…says life without help to humanity, is not worth living

Former presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, on Monday, July 7, 2025, donated a sum of N15 million to St. Philomena School of Nursing Sciences, Benin, as support to the school’s ongoing project, saying “life without support or help to humanity, is not worth living.”

The former governor of Anambra State said For the future of the country, “we need to invest in you (students of nursing),” predicting that “by year 2030, the world will be short of nurses to work in the hospital,” due to the high demand.

Obi, who described health, education, and pulling people out of poverty as the most important investment in any nation, disclosed that due to the premium he placed on health particularly nursing, out of the 52 weeks in a year, he visits at least one health facility every week, stressing that this act of visit and donation is not politically motivated but what he had been doing even before he came into politics.

READ ALSO: 2027: Peter Obi Speaks On Running For President, Deal With Atiku

Obi said: “I’m here to support what you are doing. I’m here because, for the future of this country, we need to invest in you. Across Nigeria, I support over 50 school of nursing sciences. 52 two weeks of the year, every week I must visit a school of nursing sciences.

“My weekly visit to the schools is not because of politics, because people think it’s because of politics that I’m doing this, but no. I was doing this even before I came into politics.

“Life without support or help to humanity, is not worth living.

“Father didn’t ask me to come back; none of you called me to come back. I was the one who called Father last night that.

READ ALSO: Only A Formidable Coalition Can Salvage Nigeria, Says Peter Obi

“You might not know what you’re studying now. By the year 2030, the world will be short of nurses to work in the hospital. Because healthcare is the most important thing today.”

He continued: “Like I always say, school is the most important investment you can give to humanity: number one, education; number two, health. It is said that a healthy nation is a wealthy nation. So, we must invest in health.

“The most important measurable developments are health, education, and pulling people out of poverty — and I am focused on all the three.

“You can’t talk about health without talking about the human capital infrastructure within it. The most important infrastructure in health are the nurses because they are the closest to the patients,” Obi added.

READ ALSO: Coalition: Abure-led LP Gives Obi 48 Hours To Leave Party

When asked his presidential ambition and his alleged alignment with the newly formed coalition, Obi declined comment while he noted: “When I arrived the airport this morning, the journalist asked me why I’m Benin, and I said to them please I’m not in Benin for politics. I’m in Benin to talk about the future of Nigeria.

“We the politicians spend too much time talking about politics while leaving the Nigerian children and people to suffer. This is not what I’m here for.”

On his part, Rev. Fr. Jerome Idebe, while appreciating Obi for the kind gesture, noted that the donation will go a “long way in completing the project we started years ago.”

He assured the former Anambra State governor that the funds will be rightly channelled towards the betterment of the school and the students.

The Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Owolabi Olakulehin, on Monday joined his ancestors, paving the way for the emergence of former Oyo State Governor, Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja, as the next in line to the throne.

Contents
Background and Education
Early Political Involvement
Banking Career
Governorship of Oyo State
Political Crisis and Impeachment
Court Victory and Return to Office
EFCC Arrest
Subsequent Governorship Contests
Retreat from Politics
Acceptance of Ceremonial Beaded Crown

Tribune Online reports that the monarch, who ascended the throne in July 2024, died in the early hours of Monday, July 7, 2025, after spending only a year as Olubadan. His death came just two days after celebrating his 90th birthday.

To become Olubadan, a candidate must belong to one of the two high-ranking traditional chieftaincy lines — the Balogun (military) and Otun (civil) lines.

The late Oba Olakulehin belonged to the Balogun line and had waited 38 years after becoming Jagun Balogun before ascending the throne.

With his passing, the line of succession now shifts to the Otun line, where High Chief Rashidi Ladoja currently holds the highest position as Otun Olubadan. However, Ladoja’s ascension to the throne of Olubadan is subject to the approval of the Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde.

READ ALSO: JUST IN: Olubadan, Oba Olakulehin, Is Dead

In this article, Nigerian Tribune compiled important things to know about the man expected to become the next Olubadan.

Background and Education

Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja was born on September 24, 1944, in the Gambari area of Ibadan. He attended Ibadan Boys High School from 1958 to 1963 and Olivet Baptist High School between 1964 and 1965. He later studied chemical engineering at the University of Liège, Belgium, between 1966 and 1972.

Early Political Involvement

Ladoja was elected to the Nigerian Senate in 1993 during the short-lived Nigerian Third Republic, representing the United Nigeria Congress Party under the Abacha political transition.

Banking Career

In 2000, he rose to the position of director at Standard Trust Bank Limited before fully returning to politics.

Governorship of Oyo State

He was elected governor of Oyo State in April 2003 on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and assumed office on May 29, 2003. His emergence was backed by the late Alhaji Lamidi Adedibu, a major PDP power broker in the state.

