News

Kingmakers In Battle Royal With Osun Commissioner Over Stool

Published

4 years ago

October 23, 2022

The Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs in Osun State, Adebayo Adeleke has been issued with a warning by Kingmakers in Iree against the appointment of a warrant chief.

The Kingmakers who alleged that the decision of Adeleke to appoint a warrant chief was to favour his preferred candidate for the stool of Aree of Iree also posited that the appointment would hinder the selection process of the best candidate to fill the vacant stool of the traditional ruler of the town in Boripe local government area of the state.

The stool became vacant following the demise of Oba Jimoh Olayonu about four years ago and all efforts to appoint a new king for the town have not yielded any positive results.

While condemning the alleged decision, the kingmakers also vowed that they would prevent moves by the commissioner to appoint the Iyalode of Iree, Serifat Adebayo as a member of the town’s kingmakers.

The kingmakers had convened a meeting to decide on the selection of a new monarch when they received a letter from the commissioner announcing the appointment of Adebayo as one of the Kingmakers.

They vowed that they would reject the move as it was a bad precedent, DAILY POST reports.

The Kingmakers led by the Aogun of Iree, Saliu Atoyebi, maintained that it was alien to the tradition and culture of the town for a woman to be appointed as a member of the Kingmakers.

“It has never been in the history of Iree that a woman will be selected to be among the kingmakers. Such will not be entertained in their lifetime.

“When they brought the letter from the State government that Iyalode has been appointed to join the kingmakers, we rejected it. Anything that is capable of causing disunity or uproar in Iree over the selection of our monarch will not be allowed.

“If the government said they want to force on us another chief to join the kingmakers, they should choose another person, not a woman. It has never been in the history of Aree in Council that women are included in the selection of a new monarch. They should not do anything that will tamper with our culture and tradition.

“If government should be allowed to do whatever they wish, and we allowed it, history will not be kind to us after we might have left, because it is our names that people will be mentioning, nobody will talk about those who were in government when it was done,” the Kingmakers lamented.

The Iree Kingmakers are also alleging that the Commissioner who is an indigene of the town is sponsoring a candidate for the Aree stool.

In his reaction, Adebayo Adeleke, the Osun Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs said the appointment of a warrant chief is the sole responsibility of the government.

Adeleke maintained that such appointment was always done through the local government authority and any person of repute in the affected community can be so appointed.

“The chiefs or anybody does not have the right or power to reject anybody appointed by the government as warrant chief.”

While noting that there was a need for Kingmakers to be enlightened on what the law permitted, he revealed that several warrant chiefs had been appointed in such situations.

Regarding the appointment of Chief Serifat Adebayo, the Iyalode of Iree as a kingmaker, the Commissioner noted that the appointment was carried out as a replacement for the Eesa of Iree who died a while ago.
DAILY POST

News

Edo NLC Crisis: Caretaker Committee Drags Rival Exco, Govt To Court

Published

12 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

The division in the Edo State Council of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), took a new dimension on Wednesday as Prof. Monday Monday Lewis Igbafen-led caretaker committee approached the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, Benin Judicial Division, seeking to affirm its authority and restrain a rival executive from parading itself as the council’s leadership.

Joined in the suit are the Edo State Government, the Commissioner for Labour and Productivity, and the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice.

In a suit marked: NICN/BEN/12/2026, and filed before the court in Benin, the claimant, Igbafen, acting for himself and on behalf of the NLC Caretaker Committee in Edo State, is challenging the continued occupation of the union’s secretariat and control of its assets by members of the Bernard Egwakhide-led factional State Executive Council.

The claimants are asking the court to declare that the caretaker committee (Igbafen-led faction), constituted on August 11, 2025, by the NLC national leadership, remains the only lawful authority to administer the affairs of the Edo State Council pending fresh elections.

They further seek a declaration that the continued occupation of the NLC secretariat located at No. 1 Teboga Road, Benin City, as well as the retention of union assets, financial records, and official instruments by the defendants, is illegal and void.

The suit also prays for an order of perpetual injunction restraining the defendants from parading themselves as officials of the NLC Edo Council or interfering with the functions of the caretaker committee.

In addition, the claimants are seeking a mandatory order compelling the defendants to immediately hand over the secretariat, vehicles, financial documents, cheque books, and all other properties belonging to the union.

The caretaker committee further urged the court to restrain the state government and its officials from interfering in the internal affairs of the union, alleging undue support for the dissolved executive.

The claimants further demand N50 million as general and exemplary damages against the defendants for alleged unlawful usurpation of office and acts prejudicial to the administration of the council.

According to court documents made available to our correspondent, the crisis followed the dissolution of the Edo State Council by the NLC National Executive Council on February 27, 2025, over allegations of misconduct, anti-union activities, and constitutional violations.

However, the matter has yet to be assigned a hearing date.

News

Transfer: Premier League Clubs Scramble For Dele-Bashiru

Published

18 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

Lazio midfielder, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru is a subject of interest from three Premier League clubs, according to Sky Sports.

Lazio reportedly rejected offers from Nottingham Forest and Bournemouth for the Nigeria international in January.

La Biancolesti are bracing for more interest in Dele-Bashiru ahead of the summer transfer window, according to Sky Sports.

The 24-year-old has two years left on his contract with the Serie A club.

The attacking midfielder joined the Rome-based club from Turkish Super Lig outfit Hatayspor in 2024.

He has been a regular feature for Lazio this season.

News

Xenophobic Attacks: Nigerian Students To Picket MTN, MultiChoice, Other Businesses

Published

18 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

The leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS South-West Zone D, has announced plans to picket South African companies in Nigeria following the ongoing xenophobic attacks in the country.

DAILY POST reports that some Nigerians were recently killed in South Africa over the violent attacks.

A statement issued to newsmen by Comrade Adeyemo Josiah Kayode, Coordinator, NANS South-West, Zone D, said that the association is mobilizing to take decisive and lawful action by organizing peaceful picketing and mass advocacy against South African business interests operating in Nigeria.

“We categorically state that the continued targeting of Nigerians under any guise is unacceptable and must come to an immediate end.

“This will include major corporations such as MTN Group and MultiChoice Group. It is morally indefensible for businesses to thrive in an environment where the lives of Nigerians are protected, while Nigerians are subjected to fear and violence elsewhere.

“This contradiction will no longer be tolerated,” the statement said.