News
Fresh chieftaincy crisis brews in Orile Igbon
INDICATIONS emerged on Tuesday that the Orile Igbon town is heading for another round of crisis as the Olugbon Royal Family in Surulere local government area of Oyo state accused officials of the state’s Ministry of local government and chieftaincy matters of attempting to “use the backdoor to impose a traditional ruler on the people of Orile Igbon.”
This came just as the dust raised by the controversial review of the Ibadan chieftaincy declaration by Governor Abiola Ajimobi of the state is yet to settle.
According to Adesola Akanbi, spokesperson of the Olugbon Royal family, who spoke to journalists on behalf of the family, also accused the authorities of the Surulere Local Government of not following the rule of law in addressing the brewing chieftaincy tussle.
Akanbi stressed: “The local government chairman in incestuous alliance with the Ministry of local government and chieftaincy affairs and by extension the Government of Oyo State have constituted themselves into not just King makers, but some sort of alternate Royal family by selecting, presenting and appointing candidate for a vacant royal stool in scornful disregard to ancient customs and traditions of the concerned stool.”
“The people of Orile Igbon and the Oba Olugbon Royal family of Orile Igbon are still in deep disbelief that their protests which culminated in court recorded undertaking by the Lawyers representing both Surulere Local Government and the Government of Oyo State that their clients that is the Surulere Local Government, the Oyo state government as well as Mr. Francis Olusola Alao appointed Oba, shall do nothing to put the court in a helpless position in the ongoing case is consistently been observed in the breach by both the Governments and particularly Mr. Francis Olusola Alao.
“It is an established fact of law that when a case is yet to be decided by the adjudicating court all parties to the case not excluding a government, her agents or privies shall refrain from any act or acts that could present the court with a fait accompli.
“To that end Mr Francis Olusola Alao has been technically directed by law not to parade himself as an Oba and the local government as well as the Government of Oyo State not to address him as or accord him any paraphernalia of office. The police to their credit have so far complied with this tenet of law.
“To the amazement of all and in a flagrant disregard of whatever the court stand for, Mr Francis Olusola Alao a party to the case has set in motion the processes for his ultimate coronation as Oba Olugbon with Mr Ibrahim Gbodeniyi the caretaker chairman of Surulere Local Government as the arrowhead of the processes and the mechanism of the Government of the State particularly those of the Ministry of local government and chieftaincy affairs fully mobilized to support an illegal grandstanding.
“It has been shouted times without numbers that Mr Francis Olusola Alao is unknown to the Oba Olugbon of Orile Igbon Royal lineage and at best is a criminal impostor but Mrs Wumi Ogunesan the Amazon and Permanent Secretary in the Oyo state Ministry of local government and chieftaincy affairs whom rumors has it exerts humongous influence on the Governor of Oyo State has from the word go refused to listen to the truth about her pet; Oba Olugbon by force project.
“Governor Ajimobi hitherto regarded as a listening Governor with a sense of justice but whom we are told has been relying on his Ministry and Permanent Secretary for quality advice, but the Ministry personified by the Permanent Secretary in this case own a dangerous agenda of minting their own type of Oba; a king that is rootless and therefore has been deceiving the Governor in all purpose by orchestrating and trying to foist what can at best be categorized as a fraudulent precedent upon the throne and people of Orile Igbon as well as the Yoruba race.
“An injustice no matter the mode or color is an injustice and anyone with sense of justice and eyes on history must not be seen to be aiding, talk less of joining in undermining or worse, perpetrating naked injustice.
“The people of Orile Igbon kingdom and the entire history recognized members of the Oba Olugbon royal family are crying for justice today because wherever justice is murdered the immediate casualty is peace.
“There is an unnecessary crisis in Orile Igbon kingdom today because of an unwarranted audacity at rewritten a peoples’ history, Governor Ajimobi must be seen on the side of justice in the crisis, he must act to erase the fraudulent precedent and restore the people of Orile Igbon kingdom’s shattered confidence in him and his government.
“Whatever we do, attempt to or failed to do today is tomorrow’s history and where or whenever we attempt to side with injustice, justice always has a way of getting back at us in a poetic manner. Mr Governor sir, we remain loyal”,
US car giant Ford on Wednesday announced 4,000 more job cuts in Europe, mostly in Germany and Britain, in the latest blow to the continent’s beleaguered car industry.