READ ALSO: JUST IN: Ladoja Withdraws Suit Against Olubadan-in-Council

Political Crisis and Impeachment

By August 2004, a power struggle between Ladoja and Adedibu over government appointments plunged the administration into crisis. This eventually led to Ladoja’s impeachment by Oyo State legislators on January 12, 2006. His deputy, Adebayo Alao-Akala, was sworn in as governor.

Court Victory and Return to Office

On November 1, 2006, the Court of Appeal declared the impeachment null and void, pending Supreme Court confirmation. The apex court upheld the verdict on November 11, 2006, and Ladoja officially resumed office on December 12, 2006.

EFCC Arrest

On August 28, 2008, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arrested Ladoja over allegations of non-remittance of N1.9 billion from the sale of government shares during his administration. He was briefly remanded in prison by the Federal High Court in Lagos on August 30, 2008, and granted bail of N100 million on September 5.

Subsequent Governorship Contests

He ran as the Accord Party candidate in the 2011 and 2015 Oyo State governorship elections but lost both times to Senator Abiola Ajimobi.

Retreat from Politics

Ladoja later joined the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and then the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) in 2018 before stepping away from partisan politics to focus on traditional duties.

Acceptance of Ceremonial Beaded Crown

On August 12, 2024, the late Olubadan, Oba Olakulehin, presented the ceremonial beaded crown to High Chief Ladoja — a crown he had previously rejected during the administration of former Governor Abiola Ajimobi.

(TRIBUNE)

A paralysing fear reigns in the minds of residents in Kano as the power struggle between the 15th Emir of Kano, Aminu Ado Bayero, and the 16th Emir, Muhammadu Sanusi II, has led to attacks and counterattacks by their respective supporters, creating significant tension.

A statement from Emir Sanusi’s camp alleged that supporters of Emir Aminu Ado Bayero unleashed mayhem on the Kofar-Kudu palace of Emir Sanusi on Sunday.

However, an eyewitness, who identified himself as part of Emir Bayero’s entourage, disputed this claim, stating that the incident involved a confrontation between the supporters of both emirs.

According to a statement from the Kano Emirate Media Team, signed by Sadam Yakasai and released to the press on Monday, the alleged attack occurred while Emir Sanusi was away from the palace.

According to Yakasai “They broke the gate and attacked the guards, injuring some of them. They smashed the police vehicles in the palace.”

READ ALSO: Kano Emirate: Appeal Court Halts Sanusi’s Reinstatement, Awaits Supreme Court

He stated that Emir Aminu Ado Bayero deliberately passed through the Emir’s palace road instead of taking the proper route from Koki to Nassarawa, and his hoodlums decided to attack Gidan Rumfa.

“This is not the first time he has passed through the area. He had done that previously after he visited his Mandawari residence. He did that to intimidate the people of the area,” Yakasai alleged.

Yakasai insisted that the 15th emir, after his deposition by the Kano State government, had relocated and taken over the Nassarawa mini-palace, thereby trespassing without caution.

“This is the first time deposed Emir Aminu Ado Bayero is taking his fight directly to Gidan Rumfa while remaining in his heavily secured domain in Nassarawa Palace, very close to the Kano State Government House,” Yakasai alleged.

READ ALSO: Sanusi Risks Contempt Of Court If He Parades Self As Emir – Kano Titleholder

Efforts made to get the comments of the spokesperson for the 15th Emir, Abubakar Kofar-Naisa, did not answer calls made to his phone.

However, an eyewitness to the incident, Muhammed Ibrahim refuted the alleged attack and insisted the incident was rather a clash between those he described as ‘unknown miscreants’ at Kofar-Kudu palace and supporters of Bayero.

He stated that the crisis started when ‘unknown miscreants’ brandishing dangerous weapons mounted a barricade to prevent the 15th emir from passing through Kofar-Kudu, citing his entourage.”

The eyewitness, who insisted he was not aware of any palace guard inflicted with injury, however, confirmed the forceful repel of an attempt by unknown miscreants to block the passage of Bayero.

READ ALSO: Kano Extends C Of O Recertification Deadline

The source stressed that the clash prompted the intervention of the police, who dispersed the hoodlums with tear gas.

“I was on the entourage of the Emir of Kano, Alh. Aminu Bayero, at the time the incident occurred. We were actually coming from Koki quarters on a condolence visit to Alhaji Aminu Dantata’s family house. But while returning to Nassarawa palace through Kofar-Kudu, we saw some hoodlums blocking the road at the front of the palace.”

“They were with dangerous weapons. At that point, the supporters of Emir Bayero had to confront them to clear the way, and they did that successfully, and Emir Bayero made his way unhurt,”

At the time of filing this report, the Nigerian Tribune contacted Kano State police spokesperson SP Haruna Kiyawa, who stated that a press statement regarding the attack would be issued.

SP Kiyawa said, “Am right now, working on a statement in respect of the statement.”