News

Ondo Assembly Crisis: Impeachment Of Speaker Stalls As APC Intervenes

Published

1 month ago

August 23, 2026

The impeachment move against the Speaker of the Ondo State House of Assembly, Hon Olamide Oladiji, seems to have been put on hold as the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) intensifies efforts to resolve the crisis rocking the state legislature.

The development followed a meeting between the APC leadership and the lawmakers involved in the dispute last Friday, where the party leadership appealed to the contending sides to sheath their swords and maintain the status quo pending the outcome of its mediation efforts.

A source familiar with the meeting told the Nigerian Tribune that the party leadership was concerned about the possible consequences of allowing the disagreement to degenerate further, particularly at a time the party is preparing for the 2027 elections.

“The meeting was basically to appeal to both sides to calm down. The party does not want the matter to escalate beyond what it is at the moment. The position for now is that the status quo should remain while the leadership continues with the consultations,” the source said.

According to the source, the lawmakers who had commenced moves to remove the Speaker were asked not to take further steps until the party concludes its intervention.

The source further explained that the intervention was not necessarily an indication that the lawmakers had abandoned their grievances against the Speaker.

The source added that “The lawmakers were asked to sheath their swords for now. Nobody was told that the issues they raised had been swept under the carpet. The party simply wants everybody to allow the mediation process to continue.

“The impeachment matter has not been withdrawn. What happened is that there is now a window for political intervention. The party wants to see whether the issues can be resolved without allowing the House to go into another round of confrontation.”

The crisis had assumed a serious dimension after some lawmakers accused the Speaker of financial misconduct and abuse of office, particularly over an alleged N44 million transaction linked to the reordering of the 2026 budget of the Ondo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (OSOPADEC).

Oladiji, however, has denied the allegations, describing the impeachment move as politically motivated. He was also said to have been reaching out to political stakeholders in the state to intervene on his behalf.

The impeachment move reportedly began with 21 of the 26 lawmakers signing a notice demanding the Speaker’s resignation or removal from office. The number was later said to have risen to 24, underscoring the depth of opposition against the Speaker within the Assembly.

The development heightened tension in the legislature, with lawmakers divided over the leadership of the House and the circumstances surrounding the alleged financial transaction.

However, the APC intervention has temporarily halted further action, with the party asking the lawmakers to maintain the status quo while consultations continue.

The crisis has also raised questions about the relationship between the legislature and the executive, amid allegations and counter-allegations over the role of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa.

While some lawmakers have accused the governor of shielding the Speaker, the administration has maintained that the disagreement is an internal matter of the legislature and should be resolved by the lawmakers.

Oladiji has also maintained that the allegations against him are politically motivated, linking the impeachment attempt to the controversy surrounding the APC’s recent National Assembly primaries and suggesting that some lawmakers who lost their return tickets could be behind the move.

Meanwhile, the Assembly has commenced moves to examine its financial records, a development that could further shape the direction of the crisis and determine whether the allegations against the leadership of the House have any financial basis.

Recent reports have also quoted the lawmakers as saying they are awaiting further direction from the APC leadership before taking the next step.

For now, Oladiji remains Speaker of the House, while the lawmakers who backed his removal have not formally withdrawn their demand.

Another source close to the party leadership said the immediate objective was to prevent the disagreement from turning into a full-blown political crisis.

“What the party is trying to achieve is peace first. The status quo remains. The Speaker remains in office, and the lawmakers are expected to hold their fire while the leadership engages all the parties,” the source said.

The source, however, cautioned that the temporary truce should not be interpreted as a final resolution of the crisis.

“There are still issues that must be addressed. The party knows this. The lawmakers have their grievances, and those grievances cannot simply disappear because of one meeting. The leadership has to find a lasting solution,” the source added.

Political observers said the APC intervention could provide a window for reconciliation and a possible soft landing for the Speaker.

They, however, stressed that the underlying issues must be properly addressed if the party leadership wants Oladiji to remain in office, warning that merely suspending the impeachment process could provide only a temporary respite.

The development has consequently placed the Ondo APC leadership under pressure to resolve the dispute, as a prolonged confrontation in the Assembly could further deepen existing divisions within the ruling party and affect its political fortunes ahead of the 2027 elections.
(TRIBUNE)

News

Six Corps Members Receive N10m Grants To Boost Agribusiness

Published

2 days ago

September 22, 2026

Editor

Six members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) have received a total of N10 million in grants to expand their agribusiness ventures under the Farmers for the Future Programme.

The programme was organised on Monday by the British American Tobacco Nigeria Foundation (BATNF) in collaboration with the NYSC to encourage young Nigerians to embrace agriculture and develop sustainable businesses.

Presenting the cheques to the beneficiaries in Abuja, the NYSC Director-General, Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu, urged Corps members to maximise the opportunities provided by the service year by venturing into commodity marketing and other viable businesses.

Nafiu said agribusiness remained a viable avenue for young people to build sustainable enterprises, create employment and generate wealth.

