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Member representing Idanre/Ifedore Federal Constituency, Hon. Tajudeen Adefisoye has commenced Holiday Summer Coaching for students in two local government areas that make up his constituency.

The ongoing ‘Small Alhaji Summer Coaching’ is being conducted in 10 centres around Idanre and 9 centers around Ifedore Local Government Areas. The summer coaching initiative by Hon. Adefisoye has been ongoing for more than five years in Idanre local government, while it has now been  extended to cover Ifedore local government area as well. 

The educational support initiative of Hon. Adefisoye is designed to produce one outstanding student from each of the 19 centers across the two local government areas for Small Alhaji Scholarship Awards. As the usual practice, assessment test will be conducted for students in all the 19 centers in three major subjects, namely: English, Mathematics and General Studies.

Meanwhile, all the 19 coaching centers have since became beehive of intensive academic activities as hundreds of students turned up for the free summer classes. Some of the interviewed students expressed their immense appreciation to Hon. Adefisoye for the initiative.

Similarly, some parents whose children and wards are participating in the Small Alhaji Summer Coaching have also expressed their profound appreciation to Hon. Adefisoye for his thoughtful initiative. Few of the interviewed parents posited that the initiative of Hon. Adefisoye has relieved them of financial burden of paying for summer coaching in a bid to keep their children academically prepared and focused for a brighter future.

However, the dimension of scholarship award has also brought immeasurable joy to many parents whose children and wards are partaking in the free summer coaching. The parents have urged Hon. Adefisoye to keep up the good work and they assured him of their total support whenever the need arises.

The member representing Idanre/Ifedore Federal Constituency, Hon. Tajudeen Adefisoye has reacted to the online post by Mrs Betty Akeredolu in which she indicated that BEMORE Summer Camp was set to relegate Idanre hill and become the new tourist attraction in Ondo State.

In a statement made available by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Oluyemi Fasipe, Adefisoye commended the BEMORE initiative of Mrs Akeredolu which he described as an envisaged platform for girls to become complete women, an envisioned preparatory avenue to help girls triumph over intimidations, a conceived environment to help girls compete effectively with their male folks and make them rule their world.

However, the Idanre born lawmaker averred that no human initiative  could ever come close, let alone take the place of Idanre hill which is a UNESCO world heritage and approved tourist center for global tourists.

He also described the 500 million years old Idanre hill which resides 3000 feet above sea level as one of the most beautiful natural landscapes, not only in Nigeria, but in the whole of African continent. The lawmaker also glowingly described Idanre hill as a unique ecosystem upon which the cultural landscape and rare beauty of nature are compactly integrated. 
” Idanre hill represents cultural site that encompasses ‘Owa palace’, Old court, Belfry, Agbooogun footprint, Thunder water, Burial mounds amongst other cultural values can never be overtaken by any human initiative”, said Adefisoye.

He further contended that notwithstanding the good intention of Mrs Akeredolu on BEMORE, it should not have been contemplated as having the capacity to overtake Idanre hill. He added that ‘Mare Festival’ would not have been conceived to attract global tourists if Idanre hill did not have money spinning tourism capacity; in addition to its display of esthetic beauty of nature. 

Meanwhile, Adefisoye has urged Governor Rotimi Akeredolu to reactivate the yearly ‘Mare Festival’ in other to open Ondo State to global tourists and investors by leveraging on the cultural values embedded in Idanre hill.

The Governor of Lagos State, Governor Babajide SanwoOlu has announced the constitution of his executive council. Solape Agagu-Hammond, daughter of late former Ondo State Governor, Dr. Segun Agagu made the list. Solape is a business executive with over 19 years’ experience in Management Consulting, Risk Management, Banking and Financial Advisory.

She is the Co-Founder and CEO of Impact Hub Lagos, an innovation hub for entrepreneurs which provides work space, offices, consulting services and capacity building programs that inspire, connect and enable impact. Impact Hub Lagos is part of the rapidly expanding Impact Hub network of over 16,000 members across 102 hubs in 50 countries worldwide.

