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Ex-Redeemed Pastor Installed as Soun, Begins Seven-Day Rites

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A former pastor at the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Ghandi Laoye, was on Friday installed as the new Soun of Ogbomoso in Oyo State.

Laoye, who was based in the United States, arrived in Ogbomoso early in the morning in a private chopper, which landed at the Ogbomoso Grammar School, before moving to the palace.

The Soun of Ogbomoso stool became vacant after Oba Jimoh Oyewumi passed away on December 12, 2021.

Our correspondent also gathered that the new monarch would spend seven days in seclusion, after which he would receive the staff of office from the state government. Few days ago, Laoye stepped down as a pastor and handed over to Pastor Olumide Ogunjuyigbe on the instruction of the RCCG General Overseer, Pastor Enoch Adeboye.

Meanwhile, a member of the family opposed to Laoye’s nomination by the kingmakers, Muhammed Laoye, headed to court, arguing that the process that produced him was inconclusive. They added that a minority committee performed the task instead of the whole family members.

The family member in the suit marked HOG/27/2022 in July 2022 prayed the court to, among other reliefs, set aside the nomination and order a fresh process, noting that the procedure that produced him contravened the native law and custom for the selection of a new Soun.

The defendants in the case included the Oyo State Governor, state attorney general, commissioner for local government and chieftaincy matters, Ogbomoso North Local Government Area, Ogbomoso North Traditional Council and Prince Amos Olawole Laoye (Mogaji Laoye Ruling House) who were the first to sixth defendants.

The seventh to 11th defendants were the kingmakers: Chief S O Otolorin, Areago of Ogbomoso and Chairman; Chief Salawu Ajadi, Jagun; Chief Tijani Abioye, Bara; Chief David Adeniran Ojo, Ikolaba; and Chief Yusuf Oladipupo, Abese; while the new Soun was the 12th defendant.

The counsel for the seventh to 10th defendants, who also represented Laoye, however urged the court to “dismiss the claim and grant the counter-claim”, noting that “the 12th defendant was duly nominated by the Laoye ruling house and selected by the kingmakers.”

The judge, A K Adedokun, therefore fixed October 3 for judgment.

Governor Seyi Makinde had on September 2 in a statement by the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Olusegun Olayiwola, approved the selection of Laoye as the next Soun.

But on Thursday, a state High Court in Ogbomoso restrained the governor, the Attorney General of the State and the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters either by themselves, agents or officials from presenting any instrument of office in any form of ceremony or issuance of certificate of installation to Laoye until the final determination of the mandatory injunction already filed before the court.

Meanwhile, the new monarch was at the palace on Friday for official installation, which was performed at Abata by the kingmakers, led by the Areago, High Chief Sobalaje Otolorin.

The kingmakers however said they did not receive any court injunction restraining them from installing Laoye as the new Soun of Ogbomoso.

The new monarch was proclaimed His Imperial Majesty, Oba Ghandi Afolabi Laoye, Orumogege III. He has commenced the traditional rites.

The Punch

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Oyo Tops List of Out-of-School Girls in SouthWest – NGO

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A Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), the Black Girls’ Dream Initiative (BGDI), has revealed that one in five girls of school age in Oyo State is not in school, making the State the highest with out-of-school children in South-western Nigeria.

The BGDI, in association with some education stakeholders in the State, made this known in Ibadan on Wednesday during a sensitisation workshop organised by the NGO, in partnership with Global Schools Forum and the IDF Foundation, and themed ‘Girls’ education in Oyo State: Our shared goal’.

The founder of BGDI, Karimot Odebode, described the number of out-of-school children in Oyo State as alarming and as a crisis that has to be urgently curbed by the government, schools, parents, traditional rulers, and other vital stakeholders in the state.

Odebode noted that though the government and other stakeholders are trying their best to send and keep children, especially the girl-child, in school, barriers such as poverty, early marriage, family responsibilities, and cultural expectations are marring their efforts.

Given this, she added that NGOs, such as BGDI, are working to reverse this trend by spotlighting the problem, engaging decision-makers, and opening doors for re-entry into the classroom because every girl deserves a second chance at learning.

She stated that BGDI, in its quest to ensure that more girls get quality education and remain in school, is aligning local education data with the challenges; collaborating with stakeholders to identify, engage, and reintegrate out-of-school girls; encouraging trackable reduction in dropout rates; and increasing enrolment, especially in underserved local governments in the State.

Odebode urged the government, schools, and parents to empower girls as future leaders. She explained how her organisation is doing this through their debate, mentorship programmes, sensitisation initiatives, and stakeholders’ workshops.

“We should make sure children are not just returning to school, but are returning with confidence, agency, and a sense of purpose; and also make sure we initiate and sustain long-term developmental impact that builds self-driven, educated citizens,” she said.

She further said: “We are the enablers of change. We need to move from conversation to action. Change happens when stakeholders act together. What we do today shapes the data tomorrow.”

