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I’ve lost a father, confidant, Makinde mourns Pa Adigun
Oyo State Governor, Engineer Seyi Makinde, has described the death of the pioneer president of Ibadan Solidarity Group and Chief Executive Officer of Sahara Engineers, Chief Lere Adigun, as a huge loss to the state.
The governor, who was speaking in Ibadan on Saturday at the burial of the business icon stated that the state has lost one of its finest individuals.
Makinde said Engineer Adigun was like a father and confidant to him, adding that the late Aare Ago Aare Olubadan of Ibadanland was a selfless elder who stood by him in times of trouble.
A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Makinde, Mr. Taiwo Adisa quoted the governor as saying that the late Adigun played the role of father in his life since the demise of his father, Pa Makinde, in 2012.
Makinde, who was speaking at the Oluyole home of the Adiguns, where Islamic clerics, including the Chief Imam of Ibadanland, Sheik Abubakar Agbotomokekere, Aare Musulumi of Yorubaland, Edo and Delta states, Alhaji Dawud Akinola and other clerics, conducted Islamic prayers for the deceased, called on leaders to emulate him.
The body of Engineer Adigun was later laid to rest at his Eyin Grammar, Molete, Ibadan, home.
Governor Makinde, who stated that Pa Adigun lived a great and selfless life, described how the late engineer gave him 101 per cent support, during his pursuit to become governor in 2015 and, also, in 2019, even when, according to him, it was glaring that all Ibadan elders were in support of the establishment.
The governor added that his biological father and Pa Adigun were the only two people who could give him an advice and he would not scrutinise, noting that in his one year in office as governor, Pa Adigun never called him for anything personal, but would always call to offer advice and make case for others, who were aware of their relationship.
He urged residents of the state to always comport themselves in a manner that, when they are no longer alive, people could give testimonies about them as it was being done for Pa Adigun.
The governor said: “I thank you Islamic leaders and clerics, the Olubadan and political figures who have taken time to come here today to pay last respect to Engr. Lere Adigun, who has been my father since the demise of my father eight years ago.
“I commiserate with you and his biological children. You are not the only ones who can lay claim to Baba as your father; after I lost my biological father, he has been my father. So, I have lost a father and confidant.
“In my 52 years on earth, there are only two people who can give me advice and I won’t scrutinise it; my father and Chief Adigun. But I have lost the two of them. The same relationship I have with him is what he had for me and it is a similar situation I was in eight years ago, that I am in today. My father died on July 7, 2012, and Baba died on 7 August, 2020.
“When I was told that Baba’s health needed attention, I came to his house and told him, Baba, you have to go to the hospital – though he had told everyone that he wouldn’t go – he told me that whatever I chose, he was okay with it and we took him to UCH so he could have the best of attention. So, we had time to prepare and to reflect on what has happened.
“Yesterday, when I had the call and they used Baba’s number, I knew the news they would give me. I told the people around me that I didn’t want to see anyone after I heard the news. But after three hours, I started asking myself why I was feeling sad. Engr. Adigun lived a good life.
“So, I started reflecting on everything we had done together. He made me develop interest in golf. Baba deserved to be celebrated. He was the chairman of my first Ramadan lecture and subsequent ones. He had been president of Ibadan Foundation. When I approached him that I wanted to be governor, he said he would support me. In 2015 he was with me. In 2019 when all the elders were with the establishment, Baba broke ranks with them and supported me.
“Ever since I became governor, whenever Baba called me, it had never been for selfish reasons. Baba always called me for others, because people who knew the influence he wielded on me always went to him. He was my eyes and ears where I could not reach.
“So, I can say that Oyo State has lost one of its finest and I can only pray that the point Baba reached before he was called to God, God will give us the strength to carry on.
“I also want to advise some of our people who are still living, whatever we do, let us remember a day like this. ‘I want to become this and that’, death will end it all. Let us live in such a way that when we are no longer there, people will have nice things to say about us the way we are doing about Baba Lere Adigun.”
Earlier in his sermon, the Chief Imam of the Institute of Agricultural Research and Training (IAR&T), Sheik Mamoon Elesinmeta, admonished everyone to remember their last day on earth and what people will say after their demise.
