Politics
Alaafin palace shooting: Ilaka’s travail politically motivated – DG
Director-General of the Ilaka campaign organization, Mr. Bola Akinyemi, last Friday alleged that Ilaka’s travail was politically motivated, believing that the incident that led to the shooting was a trap set for his boss.
Akinyemi who spoke to a group of online journalists at the Agodi prison premises in Ibadan, the Oyo state capital dismissed that there was no conspiracy to kill because Ilaka was not aware that his bodyguard was carrying a gun and was not involved in the shooting.
An Iyaganku Chief Magistrates’ court sitting in Ibadan had earlier ordered that the Oyo Central senatorial district aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Bisi Ilaka, 57, and his bodyguard, Temitayo Alamiyo, 45, be remanded at the Agodi Federal Prison for allegedly causing the death of three persons in Oyo town.
In a related development, the police prosecutor, Mr Matthew Ojeah, had told the court that Ilaka and Alamiyo allegedly conspired to commit felony and attempted murder.
Ojeah further recalled that Alamiyo, on September 8, attempted to cause the death of Toheeb Olanrewaju, 20, Modinat Adeyemi, 55, and Tijani Lateef, 35, by shooting them with pump action gun. The incident occurred at the palace of the Alaafin of Oyo.
“He was attending a meeting at the state headquarters of the PDP in Ibadan. As he was attending the meeting, a call came from one of the chiefs in Oyo town that his attention is needed at the palace, to come and play his role in the Oranmiyan festival that was ongoing. He initially didn’t want to go because he was fully engaged but a senior chief insisted that he heeded the call. So he went.
“First, he had to take off from his house in Oyo. When he got to Oyo, he didn’t enter the house. In 2011, his house was attacked in Oyo. That was when he got license to obtain a gun just for self protection. Since then I have never seen him with a gun. In fact he doesn’t go out with two cars. So he doesn’t go about with boys. In fact if you see him with two cars, the other one must be my own. He is not the kind of person that moves about with crowd, in fact he doesn’t like it.
“Now, he left. He didn’t know that his bodyguard, who was among those that went into the house to get his things, had taken his gun and kept the gun in his car. He got to the palace of the Alaafin and because he did not meet the other high chiefs there, he did not spend more than 30 minutes before he decided to leave. He didn’t go there for campaign, otherwise I would have been there”, Akinyemi narrated.
He continued, “ordinarily with Ilaka, anywhere he goes, people mill around him. As they were doing that, he was trying to dish out the little he could give to them. He was in the car when he heard there had been a gunshot. He didn’t even know. Someone came to tell him.
“Verily, I was told that when pandemonium broke out as a result of the gunshot, Ilaka was assisting to rescue one of the injured to the hospital. Within a twinkle of an eye, politics was introduced into it. It is as if a trap had been set and somebody had just fallen into the trap. Before he knew it, the person who shot was caught. The person was his bodyguard. The bodyguard even told the police that his boss did not even know he was carrying the gun. He confessed. He said it was another person that asked him to go and carry the gun. So, it could have been a planned thing. He just fell into the trap.
” As a gentleman, he went to the police station to report the incident. Before we knew it, political dimension had been introduced to it.”
Noting that Ilaka’s travail was political, Akinyemi said that the APC had severally made advances at the PDP chieftain, Ilaka to defect. According to him, he refused in 2014 and most recently when Senator Rashidi Ladoja left the PDP for the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
He also recalled that Ilaka was attacked in 2011 in his house, adding that offers were made to him to join the then Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), which he refused.
“I don’t think opposition should be like this. There was accidental discharge, that is the highest that we could go. The person who shot the gun has been caught. He didn’t deny it. And there is no link between Ilaka and the person who shot the gun other than the fact that he is his employee.”
The DG, however informed that no damage had been done to Ilaka’s senatorial campaign.
“The Ilaka campaign is still very much on stream. Supporters should keep the light aglow. No retreat, no surrender. No going back. If they feel they can cow us, they can’t. May be they think they can cow him into rescinding his decision to remain in the PDP. But I want to tell you, he remains an aspirant, in fact, virtually a candidate in the PDP.
Akinyemi, however disclosed that Ilaka is still being held in prison and that the case was adjourned till September 18.
Engr. Aderemi Oseni, representing Ibarapa East/Ido Federal Constituency of Oyo State in the House of Representatives, has paid tribute to former Senate Leader, Senator Teslim Folarin, on his 61st birthday, celebrating his decades of dedicated service and contributions to Oyo State and Nigeria at large.
In a statement issued on Wednesday by his media aide, Idowu Ayodele, in Ibadan, Oseni, who also serves as Chairman of the House Committee on Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA), lauded Folarin’s unwavering commitment to leadership and the well-being of the people.
