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Makinde replies critics, says ‘I don’t hate Islam’
Published
5 years agoon
Oyo state governor, Mr. Seyi Makinde has responded to growing criticisms of his alleged administration’s religious favoritism, especially those who are fond of accusing him of hating Islam; saying “they are individuals with skeletons in their cupboards”.
The governor, who was speaking during a brief ceremony on Friday where he presented buses to the Ansar-Ud-Deen Society, Oyo State Branch, and the Oyo Town chapter of the society, as well as the Freelance and Independent Broadcasters Association of Nigeria (FIBAN), Oyo State chapter, said that though his government has discovered the ugly secrets of the past, it was still interrogating the details.
Makinde, according to a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, declared that he will continue to serve the people of the state with fairness and the fear of God, irrespective of their religions.
He maintained that those struggling hard to divide the state with religious sentiments by insinuating that his administration hates Muslims, were only trying to cover their dirty past.
According to the governor, “if some elements are saying I don’t like Muslims, it is what they have done in the secret that is disturbing their minds.
“We have seen all what they did but we are still interrogating the details. If we decide to put it in the public, some may say it is the confirmation that I don’t like Muslims,” he said.
The governor added: “My Special Assistant on Islamic Affairs has said most of the things meant to be said. But one thing he didn’t remember to say is that the Imam of Omituntun has been there since 2014.
“We started building the Omituntun Mosque structure in 2013 and we completed it in 2014. As of that time, those who were my closest aides were three and they are all Muslims.
“I want to say it again that I love both the Muslims and the Christians as well as the traditionalists. We must not discriminate and we have to be fair to everybody. And we believe that whatever we do, we will get the reward from God.
“We are serving you as your servants. I came to you to give us the opportunity to serve you and you did. So, I believe we must serve you with the fear of God.
“So, today, I want to fulfill part of the promises I made before I got elected as the governor of Oyo State. I promised that, when I become the governor, I would do my best to support people from both religions. That is why I want to donate a bus each to the Ansar-Ud-Deen of Oyo State and that of Oyo Town, to propagate the gospel of Islam.”
Also speaking during the presentation of the buses, a former Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly and senator who represented Oyo Central between 2015 and 2019, Senator Monsurat Sunmonu, who is also member of the Ansar-Ud-Deen Society, commended Governor Makinde for running an all-inclusive government.
She maintained that as a part of the ooalition of parties that brought the government into power, she has been giving support to the government because it is doing things right, calling for prayers for the governor and the government.
She said: “You all know that I was once a Speaker in this state and Senator that represented Oyo Central Senatorial District. So, I can understand what is called governance. We are looking round to gather people within Oyo State for us to be able to support the Governor Makinde-led administration to succeed.
“In doing this, the governor deemed it fit to get us a vehicle for movement, not for politics but for the course of their duties. As Muslims, they will be moving round to mosques and everywhere to propagate the Islamic religion.
“Also, for FIBAN, they are part of the constituency of the governor. When the governor met them, they requested for vehicle and they came through me to collect it. So, we thank him and all the good people of Oyo State.
“We are not playing politics of ‘pulling someone down by all means’ but whenever we see something being done in the right manner, we are bound to give support.”
Chairman of Ansar-Ud-Deen Society, Alhaji Babatunde Oladejo expressed happiness with the donation, stating that it will help in its programmes to enlighten people on Islam and “probably the development in the government circle.”
“As I said during my sermon, Oyo State is a technical place to govern but the governor has been trying and all we need to do is to keep assisting him with prayers. We should also try as much as possible to let the people know the good works he is doing in the state.”
The chairman of the Oyo State chapter of FIBAN, Pastor Seun Akindele, also expressed gratitude to the governor for the donation, stating that it was a surprise to the body.
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Iran War Disrupts Oil Supply, Global Loss Hits $50bn
Published
5 days agoon
April 18, 2026By
Mega IconThe global oil market has recorded losses exceeding $50bn following massive supply disruptions triggered by the ongoing Iran war, which has now stretched to nearly 50 days.
Data from energy analytics firm Kpler showed that more than 500 million barrels of crude oil and condensate have been wiped off the global market since the crisis began in late February, making it the largest energy supply disruption in modern history.
Iran’s Foreign Minister, Abbas Araqchi, on Friday said the Strait of Hormuz had been reopened after a ceasefire agreement reached in Lebanon.
However, tensions escalated again on Saturday as Tehran warned it could shut the strategic waterway if the United States sustains its blockade of Iranian ports.
Also, U.S. President Donald Trump expressed optimism that a deal to end the conflict could be reached “soon,” although he did not provide a definite timeline.
Analysts warned that the scale of disruption could have prolonged effects on global energy stability, with shocks expected to linger for months or even years.