The stakeholders, in the course of the workshop, identified and offered solutions to the main problems facing the girl-child’s education in Oyo State.

The Baale Sinko of Ido Local Government Area of Oyo State, Adeleke Waheed Mobolaji, and the Mogaji of Ogundele Compound, Labiran, Ibadan, Chief Ogunsina Oluseyi Oladebo emphasised that the government cannot train the girl-child alone and that the bulk of the training and education girls starts from the home, stressing that to encourage girls to go to school, their mothers needs to be properly empowered.

The two Ibadan-based traditional rulers, Adeleke and Oladabo, also urged society to support less-privileged students, especially girls, in their education, to ensure that no child of school age will be on the street hawking, idling, or committing crime, instead of being in school.

Some of the teachers and parents at the event, M. C. Ebike, Janet Adio, Fausat Boladale, Rejoice Adegoke, O. O. Ogundare, Peace Akinola, Dorcas Oyinloye, stressed that the security of female students in schools is important, and special attention should be given to them to encourage them to attend and remain in school.

They urged schools and teachers to be kind and proactive while dealing with female students, which will encourage them to learn. Furthermore, they advised the government to recruit trained and passionate teachers and empower them with the best resources to ensure students are inspired to return to school.

Opeyemi Lawal of Project Wabi Sabi, Adetokunbo Ikumoluyi of Hosec Foundation, and Opeyemi Adebisi of Teach for Nigeria stated that NGOs and governments have a lot to do to keep students in school, adding that the out-of-school challenge facing Oyo State could be addressed through sustainable partnership, investment in education, parents’ and guardians’ sensitisation, and students’ empowerment.

The convener of the event, Karimot Odebode, stated that the feedback and recommendations from the stakeholders regarding the theme and outcome of the sensitisation workshop will be submitted to the appropriate government authorities for policy formulation and implementation.

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Again, Gunmen Attack Plateau Communities, Kill 13, Raze Houses

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No fewer than 13 persons – mostly children and the elderly – have again been reported killed and houses burnt in Juwan and Manja communities of Bokkos and Mangu local government areas of Plateau State.

They were alleged to have been killed by armed herders.

The deadly attack on Juwan in the Tangur District of Bokkos Local Government Area occurred on Thursday night, with 10 persons killed and some others sustaining serious injuries.

In Manja, Chafem Chiefdom of Mangu Local Government Area, three persons were reportedly killed on Thursday evening.

They were on the farm tilling the grounds and tending their farmland when the attackers caught them unaware and killed them. Others escaped with injuries after the intervention of security operatives following a distress call from those who escaped the onslaught.

Chairman of Bokkos Local Government Council, Amalau Samuel, confirmed the tragic incident, describing it as barbaric and inhuman.

“The attackers came late at night and started killing innocent people. They were going from house to house, and where they could not gain entrance, they broke through the ceiling,” the LG boss said.

“Those affected mostly are the aged and children who could not run, while those agile fled for safety.”

The terrorists in the other attack in Manja, Chafem Kingdom of Mangu, killed three persons on the farm with over twenty houses burnt before the intervention of security operatives.

A member representing Mangu South in the Plateau State House of Assembly, Mathew Kwarpo, said the terrorists invaded the community and killed three persons before they were repelled by security men in conjunction with the youths.

According to the parliamentarian, the marauders later launched another attack that day, during which they burned down over twenty houses.

Kwarpo said that due to the attackers’ large number, the people of the community had to flee for safety, though no casualty was recorded.

“In the second attack, there was no casualty, but the people are already displaced.  So, we are appealing to both the state and Federal governments to come to our aid.

“The attacks in recent times on our communities are just too much. Anytime they issued notice of an attack, they would fulfill it.

“The security men are no doubt trying their best, but they are being overpowered. This is a calculated attempt to seize our land from us and to occupy our land illegally. So we are calling on President Tinubu to intervene,” he said.

Some communities in Bokkos, Bassa, and Mangu local government areas of Plateau State have been under increased attacks from suspected herdsmen in recent times.

This has resulted in the loss of lives and property.

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Tinubu Throws Shade at El-Rufai, Says Kaduna No Longer Toxic Under Uba Sani

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President Bola Tinubu has publicly criticised a former Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, describing his administration as toxic.

Tinubu said this during the unveiling of the Institute of Vocational Training and Skills Development in Rigachikun and a 300-bed hospital in Millennium City, on Thursday.

“Uba Sani has performed wonders and changed the environment from a previous toxic, uncontrollable environment to a state of life, progress, and development. I say thank you, my comrade,” Tinubu declared to applause.

It marks the first time the president has directly responded to the growing tension between him and El-Rufai, who recently dumped the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the Social Democratic Party (SDP) following months of political friction.

El-Rufai, once seen as a Tinubu ally, fell out with the president after the Senate refused to confirm his ministerial nomination.

In a series of public outbursts, El-Rufai accused Tinubu of betrayal, and even linked the president to several allegations.

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