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There’re Plans to Arrest State Officials, Osun PDP Raises the Alarm

Published

2 years ago

March 23, 2024

Eric

The ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Osun State has raised the alarm over plans by hooded security teams from Abuja to arrest top officials of the state government, adding that Jamiu Olawumi, an aide of the former govwrnor, Gbenga Oyetola, has confirmed the threat.

The party, which raised the alarm in a statement on Saturday by its Chairman, Hon Sunday Bisi, said its security department had earlier gathered hints that more than 25 state officials have been listed for unofficial arrest and abduction by special security teams from Abuja.

He noted:

“We gathered on good authority as early as last week that the team is billed to enter Osun in the new week. The listed officials are to be picked up without warrant of arrest and without any trace of their whereabouts.

“Our sources disclosed that the Governor’s Spokesperson, four special advisers, five party leaders and 15 other state officials were to be abducted by the Abuja team in what would amount to gross violation of the constitution and an open threat to the peace of Osun state.

“We are still analyzing the threat when a top member of the opposition confirmed the threats first by the news story which confirmed that Oyetola family and camp have been cooking several petitions against Osun officials at the DSS and second by an open phone call.”

Hon. Bisi said the opposition plan was exposed on Thursday night as some members of the opposition APC in Osun bragged that they are going to use federal might to victimize Osun government officials and some leaders of the ruling PDP

The party Chairman noted that the former Special Adviser to former Governor Gboyega Oyetola on Education, Mr Jamiu Olawumi, actually phoned some aides of Governor Ademola Adeleke threatening imminent arrest of Osun state officials.

“Olawuni in the phone call said he will make sure that he got the Governor’s aides arrested just because of an altercation they had on a WhatsApp platform where the official was asking him (Olawumi) to give an account of how they managed the ministry of education when they were holding sway.

“Instead for Mr Olawumi to respond to the question, he placed a call to the official bragging that he will make sure he gets him arrested and that those who will effect the arrest will come from Abuja.

“Several other APC operatives have issued similar threats in recent days which confirms the internal reports we already have about an alleged hit team already assembled in Abuja to raid Osun state and arrest state officials.

“While we know for certain that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will not approve of such an evil plan, we are constrained to alert the public about the imminent threat to peace and stability of Osun state through nefarious activities of Mr Gboyega Oyetola and his faction of Osun state APC.

“We call on the Presidency to halt such efforts at destabilizing Osun state through a reprehensible abuse of power and partisan deployment of federal security apparatus against a state whose only sin was to have voted Mr Oyetola out of office.

“We alert the Inspector General of Police and the Director General, Department of State Service of this developing threat to peace and stability of Osun state and urge the duo to caution members of the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) in the State over open threats and harassment of state officials,” the statement added.

The party, through its Chairman, Hon. Sunday Bisi also called on the Police service and the DSS to avoid political partisanship and eschew becoming an instrument of political vendetta and vengeance in the hands of those seeking pounds of flesh because they lost a free and fair governorship election.

“I want to call on President Bola Tinubu to caution members of his party in Osun because we will not allow our members to be harassed or victimized in the state. We seek Mr President immediate intervention.

“We are making this appeal on the premise that any hooded security operation against Osun state and party officials will amount to direct violation of the constitution and the fundamental human rights of those officials. We will not succumb to such threats and intimidation.

“Our members and government will deploy all legal and constitutional measures to stop the planned violation of their rights. We will legally resist any plot to destabilize Osun state now under the well loved and performing Governor Ademola Adeleke.”

Featured

Dangote Launches Historic ₦1trn Scholarship Scheme for 1.3m Students

Published

11 hours ago

December 12, 2025

Eric

The Chairman of the Aliko Dangote Foundation (ADF), Aliko Dangote, has launched a ₦1 trillion scholarship programme targeting more than 1.3 million Nigerian students over the next decade.

The initiative, the largest private-sector education support scheme in Nigeria’s history, will begin in 2026 with ₦100 billion disbursed annually across all 774 local governments.

