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Confront Terrorists, We’re Not Coward, Gov Akeredolu Charges Ondo People

Published

3 years ago

July 5, 2022

Editor

Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State has charged the people of the State to be alert, always look out for terrorists and confront them squarely.

The Governor said that people should stop running into their houses whenever they see the heavily armed terrorists but to face them squarely and chase them back into the forests.

He noted that there might be some casualties in trying to be so courageous, but insisted that Ondo people are not lazy and cannot be dominated by anyone.

The Governor stated this when he appeared on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Monday evening, adding that the Zamfara State Governor may have been a bit extreme when he proposed arms for his people for self defence, but insisted that such is the response you get from someone who has been pushed so hard.

“I heard my brother in Zamfara who said [he will] licence people to carry arms, well it might be a bit extreme measure, but when you’re pushed to the wall, there’s nothing else you can say.

“So what we’ve learnt earlier is that our people cannot afford to stay back or lay back as if we’re lazy people. We’re not lazy.

“We’re indomitable people in spirit and everything, nobody can dominate us. So when we believe that and strongly act that, fight these people back! If they come, push them back into the forest and whosoever has the higher arm will survive.

“So for us, people have to be alert…and when incidents like this happen, don’t run to your house, go ahead and confront it. Yes, people may lose their lives which is unfortunate, but if you confront it, they will hardly go away.”

Speaking on the very group responsible for the massacre of Christian worshippers in Owo, Ondo State, the Governor said that the Federal Government was quick to jump into conclusions that ISWAP carried out the attack.

According to him, the security agencies have not been able to provide the evidence to back up their claims, adding that ISWAP usually took responsibility for their heinous crimes.

Akeredolu said it was impossible to separate the activities of Fulani terrorists, bandits and ISWAP, maintaining that they operate together.

“What evidence do they have? Because we ought to know. Because they were too quick to jump to the conclusion that it was done by ISWAP. But whatever it is, we stand on the position that it’s the trilogy that is operating in our forests and causing havoc,” he added.

“You just have Fulani herdsmen right in front, followed by these bandits and then ISWAP. The three of them work together. So we’re not people who’ll buy the idea of whether it is bandits or terrorists, Fulani herdsmen or ISWAP. In Ondo State we’ve been facing terrorism from the three.

“Whether they’re bandits, Fulani herdsmen or ISWAP they work together. So I don’t know how you want to separate them unless you come out with concrete evidence.

“And our contention is that ISWAP, most times they take responsibility for their actions. When they do things, they say ‘we’ve done it’.

“They take pride in all this heinous crime. So, I expect that if ISWAP had done it, they’d have come out and owned it up,” he said.

News

JUST IN: FG Enforces No-work-no-pay On Striking ASUU Members

Published

4 minutes ago

October 13, 2025

Editor

The Federal Government has directed vice-chancellors of federal universities across the country to strictly enforce the “no work, no pay” policy against members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities currently participating in the ongoing nationwide strike.

The directive was contained in a circular dated October 13, 2025, and signed by the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, according to The PUNCH.

The circular was copied to the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Permanent Secretary of Education, Pro-Chancellors of all federal universities, Director-General of the Budget Office of the Federation, the Accountant-General of the Federation, and the Executive Secretary of the NUC.

According to the circular, the Federal Ministry of Education expressed dissatisfaction over reports of the continued industrial action by ASUU despite repeated calls for dialogue, stressing that government would no longer tolerate non-compliance with extant labour laws.

“In line with the provisions of the Labour Laws of the Federation, the Federal Government reiterates its position on the enforcement of the ‘No Work, No Pay’ policy in respect of any employee who fails to discharge his or her official duties during the period of strike action,” the circular reads.

The minister directed all vice-chancellors of federal universities to immediately conduct a roll call and physical headcount of all academic staff in their institutions.

He also instructed them to submit a comprehensive report indicating staff members who are present and performing their official duties, and those absent or participating in the strike.

Alausa further directed that salary payment for the period of work stoppage be withheld from those who fail to perform their duties.

He clarified that members of the Congress of University Academics and the National Association of Medical and Dental Academics, who are not part of the strike, are exempted from the directive and will not face any salary deductions.

The minister also tasked the National Universities Commission to monitor compliance with the directive and submit a consolidated report to the ministry within seven days of receiving the circular.

“Please, treat this matter with utmost urgency and a deep sense of responsibility in national interest,” Alausa urged the university heads.

The federal government had threatened to enforce the policy amid the ongoing nationwide strike by the lecturers.

The lecturers on Sunday declared a total and comprehensive warning strike starting from Monday, October 13.

ASUU is currently demanding the conclusion of the renegotiated 2009 FGN-ASUU agreement, the release of the withheld three and a half months’ salaries, sustainable funding of public universities, revitalisation of public universities, and cessation of the victimisation of lecturers in LASU, Prince Abubakar Audu University, and FUTO.

Others are payment of outstanding 25-35% salary arrears, payment of promotion arrears for over four years and release of withheld third-party deductions (cooperative contributions, union check-off dues).

News

BREAKING: Rev Uma Ukpai Is Dead

Published

2 hours ago

October 13, 2025

Editor

Rev. Uma Ukpai, an international evangelist who is the founder and president of Uma Ukpai Evangelistic Association, is dead.

Rev. Uma died at the age of 80.

News

ASUU Declares Two-week Strike, Orders Members To Down Tools On Monday

Published

15 hours ago

October 12, 2025

Editor

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has announced the commencement of a two-week ‘total strike’ and ordered its members to withdraw their services across the country, effective 12:01 a.m. on Monday.

ASUU President, Prof. Christopher Piwuna, disclosed this at a press conference in Abuja on Sunday.

The development comes after the two-week ultimatum issued to the Federal Government to address their long-standing demands expired.

Prof. Piwuna expressed dismay that nothing significant had happened since it issued the two-week ultimatum. “Government has been asking for time with nothing concrete on the ground to resolve it,” he said.

According to him, the decision to embark on the total strike was reached after several rounds of meetings with government representatives ended without any tangible commitment.

He noted that the union had exhausted all avenues for dialogue and patience, emphasising that the strike action was the last resort to compel the government to fulfil its promises.

He further explained that the union had consistently shown restraint in order not to disrupt the academic calendar, but the government’s insensitivity had left them with no alternative.

“Consequently, all branches of ASUU are hereby directed to withdraw their services with effect from midnight (12:01 a.m.) on Monday, 13 October 2025. The warning strike shall be total and comprehensive as agreed at the last NEC meeting,” he said.

He also called on well-meaning Nigerians, civil society organisations, and the media to prevail on the Federal Government to address the lingering issues once and for all. The union warned that unless concrete steps are taken within the two-week period, it will not hesitate to extend the strike indefinitely. “This struggle is not just for university lecturers; it is for the soul of public education in Nigeria,” Prof. Piwuna declared.

The seven-point demands include: re-negotiation of the 2009 ASUU-FGN agreement; sustainable funding of universities; revitalisation of universities; victimisation of ASUU members in Lagos State University (LASU), KSU (now Prince Abubakar Audu University), and Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO).

Others are outstanding 25–35 per cent salary arrears; promotion arrears for over four years; as well as third-party deductions.