He said the Quran made it clear that human beings were created from the soil and shall return to the soil, warning that no matter the riches, power or influence, human beings must be mindful of posterity and do good so that people can say good things about them.
Similarly, one of the sons of the deceased, Mr. Dotun Adigun, said it is a privilege to be a son of the late engineer, appreciating Governor Makinde for what he stood for to the family and the people of the state.
“We appreciate you, Mr. Governor for what you stand for; what you stand for to my father, to the family. I can’t thank you enough. I say thank you for standing on the shoulder of a real icon like my father.
“There are lots of dignitaries that my dad had a relationship with. He seemed like an ordinary person in the house but he was many things to many people.
“He fought to stay alive, he fought. If he had made it back, every minute would have been spent to serve humanity,” he said, appreciating the Islamic clerics for the roles they played since their father passed on.
Some of the dignitaries who attended the prayers include the representative of the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Adetunji, Oloye Lekan Alabi; Chief Imam of Ibadanland, Sheik Abubakar Agbotomokekere and his council; Aare Muslumi of Yorubaland, Edo and Delta states, Alhaji Dawud Akinola; Alhaja Mutiat Ladoja; Commissioners for Education and Special Duties and other government functionaries; Chief Saka Balogun; Engr. Femi Babalola; Chief Bosede Adedibu and Senator Kamorudeen Adedibu, among others.
… Assures Prompt Salary Payment
The Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Ibok-Ete Ibas, has announced the release of withheld local government allocations, assuring that necessary steps would be taken to ensure the prompt payment of workers’ salaries.
Ibas disclosed this on Thursday during a meeting with Heads of Local Government Administrators in Port Harcourt, describing the engagement as a crucial step towards restoring stability and progress in the state.
He lamented the economic hardship in the Niger Delta, noting that despite the region’s wealth of natural resources, many of its people continued to suffer.
“This is unacceptable,” he said, stressing the need for transformation and financial accountability.
The administrator expressed concern over the delay in salary payments across local government areas, acknowledging the struggles of affected workers.
“I feel the pain of the workers,” he stated, assuring them that the withheld allocations had been released and that his administration would ensure prompt payment of salaries.
However, he warned that financial discipline would be strictly enforced, directing all local government areas to submit their wage bills with supporting documents through the office of the Head of Service.
Ibas, a retired Vice Admiral and former Chief of Naval Staff, vowed to scrutinise public funds and take decisive action against mismanagement.
“Good governance is not just a slogan; it is a commitment to changing the negative narrative within the next six months,” he added.
He also emphasised the need for collaboration with traditional rulers and security agencies to enhance grassroots security.
“You must take the lead in ensuring security within your domains,” he charged local government administrators.
Reacting, the President of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) and Administrator of Port Harcourt Local Government Area, Clifford Paul, commended the Federal Government for appointing Ibas, attributing the decision to his leadership competence.
He urged the administrator to prioritise workers’ welfare, stating that local government workers were currently owed two months’ salaries.
“With the release of the withheld allocations, we are hopeful that workers will receive their entitlements soon,” he said.
Paul further called on stakeholders to seize the opportunity to rebuild trust and foster unity in the state.
President Bola Tinubu has sworn in Vice Admiral Ibok-ete Ibas (rtd.) as the Sole Administrator of Rivers State, following a brief meeting at the Presidential Villa on Wednesday afternoon.
Ibas’ appointment comes a day after Tinubu, in a nationwide broadcast, declared a state of emergency in Rivers State and suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara, Deputy Governor Ngozi Odu, and all members of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
The President cited Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution as the legal basis for his action, stating that he could no longer stand by as the political crisis in the state escalated.
However, the suspension of Fubara and other elected officials has sparked widespread condemnation. Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Labour Party’s Peter Obi, senior lawyer Femi Falana (SAN), the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), and several civil society groups have rejected the move, describing it as unconstitutional and undemocratic.
In contrast, the pro-Nyesom Wike faction of the Rivers State Assembly, led by Martins Amaewhule, has praised Tinubu’s decision, accusing Fubara of disregarding a Supreme Court ruling related to the state’s political crisis.
Vice Admiral Ibas, a retired naval officer, previously served as Chief of Naval Staff from 2015 to 2021 under President Muhammadu Buhari. Born in Cross River State, he attended the Nigerian Defence Academy in 1979 and went on to have a distinguished military career, rising to the highest ranks in the Navy.