She is also the Founder and CEO of Ten Talents Limited, a business advisory firm providing business planning, recruitment, strategy development, process improvement, organizational transformation, risk management, performance management, programme management and financial advisory services.

Solape commenced her consulting career at Accenture, leaving as a Manager in the Finance and Performance Management Market Unit. She has also previously worked in Credit Administration and Risk Management for a Merchant Bank and served as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of a financial advisory firm based in Lagos with clients across Nigeria, Ghana, Zambia and other parts of Africa.

Solape earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics from the University of Ibadan and a Masters in Business Administration (MBA) degree from INSEAD.

She is passionate about social change and serves as Secretary to the Board of Trustees for the Handicapped Education Foundation (HANDEF) and is a member of the International Women’s Society (IWS), Hospitals for Humanity (HFH) and the Nigerian Leadership Initiative (NLI). She also serves as the Chairperson of KHAN Regenesis, a not-for-profit organization focused on bringing positive change to the vocational sector, particularly as relates to construction. KHAN specializes in concept development, programme management, vocational training support, placement services, policy development and advocacy.

Solape also sits on the Board or Advisory Councils of various for-profit organisations including Olorunsogo Power Plc, Page Financials, Gerocare.org, Studio Lumiere, Mums in Tech UK LLC and the Nigerian-Norwegian Chamber of Commerce.

The palace of the Deji of Akure, Oba Aladetoyinbo Ogunlade Aladelusi, has announced the dates of the celebration of Aheregbe popularly called “Dududu” and Omojao festivals and the subsequent closure of markets on the said dates as demanded by tradition. Aheregbe will hold on Wednesday 14th of August, 2019 while Omojao will hold on Thursday 29th of August, 2019.

In a press release signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the Deji of Akure Kingdom, Adeyeye Michael, the palace informed the Kingdom “all markets, shops and stalls within Akure kingdom will be closed on the dates to observe the festivals.”

However, the festival will not in anyway affect human and vehicular movements.

Few days ago, Akwa lbom people and Nigerians were shocked to their marrows over a story that went viral on different social media handles which revealed the criminal antecedents of the former Vice President of Nigerian Bar Association(NBA) Ikeja Branch, Barr. Monday Ubani now better described as erstwhile activist, publicly told the world his romance with former a Senator who lost on his bid to secure his return ticket to the 8th Assembly, Sen. Godswill Akpabio. Its a shocker and It beats my imagination to hear  that even those that should be the custodians of truth, these self-styled activists  have transmogrified themselves to oracles of falsehood, lies and deceit. They have been dignified as inventors of evil and deceit. It shows how decayed our society and those who in  daily basis deceived Nigerians that they are defending their interest on radio and television, and one of such reprobate character  is Barr. Ubani, whose name  now synonymous  with lack of principle,  corruption and association with corrupt politicians, his desperation to get rich quickly, standing surtie as a lawyer to a client and transferring client’s property illegally to prevent Efcc from investigation. This is the true face and  character  of Ubani, a shameless self-style  erstwhile activist and the tragedy of a decadent society.

Ubani of recent has been alleged to have boasted  that he will  use his connections with some renowned Lawyers and judges in Abuja to secure Akpabio’s triumph in the ongoing Tribunal case against his opponent, Sen. Christopher Ekpenyong that we in lkot Ekpene senatorial district voted for as our senator when Akpabio suddenly abandoned us and jumped to his new party without telling us because he thinks that   we are his property and he owns us. This useless hungry bread and butter activist we used to watch on television planning to buy judges even when it has become so glaring clear that Akpabio will never return to the 9th National Assembly. Of course, he has to boast in order to put food on his table, having lost trust and integrity based on his involvement in shady deals. He is now depending and subscribing to manipulation to remain in the “business”.

Ubani also promised to incite the public against the Akwa Ibom Resident Electoral Commissioner of INEC, Mike Igini, a man who made it possible for all the Akwa lbom people to see ballot papers for the first time after 1999 that our people see as our liberator from the manipulation of Akpabio and his devious group all these years.  Sounds preposterous, or better still, as a fairy tale.

