Headline

Two Princes At War Over Chieftaincy Stool In Ondo

Published

4 years ago

October 24, 2021

A seeming crisis is brewing in Akure, the Ondo state capital as two Princes are laying claim to the chieftaincy stool of lralepo of lsinkan.

One of them Prince Adeyeye Henry Gbenga was appointed by the paramount traditional ruler, the Deji of Akureland, Oba Aladetoyinbo Aladelusi while the other, Prince Olugbenga Ojo was reportedly selected after an election in Akure on October 21, this year ahead of four other princes.

However, the Deji of Akureland, Oba Aladelusi speaking through Senior high Chief Segun Adedipe, the Elemo of Akure Kingdom disowned Prince Gbenga Ojo as the lralepo of lsinkan.

Oba Aladelusi while presenting High Chief Adeyeye Henry Gbenga to Akure Community as new Quarter Chief of Isikan described as a joke and illegal, the selection of Prince Olugbenga Ojo as the new Iralepo of Isikan.

He said he had approved the appointment of Adeyeye Henry Gbenga on the 4th of October, 2021.

“The appointment of the new Iralepo of Isikan, therefore, remains the prerogative of the Deji as no other person or institution(s) could exercise such either directly or through proxies.”

According to him the appointment of Adeyeye was based on favourable consideration and the unanimous decision of Aruwolasi Iralepo family of Isikan in Akure.

The monarch said, “It is important to re-emphasize that the late Iralepo of Isikan was a Quarter Chief and an active member of the Deji in-council until his death following the approval of his inclusion alongside the Osolo of Isolo, High Chief Edward Adejoyegbe Adewole by the Deji of Akure on 8th June 2020.

“It is pertinent to clarify that the new Iralepo of Isikan is being installed as a Quarter Chief and the Head of Isikan Community in Akure and not a Traditional Ruler.

“You might have heard of the rumour flying around on the purported nomination of an Iralepo other than the one appointed by His Imperial Majesty who is empowered both traditionally and legally to make such appointment.

“The Palace wishes to urge you and the general public to disregard the move by some individuals who want to make it look as if there is a crisis.

“It is a mere joke taken too far as it has no place in the eyes of the law. It can only exist within the figment of the imagination of those behind such moves.

“With all sense of modesty, there is no ambiguity on the status of the Iralepo of ISIkan and Osolo of Isolo in Akure as the Court of Appeal in his judgment dated 6th March 2012 with the suitcase CA/B/ 129/2005 had laid it to rest.

“In the lead judgment of Justice Chinwe Eugenia Iyizoba, he affirmed that “they cannot be granted a status of an Oba without the sanction of the Deji of Akure Kingdom”.

“Justice Kudirat Montonmori Olatokunbo Kekere-Ekun and Justice Moore A.A Adumein also affirmed the same.

“We wish to state emphatically without any iota of contradictions that there is no crisis on the installation of new Iralepo of Isikan as the Deji remains the only appointing and consenting authority for the appointment of Minor Chiefs, Olus, Baales and Olojas in all Akure Land.”

However, reacting, Prince Gbenga Ojo described what happened in the Deji of Akureland palace as a joke taking too far.

Ojo said ” Never in history has Deji of Akure installed Iralepo of Isinkan.”

According to him ” My selection as Iralepo followed due process. The selection exercise was monitored by officials of Akure South Local government and I came first with seven votes.

He appealed to the people of Isinkan not ”to be distracted or be provoked by the joke coming from the palace of the Deji.”

(VANGUARD)

Headline

Putin Says Russia Ready For War, Blames Europe For Sabotaging Peace

Published

15 hours ago

December 2, 2025

Editor

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Tuesday that Russia was “ready” for war if Europe seeks one, accusing the continent’s leaders of trying to sabotage a deal on the Ukraine conflict before he met with US envoys.

The comments came as US envoy Steve Witkoff and President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner were in Moscow for high-stakes talks on ending the nearly four-year war, which were preceded by days of intense diplomacy.

“We are not planning to go to war with Europe, but if Europe wants to and starts, we are ready right now,” Putin told reporters in Moscow.

“They have no peaceful agenda, they are on the side of war,” he added, repeating his claim that European leaders were hindering US attempts to broker peace in Ukraine.

He added that European changes to Trump’s latest plan to end the war “aimed solely at one thing — to completely block the entire peace process and put forward demands that are absolutely unacceptable for Russia”.

Washington has presented a 28-point draft to end the conflict, later amended after criticism from Kyiv and Europe, which viewed it as heeding to many of Russia’s maximalist demands.

The plan to end the war is championed by Trump, but European countries fear it risks forcing Kyiv to cave in to Russian demands, notably on territory.

Fearing further Russian aggression, Europe has repeatedly said an unfair peace should not be imposed on Ukraine.

The Trump envoys are now seeking to finalise the plan with the approval of Moscow and Kyiv.
AFP

Headline

US Senator Proposes Bill To End Dual Citizenship

Published

15 hours ago

December 2, 2025

Editor

A United States lawmaker has introduced a bill seeking to abolish dual citizenship for American nationals, a move that could affect thousands of Nigerians who hold both US and Nigerian passports.

Bernie Moreno, a Colombian-born US senator, announced the proposed legislation — titled the Exclusive Citizenship Act of 2025 — arguing that the current system, which allows Americans to hold multiple nationalities, creates “conflicts of interest and divided loyalties.”

“One of the greatest honours of my life was when I became an American citizen at 18, the first opportunity I could do so.

“It was an honour to pledge an Oath of Allegiance to the United States of America and only to the United States of America! Being an American citizen is an honour and a privilege—and if you want to be an American, it’s all or nothing. It’s time to end dual citizenship for good,” Moreno said.

Moreno, who has since renounced his Colombian citizenship, maintains that exclusive allegiance is essential to national integrity.

If passed, the bill could have far-reaching implications for prominent figures such as US First Lady Melania Trump, who holds both US and Slovenian citizenship. It would also significantly impact Nigerians with dual citizenship.

According to a July naturalisation flow report by the US Department of Homeland Security, 38,890 Nigerians became naturalised American citizens between 2021 and 2023. Nigeria ranked 13th among countries with the highest number of new US citizens and was the only African nation in the top 20.

Nigerian law allows citizens by birth to hold dual nationality without relinquishing their Nigerian citizenship.

This development comes months after President Donald Trump issued an executive order aimed at denying automatic US citizenship to children of undocumented immigrants born in the country.

The order was immediately challenged by 18 states and multiple rights groups, who argued it violates the 14th Amendment’s guarantee of birthright citizenship. Ongoing legal battles have prevented the order from taking effect.

Headline

12 Die, 30 Missing In Peru Landslide

Published

2 days ago

December 1, 2025

Editor

At least 12 people, including three children, died in a landslide at a river port in central Peru on Monday, and 30 were reported missing, officials said.

The landslide submerged a boat with about 50 passengers on board, and another with none, as they were docked at the port of Iparia in the Amazon jungle region of Ucayali, according to a police report cited by the Andina news agency.

Six people were injured, it added, and a search and rescue operation was underway at the start of the Peruvian rainy season.

Without giving a toll, Peru’s COEN national emergency operations centre said on X that tragedy struck at dawn due to “erosion” of the bank of the Ucayali river.

It said the navy has been called in to help.

AFP