He is a member of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA) and the Nigerian Institute of Management. In 2022, Buhari conferred upon him the national honour of Commander of the Federal Republic (CFR) in recognition of his service.
Ibas now assumes leadership of Rivers State amid a deeply divided political landscape, with tensions running high over the legality and implications of the emergency rule.
The Federation Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC) disbursements to the federal, state, and local governments surged by 43 per cent in 2024, reflecting a major boost in government revenue inflows.
According to the latest FAAC Quarterly Review released in Abuja on Tuesday, the Nigerian Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative (NEITI) disclosed that a total of N15.26 trillion was allocated to the three tiers of government within the year under review.
NEITI’s Acting Director, Communication & Stakeholders Management, Obiageli Onuorah, described the disbursements as a historic high, noting that the allocations surpassed previous years by a remarkable margin.
Key Drivers of Revenue Growth
The report attributed the surge in FAAC disbursements to sustained fiscal reforms by the Federal Government, particularly the removal of fuel subsidies and foreign exchange rate adjustments. These policies have significantly boosted oil revenue remittances and overall government earnings.
Speaking at the official release of the report in Abuja, NEITI’s Executive Secretary, Dr Orji Ogbonnaya Orji, highlighted the impact of these reforms on national and subnational finances. He noted that the withdrawal of fuel subsidies in mid-2023 reshaped revenue distribution and affected debt repayment deductions from state allocations.
Dr Orji stated that the objective of the report was to assess the sustainability of government borrowing, the fiscal implications of resource dependence, and the economic realities confronting states benefitting from the 13% derivation revenue from oil, gas, and solid minerals.
“The analysis focused on crude oil revenue derivation states, as solid minerals continue to underperform despite their significant potential,” he added.
Breakdown of FAAC Allocations
According to the NEITI report, FAAC disbursements in 2024 were as follows:
Federal Government: N4.95 trillion
State Governments: N5.81 trillion
Local Governments: N3.77 trillion
Total FAAC Disbursement (Including Derivation Revenue): N15.26 trillion
State governments recorded the highest percentage increase in allocations, jumping by 62% from N3.58 trillion in 2023 to N5.81 trillion in 2024. Local government councils saw a 47% increase, while the federal government’s share rose by 24% from N3.99 trillion in 2023.
The report highlighted that FAAC allocations grew by 66.2% over three years, rising from N9.18 trillion in 2022 to N10.9 trillion in 2023 and N15.26 trillion in 2024, with the most significant leap occurring between 2023 and 2024.
Economic Risks and Challenges
Despite the revenue boost, NEITI cautioned that economic risks associated with fiscal reforms must be managed effectively. Key risks identified include:
Inflationary pressures
Possible rise in debt servicing costs
Fiscal uncertainty for oil-dependent states
The agency urged governments at all levels to adopt innovative measures to cushion the impact of these economic challenges.
State-by-State Allocation Analysis
Lagos received the highest FAAC allocation in 2024, with N531.1 billion, followed by:
Delta State: N450.4 billion
Rivers State: N349.9 billion
Conversely, the least allocations went to:
Nasarawa State: N108.3 billion
Ebonyi State: N110 billion
Ekiti State: N111.9 billion
The report also showed that six states—Lagos, Rivers, Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom, Delta, and Kano—each received over N200 billion, collectively accounting for 33% of total state allocations. Meanwhile, the six lowest-receiving states—Yobe, Gombe, Kwara, Ekiti, Ebonyi, and Nasarawa—received only 11.5% of total allocations.
Debt Deductions Raise Fiscal Concerns
A total of N800 billion was deducted from states’ allocations for foreign debt servicing and contractual obligations, representing 12.3% of total state allocations.
Lagos State had the highest debt deduction, with N164.7 billion, followed by:
Kaduna State: N51.2 billion
Rivers State: N38.6 billion
Bauchi State: N37.2 billion
NEITI warned that many states with high debt burdens were among the lower FAAC recipients, raising concerns about debt sustainability and overall fiscal health.
With the federal and state governments increasingly reliant on oil revenue, the report emphasized the need for economic diversification, stronger financial management, and sustainable debt practices to ensure long-term fiscal stability.
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