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Ajimobi to sacked LG chairmen: You have legitimacy on your side
Former Governor of Oyo State, Senator Abiola Ajimobi on Sunday assured the sacked Council bosses in the 33 Local Government Areas and 35 local council development areas that they have legitimacy on their side as due process was followed in the exercise that ushered them into office.
Apparently assuring the council bosses that the process that brought them to power followed all known legal tenets, Ajimobi said, although some may think he is not doing anything about the case in hand, he said he is doing whatever it is in silence, saying silence is golden.
The ex-governor stated this at the Ibadan Civic Centre, Idi Ape, Ibadan, venue of a thanksgiving and prayer assembly held in his honour by the Basorun of Ibadanland, Chief Kola Daisi.
The event which attracted crème-de-la-crème within and outside Ibadan was also attended by religious leaders, traditional rulers, business mogul, community leaders, the APC governorship candidate at the last election, Mr Bayo Adelabu, APC state executives led by the Chairman, Chief Akin Oke, party members, Ajimobi’s former commissioners, aides and political associates among others.
Governor Seyi Makinde had upon his inauguration sacked all the chairmen of all the local governments faulting the processes that brought them to office.
The sack came despite an initial court judgment gotten by the umbrella body of the council bosses stopping the government of the day or the house of assembly from sacking the elected council bosses.
But the council bosses have also remained resolute challenging Makinde’s directive and insisting that they remained the authentic elected council bosses.
Ajimobi said “Many of you are saying I am not saying or doing anything about what is going on. I am doing something about it but just that I don’t want to …., there are times that silence is golden and this time that we are, I think it is better to be silent.
“But I pray that God will make you victorious. And you are on the right track. The law is on your side.”
The remarks attracted the applause and ovation of the guest.
It is the first time the governor is making any public appearance since the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) government was inaugurated in the state on May 29.
The ex-governor who said the event was just an opportunity for him to thank all those who played one role or the other in his eight years rule in the state, also prayed that the Makinde government sail through safely, noting that “it is good to make promises but when reality done on you, you will know that it is not easy”
Earlier in his remarks, the host of the event, Chief Kola Daisi said he had the option to call the “get together anyone of these several names: ‘celebrations’, ‘reception’, ‘grand party’, etc, but because it is conceived primarily as an occasion for thanking God for his love and mercies, I decide to give it a touch of the religious so that those who reflect upon the occasion in the future will appreciate how deeply we believe in the overwhelming influence of the Almighty in our daily lives.”
The business magnate gave four reasons for the event saying, it is to offer prayers for the repose of the soul of his first wife late Alhaja Sherifat Kola-Daisi and his god-son, Aare Arisekola Alao; offers prayer for Oyo state and Nigeria as a whole; offer prayers and thanksgiving for Ajimobi and his wife, Florence as well as for the complete success of Ajimobi’s successor, Governor Makinde.
In their separate remarks, some of the dignitaries who spoke, including Prof Oladipupo Akinkugbe, Chief Folake Solanke, Chief Bayo Oyero (former President General of CCII) and Vice Chancellor, University of Ibadan, Prof Idowu Olayinka lauded Governor Ajimobi for his exemplary leadership and service to the people and the state, noting that his eight years reign had indeed transformed the state in the comity of states in the country.
The lawmaker representing Ibarapa East/Ido Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Engr. Aderemi Oseni, has mourned the death of a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State and former member of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Hon. Akeem Abimbola Oladipupo, popularly known as Able, describing his demise as a painful loss to the progressive family.
Oladipupo, who represented Ibadan North-West Constituency in the Oyo State House of Assembly, was widely regarded as a grassroots politician and committed party loyalist until his passing.
Oseni, who is also the Chairman, House Committee on Federal Roads Maintenance Agency and the APC candidate for Oyo South Senatorial District, said the late politician’s death had created a vacuum within the party and among those who benefitted from his unwavering commitment to public service.
In a condolence statement issued on Monday by his Media Aide, Idowu Ayodele, and made available to journalists in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, the federal lawmaker described the late Oladipupo as a dependable progressive, humble political actor and loyal party stalwart whose impact would remain indelible.
He said the deceased dedicated his life to serving humanity, strengthening the progressive movement and supporting the aspirations of many at the grassroots.
Oseni said, “The death of Hon. Akeem Abimbola Oladipupo (Able) came to me as a rude shock. Oyo State and the progressive family have indeed lost a committed, loyal and selfless leader whose passion for service, humility and dedication to the people stood him out.
“He was not just a politician but a bridge-builder, a dependable ally and a grassroots mobiliser who believed strongly in the ideals of our great party. His contributions to the growth of the APC in Oyo State and his service to humanity will remain unforgettable.”
The APC senatorial candidate noted that the late former lawmaker remained steadfast in promoting peace, unity and political development, adding that his simplicity and accessibility endeared him to many across political divides.
