News

‘Now, I Actually Realise I’m Deputy Nat’l President’ – Oyetunde Says As Edo NUJ Welcomes Her In Grand Style

Published

12 months ago

December 2, 2024

L-R: Andy Egbon, Secretary, Edo NUJ; Festus Alenkhe, Chairman, Edo NUJ; Bimbo Oyetunde, Deputy National President, NUJ, and Gloria Ilobe of Bronze FM chapel during the reception party on Monday.

It was a moment of dance, merriment, solidarity songs and showers of encomium on Dr. Bimbo Oyetunde, the newly elected Deputy National President of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) as members of the Edo State council of the union welcomed her in a reception party held in a grand style at the secretariat of the NUJ, Edo State council.

The reception party led by the Edo NUJ council Chairman, Comrade Festus Alenkhe, had in attendance former secretaries of the council, chapels leaders, other members of the council and particularly the Bronze FM family. Bronze FM is the chapel Oyetunde belongs to. She is the general manager of the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria-owned FM station in Benin.

Responding to the love shown to her, Oyetunde said the reception by members of the Edo NUJ made it dawn on her that she is actually the Deputy National President of the NUJ.

“In fact, it’s today I realised that I am actually the Deputy National President. With what I have seen here, it dawned on me that I am occupying the number two position of the NUJ,” Oyetunde emotionally said.

Further speaking on how she rode to victory in the just concluded NUJ election, the Deputy National President, while stating that it was destined by God, and further thanking Him for seeing her through the rough route of the NUJ election, added that the cordial relationship she built with people she came across over the years helped her to gain the popularity.

She urged journalists to imbibe the spirit of building relationship with colleagues, noting that such a relationship would help in the future.

“I want to say here that wherever you find yourself, always have a cordial relationship with people around you because you might need each other in the future. Ever since I came here in 2016, I have been having that personal relationship with seating chairmen. Outside the profession, we may meet and even need each other, and that is why maintaining a cordial relationship is very important,” she noted.

She added: “27 states out of the 36 states including FCT endorsed us. When the endorsement was going on, they were writing all sorts of propaganda and petitions, but God saw us through. For instance, not a single vote went out from Edo delegates. The 17 was complete. Lagos gave us 43 votes.”

She thanked leadership and members of the Edo NUJ for their support and prayers, promising that the present national executives of the NUJ would run an inclusive government.

She, therefore, urged co-contestants in the race to join the executives in moving the NUJ to greater heights.

“No winner, no vanguish. We embrace our opponents. We call upon them to come on board so we can work together to move the union forward. By the grace of God, we are taking this union to greater heights,” she promised.

Earlier, Chairman of the council, Festus Alenkhe, while welcoming the Deputy National President, urged her to always put Edo council in her heart wherever she goes.

In her goodwill message, Mrs Olabisi Akpadia, Head of Benin Network Centre, AIT/Raypower, described Oyetunde as a special breed who is concerned about the welfare of union members, stressing that “this is what union is all about.”

Akpadia, who hailed Oyetunde for achieving the feat of being the first deputy national president of the NUJ, noted: “This means she is made of uncommon stuff.”

Also in his goodwill message, Inope Ofuenyi, Vice Chairman, Bronze FM chapel, said: “Working with madam has been fulfilling. She makes work easy for us. We are with you, we are the Edo State council.”

News

Edo Assembly Invites Obaseki, Others For Questioning Over MOWAA

Published

18 minutes ago

November 27, 2025

Editor

The controversy surrounding the Museum of West African Art (MOWAA) and Radisson Hotel, remains unabated as Edo State House of Assembly Ad-Hoc Committee investigating the matter has invited a former governor of the state, Godwin Obaseki for questioning.

A statement by Secretary of the Ad-hoc Committee, Bekisu Oshone, on Thursday, stated that the former governor and others are expected to appear on December 4, 2025.

Other persons invited by the committee are a former Edo Finance Commissioner, Joseph Eboigbe, former Attorney General of Edo State, Oluwole Osaze-Uzzi, MOWAA’s Director, Philip Iheanacho and Managing Director, Tilbury House Nigeria Limited.

According to her, others invited are Project Manager of Hospitality Investment and Management Company, Pramod Thorat, Managing Director, Afrinvest Capital Limited, Ugochukwu Anigbogu, Managing Director, Meristem Trustees Limited and
Managing Director, Emerging Africa Trustees Limited.

The statement reads: “The Edo State House of Assembly Ad hoc Committee constituted to investigate the Museum of West African Arts and Radisson Hotel invites former Governor Godwin Obaseki and 10 others/organization (listed above) to appear before the committee for public hearing on December 4.”

She said attendance by Obaseki and others was required as part of the committee’s investigation.

The former governor and other invitees are expected to give insights into funding of the Radisson Hotel.

The MOWAA and Radisson Hotel were both conceptualized by Obaseki.

While first phase of the MOWAA has been completed, Radisson Hotel is near completion.

Recall that an exhibition at the museum turned chaotic on November 9 after angry protesters stormed the venue, forcing a high-profile event to shut down abruptly.

The preview opening, described as a private exhibition for investors, artists, and foreign envoys, quickly descended into panic when a mob claiming the museum belonged to the Oba of Benin breached parts of the premises.