Highlighting the All Progressives Congress (APC) gubernatorial nominee in the 2023 elections for three terms in the Senate, the lawmaker noted that Folarin’s legacy of service continues to be a guiding light for emerging leaders and a source of inspiration for countless individuals across the state.
“Senator Folarin has built an admirable legacy through years of selfless public service, consistently advocating for progress and unity,” remarked Oseni.
Reflecting on Folarin’s role as the Ikolaba Olubadan of Ibadanland, the lawmaker commended his leadership approach, which has bridged divides, fostered coalitions, and promoted initiatives aimed at stabilising democracy.
“Senator Folarin’s career is an example of visionary leadership,” he added, “and his commitment to public service will leave a lasting legacy for generations to come.”
As Senator Folarin marks this milestone, Oseni extended warm wishes for his continued health and success, expressing hope that his exemplary life of service will keep inspiring positive change across the nation.
In a historic ruling, a Ugandan court on Friday sentenced former Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) commander Thomas Kwoyelo to 40 years in prison.
This landmark decision, marking the first time a member of the notorious LRA has faced trial for war crimes in a Ugandan court, follows the group’s brutal two-decade insurgency against the Ugandan government.
Kwoyelo, who was convicted in August on 44 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity, faced charges including murder, rape, torture, pillaging, abduction, and the destruction of settlements for internally displaced people.
(FILES) Thomas Kwoyelo a commander of the Lord’s Resistance Army rebellion blamed for brutal civilian murders during a 20-year war in the north of the country is brought into a courthouse in the northern Ugandan town of Gulu on July 25, 2011. – A Ugandan court on October 25, 2024 sentenced former Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) commander Thomas Kwoyelo to 40 years in prison after a landmark war crimes trial over his role in the group’s two-decade reign of terror. The sentence against Kwoyelo, who was convicted on 44 counts of crimes against humanity in August, was announced by Michael Elubu, the lead judge in the case at the court in the northern city of Gulu. (Photo by MICHELE SIBOLINI / AFP)
Michael Elubu, lead judge of the case at the International Crimes Division (ICD) of Uganda’s High Court, delivered the sentence in the northern city of Gulu, underscoring a rare moment of accountability in the decades-long history of the LRA’s violence.
Judge Elubu stated that Kwoyelo retains the right to appeal both his conviction and sentence within 14 days.
Kwoyelo, who was abducted by the LRA at the age of 12 and later rose to a low-level command position within the organization, denied all charges brought against him.
(FILES) Suspected LRA (Lords Resistance Army) member Thomas Kwoyelo is pictured during a pre-trial session at the High Court in Kampala on Februay 1, 2017. – A Ugandan court on October 25, 2024 sentenced former Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) commander Thomas Kwoyelo to 40 years in prison after a landmark war crimes trial over his role in the group’s two-decade reign of terror. The sentence against Kwoyelo, who was convicted on 44 counts of crimes against humanity in August, was announced by Michael Elubu, the lead judge in the case at the court in the northern city of Gulu. (Photo by GAEL GRILHOT / AFP)
The Lord’s Resistance Army, founded by Joseph Kony in the 1980s, sought to establish a regime based on the Ten Commandments. Under Kony’s leadership, the group unleashed widespread terror across Uganda and neighboring regions, resulting in over 100,000 deaths and the abduction of 60,000 children.
The violence eventually spread to Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and the Central African Republic.
Politics
“A Perfect Fit”: Rep Oseni Applauds Sunday Dare’s Appointment as Presidential Adviser on Public Communications
The Chairman of the House Committee on Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA), Engr. Aderemi Oseni has hailed the appointment of Chief Sunday Dare, Agbaakin of Ogbomosoland and former Minister of Youth and Sports Development, as Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Public Communication and National Orientation, describing it a “perfect fit.”
In a statement released Thursday by his media aide, Idowu Ayodele, in Ibadan, Oseni praised Chief Dare’s extensive background in journalism and public service, adding that his vast experience will significantly enhance national communications and orientation efforts.
“Chief Dare’s illustrious career, from his pioneering role in Nigerian journalism as a founding member of The News and Tempo magazines to his strategic leadership as Minister of Youth and Sports Development under President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, speaks volumes about his commitment to national development,” he remarked.
Oseni, who also represents the Ibarapa East/Ido federal constituency of Oyo state, noted that Chief Dare’s new role comes at a critical time when fostering national unity and effective public engagement is crucial, stressing that his deep understanding of media, both locally and internationally, will strengthen public trust in government communications.
“As an accomplished journalist and public servant, Chief Dare is uniquely positioned to reshape the national narrative and bolster public confidence in government communication efforts,” the lawmaker said.
He expressed confidence that Dare’s appointment will not only advance the ideals of democracy and transparency but also serve as a point of pride for Ogbomosoland and Oyo State.
The APC chieftain wished Chief Dare success in his new role, pledging his unwavering support in ensuring the objectives of the office are fully achieved.
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