Politics
Former Lawmaker, Two Others Arrested As ex-Deputy Speaker Alleges Threat To Life

A former member of the Ogun State House of Assembly, Hon. Joseph Adegbesan, and two other suspects have been arrested by the police over alleged threat to the life of the former Deputy Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Hon. Oludare Kadiri.
Adegbesan, a close associate of the Secretary to the State Government, Tokunbo Talabi, was nabbed Thursday by operatives of the Intelligence Response Team (IRT), Force Headquarters, Abuja, alongside one Muibi Olufodun and another suspect identified as Samson.
The policemen had stormed Awa in Ijebu North Local Government Area of Ogun State to pick up Adegbesan, while the others were arrested in Ago-Iwoye, it was gathered.
The former Deputy Speaker, who is representing Ijebu North II State Constituency, had instructed his counsel, Oludare Adejare to petition the Inspector-General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba, alleging threat to the life of his life.
According to the petition, Kadiri had called for “detailed, speedy and expeditious investigation and subsequent prosecution” of the suspects.
The petition partly read: “We have been briefed by our client who is a member of Ogun State House of Assembly, representing Ijebu North II State Constituency, Ijebu North Local Government Area of Ogun State that one Muritala Babatunde (aka Muri etee) who was alleged sometimes in 2018 of being a member of Aye Confraternity and killing of two (2) students of Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye of Ogun State stated that Honourable Joseph Adegbesan, who was a former member of Ogun State House of Assembly purchased him a gun, ammunition and that he is a major sponsor of the Aye Confraternity. The said ammunition that were purchased by Honourable Joseph Adegbesan for the Aye Confraternity to kill the two (2) students of Olabisi Onabanjo University.
“Our client further informed us that the situation of things has taken a new turn in his constituency as he got discreet information that the same Honourable Joseph Adegbesan and his cohorts namely Muibi Moibi Olufodun and Gbenga Suberu among others have sponsored cult members of the Aye Confraternity to kill him.
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“We are further apprised that one Sule Ganiyu, Lekan Ojulopesi and one (1) other came fully armed to the House of Assembly on the 3rd of February, 2021 on the invitation of Honourable Joseph Adegbesan. Our client further averred that upon sighting them, he informed his then Orderly, Inspector Kola, who before he could effect an arrest of the said Sule Ganiyu and others, they had absconded. Our client was however in oblivion that the said Sule Ganiyu and his other members of the Aye Confraternity headed to our client’s brother’s house where they threatened to kill our client’s brother (Toba Kadiri) and instructed him to inform our client that they will kill him as well. Our client was able to get a few of the names of the cultists who are Sunday Amazing, Samson Akibola (aka Damson Guard), Ade Olooto (aka Ade eba) and Lekan Ojulopesi.
“Consequence upon this disheartening occurrences as well as the discreet information he received regarding Honourable Joseph Adegbesan and Muibi Olufodun being the sponsors and brain box behind the regrouping of the Aye Confraternity, our client has been falsely imprisoned by fear as he has no confidence left in him to move around freely even with the arrest of the aforementioned Sule Ganiyu.
“In view of these, we hereby beseech you to use your agency’s recognized accepted expertise to investigate this matter giving it utmost immediacy, competence and urgency so that the culprits are brought to book.”
Contacted, the Ogun State Police Spokesperson, Abimbola Oyeyemi, confirmed that IRT operatives were in Ogun to arrest the suspects based on a written petition.
He, however, said that he could not confirm the content of the petition as the IRT is not under Ogun command.
Politics
N’Assembly committee Approves New State For S’East

The Joint Committee of the Senate and House of Representatives on Constitution Review has approved the creation of an additional state in the South-East geo-political zone.
According to a statement by the media unit of the committee, the resolution was reached on Saturday at a two-day retreat in Lagos, where it reviewed 55 proposals for state creation across the country.
The session, chaired by the Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin, and co-chaired by the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, resolved that, in the spirit of fairness and equity, the Federal Government should create another state for the region.
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Kalu, who joined other lawmakers to champion additional state creation for the region, argued that a new state would give the people a sense of belonging.
When created, the South-East will be at par with the South-South, South-West, North-Central, and North-East zones, each having six states.
The South-East is the only geo-political zone with five states comprising Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, and Imo.
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The North-West comprises seven states: Kaduna, Kano, Kebbi, Katsina, Zamfara, Sokoto, and Jigawa.
According to the statement, Senator Abdul Ningi (Bauchi Central) moved a motion for the creation of the new state, which was seconded by Ibrahim Isiaka (Ifo/Ewekoro, Ogun State) at the retreat.
“The motion received the unanimous support of committee members and was adopted,” the statement read in part
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Similarly, the committee also established a sub-committee to consider the creation of additional states and local government areas across all six geo-political zones, noting that a total of 278 proposals were submitted for review.
Speaking at the event, Jibrin urged members to rally support among their colleagues at the National Assembly and state Houses of Assembly to ensure the resolutions sail through during voting.
“We need to strengthen what we have started so that all parts of the country will key into this process.
“By the time we get to the actual voting, we should already have the buy-in of all stakeholders—from both chambers and the state Houses of Assembly,” the Deputy Senate President was quoted as saying.
Politics
PDP Unveils 13-member Screening Panel For National Convention

