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Imminent Chaos? Osun Traditional Ruler Petitions IGP Over Deadly Threats to Community
The traditional ruler of Ifetuntun, Oba Taofeeq Osunmakinde—the Obawure of Ifetuntun—in Ife South Local Government Area of Osun State, has submitted a formal petition to the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Kayode Egbetokun, over alleged threats to destroy his community.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Oba Osunmakinde also appealed to the IGP to intervene in the ongoing boundary clashes between Ifetuntun and a neighbouring community in Ijebu West Local Government Area of Ogun State. Speaking in Akure, Ondo State, on Sunday, the monarch urged the police chief to investigate and apprehend those fueling unrest in the wake of the boundary dispute over a 30-mile stretch of land known as Ifetuntun. He recalled that during former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration in 2001, tensions flared between settlers of Ifetuntun and communities from Ijebu, prompting federal intervention. The Office of the Surveyor General of the Federation subsequently demarcated the boundaries, which enabled peaceful coexistence between the two sides—until recent disruptions. Oba Osunmakinde emphasized that Ifetuntun has existed long before 2010, and since the formal recognition of the traditional stool, the community has remained peaceful. He, however, alleged that influential individuals in government are now threatening to destroy the town. He further accused armed hoodlums of infiltrating the area, intimidating residents, and extorting passersby, all while some security operatives allegedly victimize the local people. “Ifetuntun has witnessed nine military and civilian regimes without any major unrest,” he said. “But in 2016, a forest guard from the Ministry of Natural Resources led an attack with hired thugs who destroyed properties and homes valued at over N2 billion.” He added that while some arrests were made, the main suspects fled and the matter was later settled through the intervention of the then Ooni of Ife and former Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola. “Recently, a group of thugs has been harassing our residents and extorting commuters along the federal road connecting Ife South and Ijebu West. These individuals claim they act with state authority,” he added. Oba Osunmakinde appealed once again to the IGP, noting that petitions backed with evidence had been sent to the police headquarters, as well as to the Osun State and Federal Governments. “We are peaceful and law-abiding citizens. We cannot resort to self-help. All we want is justice and swift intervention,” he said. Providing context, the monarch stated that Ifetuntun has historically been a government-reserved area where he has long served as a traditional leader.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has revealed that his push for an opposition coalition was initially rejected by members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Atiku made the disclosure during an interview on Arise Television on Wednesday, where he reflected on events following the PDP’s defeat in the 2023 presidential election. According to him, he warned party leaders after the election that the PDP could struggle politically without forming alliances with other opposition forces. “To be honest, I was one of the major initiators of this coalition. After the PDP lost the last election, I told the party clearly that I did not see a future for the PDP without a coalition,” he said. Atiku said his advice was rejected at the time, despite his conviction that Nigeria’s political history had shown the importance of alliances. “They disagreed with me then. I have studied Nigeria’s political transition over the years and saw how previous alliances worked, so it was not difficult for me to foresee this,” he stated. The former vice president added that his support for coalition politics was also influenced by his desire to encourage the emergence of younger leaders he believes are vital to Nigeria’s future. “I saw some of these younger politicians as the future leaders of this country, and I felt it was my duty to point that out,” he said. However, Atiku claimed the resistance he encountered within the party was driven more by personal feelings than by disagreement over the substance of his proposal. “They disagreed with me simply because they did not want to see my face, not because of what I was suggesting,” he said. Atiku added that recent political developments have now vindicated his position on the need for a broad opposition alliance ahead of future elections.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has said the African Democratic Congress (ADC) will first pursue a consensus arrangement before considering a primary election for its 2027 presidential ticket.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Atiku made this known during an interview on Arise Television on Wednesday while discussing the party’s leadership and strategy ahead of the next general election.
He said he is open to backing a consensus candidate if that becomes the party’s collective decision, stressing that such support should not be interpreted as stepping aside.
“It is not about stepping aside, but whether I am willing to support, and yes, I will,” Atiku said.
According to him, the ADC’s first priority is to build internal unity and reach an agreement among stakeholders before considering a competitive primary process.
“Our first option will be to work out a consensus. If that doesn’t happen, then of course we will explore other options. And yes, I will support whoever eventually emerges,” he stated.
Atiku also expressed confidence in the political experience within the party, saying he believes a consensus is achievable and may make a full-scale primary contest unnecessary.
“That remains our preferred path. We will go for primaries if consensus fails, but I honestly do not expect it to get to that stage because we are dealing with mature and experienced politicians,” he added.
His comments come amid growing political consultations and coalition talks as parties begin to position themselves ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has said the opposition coalition under the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has significantly strengthened his chances of winning the 2027 presidential election.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Atiku made the remarks during an interview on Arise Television’s Prime Time programme on Wednesday. Speaking on what makes his latest presidential bid different from previous attempts, Atiku said the ADC coalition brings together key political figures from across major parties, including the APC, PDP and Labour Party. He described the alliance as a broader and more strategic political arrangement ahead of the 2027 general elections. According to him, the coalition has created a stronger platform that improves his prospects. “Now, we have a broader coalition — a combination of APC, PDP and LP — which gives me a better chance of becoming president in 2027,” he said. Atiku also noted that the coalition reflects both experience and generational inclusion, which he said shows a clear succession plan. “You see people of my generation, and you see younger people coming behind us, so you can clearly see a succession pattern,” he added. Meanwhile, Atiku described former President Goodluck Jonathan as a decent but inexperienced leader. According to him, Jonathan’s lack of experience contributed to shortcomings in governance and played a role in his defeat in the 2015 presidential election. “I know Goodluck Jonathan very well. He is a decent young man, but he was also inexperienced, and that contributed to his failure in managing the affairs of the country,” Atiku said. He made the remarks while stressing the need for experienced and capable leadership in Nigeria.
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