 Ubani’s recent reply to a story wherein it was revealed to have been the brain behind a certain doctored audio and video confirmed everything and even more reaveling.

The fake activist  boasted and very proud of being a friend to Akpabio, very shameful. He tried fooling himself by laying  curses to win sympathy and pity.  There’s nothing he can do  to wash himself from this mess. We now know him as one of those who have been deceiving Nigerians all these years pretending to be a human rights activists.

I saw him on channels tv few days ago and immediately turned off to another channel. No Nigerian regards him as a genuine activist anymore but a fake , deceitful bread and butter activist out to con Nigerians.  Now, it shows how battered his cognitive capacity has been. Ubani  is not better than a native doctor with his fake  curses he rained in his useless reply.  He even cried like a guilty thief, cursing his family and generations unborn. He confirmed what was initially an allegation  that he is a lawyer to Akpabio . So why raining curses upon himself?  Truth is, Ubani has been unmasked and can no longer deceive and fool Nigerians anymore and can do anything to remain relevant. Ubani’s conscience is already sold to corrupt politicians  because of his desperation to make money and not reasoning well.

He actually  confirmed  he knew and  has knowledge of the audio recording, only that he did not “procure”  nor “circulate” it himself which is besides the issue. The sins of knowing and doing are basically the same. what is the difference between giving robbers information to rob a person and the actual robbery? No difference. The person with the information is a partner in crime. He plays his part and leaves the rest to those in charge. This is exactly what Ubani did in this case. Nobody said he is a member of media team but that he advised that the audio tape should be put the on social media.
He further confirmed his boastful claim of Akpabio’s victory when he said in his replies ” they know they are going to lose the case at the Tribunal”. This is to say that he is guilty of collecting so much millions of Naira from Akpabio in his claim to be working with judges in Abuja to secure his win at the Tribunal. Why is he so sure when Akpabio himself is not even sure of his victory? Is this not taking paracetamol for another man’s headache? Evidences provided so far shows that he is not going anywhere. Even the presidency knows this which warranted his recent nomination and subsequent screening as a minister. People have failed to read the handwriting on the wall.

Again, Ubani claimed that he has not been paid legal fees apart from transportation and accommodation bills. Is his service to Akpabio pro bono(free) as lawyers call it ? Will  Ubani who stood surtie for an alleged corrupt fugitive declared wanted by EFCC for which he was later detained for 30 days represents Akpabio in election matter pro bono ? He loves money more than his life and would do anything for money. As a reminder to the general public, Ubani is just on bail and sooner or later he will be arrested again since the fugitive Olejeme has not reported to Efcc.

Moreover, Ubani has proudly affirmed that Akpabio who has over N108bn corruption charges is his best and bosom friend. What manner of activist is Ubani who is happy to brag about his association with people like Uche Ogar, Godswill Akpabio, individuals  whose  actions of looting public treasury   has caused extreme poverty on Nigerians and so on?

As an Akwa  lbomite who had in time past watched this character called Ubani on television, it was difficult to believe what I initially read on social media  until I read his useless response on vanguard.  Nigeria is finished, l was thinking that Barr. Ubani has at least an iota of integrity not until I read the nonsense   he considered as his reply to a factual  piece. Crying, quoting of Bible portions and issuing of curses by, I can now say that Ubani is nothing but  shameless false activist.

I didn’t expect anything less because Ubani has lost public trust, relevance and significance. But crying will not save his face, Nigerian should note this new deceitful tactics to that Ubani put out to enrich himself.

