Metro

Impeachment: Aiyedatiwa’s Kinsmen Protest, Say Deputy Governor Can’t Be Removed

Published

2 years ago

September 26, 2023

Hundreds of indigenes of Ilaje communities in Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State, on Tuesday, stormed Akure, the state capital to protest against the ongoing impeachment process on the deputy governor, Mr Lucky Aiyedatiwa.

Aiyedatiwa, who is also an Ilaje man, has been served an impeachment notice by the state House of Assembly and was expected to respond to all the allegations in the notice.

The protesters, who gathered in front of the entrance of the Assembly gate with leaves in their hands, were chanting various solidarity songs to express their support for the embattled deputy governor.

Some of them carried placards with various inscriptions such as, ‘Justice for Lucky, Lucky is innocent’, ‘Stop alleging him wrongly, “Ilaje Nation stands with Aiyedatiwa,’ “Aketi, Lucky is not your enemy,’ ‘Let Lucky finish his term,’ among several others.

The protesters alleged that the impeachment proceeding was a plot to take Aiyedatiwa out of the race of the 2024 governorship election in the state.

Speaking on the development, one of the leaders of the protesters and founder of the Ilaje World Congress, Mr Ola Juda, declared that the indigenes of Ilaje would not accept the impeachment move against Aiyedatiwa.

He alleged that the protest was not only organised by the Ilaje people but also by other people across the state who were not pleased with the action of the state House against the deputy governor.

He said, “This gathering is the gathering of sons and daughters of Ilaje land; not only Ilaje, we have other sympathisers from Akure and Ese-Odo Idanre areas that have come together to protest against injustice and the battle that is going to erupt in Ondo State. The peace of Ondo State is being threatened by the actions of the Ondo State House of Assembly.

“Ilaje has been without light for the past few days. The House of Assembly cannot pass a bill to quicken the authorities to make sure there’s light on Ilaje land. The whole of Ilaje land is about to be taken away, by the ocean, every part of Ilaje is gone due to the oil exploitation in our area, and yet the Ondo Assembly cannot pass a bill that will enhance the development in the community.

“For the past decades, an Ilaje man had never been a deputy governor but for the first time, we have a deputy governor, and yet the power that be has vowed that he will not finish his tenure. Aketi/Lucky mandate was given to both of them and if Aketi is still the governor of Ondo State, our own mandate as the deputy governor still remains.

“Any of the members of the House of Assembly from Ilaje land that signs any motion of impeachment against Lucky Ayiedatiwa, against the Ilaje mandate, is on his own; the Ilaje people have not sent him to sign anything; they haven’t told us that Lucky has done anything bad.

“The cabals have come together to say that Lucky beats his wife, and now they say it is gross misconduct. They would later say he wants Aketi ( Akeredolu) to die. Did Agboola also want Aketi to die? Now, it is Lucky that wants Aketi to die. Anybody should not tamper with the mandate of Ilaje. If you think you can chase Lucky, don’t worry; we will pay you back next year in the same coin.”

However, no member of the House got out to address the protesters but the Akure Area Commander of the state police command, Mr. Nzota Chidi, advised the protesters to be peaceful in order not to be hijacked by miscreants.

PUNCH

Related Topics:#Ondo deputy governor Aiyedatiwa

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Metro

18-year-old OAU Medical Student Dies While Sleeping

Published

10 hours ago

January 6, 2026

Editor

The management of Obafemi Awolowo University, OAU, Ile-Ife, has announced the death of an 18-year-old part-three medical student of the institution.

The student, identified as Timilehin Adetoye Toromade, was a student of the College of Health Sciences, Department of Medicine and Surgery.

According to a statement by the institution’s Public Relations Officer, Abiodun Olarewaju, Timilehin with matriculation number CLI/2022/133, reportedly died in his sleep in the early hours of Tuesday, January 6, 2026.

The statement revealed that the “university received the news of the student’s passing with shock and deep sorrow”.

It also described the incident as devastating to the academic community.