According to a statement issued on October 25, 2025, by the National Convention Organising Committee (NCOC) and signed by its Chairman, Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, who is also the Governor of Adamawa State, the screening exercise will take place on Tuesday, October 28, 2025.
The committee will be chaired by Eyitayo Jegede (SAN), a former Ondo State governorship candidate and respected legal luminary.
He will be assisted by Hon. Mohammed L.S. Diri (SAN) as Deputy Chairman, while Mr. Asue Ighodalo, Esq., will serve as Secretary. Jacob Otorkpa was named Deputy Secretary.
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Other members of the committee include: Emmanuel Enoidem (SAN), Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, Chief Mrs. Aduke Maina, Iyom Josephine Anenih, Achike Udenwa, Haj. Maryam Inna Ciroma, HM. Felix Hassan Hyat, HM. Zainab Maina, and Chinedu Nwachukwu, who will also serve as Administrative Secretary.
The statement noted that the selection reflected the PDP’s commitment to transparency, integrity, and internal democracy in the build-up to its national convention.
“The NCOC notes and expects that the exemplary conduct and strict adherence to rules and regulations during this very crucial assignment will justify the confidence reposed by the Party in members of the Committee,” the statement read.
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Fintiri assured party members that the screening process will be conducted with the highest standards of fairness and impartiality, underscoring the PDP’s resolve to strengthen its democratic institutions ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“This exercise is crucial in ensuring that only credible, competent, and loyal members emerge to steer the affairs of our great party,” Fintiri stated.
Politics
Why I Refused To Endorse El-Rufai As My Successor — Obasanjo

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has revealed how he turned down a suggestion to endorse former Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, as his successor.
Speaking on Friday in Abeokuta, Ogun State, during the second edition of the annual Ajibosin Platform symposium themed “Importance of Leadership in Governance”, Obasanjo disclosed that former Minister of Aviation, Osita Chidoka, had recommended El-Rufai for the presidency, but he rejected the idea.
Chidoka, who delivered the keynote address at the event, had earlier narrated how El-Rufai introduced him to Obasanjo at the age of 34, an encounter that led to his appointment as the Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC).
Addressing the audience, Obasanjo took a playful jab at Chidoka for leaving out the El-Rufai story.
“Let him tell you. He didn’t mention that. He was pushing when I was leaving government that his friend, El-Rufai, should be brought in as my successor,” Obasanjo said.
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Turning to Chidoka, who was seated among the panelists, he asked, “No be so (Is that not true)?” The former minister nodded in agreement.
Obasanjo explained that he dismissed the suggestion because he believed El-Rufai still needed time to grow politically.
“I did not yield to the pressure. Later, he said, ‘I suggested this person, why didn’t you agree?’ I said El-Rufai needs to mature. You remember?
“When I left government and, many years later, he saw the performances of El-Rufai, he came back to me and said, ‘You’re absolutely correct. El-Rufai needed to mature.’”
The former president, however, commended Chidoka, El-Rufai, and other former aides for their “special attributes,” which he said contributed to the success of his administration.
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Speaking further on leadership, Obasanjo emphasised character, exposure, experience, and training as essential qualities of effective governance.
Obasanjo said, “It’s only in politics that I found out there is no training for leadership. Even among armed robbers, I was told there is apprenticeship.
“But it’s only in politics that there is no training in leadership. That’s not good enough.”
El-Rufai served under Obasanjo’s administration as the Director-General of the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) before becoming the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) between 2003 and 2007. When Obasanjo was leaving office in 2007, he instead backed the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua as his preferred successor.
In his address, Chidoka blamed Nigeria’s development setbacks on excuses and what he described as the politics of alibi.
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“Leadership finds its true measure not in speeches or charisma but in the systems it leaves behind.
“Moral conviction must translate into the everyday machinery of governance—rules, routines, and institutions that make competence predictable and corruption difficult.
“Nigeria’s problem has never been a shortage of ideas; it is the absence of systems strong enough to outlive their authors,” he said.
He urged leaders to prioritise accountability and measurable results.
“We must therefore make leadership accountable not to rhetoric but to results: measure by building national dashboards and accountability systems that track every promise, every budget, every outcome. Monitor by strengthening the institutions that evaluate government performance and expose complacency,” he said.
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