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OPINION: The Three Wrongs Of Owo Park’s Demolition
By Festus Adedayo
The furore over the recently pulled down Owo Memorial Park in Ondo State is said to have thawed, which is gladsome. There is, however, the need to further examine the subsisting issues in the drama. The park, constructed by the late governor of the state, Rotimi Akeredolu, in honour of victims of a terrorist attack that occurred on June 5, 2022 at St. Francis Catholic Church, Owo, with casualties of over 40 people, was dismantled by the current governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa. At the hub of the crisis was the Park’s location opposite the Olowo of Owo’s palace. Ever since its dismantling, it has generated such hoopla at the center of which was wife of the late governor, Betty the Ondo State government and the Owo palace. While Mrs. Akeredolu believes the pulling down of the Park was a continuation of perceived acrimony of Aiyedatiwa against her husband, government maintained that it merely hearkened to the call of the Owo palace to respect tradition and pull down the “offending” Park.
Rather than a clash of culture and religion that many see in the tiff, I tend to see arrogance of position on the sides of the three parties. Whipping up sentiments and emotions in a video she posted on her X page, Betty wrote, “Darling, I’ve always known you to love your people. See what they’ve done to you. They didn’t blink an eye in rubbishing your memory and legacy. Spearheaded by the Olowo of Owo, whom you single-handedly installed, and ‘Lucky’, the enabler, ordered the demolition of a monument built to remember those massacred. Nobody was buried there — it was symbolic. They travel abroad and see how memorials are treated with respect. Why do we do things differently? To score political points? The Oba that doesn’t want the so-called cemetery — but it’s not a cemetery — sleeps with the dead. All the Olowos were buried where he lived. Look at the hypocrisy! So long as I live, they will not succeed. They will not rubbish you. Aketi lives on.”
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You may not be able to stand the face of Betty, especially her constant veers into ethnic slants, but that post is replete with hardcore facts. Promptly, the Olowo-in-Council issued a statement which stated that the palace was taking responsibility for the demolition as it personally urged government to demolish the Park due to its affront against Owo long-held culture. To underscore its enjoyment of an Owo-wide acceptance, a group of protesters recently openly affirmed that the decision was done in the interest of Owo culture. The palace statement said, “It must be made clear that the decision to site the structure in that particular location was resisted by the Olowo-in-Council and frowned upon by the people of the community when it was being conceived by the government of the late Governor, Arakunrin Rotimi Akeredolu.” The palace then thanked the “listening” Governor Aiyedatiwa for acceding to its request.
The tripodal blame on all parties goes thus: One, the question to be posed to the palace is, if the “unlistening” Governor Akeredolu hadn’t passed on, what would have happened to the Park? If nothing happened to Owo for almost three years of the construction of the Park, why is the palace mythifying culture by claiming that erection of memorial parks is a palace taboo? Again, which parks had been constructed close to the palace before now, so that we can know its negative effects? If none, how come the palace still holds on to it as a taboo? How many taboos of ancient past have been moderated in the face of modernity or does the palace observe all of them till today, hook, line and sinker?
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Lastly, the other question to ask is, is culture made for man or man was made for culture? No one needs to tell anyone that Owo needs to memorialize that gory event of June 2022 when some misbegotten blood-seeking vampires killed worshipers in one fell swoop. Akeredolu did well by constructing the park so that the memories of the dead would be kept alive and Owo itself would be reminded to be on its guard against repeat occurrence. More importantly, why didn’t the palace ask government to demolish all the infrastructure that Akeredolu constructed in Owo since it is so rankled by the late governor’s footprints? These questions needed to be answered and sincerely too so that some people seeking to even scores won’t hide under a nebulous culture they created.
For Mrs. Akeredolu, having lived for decades in Yorubaland, she should have realized that Yoruba revere their culture. They won’t even stand an outsider making mockery of it. Using foul words on the monarchy of Owo, especially when her children, bona-fide children of Owo, would forever need the ancient town for, especially, validation all the days of their lives, is akin to destroying their future.
While the Ondo State governor must be commended for promptly acceding to the request of the palace, Ondo people would be more excited if that government deploys same alacrity it took it to dismantle the Akeredolu-built Park into finishing the many projects the governor’s late boss began but which death prevented him from concluding. Hiding under the banner of “palace request” to execute a governmental philosophy is mean.
News
NAFDAC Raises The Alarm Over Fake Milk In Circulation
The National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control on Friday raised the alarm over the presence of counterfeit Cowbell “Our Milk” 12g sachet milk circulating in Nigeria.
The alert posted on the agency’s website stated that Promasidor Nigeria Ltd, which is the marketing authorisation jolder and manufacturer of Cowbell “Our Milk” informed the agency about the existence of a product bearing a close resemblance to the genuine Cowbell “Our Milk” 12g sachet Milk.