According to Oseni, the late politician’s legacy of service and sacrifice would continue to inspire younger politicians and party faithful.
He, however, urged members of the APC, associates and family members of the deceased to take solace in the remarkable life he lived and the positive impact he made during his lifetime.
Oseni also prayed for the repose of the deceased’s soul and for God to grant his family the fortitude to bear the painful loss.
State governors have proposed a new national minimum wage of N100,000 for Nigerian workers as part of efforts to cushion them from the biting effects of inflation and the rising cost of living.
Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara State, who is also the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), disclosed the proposal on Saturday in a post by the state government’s official Facebook page. He said the move aims to improve workers’ welfare while ensuring that government finances remain sustainable.
“State governments recognise the urgent need to improve workers’ welfare in response to the current economic realities facing Nigerians,” AbdulRazaq said.
“We are actively engaging with the Federal Government and organised labour to arrive at a wage structure that is fair to workers and sustainable for government finances.”
The NGF chairman explained that ongoing discussions are focused on balancing the need to boost workers’ purchasing power with the capacity of governments to deliver essential public services and development projects.
“The goal is to improve the living conditions of workers while ensuring that states can continue to meet their obligations and sustain projects that directly impact citizens,” he added.
The proposed N100,000 minimum wage is expected to intensify national debates on salaries, inflation, and broader economic reforms as Nigerians continue to contend with rising food prices, transportation costs, and other living expenses.
Currently, Nigeria’s statutory minimum wage stands at N70,000 per month. Some states, including Lagos, Rivers, and Imo, are already paying above the national benchmark to support workers amid the country’s economic challenges.
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has continued to call for a comprehensive review of salaries, insisting that workers deserve a living wage that reflects present-day economic realities rather than merely guaranteeing survival.
The average retail price paid by consumers for Premium Motor Spirit, popularly known as petrol, rose to N1,532.93 per litre in April 2026, representing a 23.69 per cent increase compared to the N1,239.33 recorded in the corresponding period of 2025, findings by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) have shown.
The sharp rise in petrol prices came amid mounting inflationary pressure and worsening living costs, with Nigerians grappling with soaring transportation and food expenses that have continued to shrink household purchasing power.
The NBS disclosed this in its Premium Motor Spirit (Petrol) Price Watch for April 2026, released on Friday.
The report further showed that on a month-on-month basis, petrol prices rose by 18.97 per cent from N1,288.54 recorded in March 2026, underscoring persistent volatility in the downstream petroleum market.
A breakdown of prices across states revealed that Yobe recorded the highest average retail price for petrol at N1,599.05 per litre during the review period.
Edo and Bauchi followed closely with average prices of N1,595.74 and N1,589.07, respectively.
However, Niger residents paid the least for petrol at an average of N1,403.89 per litre, while Sokoto and Katsina recorded N1,404.16 and N1,406.28 respectively.
At the zonal level, the South-South recorded the highest average retail price at N1,566.76 per litre, while the North-West posted the lowest at N1,508.81.
The latest petrol price increase comes as millions of Nigerians continue to battle the ripple effects of rising inflation, with higher energy costs worsening transportation fares and the prices of essential commodities.
Similarly, the NBS said the average retail price for refilling a 5kg cylinder of Liquefied Petroleum Gas, also known as cooking gas, rose by 13.73 per cent month-on-month to N8,706.93 in April 2026 from N7,655.73 recorded in March.
On a year-on-year basis, the price increased by 10.42 per cent from N7,885.60 recorded in April 2025.
Lagos recorded the highest average price for refilling a 5kg cylinder at N9,745.10, followed by Nasarawa at N9,451.70 and Bayelsa at N9,422.74.
In contrast, Anambra recorded the lowest average price at N7,204.76, while Ondo and Ogun followed with N7,239.49 and N7,825.75, respectively.
At the regional level, the North-West recorded the highest average retail price for refilling a 5kg cylinder at N9,025.07, followed by the North-East at N8,847.16, while the South-East posted the lowest average price at N8,224.37.
Also, the average retail price for refilling a 12.5kg cylinder of cooking gas increased by 13.89 per cent month-on-month to N22,382.20 in April 2026 from N19,652.83 in March.
Compared to April 2025, the price rose by 10.43 per cent from N20,268.06.
According to the NBS LPG Price Watch for April, Katsina recorded the highest average retail price for refilling a 12.5kg cylinder at N25,596.71, followed by Kogi at N24,558.25 and Gombe at N24,438.97.
Ogun recorded the lowest average price at N19,564.36, while Bauchi and Anambra followed at N20,178.87 and N20,511.90 respectively.
The North-West recorded the highest zonal average retail price for refilling a 12.5kg cylinder at N23,276.95, followed by the North-Central at N22,865.29, while the South-East posted the lowest average at N21,060.92.
The latest figures signal growing pressure on household energy costs, raising concerns over the implications for inflation and the cost of living in the coming months.
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