Imaikop Udosen is political activist and writes in from Ika LGAUbani And Smear Campaign: An open embrace of corrupt politicians

Few days ago, Akwa lbom people and Nigerians were shocked to their marrows over a story that went viral on different social media handles which revealed the criminal antecedents of the former Vice President of Nigerian Bar Association(NBA) Ikeja Branch, Barr. Monday Ubani now better described as erstwhile activist, publicly told the world his romance with former a Senator who lost on his bid to secure his return ticket to the 8th Assembly, Sen. Godswill Akpabio. Its a shocker and It beats my imagination to hear  that even those that should be the custodians of truth, these self-styled activists  have transmogrified themselves to oracles of falsehood, lies and deceit. They have been dignified as inventors of evil and deceit. It shows how decayed our society and those who in  daily basis deceived Nigerians that they are defending their interest on radio and television, and one of such reprobate character  is Barr. Ubani, whose name  now synonymous  with lack of principle,  corruption and association with corrupt politicians, his desperation to get rich quickly, standing surtie as a lawyer to a client and transferring client’s property illegally to prevent Efcc from investigation. This is the true face and  character  of Ubani, a shameless self-style  erstwhile activist and the tragedy of a decadent society.

Ubani of recent has been alleged to have boasted  that he will  use his connections with some renowned Lawyers and judges in Abuja to secure Akpabio’s triumph in the ongoing Tribunal case against his opponent, Sen. Christopher Ekpenyong that we in lkot Ekpene senatorial district voted for as our senator when Akpabio suddenly abandoned us and jumped to his new party without telling us because he thinks that   we are his property and he owns us. This useless hungry bread and butter activist we used to watch on television planning to buy judges even when it has become so glaring clear that Akpabio will never return to the 9th National Assembly. Of course, he has to boast in order to put food on his table, having lost trust and integrity based on his involvement in shady deals. He is now depending and subscribing to manipulation to remain in the “business”.

Ubani also promised to incite the public against the Akwa Ibom Resident Electoral Commissioner of INEC, Mike Igini, a man who made it possible for all the Akwa lbom people to see ballot papers for the first time after 1999 that our people see as our liberator from the manipulation of Akpabio and his devious group all these years.  Sounds preposterous, or better still, as a fairy tale.

 Ubani’s recent reply to a story wherein it was revealed to have been the brain behind a certain doctored audio and video confirmed everything and even more reaveling.

The fake activist  boasted and very proud of being a friend to Akpabio, very shameful. He tried fooling himself by laying  curses to win sympathy and pity.  There’s nothing he can do  to wash himself from this mess. We now know him as one of those who have been deceiving Nigerians all these years pretending to be a human rights activists.

I saw him on channels tv few days ago and immediately turned off to another channel. No Nigerian regards him as a genuine activist anymore but a fake , deceitful bread and butter activist out to con Nigerians.  Now, it shows how battered his cognitive capacity has been. Ubani  is not better than a native doctor with his fake  curses he rained in his useless reply.  He even cried like a guilty thief, cursing his family and generations unborn. He confirmed what was initially an allegation  that he is a lawyer to Akpabio . So why raining curses upon himself?  Truth is, Ubani has been unmasked and can no longer deceive and fool Nigerians anymore and can do anything to remain relevant. Ubani’s conscience is already sold to corrupt politicians  because of his desperation to make money and not reasoning well.

He actually  confirmed  he knew and  has knowledge of the audio recording, only that he did not “procure”  nor “circulate” it himself which is besides the issue. The sins of knowing and doing are basically the same. what is the difference between giving robbers information to rob a person and the actual robbery? No difference. The person with the information is a partner in crime. He plays his part and leaves the rest to those in charge. This is exactly what Ubani did in this case. Nobody said he is a member of media team but that he advised that the audio tape should be put the on social media.
He further confirmed his boastful claim of Akpabio’s victory when he said in his replies ” they know they are going to lose the case at the Tribunal”. This is to say that he is guilty of collecting so much millions of Naira from Akpabio in his claim to be working with judges in Abuja to secure his win at the Tribunal. Why is he so sure when Akpabio himself is not even sure of his victory? Is this not taking paracetamol for another man’s headache? Evidences provided so far shows that he is not going anywhere. Even the presidency knows this which warranted his recent nomination and subsequent screening as a minister. People have failed to read the handwriting on the wall.

Again, Ubani claimed that he has not been paid legal fees apart from transportation and accommodation bills. Is his service to Akpabio pro bono(free) as lawyers call it ? Will  Ubani who stood surtie for an alleged corrupt fugitive declared wanted by EFCC for which he was later detained for 30 days represents Akpabio in election matter pro bono ? He loves money more than his life and would do anything for money. As a reminder to the general public, Ubani is just on bail and sooner or later he will be arrested again since the fugitive Olejeme has not reported to Efcc.

