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

Up Next

Five Die As Trailer Crashes Into Commercial Bus In Edo

Don't Miss

JUST IN: One Kidnapped As Gunmen Shoot 3 Poly Students In Nasarawa

Comments

Metro

FULL LIST: Police Arrest Suspects Involved In Death Of Arise TV Presenter

Published

4 hours ago

October 9, 2025

Editor

The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has confirmed the arrest of 12 suspects involved in the armed robbery incident that led to the death of Arise TV presenter, Somtochukwu Maduagwu.

According to the police, the suspects are: Shamsudeen Hassan ‘m’ from Katsina State, Hassan Isah ‘m’, 22 years from Kaduna, Abubakar Alkamu a.k.a. abba ‘m’, 27 years from Katsina, Sani Sirajo a.k.a. dan borume ‘m’ 20 years from Katsina, Mashkur Jamilu a.k.a. abba ‘m’ 28 years from Kaduna and Suleiman Badamasi a.k.a. dan-sule ‘m’ 21 years from Katsina.

Others are Abdul Salam saleh a.k.a. na-durudu ‘m’ from Katsina, Zaharadeen Muhammad a.k.a. gwaska ‘m’ 23 years from Kaduna, Musa adamu a.k.a. musa hassan ‘m’ 30 years from Katsina, Sumayya Mohammed a.k.a. baby ‘m’ 27 years from Kaduna, Isah Abdulrahman a.k.a. abbati ‘m’, 25 years from Kaduna and Musa Umar a.k.a. small ‘m’ 31 years from Borno.

The police added that shortly after the robbery incident, four (4) of the suspects Shamsudeen Hassan, Alkamu, Sirajo and one other person were apprehended through the tracking of phones stollen from the apartment during the robbery.

“During interrogation, Shamsudeen Hassan confessed that he shot the security guard when he attempted to prevent them from gaining access to the apartment,” the statement read.

“Sani Sirajo confessed to have tried to hold Somtochukwu Christella Maduagwu from falling off the three-storey building but was overwhelmed by her weight.

“Shamsudeen further confessed that he drove the white honda CR-V jeep out of the apartment after the operation. The four suspects admitted that they each received ₦200,000 from the proceeds of the crime.”

Recovered exhibits include: One fabricated ak-47 rifle, 36 rounds of 9mm live ammunition, one locally made pistol, one pump-action gun, two live cartridges, four mobile phones of the victims, two sharp knives, one cutlass and nine torchlights used during the operation.

The police said: “In continuation of investigations, yesterday, 08/10/2025, acting on a tip-off and actionable digital intelligence also provided by us, the remaining members of the gang, Musa umar a.k.a. small, Hassan Isah and other accomplices involved in the Gishiri robbery were intercepted while enroute to an already planned armed robbery operation scheduled to hold at maitama in the early hours of this morning.”

According to the statement, all suspects have confessed to the crimes while investigation is ongoing.

Metro

Reason Benin Oba Market Was Gutted By Fire Revealed

Published

9 hours ago

October 9, 2025

Editor

Barely six years fire gutted Oba Market in Benin, another fire engulfed the popular market late Wednesday night.

The market, which is being reconstructed after abandonment since the June 2020 fire incident, was reportedly set ablaze by a solar panel.

Inspecting the market on Thursday, the Chairman of Oredo Local Government Council, Engr. Gabriel Iduseri, said only one shop was affected by the fire incident.

He said firefighters and security agencies promptly responded to ensure the fire did not spread to other parts of the market.

Iduseri said traders would be stopped from installing solar panels inside the market to prevent future fire outbreaks.

He said, “We learnt solar panel caused the fire. We are going to stop installation of solar panels and check all the electrical wiring in the market.

“I want to assure that we will support the affected trader to get back to business. There is no much damage. No life was lost. Oredo local government was here and we put measures in place to prevent thieves.”

The affected trader was said to have collapsed last night.

Metro

7 African Countries That Experience Snow

Published

1 day ago

October 8, 2025

Editor

When people talk about Africa, snow is rarely part of the conversation. The continent is better known for its warm weather, deserts, and beaches than blizzards or ski slopes. Yet scattered across its vast landscapes are places where temperatures drop low enough for snow to fall and sometimes stick.

1. South Africa

Snow isn’t unusual in South Africa, especially in the Drakensberg Mountains and areas around Ceres and Sutherland.

The country even boasts a ski resort, Tiffindell, where visitors can enjoy skiing and snowboarding between June and August.

2. Lesotho

Lesotho, known as the “Kingdom in the Sky”, sits entirely above 1,000 metres in elevation. That high altitude makes it one of the snowiest countries in Southern Africa. The Afriski Mountain Resort becomes a popular destination during the winter months, offering a genuine alpine experience.

3. Morocco

In Morocco, the Atlas Mountains receive regular snowfall between December and March. The Oukaïmeden Ski Resort, located just outside Marrakech, attracts locals and tourists eager to ski or simply enjoy a mountain escape, all within view of the desert.

4. Algeria

The Tell Atlas and Aurès Mountains in Algeria get dusted with snow each winter. Towns such as Setif and Batna often experience several snowy days, creating a rare but beautiful contrast between the icy peaks and the nearby Sahara sands.

5. Tunisia

In Tunisia’s Kroumirie Mountains, particularly around Aïn Draham, snow is a familiar winter visitor. The region’s pine forests and rolling hills transform into a quiet, white landscape that feels far removed from the country’s sunny Mediterranean coast.

6. Kenya

Snow in Kenya may sound impossible, but the peaks of Mount Kenya are permanently capped with ice. Although the glaciers are shrinking, climbers still trek to the summit to witness the rare sight of snow just a few degrees south of the equator.

7. Tanzania

Tanzania’s Mount Kilimanjaro remains Africa’s most famous snowy landmark.

Its white summit rises above the plains, a stunning reminder of the continent’s diverse climates and a view that has inspired countless travellers and photographers.

Snow might not be the first thing that comes to mind when people think of Africa, but it’s part of the story too. In these high-altitude regions, winter shows up quietly.