Folarin Kehinde

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Ondo State has given Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu a three-day ultimatum to either resume at the Governor’s Office in Akure, or resign.

The youth wing of the party issued the ultimatum on Monday at the party’s secretariat in Akure, Ondo State capital, while protesting the continued absence of the governor.

Earlier, a team of security operatives comprising men of the Police, Department of State Services, DSS, and National Security and Civil Defense Corps, NSCDC, had cordoned off the PDP secretariat to prevent the protest from holding.

Akeredolu has not been seen in the state since his return from medical leave in Germany over four weeks ago.

According to one of the PDP youth leaders, Tayo Oluyi, the state can no longer bear what he described as ‘leadership vacuum’.

Oluyi said, “We are saying Mr Governor must resume back to duty. He can no longer govern us by proxy, we can no longer be hearing that he’s one thing or the other when we’ve not sighted him.

We know the governor we have, if he’s truly fit, we would have sighted him in the streets of Akure.

“The youth wing of the party is giving Mr Governor the next 24 hours to address the people of Ondo State and we are giving him three days ultimatum to resume back to the state.

“We are giving him three days ultimatum to address us and if he fails, we as the opposition party will occupy the streets of Akure and we will continue to demand that he either resume or resign.”

Women Affairs Minister, Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, has threatened to sue the United Nations (UN) over alleged financial mismanagement.

Addressing a press conference in Abuja on Monday, September 16, the minister claimed that the UN had been receiving monies from donors on behalf of Nigerians.

“I stand here as the minister of women affairs to demand from all the UN of the account of all the monies they sourced from donors in Nigeria’s name,” the minister said.

“We want to see the account of what they did. If you don’t give us this account, at least let Nigerians see what’s going on, then you [UN] apologize to them.

“If we don’t get that report between now and November 15, we’re heading to court,” she declared.

Leading reporters gathered that Kennedy-Ohanenye was one of the APC presidential aspirants who stepped down for Tinubu during the party’s primary in Abuja in the buildup to the 2023 elections.

A former Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) president, Mustafa Shehu, has been elected president of the World Federation of Engineering Organisations (WFEO).

Shehu, a former president of the Federation of African Engineering Organisations (FAEO), was elected at the ongoing General Assembly of the World Engineering Summit in San Jose, Costa Rica.

He polled 67 out of 71 to become the first black African to win an election for the exalted office.

In a congratulatory message on its official X handle, the organisation wrote: “Congratulations to Engr. Mustafa B. Shehu, from Nigeria, who is the new president of WFEO.

“He’s a former president of the Nigerian Society of Engineers and the Federation of African Engineering Organizations FAEO.”

Before this election as President-Elect, Shehu served as chairman of the Awards Committee, Member of Strategic Planning, Finance Committees, and Advisory Board for the WFEO President and Executive Vice President at WFEO.

In his policy brief, Shehu commended past presidents’ efforts and declared that WFEO must make an effort in helping to produce more engineers with the right skills through improved Engineering Education and Capacity Building towards accreditation of many countries with the International Engineering Alliance.

The newly appointed Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Nigeria Postal Service (NIPOST), Tola Odeyemi, has assumed office amidst strong opposition from aggrieved workers.

Leading reporters gathered that the controversy began after President Bola Tinubu dismissed Adeyemi Adepoju, who held the position of CEO/Post Master General, and appointed Odeyemi as his successor.

This decision was part of a broader leadership reshuffle affecting agencies and parastatals under the Ministry of Communications, Innovations, and Digital Economy.

The unrest peaked at NIPOST’s head office in Abuja, where dissatisfied workers opposed Odeyemi’s appointment.

They expressed concerns that Adepoju’s reforms, initiated in the past year, should be allowed to continue, believing that removing him would set NIPOST back.

However, Odeyemi has assumed her role, entering the office around 1 p.m. She immediately engaged in discussions with top Directors. She is said to have declined a chair offered to her, opting for a different seat.

Odeyemi’s appointment makes her the first female CEO in the history of NIPOST.

President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of Mrs Adedayo Benjamins-Laniyi as the mandate secretary of the newly created Women Affairs Secretariat of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA).

