Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke has described the late Owa Obòkun of Ijesaland, Oba (Dr.) Gabriel Adekunle Aromolaran as a legendary king who fulfilled all his developmental wishes for Ijeshaland during his lifetime.

Gov Adeleke made the statement on Saturday when he paid a condolence visit to the members of Ijesha traditional council and elders at the Oba Adekunle Aromolaran Civic Centre, Ilesa.

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Accompanied by all political office holders in Ijeshaland led by the State Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party, Hon. Sunday Bisi, Gov Adeleke recalled how Baba (Late Owa) emphasized the importance of making University of Ilesa (UNILESA) a reality rather than an audio institution that the past administration wanted to make it to be.

The Governor also recollected how Baba expressed frustration over inability of successive administrations to dualise Palace/Brewery junction road, tasking Governor Adeleke to dualise the road during his lifetime.

“I promised Baba that those two wishes will be realized. It’s on the strength of my agreement with Baba that I moved Unilesa from mere paper approval to a functioning University with over 90 accredited courses”, Governor Adeleke told the Ijesa elders.

“Our Government not only provided the take-off grant for the new university, we equally commenced Infrastructural development of the university while I appointed a top-class Ijesha academic to lead the university.

“On the road dualisation, we again awarded the project to an Ijesha-owned company and on the day of the flag off, our late Baba, despite of old age told me he must witness the flagg off.

“At the flag off event, Baba expressed satisfaction that his lifetime ambition of getting the road dualised and actualisation of University of Ilesa happened during his lifetime.”

“So, we’re here to commiserate with Ijesha people. This is a celebration of the life of a legendary king who was actually my dance partner during the governorship of my late brother, Sen Isiaka Adetunji Adeleke.

The Governor assured Ijesha people that the State Government will be fully involved in the burial programme of the late Owa even as he charged them to ensure the emergence of a credible, learned and committed new king who will build on the legacies of the late Monarch.

Speaking earlier, PDP State Chairman, Hon. Sunday Bisi recalled the love of the monarch for the progress and development of Ijeshaland, stressing that anytime late Owa talked to the Governor, it was always about the development of Ijeshaland

“I was there when Baba told Governor Adeleke that making UNILESA a reality and dualising Palace / Brewery junction road were his remaining life ambitions.

“On behalf of Ijesa people, we thank Mr. Governor for fulfilling the wishes of the late Owa by actualising the UNILESA and by launching the dualisation of Palace Brewery junction road.”

He pleaded with the Governor to continue to remember his fatherly partnership with the late Owa Obokun of Ijeshaland by further expanding his support and love for the Ijesha people which he has always demonstrated even before assuming governorship.

Australian Foreign Minister, Penny Wong has called for an immediate ceasefire in the Middle East, warning that Lebanon risks suffering the same humanitarian catastrophe as Gaza if violence continues to escalate.

Speaking at the United Nations, Wong condemned the ongoing airstrikes in Beirut’s southern suburbs and urged global leaders to take urgent action.

“This attack cannot and should not be justified,” Wong said, emphasizing the toll the conflict has taken on civilians.

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She highlighted Australia’s firm stance against Hamas, with sanctions already in place on the group’s leaders and financial backers.

However, Wong expressed deep concern over the heavy civilian casualties resulting from Israel’s response to Hamas.

Wong stated, “More than 40,000 Palestinians have been killed, including over 11,000 children. Nearly two million Gazans have been displaced, many multiple times, and over two million are facing severe food insecurity. This must end. Palestinian civilians cannot be made to pay the price for defeating Hamas. All lives have equal value.”

Wong also pointed out that nearly 300 days have passed since Australia and 152 other countries voted for a ceasefire, yet the violence continues.

“Today, I repeat that call,” she said, urging both sides to halt hostilities.

The foreign minister also stressed the importance of averting further conflict in Lebanon, where tensions are rising amid ongoing air raids.

She called for the full implementation of UN Resolution 1701, which calls for peace between Lebanon and Israel.

“Lebanon cannot become the next Gaza,” Wong warned, calling for immediate international efforts to prevent further bloodshed.

A tragic helicopter crash involving a Pakistan oil company has left six people dead and eight others injured.

The incident occurred during takeoff on Saturday when the aircraft, operated by Mari Petroleum Company (MPC), suffered a technical fault.

The helicopter was carrying fourteen individuals, including three Russian pilots and crew members, when it went down in North Waziristan, a region in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa near the Afghan border.

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In a statement, MPC confirmed that the crash resulted from engine failure, ruling out any signs of sabotage.

“The accident has claimed the lives of six individuals, while eight others have been injured,” the company reported.

The injured have been promptly transported to a military hospital for medical treatment.

The team was reportedly on a visit to a nearby oil field at the time of the accident.

Mari Petroleum Company is recognized as one of Pakistan’s largest petroleum exploration and production firms, which continues to strive towards fully unlocking the country’s resource potential.

Further investigations are underway to understand the circumstances surrounding the crash.