Soun Ogbomoso: Fame, money, not my intention of becoming king — Oba Olaoye.  The historical city of Ogbomoso was on Thursday, agog as the newly installed Soun of Ogbomosola land, Oba Afolabi Ghandi Laoye Orumogege III, moved to the main palace to receive members of the community and dignitaries who converged to rejoice with him on his coronation. While receiving dignitaries from different walks of life, the newly installed Soun of Ogbomoso, Oba Olaoye, said he is not interested in making money or name on the throne. The ceremony was attended by hundreds of residents of the ancient city. In his inaugural speech, the Soun said his aim was to put Ogbomoso in its rightful place. Oba Olaoye was installed as the new Soun of Ogbomoso by kingmakers, led by the Are Ago of Ogbomoso, High Chief Solalaje Otolorin, in the early hours of Friday September, 8, 2023. The monarch urged the aggrieved people to unite with him for the development of the town. He added that it was God that s...

Nigeria swinging dangerously away from true democracy, says Obi.  . Cites executive, legislative, judicial corruption as reason The Presidential candidate of the Labour Party, LP in the February 25, 2023 election, Peter Obi, has said transactional politics, disrespect for the rule of law, endemic corruption in the executive, legislature and the Judiciary are pulling Nigeria dangerously away from democracy. Obi stated this in a series of posts on his X account (formerly Twitter) as Nigeria joined other countries of the world to mark the 2023 edition of the International Democracy Day celebration, on Friday. The LP candidate has since announced his decision to contest the Judgment of the Presidential Election Petition Court which upheld the declaration by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC that President Bola Tinubu, of the All Progressives Congress won the February 25, election. Obi wrote, “On this year’s celebration of International Democracy Day, we m...

Nigerians hail Abdulrazaq for appointing men with disability Permanent Secretaries in Kwara.  In the bustling heart of Nigeria, Kwara State has become a beacon of hope and inclusivity. Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq recently made history by appointing two physically challenged individuals as Permanent Secretaries simultaneously, marking a first in the state’s history. It brings to three, the number of such appointments in his government, having made a similar one in his first tenure. This unprecedented move has stirred the hearts of Nigerians across the nation, reinforcing the popular adage, ‘There’s ability in disability.’ Peter Ayanwale, a blind man who formerly served as vice principal at the Kwara State School for Special Needs, was one of the newly sworn-in secretaries. His remarkable journey to the pinnacle of his career has been nothing short of inspiring. “Until a few days ago, when our names were announced, I had no idea. When my friend called me to congratula...

NNPC debunks plans to move headquarters to Lagos.  The Nigeria National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Ltd. has denied speculations that it plans to move its headquarters in Abuja to Lagos. Mr Mele Kyari, the Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) NNPC made the denial at the resumed investigative hearing of the ad hoc committee on the acquisition of OVH Energy by NNPCL on Friday. Kyari said that contrary to the petition by petitioners, the company had no plan of moving its headquarters to Lagos, adding that this was in spite of its present status of a private company, registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission. He said the insinuation might not be unconnected with the fact that 70 per cent of its operations were in Lagos, adding that moving the headquarters would incur additional cost on the company. He said the NNPC Ltd. had merged its operations and moved the right people where they were required to function. According to him, the registered headquarters of NNPC Ltd. i...

Hike in fees forcing us to withdraw our kids from schools – Parents.   Recent increase in the school fees by government-owned schools and some private schools has taken a new toll on parents, resulting in the withdrawal of their children. The parents who spoke in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Friday. They called on the government to take immediate action to mitigate the adverse effects of the petroleum subsidy removal on parents and school owners. Mr Rotimi Lawrence, a civil servant, said he had to withdraw his child’s admission from a government school due to increase in tuition fees, a development he said was not envisaged at the initial stage. Lawrence, who said he was pained to take such a decision, said parents are already struggling with the increased cost of living. “It is heart-breaking to note that private schools are increasing school fees but we understand with them. Government schools which should be a succour to paren...

Inflation rate jumps to 25.8 percent in August.  The National Bureau of Statistics, NBS, today said Nigeria’s headline inflation rate rose year-on-year (YoY) by 1.72 percentage points to 25.8 percent in August from 24.08 percent in July. This represents the seventh consecutive rise in inflation this year. The bureau disclosed this in its Consumer Price Index, CPI, report for August noting that food inflation rate also increased YoY by 2.36 percentage points to 29.34 percent in August from 26.98 percent in July. This was due to increases in prices of Oil and fat, bread and cereals, fish, fruit, Meat, vegetables and potatoes, yam and other tubers, vegetable, milk, cheese and eggs. NBS said: “In August 2023, the headline inflation rate increased to 25.80 percent relative to the July 2023 head-line inflation rate which was 24.08 percent. “Looking at the movement, the August 2023 headline inflation rate shows an increase of 1.72 percentage points when compared to the July 20...

100 Days: The untold stories of President Tinubu’s leadership acts.  In the last one-week since President Bola Tinubu clocked 100 days in office, commentators and analysts, political observers and politicians have busied themselves, dissecting the President’s performance in office, particularly his major decisions and policy options. Many have also commented on the achievements recorded and the areas that require improvements. The newspapers and electronic media have been awash with many lauding the giant strides recorded within just three months and a few days in office. Some top politicians like former Zamfara State governor, Senator Abdulaziz Yari representing Zamfara West, and the Minister of Interior, Hon. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, for instance, bought the front pages of some newspapers to celebrate the President, his exemplary leadership and well-thought out economic policies in just 100 days. Some others, particularly the opposition, behaving like sore losers that they...