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Oyo Governor’s Aide Receives Pan African Distinguished Leadership Award.

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AFRICAN  University Student Parliamentarians from 54 member countries, under the aegis of African Students Union Parliament (ASUP), on Wednesday bestowed the 2017 Pan African Distinguished Leadership Award on the Oyo State Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Prof. Adeniyi Olowofela.

The Speaker of the student parliament, Rt. Hon. Kewul Abel from Côte d’Ivoire, was ably represented by his Deputy, Solomon Mensah, a student of the University of Ghana, who led a delegation of ASUP legislative officials to the Ministry of Education, Agodi Government Secretariat, Ibadan to bestow the award on the Commissioner.

Making the presentation, the Speaker said the award was in recognition of the governor’s aide commitment and contributions to effective service delivery, key support to the governor, open door policy which was brought to the front burner by Nigerian representatives at the African Students Union Parliament (ASUP) Conference held at the University of Ghana, Legon, Accra.

Hon. Kewul stressed, “African Students Union Parliament (ASUP) has taken her time to scrutinize this leader who have committed his time to serve the common good in accordance to the Pan-Africanism Ideology. At this point that the youths need to have exemplary leaders as role models, we have carefully selected your highly respected person to honour you with PAN-AFRICAN Leadership Award.

Also, he lamented that Africa, faced with the dire consequence of years of neglect of youths in its ranks, has resulted in various social vices such as conflicts, kidnappings, bombings, robberies which have assumed an alarming dimension.

In his response, at the historic ceremony, while accepting the honour, the commissioner urged the youths not to run Pan Africanism as a philosophy alone, but to evaluate the present state of development, what the future foretells for young people and to properly establish their role in Africa’s development.

The University Don, Olowofela further tasked the youths on the need to contribute to Africa’s development through sound education and technological skills, stressing that the world is open for the youths to shine, especially in the area of technological development.

“African youths can compete globally in the technological field in the new world economy. We only need better technological education and exposure to best practices, especially renewable energy. We must come together to promote development and commercialisation of indigenous technology and adaptation of imported technology for wider application. The development of Africa will be done only by Africans”, the commissioner reiterated.

He continued, ” the entire Africa is looking up to Nigeria that has all it takes to be the greatest nation in the world, and if the country gets it right, other African countries definitely will get it right. For black man to be respected, Nigeria must get it right. We must go back to the basics”.

The ex – council boss, Olowofela, however advised the youths to emulate leaders such as Obafemi Awolowo, Nkwame Nkruma, Nnamdi Azikwe and other great African nationalists, who have lived well and those who are living exemplary lives, just as he called for knowledge sharing with other continents through exchange programmes, academic conferences, and social media interactions.

Earlier, various recipients of the honor include: the President of Sudan, Umar Al-Bashir, President, Federal High Court of Nigeria, Hon. Justice Ibrahim Auta, Vice Chancellor, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Prof. Chukwuma Ozumba, and the Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, among others.

Some of the ASUP delegates at the event include, the Majority Leader, Lanota Chakibe ( Universite de Kokodi), Director Gender, Dahunsi Nifesimi (Adeyemi College of Education, Ondo), Media Director, Okojokwu Kingsley (Benue State University, Makurdi) and Eveh Dominic ( Nigeria Coordinator, Nasarawa State University, Keffi),

 

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Alleged KGB Infiltration: Police in Dilemma as Senator Natasha Abandons Petition, Snubs Summons

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The Nigeria Police Force appears to be in a quandary over its investigation into the alleged infiltration of the National Assembly by Russia’s KGB (Komitet Gosudarstvennoy Bezopasnosti), the former Soviet security agency.

Checks revealed that the police had invited the Senator representing Kogi West, Sunday Karimi, for interrogation following a petition filed by his colleague, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan of Kogi Central.

In the petition dated March 5, 2025, Akpoti-Uduaghan, who is currently serving a six-month suspension from the Senate, urged the police to investigate Karimi’s claim that the KGB had infiltrated the National Assembly, posing a serious threat to Nigeria’s democracy.

She specifically alleged that Senator Karimi had circulated a report titled “KGB Agent Group Warns Senate: A Call for Vigilance Amidst Threats to Democracy” on the official WhatsApp group of the 10th Senate on February 23, 2025.