News

Police, PSC Set Up Committee To Recruit 30,000 New Officers

Published

58 minutes ago

November 27, 2025

Editor

The Police Service Commission (PSC) and the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) have set up a high-powered joint Ad-hoc Committee to drive the immediate commencement of the recruitment of 30,000 new officers.

The PSC disclosed this in a statement on Thursday, following the inauguration of the Ad-hoc Committee on Wednesday, 26th November, 2025 by the Chairman, Police Service Commission DIG Hashimu Salihu Argungu (rtd) at the Police Service Commission Corporate Headquarters, Jabi, Abuja.

The establishment of the committee followed the presidential directive to bolster the numerical strength of the NPF and enhance national security.

According to the statement, the primary mandate of the Joint Ad-hoc Committee is to collaborate and brainstorm on creating a seamless, transparent, and efficient recruitment process.

It added that the committee will work to ensure the exercise is conducted with the highest standards of integrity and merit.

In his remarks, the Chairman of the Police Service Commission, who was represented by DIG (Bar) Taiwo Lakanu (rtd), said that “the collaboration is crucial for a successful exercise”.

Lakanu, who is also the Chairman, Nigeria Police Force Matters Committee, PSC reiterated the commission’s commitment to ensuring that the recruitment is fair and based on established guidelines.

The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, was represented at the event by CP Edwin Eloho of the Department of Training and Development, Force Headquarters.

Egbetokun emphasised the importance of the recruitment in strengthening the police force’s capacity to serve and protect the citizens of Nigeria.

The IGP affirmed the NPF’s full cooperation with the PSC to ensure the timely and successful achievement of this national objective.

“The inauguration of this committee marks a critical step forward in the Federal Government’s commitment to addressing security challenges and improving the police-to-citizen ratio across the country,” he said.

The PSC is the Federal Executive Body empowered to appoint, promote, dismiss, and exercise disciplinary control over persons holding offices in the Nigeria Police Force, except the IGP.

The NPF is the principal law enforcement agency in Nigeria. It is designated to, amongst others, prevent and detect crime, protect lives and property, and maintain public order and safety.

President Bola Tinubu on Monday presided over a high-level security meeting with Nigeria’s top military and intelligence chiefs at the State House, Abuja, as the administration intensified efforts to confront emerging and persistent security threats across the country.

The closed-door session was confirmed by the Special Assistant to the President on Social Media, Dada Olusegun, who shared updates via his X handle, @DOlusegun.

The Service Chiefs in attendance included the Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede; Chief of Army Staff, Major General Waidi Shaibu; Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Idi Abbas; and Chief of Air Staff, Air Vice-Marshal Kennedy Aneke, as well as IGP Egbetokun, and the Director-General of the Department of State Service.

The appointments of the new Service Chiefs, announced by President Tinubu in October 2025, form part of a broader effort to reinforce Nigeria’s security architecture.

Also present was Major General Emmanuel Undiandeye, who continues to serve as Chief of Defence Intelligence, alongside other senior security advisers and heads of relevant agencies.

News

Guinea-Bissau Coup: FG Gives Update On Ex-President Jonathan

Published

1 hour ago

November 27, 2025

Editor

Former President of Nigeria, Goodluck Jonathan, is safe and has left Guinea-Bissau following the military takeover that disrupted the country’s electoral process, the Federal Government confirmed on Thursday.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson, Kimiebi Ebienfa, told journalists in Abuja that Jonathan departed on a special flight with members of his delegation, including Mohamed Chambas.

“Former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan is very safe and out of Guinea-Bissau. He left with a special flight with members of his delegation, including Mohamed Chambas,” he said.

Jonathan had been in the country as head of the West African Elders Forum Election Observation Mission, monitoring the presidential and legislative elections held on Sunday. The military seized control before official results were announced.

In a joint statement issued on Wednesday, Jonathan, alongside Filipe Nyusi, former president of Mozambique and head of the African Union Election Observation Mission, and Issifu Kamara, head of the ECOWAS Election Observation Mission, condemned the coup as a direct attempt to disrupt Guinea-Bissau’s democratic process. The statement called for calm and reaffirmed support for the country during the crisis, stressing the need to preserve peace and stability.

The Federal Government also condemned the military action, describing it as an unconstitutional change of government that violated the ECOWAS Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance.

The crisis escalated on Wednesday when military officers declared “total control” of Guinea-Bissau, closed its borders, and suspended electoral activities.

Heavy gunfire was reported near the presidential palace, and key access routes were blocked. General Denis N’Canha, head of the presidential military office, announced that a command “composed of all branches of the armed forces was taking over the leadership of the country until further notice.”

Incumbent President Umaro Sissoco Embalo later confirmed in a phone call with France24 that he had been deposed, while opposition candidate Fernando Dias also claimed victory in Sunday’s elections. The military claimed it had uncovered a plot involving “national drug lords” and the importation of weapons “to alter the constitutional order.”

Jonathan and other election observers had been temporarily trapped in the country as outgoing flights were suspended. While he remained in Guinea-Bissau, his spokesperson confirmed he was unharmed and maintaining contact with colleagues. Jonathan and fellow African leaders condemned the intervention and urged the immediate release of detained electoral officials so that the process could be concluded.

The joint statement from Jonathan and the observer missions urged the African Union and ECOWAS to act swiftly to restore constitutional order and called on the people of Guinea-Bissau to remain calm, emphasising the importance of safeguarding peace, stability, and public welfare during the period of uncertainty.