Moreover, Ubani has proudly affirmed that Akpabio who has over N108bn corruption charges is his best and bosom friend. What manner of activist is Ubani who is happy to brag about his association with people like Uche Ogar, Godswill Akpabio, individuals  whose  actions of looting public treasury   has caused extreme poverty on Nigerians and so on?

As an Akwa  lbomite who had in time past watched this character called Ubani on television, it was difficult to believe what I initially read on social media  until I read his useless response on vanguard.  Nigeria is finished, l was thinking that Barr. Ubani has at least an iota of integrity not until I read the nonsense   he considered as his reply to a factual  piece. Crying, quoting of Bible portions and issuing of curses by, I can now say that Ubani is nothing but  shameless false activist.

I didn’t expect anything less because Ubani has lost public trust, relevance and significance. But crying will not save his face, Nigerian should note this new deceitful tactics to that Ubani put out to enrich himself.

Imaikop Udosen is political activist and writes in from Ika LGA

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) does not have the authority to seize vehicle documents from motorists, a senior officer of the government organisation, Zakari Mohammed, has said. Mohammed, however, said driver’s licence is the property of the federal government and the FRSC officers have the right to withhold it from erring motorists. 


Sunshine Reporters reports that Mohammed, who is the FRSC RS8.17 Ilorin, Kwara state unit commander, spoke on Thursday, August 1 at a stakeholders’ meeting.


 In his presentation at the event, the legal officer of the FRSC, Kayode Ajibike, said men of the agency have the legal power to toll vehicles of any erring driver. He also said such vehicles would be handed over to the police. “If you know you have not committed the offence which you are accused to have committed, you can challenge such road safety official,” he said. 


Sunshine Reporters earlier reported that the FRSC warned its officers against chasing erring motorists no matter the traffic offence committed. The corps spokesperson, Bisi Kazeem, gave the warning in a telephone interview with agency in Lagos recently while reacting to media reports of an accident in Ibadan following a chase by FRSC officers. Kazeem noted that the corps marshal of the FRSC, Boboye Oyeyemi, frowned at the incident. He said: “The corps marshal, Mr Boboye Oyeyemi, condemned the act as it is our rule that officers should not chase any erring motorist. “Rather the vehicle number should be taken and the offender will in no time be arrested through our drivers’ licence portal.” 

Prominent Ikale High Chiefs today described the stance of Ondo State Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, towards the Ikale nation over the land tussle issue between Ikale people of Ondo State and their Araromi Obu neighbours during a press conference at Akure, as being misinformed, ignorant and divisive. The Chiefs were led by Prince Dr. (Gen) Joseph Oluyemi Bajowa, the Jagunmolu(Warlord) of Ikaleland. Crisis erupted between Araromi Obu people of Odigbo Local Government and the Ikale people of Okitipupa local government after an Akure High Court judgement gave the land currently inhabitated by Araromi Obu people to Ikale.

 In 2004, Oba Adelola, Ajobu of Araromi Obu, with some leaders of Araromi-Obu and Odigbo Local Government itself, filed an action in Suit No: HOR/2/2004, where they sought to evacuate the Ikale people from what they described as Araromi-Obu land which extended to and covered over 50 Ikale communities, all around Araromi-Obu. A case which they lost. On 16th of July, 2019, crisis broke up between Ikales and Araromi Obu people which led to loss of lives and properties were destroyed. Governor Akeredolu had visited the towns and imposed a 24 hours curfew on Ago Alaye, an Ikale town on the border of Okitipupa and Odigbo LGs. A move which has not gone down well with the Ikale people who said they were the victims of an attack by Araromi Obu people.