Describing the claim as a matter of national security, Akpoti-Uduaghan insisted that the alarm raised by Karimi should not be taken lightly. “No nation can afford to ignore the presence of such a group within its legislative body,” she emphasized in her petition.

Karimi Appears Before Police, Natasha Recoils

Further investigations revealed that Senator Karimi honored the police invitation on Monday, appearing at the Force Headquarters in Abuja to clarify his position.

Sources within the police described his session as “positive and insightful,” revealing that he admitted to sharing the report in question. However, the police were reportedly taken aback when Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan distanced herself from the petition and ignored requests to appear for questioning.

“We reached out to her after our session with Senator Karimi, expecting her to provide further clarification, but she has continuously ignored our invitation,” a senior police source disclosed.

“What is disturbing is how she suddenly abandoned such a serious petition against her colleague. First, she claimed to be outside the country, but a viral video has since surfaced showing her in her constituency. It is difficult to reconcile her claims with the information available to us,” the source added.

The police official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, further hinted at possible political undertones behind the petition.

“We do not want to meddle in the ongoing power play within the Senate. However, it would be scandalous if she attempted to use the police as a tool in her political battles.”

When asked about the possible next steps, the source stated that his superiors would determine the fate of the petition, which he described as “frivolous.”

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Twelve Inmates Escape in Kotonkarfe Jailbreak

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Twelve inmates have escaped from the Federal Correctional Centre in Kotonkarfe, Kogi State, following an early morning jailbreak on Monday.

Confirming the incident, the Kogi State Commissioner for Information, Kingsley Fanwo, described it as “unfortunate” and assured the public that the government, in collaboration with security agencies, was taking measures to prevent a recurrence.

According to Fanwo, law enforcement officers have already re-arrested one of the escapees.

“The theory that the inmates escaped through the tower without causing any structural damage raises serious concerns. This calls for a thorough investigation to determine the exact circumstances of the escape, arrest the fleeing inmates, and identify possible saboteurs within the system,” he stated.

The commissioner further disclosed that Governor Usman Ododo has directed security agencies to ensure that such breaches do not happen again.

“We call on the public to report any suspicious individuals in their communities. Anyone found harbouring an escaped inmate will be held accountable,” Fanwo warned.

Reassuring residents, he added: “There is no cause for panic. We encourage citizens to go about their daily activities as normal, knowing that the security of lives and property remains our top priority.”

Authorities have yet to disclose further details about the escapees or ongoing efforts to apprehend them.

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Trump Ends Legal Status for Over 500,000 Immigrants, Orders Mass Expulsions

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The United States has announced the termination of legal status for over 500,000 immigrants, ordering them to leave the country within weeks, as President Donald Trump pushes forward with what he calls the largest deportation campaign in American history.

The sweeping directive, issued on Friday, affects approximately 532,000 Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans who arrived under a programme launched by Trump’s predecessor, Joe Biden, in October 2022 and later expanded in January 2023.

According to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the affected immigrants will lose their legal protections 30 days after the order is published in the Federal Register on Tuesday. This means they must leave the United States by 24 April, unless they secure another immigration status permitting them to stay.

Welcome.US, an organisation that supports asylum seekers, has urged those impacted to “immediately” seek legal counsel regarding their options.

A Reversal of Biden’s Immigration Policy

The Processes for Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans (CHNV) programme, introduced in January 2023, allowed up to 30,000 migrants per month from these nations to enter the United States for two years. The initiative was designed to offer a “safe and humane” alternative to the dangerous crossings at the US-Mexico border, which had seen a surge in arrivals.

However, the DHS reiterated on Friday that the programme was never meant to provide permanent residency.

“Parole is inherently temporary, and parole alone is not an underlying basis for obtaining any immigration status, nor does it constitute an admission to the United States,” the agency stated.

Mass Deportations Under Trump

Trump, who has made immigration control a cornerstone of his presidency, has vowed to crack down on migrants—particularly those from Latin America.

Last week, he invoked rare wartime legislation to deport more than 200 alleged members of a Venezuelan gang to El Salvador, a country that has controversially offered to imprison both migrants and U.S. citizens at a discounted rate.

The latest order signals Trump’s intent to follow through on his hardline immigration policies, raising concerns among human rights advocates about the humanitarian impact of such mass deportations.

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