemies of the Yoruba in Lagos,” he said, stressing that the real enemy was “the corrupt political elite, Yoruba by name but anti-Yoruba by action, who have run Lagos like a private estate for 26 years.”

Balogun urged Nigerians to reject ethnic profiling, election time hate campaigns, and divisive politics, insisting that “Yoruba, Igbo, Hausa, and Ijaw must unite, not as ethnic blocs but as oppressed peoples facing the same hardship.”

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Joint Campus Council (JCC) Ondo State Axis, has announced the election of new executives to fill key leadership positions in the body.

The elections, which took place during a Senate sitting held on Sunday, August 10, 2025, at Adeyemi Federal University of Education, Ondo, were described by the leadership as peaceful and marked by unity, mutual respect, and a shared commitment to the student cause.

Comrade Abiodun Victor from the University of Medical Sciences, Ondo (UNIMED) emerged as the new Vice Chairman, while Comrade Medouye Taiwo from the College of Health Technology, Akure (CHTA) was elected Vice Chairman Inter-Campus. Comrade Raheem Jemilat A. from Olusegun Agagu University of Science and Technology (OAUSTECH) was elected Director of Gender.

In a congratulatory message signed by NANS JCC Ondo State Chairman, Comrade Adekanye Mayomi Adeboye (INEC), and General Secretary, Comrade Oladele Oluwafemi Emmanuel (Fresh Diamond), the new executives were hailed as “trusted allies in the continuous fight for the welfare, rights, and academic progress of Nigerian students.” The leadership expressed confidence that the newly elected officers would bring fresh energy and renewed focus to the council’s activities.

Tension is brewing in Owo Local Government Area as a coalition of youths has accused the Council Chairman, Hon. Tope Omolayo, of attempting to suppress free expression by allegedly petitioning a youth leader to the Department of State Services (DSS).

In a statement signed by Adegboyin Ojo on behalf of Owo youths, the group alleged that Mr. Henry Fadeyi, described as a “credible and vibrant youth” in the community, was targeted after expressing concerns about insecurity and what he perceived as the ineffective handling of the situation by the local government authorities.

The statement described the alleged petition as “a direct affront on our collective freedom of speech” and likened the move to an attempt to instil fear among residents, especially young people. “It is surprising to see such barbarism play out in a society where the rule of law is expected to be supreme. Reporting every criticism to security agencies is an act targeted at silencing the people,” the group said.

The youths warned that any form of harm, intimidation, or unlawful interrogation against Mr. Fadeyi would be met with a peaceful but large-scale protest. “We will not hesitate to mobilise ourselves in great numbers to demonstrate our displeasure towards this unconstitutional act,” the statement added.

As of press time, Hon. Omolayo had yet to respond to the allegations.

16th August, 2025, will herald the public presentation and launch of “The History of Student Unionism,” a hotly anticipated historical chronicle from widely acclaimed author Tunde Akingbondere. Meticulously crafted yet gripping, it ushers readers through the topsy-turvy saga of youthful activism, struggles, and revolution on our campuses. Its message is pungent and urgent: a radical course-correction back to the glorious days of student unionism, when students led from the front as the vanguard against governmental failure, neo-colonialism, and injustice. The book of history will not forget “smallish” Dapo Falashe, Adaka Boro, Segun Okeowo, Anthony Fashayo, among others.

The History of Student Unionism critically explores themes of social justice, revolution, activism, transformational change, extra-judicial killings, education, communication, injustice, courage, dialogue, litigation, among others. In these pages, readers will discover how student unionism existed and died—and how its spirit can be reawakened, fastening its tardy steed back into motion by weaving history with principled moves for transformational change to arrive at a destination of student power in the country.

Emphasizing the capacity of the book to inspire students power, Professor Pat Utomi, a Professor of Political Economy, while describing the work as the story detailing the rise and fall of student unionism in Nigeria, said:

“Given how much SUGs are perceived to have declined since our time in the 1970s I was shocked someone was taking stock. I am even more ‘shocked’ or better put, pleasantly surprised at Tunde Akingbondere’s excavation of the history of Student Unionism in Nigeria. This is a very important documentation that will prove useful in the socialization of new leaders of students who will lead the restoration of the critical role students have to play in resuscitation of Nigeria.”

We invite you for the official book launch on the 16th August, 2025 at the Royal Birds Hotels and Towers, Alagbaka, Akure, Ondo State. It will come under the Chairmanship of Mr. Femi Falana SAN with dignitaries like Senator Babafemi Ojudu, Hon. Festus Akingbaso, Mr Rotimi Jones (FCA), Prophet Ebenezer Akinsunlola, Professor Akinyemi Onigbinde, Hon. Kingsley Kuku, others featuring prominently. The event will feature a reading by Tunde Akingbondere, followed by a Q&A session and book signing. This is a wonderful platform for fans to engage the author and discuss the inspirations behind the book. The book will be available for purchase.

Tunde Akingbondere is a Nigerian author, journalist, and law graduate. He is the author of three award-winning books.

A prominent civil society organisation, the Coalition for a Corrupt-Free Society and Organised Accountability in Civil Service (CCSOAC), has petitioned the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) over what it describes as a “deliberate act of fraud, forgery, and official deception” by a staff member of the University of Medical Sciences (UNIMED), Ondo, Ondo State.

At the heart of the petition is Mr. Olalekan Oladipo, who is accused of forging a certificate from the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) in order to fraudulently secure promotion into the Procurement Cadre of the University.

The explosive petition, signed by CCSOAC Chairman, Dr. Ayodeji Ologun, detailed how Mr. Oladipo submitted a falsified BPP document titled “Release of Shortlisted Candidates (2016)”, allegedly placing him at No. 348 on the list. This document was used as proof of certification required for advancement to the procurement unit of the institution.

However, the Bureau of Public Procurement has since disclaimed the document as fake, stating clearly in a letter dated addressed to the University’s Vice Chancellor that Mr. Oladipo was never shortlisted, examined, or certified by the Bureau.

“This is not just a case of administrative misconduct; it is a calculated, criminal deception aimed at unlawfully accessing public funds, promotions, and privileges meant for duly qualified professionals.” The petition read.

The civil society group alleged that despite being issued formal queries by the University’s Registrar, Mr. Oladipo repeatedly refused to respond, allegedly relying on powerful connections within and outside the university system to shield him from accountability.

The petition calls on the ICPC to immediately launch a full-scale investigation into Mr. Oladipo’s activities and take appropriate legal action, asking that Mr. Oladipo be investigated and prosecuted for forgery, fraud, and false pretence;

“This case is not just about one man. It is about the larger rot that threatens our institutions when meritocracy is sacrificed on the altar of fraud. The presence of unqualified individuals in sensitive public roles undermines national development and erodes public confidence in the system.” Dr. Ologun noted.

Copies of the petition have also been sent to the Chairman of the Code of Conduct Bureau, the Ondo State Attorney General, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education (Tertiary Institutions), and the Vice Chancellor of UNIMED.