According to the statement, “preliminary information suggested that the student might have died shortly after 2 a.m., as one of his roommates reportedly said the deceased opened the door for another student around that time.

“The Vice-Chancellor of the university, Professor Adebayo Simeon Bamire, expressed condolences on behalf of the Visitor, the University Council, Management, Senate, staff and students”.

The VC, Professor Bamire, described the incident as a painful loss, saying, “The loss of a young life filled with promise, purpose, and potential is a tragedy that words alone cannot adequately capture.”

He added that the university community was united in grief over the passing of a student who had embraced the rigours of medical training with the aim of serving humanity.

According to him, the death had left a void among the student’s peers and all those who knew him within the university community.

The university management stated that it was working closely with relevant authorities to fully understand the circumstances surrounding the incident, in line with established medical and administrative procedures.

It also disclosed that appropriate support measures were being put in place to assist students and members of the university community who may have been emotionally affected by the loss.

The management called on students, staff, alumni and friends of the institution to remain calm and compassionate, while extending sympathy to the family of the deceased.

Metro

Panic As BRT Bus Catches Fire On Third Mainland Bridge

Published

10 hours ago

January 6, 2026

Editor

Panic gripped motorists on Tuesday afternoon following a fire outbreak involving a Bus Rapid Transit, BRT, vehicle on the Third Mainland Bridge, leading to massive traffic disruption.

The incident occurred around 1:00 p.m. near the Adekunle section of the bridge, heading towards Iyana Oworo.

The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA, confirmed the development in a statement posted on its official X handle.

According to the agency, the high-capacity BRT bus suddenly went up in flames, prompting anxiety among road users in the area.

Footage shared online showed the bus completely consumed by fire, with thick plumes of smoke rising into the sky as motorists slowed down or sought alternative routes to avoid the scene.

While no injuries or loss of life were reported, the incident caused a heavy traffic buildup extending from Adekunle towards Iyana Oworo.

“A high-capacity bus is currently on fire on the Third Mainland Bridge by Adekunle, inward Iyana Oworo, and this is impacting traffic flow,” LASTMA stated.

“Our personnel are on ground managing traffic, while efforts are ongoing to extinguish the fire,” the agency added.

Subsequent updates indicated that officials of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service arrived at the scene and worked to control the blaze to prevent further damage.

Traffic officers were also deployed to redirect vehicles away from the affected area as emergency responders tackled the situation.

As of the time this report was filed, the cause of the fire had yet to be determined.

Metro

Kwara Vigilante Men Arrested By Soldiers In Edo State Released

Published

13 hours ago

January 6, 2026

Editor

Six Kwara State vigilante men arrested by the Nigerian Army on December 31,2025, along Auchi-Ikpeshi highway in Akoko-Edo Local Government Area of Edo State, have been released after a thorough investigation by the authorities.

Spokesperson of the state police command, SP Adetoun Ejire Adeyemi, confirmed the development in a statement in Ilorin on Tuesday.

The statement read in part; “The Kwara State Police Command wishes to confirm that on Wednesday, 31st December, 2025, it received six vigilante members who were earlier arrested by personnel of the Nigerian Army along the Auchi–Ikpeshi Road in Akoko-Edo Local Government Area of Edo State.

“The Vigilantes, travelling in a vehicle belonging to Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State, were formally handed over to the Kwara State Police Command by the Brigade Commander, 22 Armoured Brigade, Sobi Barracks, Ilorin, Brigadier General N.N. Rume, for the purpose of investigation and profiling.

“Following a thorough investigation, it was established that the individuals are legitimate members of a vigilante group operating in collaboration with recognised security agencies in the ongoing efforts to combat banditry and other forms of criminality.

“Consequently, having been exonerated of any criminal wrongdoing, the vigilante members were released to their respective leaders,” the statement added.

The Kwara State Commissioner of Police, Ojo Adekimi, reiterated the command’s commitment to synergy among security agencies and community-based security outfits, while urging all groups to continually operate within the confines of the law.

He assured members of the public that the command remains steadfast in its resolve to ensure the safety and security of all residents of the state.