“This includes unauthorised use of the brand name, packaging design, NAFDAC registration number, and trademark.
“The MAH has confirmed that these products are neither manufactured or distributed by them as the counterfeit packaging design was last used for production by the company in September 2023,” NAFDAC noted.
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Differentiating, it said the genuine cowbell milk is creamy, the packaging material used is the revised PNG artwork “Our Creamy Goodness”, the printing of the batch details is done with laser printing, the coding is done on the coding area on the sachet, and the sealing and cutting on the vertical sides are automated.
It said the content of the counterfeit Cowbell 12g sachet milk does not seem like milk, the packaging material used is the old PNG artwork “Our Milk”, the printing of the batch details was done with ink instead of laser printing, the coding was not done on the coding area but on a different part of the sachet, and the sealing and cutting on the vertical sides were manually done.
It added, “The use or consumption of counterfeit Cowbell ‘Our Milk’ Milk presents serious health and safety risks.
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“Such products may contain harmful substances, including toxic chemicals, unapproved additives, or diluted ingredients that do not meet food safety standards.
“Consumption of counterfeit milk can result in foodborne illnesses, allergic reactions, organ damage, or even death in severe cases. Infants, children, pregnant women, and the elderly are particularly vulnerable.”
The agency urged all NAFDAC zonal directors and state coordinators to conduct surveillance and mop up the counterfeit Cowbell 12g sachet Milk products within their zones and states.
“Distributors, retailers, and consumers are advised to exercise caution and vigilance within the supply chain to prevent the distribution, sale, and use of the counterfeit milk product.
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“All food products must be obtained from authorised/licensed manufacturers/suppliers. The products’ authenticity and physical condition should be carefully checked.
“Healthcare professionals and consumers are advised to report any suspicion of sale of substandard and counterfeit food products to the nearest NAFDAC office, NAFDAC on 0800-162-3322 or via email: sf.alert@nafdac.gov.ng
“Similarly, healthcare professionals and patients are also encouraged to report adverse events or side effects related to the use of counterfeited food products to the nearest NAFDAC office, or through the use of the E-reporting platforms available on the NAFDAC website www.nafdac.gov.ng or via e-mail on pharmacovigilance@nafdac.gov.ng,” it said.
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Orphaned Nigerian TikToker ‘Geh Geh’ Goes Viral, Rakes In $30,000 From One Live Session
A young Nigerian known as “Geh Geh” has captured the hearts of thousands online after his TikTok live session on Thursday drew an astonishing 177,000 viewers and reportedly earned him gifts worth over $30,000.
The social media personality, who refers to his online platform as the “University of Wisdom and Understanding,” has been making waves with his unconventional approach to advising men on relationships and finances.
In a video he posted after the live session, Geh Geh said, “More than 177,000 people watch my lectures today.
“Jesus! University of wisdom and understanding, the only university where once you graduate, woman go fear to ask you for money.”
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Describing himself as the “first illiterate to find a university in the history of Nigeria,” Geh Geh reflected on his unlikely rise to fame, saying, “I no be graduate too, but by the grace of God, I don find school. I be orphan, but now Nigerians don show me love.”
According to him, the gifts received during the live were worth approximately $30,000, a feat he described as life-changing.
“See gift I made over… more gift when they give me today is worth about $30,000. I no go take this love for granted, because I no really do anything for am,” he said in a follow-up video after the live became a hit.
The viral moment has been hailed by many as a form of digital empowerment, proof that even those without formal education can leverage social media to build influence, create entertainment, and earn a living.
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While his controversial teachings on money and women have sparked debates online, his story is now being seen as an inspiration to underprivileged youths.
Reflecting on the overwhelming support, he added, “If Nigeria be country wey value great people, by now them suppose dey compare people like me with Aristotle, Wole Soyinka, Einstein… but I thank God say people dey see my head and my own difference.”
His followers, now calling themselves “students” of the Geh Geh University, continue to grow, raising questions about how social platforms are redefining fame and success in Nigeria.
News
Daredevil Boko Haram Leader, Bakura Neutralized In Niger
A notorious leader of the Boko Haram insurgents, Ibrahim Mahamadu, popularly known as Bakura, has been killed in the Lake Chad Basin, the Niger Army said on Thursday.
The Army, in a statement, tagged the terrorist a “feared leader” of the group, stating that he was targeted by a fighter jet early on August 15.
“Very early in the morning of August 15, an Air Force fighter aircraft launched three targeted and successive strikes on the positions Bakura used to occupy in Shilawa,” it added.
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The statement also revealed that the Boko Haram leader, who was said to be about 40 years old, was originally from Nigeria.
He reportedly joined the terrorist group more than 13 years ago and took over leadership after Abubakar Shekau.
DAILY POST reports that Shekau, a former leader of Boko Haram, died during jihadist infighting in May 2021
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