The Governor, it was reported by the General, is said to have tongue lashed Ikale kings and chiefs in a meeting after his visit to the crisis area. “I was at the palace of Abodi of Ikale Land when the Ondo State Governor visited. I was shocked and horrified at the Governor’s public display and pronouncement of power, devoid of decency and protocol, by taking the Abodi of Ikale Land and other Ikale traditional rulers present, to the cleaners. He threatened to instruct the security services to level to the ground Ago Alaye and other Ikale villages in Araromi-Obu and its environs; he also threw caution to the wind, by boasting that he does not need Ikale votes for his re-election! At this point, I had to cut in with reverence and cautioned against any bias and indiscriminate arrest of Ikale people. I also advised the government to abide by the rule of law, whilst I implored the security services to confine their activities to the established/standard operational rule of engagement, noting that we are in a democratic dispensation” Bajowa said.

General Olu Bajowa gave a detailed account of what transpired between Ikale and Araromi Obu people, who he claimed are tenants on Ikaleland. “The Ikale people both at home and abroad, are disturbed by the turn of events between them and Araromi-Obu settlers who have lived and settled on our land since the 19th century. Over the years, the Ikale people living around Araromi-Obu, have had to put up with a lot of indignities from the Araromi-Obu settlers because almost every Araromi-Obu settler has his mother or wife of Ikale origin. For example, the mother of the current Ajobu of Araromi-Obu, Oba Aderemi Adelola, is from Agirifon-Osooro, in Ikale Land.” he added.

Bajowa indicted the monarch of Araromi Obu as being the one formenting trouble since he ascended the throne despite being a son of Ikale as his mother is an Ikale woman from Ilutitun Osooro. “Since Oba Adelola ascended the throne of the Ajobu, the relationship between Ikale people and the Araromi-Obu settlers nose-dived on all fronts. These settlers began to address the Ikale landowners as non-indigenes. This unwholesome non-indigene narrative wrongly enjoyed the full support of Odigbo Local Government. Consequently, the relationship between Ikale people and Araromi-Obu settlers deteriorated.” he said.

“When the suit was filed in 2004, Ikale people pleaded for out of court settlement, not because we had a bad case, but because the Ikale people did not intend to waste money on litigation and most especially, because almost every Araromi-Obu person is related, through their mother side, to Ikale people. The Ajobu, his Chiefs and Odigbo Local Government, derisively shoved aside our request for out of court settlement and chose the option of litigation!” he added.
The land case HOR/2/2004 ended in favour of Ikale people on May 13, 2019 when the court, in large measure, granted Ikale “counter-claim” and restrained the Araromi-Obu settlers from trespassing unto the lands confirmed by the court of law to belong to the Ikale people.

It was reported Ikale people waited for well over a month after the judgment, primarily to avail Araromi-Obu settlers the chance to evacuate whatever they may have on the land and to see if Araromi-Obu people wanted to disobey the order of injunction restraining them from further acts of trespass on our lands. While this was on, ikale caused necessary court forms to be issued and served with the notice of the judgement on the leadership of Araromi-Obu settlers. Having discovered that they have stayed away from the land, the Ikale people decided to continue their farming on the lands, as pronounced by the court.

“On the 16 July 2019, when a group of Ikale people were on their way to their farms located on the way to Araromi-Obu, they were ambushed and attacked by Araromi-Obu boys who were armed with cutlasses and sophisticated weapons, so badly that the intestines of one of the Ikale farmers spilled out, while others received severe gunshot wounds. There were also unfortunate losses of lives during the sporadic firing by the aggressors. Amongst the attackers were Okuyemi Sola (a.k.a Agba), Seun Akinbule (a.k.a. Oba Ilu kan), Folu Akinmadelo (a.k.a. Chief FAA) and Sunkanmi Ogundayomi, all were teleguided by the powers that be, with an indigene of Araromi-Obu, who is also a current Commissioner in the Ondo State Government, as their arrow head.”