Providing context, Principal Analyst at Wood Mackenzie, Iain Mowat, said the 500 million barrels lost is equivalent to grounding global aviation demand for 10 weeks, halting all road transport worldwide for 11 days, or shutting down the entire global oil supply for five days.
Further estimates showed that the lost volume is nearly equal to one month of oil demand in the United States or more than a month’s supply for Europe. It also represents about six years of fuel consumption by the U.S. military and could power global shipping activities for approximately four months.
The crisis has significantly affected oil-producing nations in the Gulf, with output losses reaching about eight million barrels per day in March—roughly equivalent to the combined production of two of the world’s largest oil companies.
Jet fuel exports from major producers, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Oman, dropped sharply from 19.6 million barrels in February to just 4.1 million barrels recorded across March and April combined. Analysts said the shortfall could have powered about 20,000 round-trip international flights.
With crude prices averaging around $100 per barrel since the onset of the conflict, the lost volumes translate to an estimated $50bn in revenue. Experts noted that this figure is equivalent to about one per cent of Germany’s annual Gross Domestic Product, or roughly the size of the economies of smaller European countries.
Meanwhile, global onshore crude inventories have declined by about 45 million barrels in April alone, while total production outages have risen to approximately 12 million barrels per day since late March.
Industry experts cautioned that unless a lasting resolution is reached, the disruption could intensify volatility in global oil markets, worsen inflationary pressures, and further strain fragile economies worldwide.
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Oseni Secures Prestigious City People Political Award Nomination
Published
6 days agoon
April 16, 2026By
Mega IconA member of the House of Representatives representing Ibarapa East/Ido Federal Constituency and Chairman of the House Committee on Federal Roads Maintenance Agency, Aderemi Oseni, has been nominated for a Special Award in Politics at the 2026 City People Political Awards.
The nomination was conveyed in a letter dated April 13, 2026, signed by the Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of City People Magazine, Seye Kehinde.
The development was disclosed in a statement issued by Oseni’s media aide, Idowu Ayodele, and made available to journalists in Ibadan on Thursday.
According to the statement, the lawmaker earned the nomination in recognition of his “outstanding contributions to politics in Oyo State, particularly in Ibarapa East/Ido Federal Constituency.”
The organisers noted that Oseni emerged as a nominee following a comprehensive review of performances across sectors by the award’s selection committee.
Part of the letter read, “Having performed creditably well in your sector last year, the Organising Committee presented you as a nominee in your sector.”
The award ceremony is scheduled to hold on Sunday, May 3, 2026, at Etal Hall, Kudirat Abiola Way, Oregun, Ikeja, Lagos, at 4pm.
The City People Awards is an annual event that recognises individuals who have distinguished themselves in governance, public service and other sectors of national development.
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Kaduna Electric to prosecute, expose attackers of staff
Published
6 days agoon
April 16, 2026By
Mega IconThe Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company has announced a crackdown on individuals who assault its staff, warning that offenders will face prosecution and public exposure.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the company expressed concern over what it described as a “disturbing surge” in attacks on its field workers and third-party partners.
It noted that the affected personnel were mainly engaged in meter installation, revenue collection and maintenance of electricity infrastructure.
According to the firm, the increasing cases of harassment, physical assault and unlawful detention of its workers pose a serious threat to employee safety and the stability of electricity service delivery across its franchise areas.
The Deputy Managing Director, Abubakar Mohammed, said the company would no longer tolerate any form of aggression against its workforce.
“Let this serve as a clear warning to anyone who engages in the assault of our staff. Kaduna Electric will pursue every case to its logical conclusion,” he said.
“We will work closely with security agencies to ensure offenders are brought to justice and face the full weight of the law,” Mohammed added.
He further disclosed that the company would publicly reveal the identities of individuals found culpable.
According to him, names, photographs and other details of offenders would be published on the company’s official platforms as well as in national and local media.
“This measure is intended to ensure accountability and serve as a strong deterrent. Anyone who chooses to attack our personnel should be prepared not only to face prosecution but also public exposure,” he added.
The company stressed that assaults on utility workers attract serious legal and financial consequences, noting that offenders risk criminal charges that may lead to fines or imprisonment.
It added that perpetrators could also face civil liabilities, including compensation for medical treatment, psychological trauma and loss of work hours.
While condemning the attacks, Kaduna Electric urged customers to adopt peaceful and lawful means of resolving disputes.
It advised aggrieved customers to channel complaints through its customer service units or appropriate regulatory bodies.
The management reaffirmed its commitment to protecting its workforce and partners, stressing that a safe working environment is essential for delivering reliable and efficient electricity services.
Although disputes between electricity providers and consumers are often linked to billing issues, metering challenges and service delivery concerns, the company maintained that such matters must be resolved through dialogue, insisting that violence against its staff will no longer be tolerated.
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