The programme focuses on vulnerable learners, supporting undergraduate STEM students, technical trainees, and secondary school girls through tuition aid, study materials, and essential learning supplies.

It will be implemented through a fully digital, merit-based system in partnership with NELFUND, JAMB, NIMC, NUC, NBTE, WAEC and NECO.

Dangote said the intervention is a strategic investment in Nigeria’s future, stressing that financial hardship—not lack of talent—is the major barrier keeping many young people out of school. He added that 25 percent of his wealth has been committed to sustaining the Foundation’s long-term programmes.

Vice President Kashim Shettima described the scheme as a transformative act of nation-building, noting that it complements government reforms in basic, tertiary and technical education.

Education Minister Tunji Alausa said the programme aligns with the administration’s goal of transitioning Nigeria into a knowledge-driven economy, while Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, speaking on behalf of his colleagues, pledged the governors’ full support.

Traditional rulers including the Emir of Lafia, Justice Sidi Dauda Bage, who chairs the programme’s steering committee, and the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, praised the initiative as unprecedented in scope and impact.

UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed also commended the scheme, saying it will create conditions for children to learn and families to thrive.

The scholarship initiative reinforces the Aliko Dangote Foundation’s mission to expand opportunities, drive social impact and improve the wellbeing of communities across Nigeria.

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Yakubu, Fani-Kayode, Ikpeazu, Others Scale Senate Screening Hurdle for Ambassadorial Positions

Published

1 day ago

December 11, 2025

Eric

The Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, on Thursday, approved the nomination of former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, for appointment as ambassador.

Other nominees cleared by the committee include former Minister of Interior Abdulrahman Dambazau, ex-special adviser on new media to former President Goodluck Jonathan, Reno Omokri, former presidential aide, Senator Ita Enang, and Senator Grace Bent.

Also confirmed were former INEC Chairman, Mahmood Yakubu; former Governor of Enugu, State Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, and former Governor of Abia State, Victor Okezie Ikpeazu, among others.

The screening session, conducted in batches of five nominees each, experienced a mild drama during Omokri’s turn.

Senators Mohammed Ali Ndume and Adams Oshiomhole openly disagreed on how his clearance should proceed.

After Omokri’s batch had introduced themselves, Ndume moved a motion to allow the nominees to take a bow and leave.

Some senators, including Oshiomhole, indicated they wanted to comment.

The Committee Chairman, Senator Abubakar Sani Bello, recognised Oshiomhole to speak, but Ndume insisted that his motion should be seconded before allowing further interventions.

This led to a sharp disagreement between the two senators.

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Tinubu Reiterates Directive on Withdrawal of VIP Police Protection

Published

2 days ago

December 10, 2025

Eric

President Bola Tinubu has insisted on his earlier directive ordering the withdrawal of police officers from very important persons (VIPs) in the country.

On November 23, Tinubu ordered the immediate withdrawal of police officers attached to VIPs across the country during a security meeting with the inspector-general of police (IGP), the chiefs of army and air staff, and the director-general of the Department of State Services (DSS).

The president said the move was aimed at boosting police presence in communities, especially remote areas where stations are understaffed and citizens remain vulnerable to attacks.

Speaking at the opening of the federal executive council (FEC) meeting on Wednesday, Tinubu warned against non-compliance and directed Nuhu Ribadu, national security adviser (NSA); Ibrahim Gaidam, minister of police; and Kayode Egbetokun, the IGP, to follow up on the implementation of the order.

The president noted that police officers were trained to protect the lives and property of citizens, particularly the most vulnerable in society, adding that the protection of a select group of VIPs is not their responsibility.

The president ordered Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, the minister of interior, to make arrangements for the replacement of police officers by civil defence corps.

“If you have any problem because of the nature of your assignments, please contact the IGP and get my clearance,” he said.

“The National Security and Civil Defence Corps are trained for VIP protection, and they are armed too.

“We face challenges here and there of kidnapping, banditry and terrorism. We need all forces utilised. I know some people are exposed; we will make the exceptions. The civil defence is very much around.”

Tinubu said there is a need to mobilise the police appropriately due to the country’s security challenges.