“It was learnt that the aggressors hurriedly buried their casualties without autopsy or Police investigation. We also learnt that the Military Task Force drafted to the area made some arrests and recovered some weapons and ammunition from the Araromi-Obu aggressors and their militants, who were handed to The Police and State Secret Service (SSS). The Ikale people on their part evacuated their casualty whose intestine was spilled out with other wounded farmers, to the hospital at Ore, where they were presented with a non-negotiable bill of N1million. In the midst of this melee, some houses were touched at Ago Alaye and Araromi-Obu as reprisal attack by both sides. However, while the houses of Araromi-Obu settlers torched in Ago Alaye were located along the roadside, those of the Ikale people torched in Araromi-Obu and its environs were located away from the roadside and immediate public glare. This apparently gave the wrong impression that Ikale people were the aggressors and also probably informed the reaction of the Ondo State Governor, Arakunrin Rotimi Akeredolu SAN, who formed an opinion before his visit to the palace of His Royal Majesty Oba George Faduyile, the Abodi of Ikale Land.”

The Governor Arakunrin Rotimi Akeredolu SAN, then promised to set up a committee to investigate the Araromi-Obu/Ikale crisis. The Committee is yet to be put in place as at date.

“As at today, 15 Ikale persons including an 89 year old man have been arrested and all of them have been remanded in Prison custody. Incidentally, these are people who were not involved in the fracas, but were merely waiting for the Governor to give him information that could have led to a peaceful resolution of the crises. Surprisingly, no police arrest had been made on the side of Araromi-Obu settlers and neither was anything heard about the armed Araromi Obu aggressors and militants arrested by the Military Task Force who were handed over to the security agencies with their weapons! In spite of reporting the unprovoked attack and injuries sustained by Ikale people to the Commissioner of Police, the Police have neither investigated our petition nor ask about our injured. We were forced to lick our wounds. Ago Alaye has been placed under a 24 hours curfew since the 18th of July, 2019 making it impossible for Ikale people to go to their farms, trade their wares, take their children to school, visit their people or cater for the sick in the Health Centers, while Araromi-Obu settlers remained free, moving about and destroying Ikale properties, leading Police to break into Ikale houses, killing their animals, harassing and arresting the residents for no just reason. The Ikale people in the area are under seige of the Araromi-Obu settlers and the Police. These have devastated the lives and economy of Ikales people at Ago Alaye and Agirifon villages. Ago Alaye has now become a ghost town and a shadow of itself. As result of Government partial actions, the Araromi-Obu settlers have been emboldened and have resorted to ordering all Ikale people to leave Araromi-Obu. Just as Araromi-Obu is home to many Ikale people, Obu settlers are also resident and are accommodated in almost all Ikale towns and villages. We want to use this opportunity to appeal to the settlers to avoid anything that can aggravate the regrettable situation by allowing Ikale people to continue to stay in their ancestral land.” the civil war veteran added.

Meanwhile, the General also decried the solicited support of Rubber Estate of Nigeria Limited to the Araromi Obu people in the whole issue. “We want it stated clearly at the outset that Ikale people are not, by their complaint against the roles of the Rubber Estates Nigeria Limited (the company), making any claim in relation to the acquired land. However, the company has turned out to be an engine of oppression against Ikale people in the hands of the Araromi-Obu boys who exclusively dominate its middle level management positions. In R.E.N.L, no indigene of Ondo state outside Araromi Obu is allowed to hold any middle level management positions. For this and other beneficial purposes, there is a clear and strong dichotomy between indigenes (Araromi-Obu settlers) and non-indigenes (every other person)

The Ikale people thereafter demanded that “an independent administrative enquiry should be set up by the Government to look into the immediate and remote causes of the incessant crisis between Araromi-Obu settlers and the Ikale people. Odigbo Local Government should desist from sponsoring the hate campaign by Araromi-Obu settlers in the unlawful and unethical demand for the evacuation of the Ikale people from their ancestral lands; and debarring the Ikale people from performing their traditional and customary rights in the land of their heritage”. Bajowa said.

Other Ikaleland High Chiefs in attendance are High Chief Akeremale, Petu of Idepe Okitipupa, High Chief Tony Aderehinwo, the Ojan of Erinje, Chiefs Clement Medoye, Obayemi Akojaya of Idepe Okitipupa Kingdom. Barr. Bayo Ehinmosan, the Chairman of Ikale Central Organization was also in attendance.