He also stressed the importance of value addition to the success and sustainability of business ventures, while commending BATNF for placing Nigerian youths at the centre of its entrepreneurship initiatives through value-chain development, employment creation and its partnership with the NYSC.

“I charge you to spread the news around. We have seen the outcome, and it is a good idea,” he said.

The beneficiaries are Dominic Olufemi (FC/25C/1143), who received N3 million; Temitope Adewole (ED/26A/2251), N2 million; Abdulwaheed Bala (ED/25B/1402), N2 million; Olanike Mayungbe (OG/26B/1037), N1 million; Kingsley Udoeyen (KG/26A/1735), N1 million; and Lorember Lorsue (JG/25B/1742), N1 million.

Speaking on the selection process, the Acting Director, Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED), Mrs Winifred Shopeka, said the programme began with an online registration portal through which Corps Members engaged in agribusiness submitted their business plans.

She said nearly 3,000 Corps members applied and underwent a rigorous selection process that produced 20 finalists.

According to her, the finalists participated in a boot camp and a final pitching session, which produced the 10 best presenters before the six ultimate winners were selected.

Shopeka said the beneficiaries had also been mentored and attached to established market operators to assist them in marketing their products.

She added that Corps Members who did not make the final stage of the competition were also trained by BATNF.

The BATNF Team Lead, Mr Oludare Odusanya, congratulated the beneficiaries and urged Corps Members engaged in agribusiness to master the fundamentals and acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to succeed.

“We are happy with our collaboration with the NYSC, and it will continue,” he said.

Odusanya explained that BATNF was an independent organisation established to contribute to poverty reduction in Nigeria through sustainable agricultural practices and other interventions.

He said the Farmers for the Future Programme was instituted in collaboration with the NYSC to encourage Corps Members to venture into agribusiness and become job creators.

He added that the beneficiaries would be attached to mentors who would guide them towards achieving success in their respective businesses.

According to him, the programme has, since its inception, continued to enhance the entrepreneurial capacity of Corps Members.

News

CBN Reduces Interest Rate To 23%

Published

2 days ago

September 22, 2026

Editor

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on Tuesday announced the reduction of the interest rate, also known as Monetary Policy Rate (MPR) to 23 percent.

Briefing the media in Abuja, the Governor of the CBN, Mr. Olayemi Cardoso, said at the 307th MPC meeting held on September 22, 2026 agreed the resetting of the MPR and recaliberation of the monetary policy market.

According to Cardoso, the committe is satisfied with the disinflation progress, adding that members noted stable banking sector following successful recapitalisation.

Meanwhile, according to Nigerian Tribune, reports that that the MPC, at its 306th meeting in July 2026, disclosed its resolution to retain the interets at 26.5 percent.

According to the Governor of the CBN, Olayemi Cardoso, “the Committee’s decision to maintain the current policy stance followed a thorough assessment of the balance of risks. Although headline inflation moderated marginally in June 2026, global uncertainties have heightened, due mainly to the renewed hostilities in the Middle East.

“In view of the evolving developments, maintaining a cautious monetary policy stance remains appropriate. In arriving at its decision, the Committee noted the recent resurgence of hostilities in the Middle East, with particular attention to its spillover effects on global energy prices and the potential pass-through to domestic inflation.”

News

NURTW: KWAM1 Settles Long-time Rift Between MC Oluomo, Tafa Sego

Published

2 days ago

September 22, 2026

Editor

Nigerian Fuji musician, Wasiu Ayinde Marshal, popularly known as KWAM1, has brokered a peace deal between the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) National President, Musiliu Akinsanya, popularly known as MC Oluomo, and the Lagos State Chairman of the union, Mustapha Adekunle, aka Tafa Sego.

The reconciliation took place at Ojusagbola in Ijebu, Ogun State, where several NURTW chieftains gathered for the meeting.

The development was announced on Tuesday on KWAM1’s digital media page on Instagram, alongside photographs from the meeting.

According to the post, the two union leaders have resolved their differences after years of strained relations.

“After years of an age-long rift, MC Oluomo and Tafa Sego have finally settled their differences. And from what we know now, this is final,” the post said.

The musician was said to have intervened as the Mayegun of Yorubaland, with the aim of bringing an end to the longstanding disagreement between the two NURTW figures.

“K1 acted in his role as the Mayegun of Yorubaland by seeking an end to the long-standing rift, once and for all,” it said.

The post also described the meeting as a significant step beyond previous public displays of reconciliation.

“This time, it was not just another handshake for the cameras. The two old friends and colleagues came together at Ojusagbola, with King Wasiu Ayinde Marshal (K1) playing the peacemaker.”

Both MC Oluomo and Tafa Sego were reported to be pleased with the outcome of the intervention.

“Both parties are delighted about the new development,” the post said.

The two men had previously been allies and prominent figures within the Lagos NURTW before their relationship became strained amid disagreements linked to leadership of the union in the state.