“The company has incurred significant losses in recent years,” Ford said in a statement, blaming “the industry shift to electrified vehicles and new competition”.
The move will affect 2,900 jobs in Germany, 800 in the UK and 300 in western Europe by the end of 2027, a Ford spokesman told AFP.
“It is critical to take difficult but decisive action to ensure Ford’s future competitiveness in Europe,” said Dave Johnston, Ford’s European vice-president in the statement.
The company also said it was adjusting the production of its Explorer and Capri models, resulting in reduced hours at its Cologne plant in the first quarter of 2025.
Europe’s car industry has been plunged into crisis by high manufacturing costs, a stuttering switch to electric vehicles and increased competition in key market China.
Germany’s Volkswagen has been among those hardest hit, announcing in September that it was considering the unprecedented move of closing some factories in Germany.
“The European automotive industry is in a very demanding and serious situation,” Volkswagen CEO Oliver Blume said at the time.
Ford had already announced in February 2023 that it was planning to cut 3,800 jobs in Europe, including 2,300 in Germany and 1,300 in Britain.
The company said then it was planning to reduce the number of models developed for Europe, concentrate on the profitable van segment and speed up the transition to electric vehicles.
Ford currently has around 28,000 employees in Europe with 15,000 in Germany, according to the company’s works council.
President Bola Tinubu has approved the dissolution of the Governing Council of Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK), Awka, Anambra State, and the removal of the institution’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Bernard Ifeanyi Odoh, and Registrar, Mrs. Rosemary Ifoema Nwokike.
The council, chaired by Ambassador Greg Ozumba Mbadiwe, comprised five other members: Hafiz Oladejo, Augustine Onyedebelu, Engr. Amioleran Osahon, and Rtd. Gen. Funsho Oyeneyin.
A statement released on Wednesday by presidential spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, revealed that the council was dissolved following reports of procedural violations in appointing the vice-chancellor.
According to the statement, the council had allegedly appointed an unqualified candidate, disregarding due process, which triggered tensions between the university’s Senate and the council.
The Federal Government expressed dismay over the council’s actions, emphasizing the need for adherence to the university’s governing laws in decision-making.
“The council’s disregard for established rules necessitated the government’s intervention to restore order to the 33-year-old institution,” the statement noted.
In a related development, President Tinubu also approved the dismissal of Engr. Ohieku Muhammed Salami, the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of the Federal University of Health Sciences, Otukpo, Benue State.
Salami was accused of suspending the university’s Vice-Chancellor without following the prescribed procedures, a move the Federal Ministry of Education had previously directed him to reverse.
Despite the Ministry’s directives, Salami reportedly refused to comply and resorted to issuing threats and abusive remarks towards the Ministry’s officials, including the Permanent Secretary.
The Federal Government reiterated that the primary role of university councils is to ensure the smooth operation of academic activities, strictly adhering to the laws establishing each institution.
Tinubu warned university councils against engaging in actions that could destabilize their institutions, as his administration remains committed to enhancing the nation’s education system.
The Ekiti State Government has reached an agreement with labour leaders in the state, signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the payment of the N70,000 minimum wage approved by the Federal Government.
Addressing journalists at a brief ceremony in Ado-Ekiti on Tuesday, the Head of Service (HoS), Dr. Folakemi Olomojobi, announced that the payment would commence immediately.
She lauded Governor Biodun Oyebanji for prioritizing the welfare of workers despite the state’s limited resources.
“This development demonstrates the governor’s commitment to improving the livelihood of our workers,” Dr. Olomojobi stated, highlighting the proactive measures taken by the administration to ensure prompt implementation.
In their remarks, the Trade Union Congress (TUC) Chairman, Comrade Sola Adigun, and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Chairman, Comrade Olatunde Kolapo, expressed their appreciation to Governor Oyebanji for fulfilling his promises to workers.
They confirmed that the new minimum wage would apply to all cadres, including employees in ministries, parastatals, agencies, and pensioners.
The Chairman of the Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC), Comrade Femi Ajoloko, described the implementation as a fair and commendable adjustment.
“This decision reflects the governor’s magnanimity and his dedication to fostering a productive workforce in Ekiti State,” he said.
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