This was contained in a statement by the FCTA via its X (Twitter) handle on Monday, October 16.

“His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, has approved the appointment of Mrs. Adedayo Benjamins-Laniyi as the Mandate Secretary for the newly created Women Affairs Secretariat of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA),” the statement said.

President Bola Tinubu on Monday swore in three new ministers during the second Federal Executive Council held at the Council Chambers of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The new cabinet members are Malam Balarabe Lawal from Kaduna State as Minister of Environment, Jamila Bio-Ibrahim from Kwara, Minister of Youths and Ayodele Olawande from Ondo, Minister of State for Youths.

The ministers were the three nominated by Tinubu to take charge of the newly created Ministry of Youths and a replacement for former Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir el-Rufai.

The Ministry of Youth was formerly with the Ministry of Youths and Sports Development.

El-Rufai was rejected during the Senate ministerial screening process when a member brought up a petition against him.

Tinubu, who is chairing the FEC meeting, took their oath of office and allegiance and took photographs with the new cabinet members.

The council also observed a minute silence for a former member of the cabinet, Late Mobolaji Ajose-Adeogun, former minister of the Federal Capital Territory.

Ajose-Adeogun, who died on July 1 at the age of 96, was appointed the FCT Minister in 1976 by the Murtala Mohammed military administration and served in the position until 1979.

The inaugural meeting was held in August where new ministers attended to take their first brief from the executive arm on their roles and responsibilities in the Renewed Hope Agenda.

The FEC is a constitutional institution where government policies are discussed and endorsed by Ministers, with the President serving as the Chairman and the Vice President as the Vice Chairman.

At the August 29 FEC meeting, Tinubu unveiled an eight-point agenda to revive the country’s ailing economy.

He had said that the eight-point agenda was based on eight priority areas, with identified targets that would be delivered in the next three years.

These are food security; ending poverty, economic growth and job creation, access to capital, particularly consumer credit, inclusivity in all its dimensions, particularly as regards youths and women, improving security, improving the playing field on which people and particularly companies operate, rule of law, and of course, fighting corruption.

Governor Dikko Umaru Radda of Katsina has said that he is ready to sacrifice his life to end banditry in the state.

In an interview with BBC Hausa, Governor Radda said security remains a top priority in the state adding that a law has been passed to establish a volunteer force for that purpose.

The governor had on Tuesday, inaugurated the Community Watch Corps to complement efforts of the conventional security agencies in the fight against banditry in the state.

“We have inaugurated, trained, and equipped the volunteers, providing them with cars, motorbikes, and even armoured cars,” the governor said.

Regarding allowances, the governor said the government has adopted the minimum wage system, and the volunteers will be paid accordingly.

“The public should be aware that these volunteers were doing this job unpaid and are motivated by a sense of duty to protect their families and communities,” the governor said.

“Some critics claim that the patrols are worsening the security situation, but this assertion is unfounded. Residents of affected areas know what is happening, and it is unacceptable to allow these people (bandits) to continue to kidnap and kill.”

While stating that he does not mnd paying the ultimate price, Governor Radda noted that he would ensure that no harm comes to the people of Katsina state.

“I swear, as governor, even at the cost of my life, I will not allow someone come and harm my people. The problem of banditry has reached a point where we must all unite and put an end to it.

“Those who oppose these measures are likely motivated by the fact that their loved ones are not the ones being killed. Once all necessary preparations are complete, I will also enter the forest,” he declared.

Popular Nigerian singer Habeeb Okikiola, widely known as Portable, was recently robbed of his money during a tour in Europe.

Leading reporters gathered that the singer was performing at an event when he was sprayed with money. However, after the performance, he discovered his money had been stolen.

In a viral video, Portable can be seen lamenting the loss of his money and lashing out at the person who stole it.

“This man na md man. Ueless human being. All my money wey de spray me, this man don carry am run. This u*less man! Oga, I go beat you for here. I be street boy for Lagos,” he said in Pidgin.

Portable is known for his controversial lifestyle, and has at various times been involved in a scandal.