NEWS
I represent the interest of more Igbos than most Igbo senators says Adeola
By John Danjuma
Senator Solomon Adeola representing Lagos West has boasted that he represents the interest of more Igbos than most Igbo Senators in the Senate and probably more Igbos than one or two South East states.
He spoke while reacting to what he described as a fake news item on social media platforms that he (Adeola) made a derogatory statement that Igbos are the problem of Nigeria.
A statement issued on Friday by his Media Adviser Chief Kayode Odunaro said areas of his district like Amuwo-Odofin, Oshodi Isolo, Ojo, Ifako-Ijaiye, Alimosho, Mushin, Ikeja, Badagry LGAs, and elsewhere are heavily populated by the Igbos
“For the records, Senator Solomon Adeola in his largest senatorial district of Lagos West can boast of some 12 million Nigerians of all tribes,
“There is no way I would deride a substantial part of my Igbo constituents that had elected me twice as their senator and bestowed on me the prestigious title of “Dike Di Ora Nma 1” (translated to “The Beloved Powerful Man of the Society”) of Lagos State through all their traditional rulers a represented by Eze Uchechukwu Nwanchukwu, the Eze Ndigbo of Lagos state and other Igbo traditional rulers from Lagos West”, the senator stated
The statement pointed out that there would have been no need to respond to the false fabrication that originated from a fake Facebook account of one suspected ‘Obedient’ “Ifeanyi Darlington Mcipm” but that the shenanigan of an ungrounded activist trying to gain undue mileage for their principal from social media manipulation.
“However, when the derogatory, unattributed, and false quotation was lifted by a suspicious blog and presented as news, the senator thought it wise to debunk the entire statement and story as a blatant and unmitigated falsehood that can only be conjectured by a very sick and demented soul.
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“For the records, Senator Adeola has been away on his annual vacation for the last three weeks and has not made any statement anywhere during this period.
“As can be seen from the original source of the statement, it was not linked to any event or place and could only have been fabricated from the sick mind of the author with the motive to de-market one of the strong loyalist and supporters of APC presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.
The senator stated that the fake news of the so-called ‘Obidients’ against him, will not make him deride any patriotic Ndigbo in Lagos or anywhere in Nigeria as the ‘Obidients’ are merely misguided social media activists without roots even among Ndigbo of South East.
He said it is part of a program intended to attack all notable APC Presidential candidate supporters and loyalists as noted by the Tinubu Campaign Organisation only yesterday,
“Our presidential candidate in APC, Tinubu, is a cosmopolitan “city boy” with a record of engaging and bringing up many Ndigbos based on competence in Lagos and elsewhere with Mr. Ben Akabueze, the Director General of Budget Office of Nigeria as an example from his commissionership in Lagos State to national limelight.
“I am following his footsteps to the letter. I have among my personal staff in Abuja and Lagos responsible Igbos that can vouch that I am not an ethnic bigot based on their many year’s associations with me.
“They are competent and unlike the ‘Obidients’ who want to win the Presidency from social media. I will never say or see Igbos as the problem of Nigeria” he stated.
The senator restates his commitment to continue to represent all his constituents including millions of Ndigbos residents in Lagos West Senatorial District adding that in all his empowerment programs so far benefits cuts across all ethnic groups as can be seen with published names and telephone numbers of Igbos among beneficiaries.
In line with the recommendations of the Osun State Advisory Council on Prerogative of Mercy, Governor Ademola Adeleke has extended mercy to 53 convicts serving various terms within the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS).
According to Spokesperson to the State Governor, Olawale Rasheed, this was contained in a letter of commutation dated December 24th, 2024 and which has since been received and acknowledged by the relevant prison authorities read as follows:
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“WHEREAS: the inmates whose names are set out in the schedule to this order have been convicted to various terms of imprisonment to wit.
(i) Simple offences and have served substantial portions of the sentences,
(ii) Convicts sentenced to death” (having spent a minimum of 10 years in custody.)
“AND WHEREAS: following the recommendation made to me by the state advisory council on the prerogative of mercy that I should exercise my power in relation to the said inmates in order to mark the 2024 Christmas celebration.
“AND WHEREAS: in the case of the 30 (thirty) inmates convicted of simple offences, I have decided in accordance with the said recommendation to remit and forgive the remainder of the said sentences in whole.
“AND WHEREAS: I have decided in accordance with the said recommendation to grant outright pardon to 12 (Twelve) inmates convicted of simple offences.
“4 (Four) Convicts have their sentences commuted from death to outright pardon. AND WHEREAS: I have decided in accordance with the said recommendation to commute the sentences as follows;
“1 (One) convict has his sentence commuted from death to 15 (Fifteen) years imprisonment.
“6 (Six) Convicts have their sentences commuted from death to outright release.
“Now know ye therefore that, I Senator Ademola Jackson Adeleke, the Governor of Osun State of Nigeria, in exercise of the power conferred on me by paragraph (a), (c) and (d) of subsection (i) of section 212 of the constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as Amended), I am pleased to extend my grace and mercy unto the said inmates.
“My will and pleasure thereof, is that you commute the death, life and years of imprisonment as indicated herewith in the schedule”
Those in the schedule are as follows:
CONVICTS RECOMMENDED FOR OUTRIGHT PARDON (SIMPLE OFFENCES)
- OLABOMIJI NURUDEEN
- MUSTAPHA ISAH
- OLALEKAN ABDULLAHI
- AYOMIDE OLOJEDE
- AKEEM RAPHAEL
- ADEYEMI ABIODUN
- OLADIPUPO SEGUN
- OMISAKIN SUNDAY
- ADEMOLA ADIO
- TUNDE OLAPADE
- LATE CHIEF WOLE OLA RUFUS OJO
- OMOLOYE OLAJIDE OLAYEMI
CONVICTS RECOMMENDED FOR OUTRIGHT RELEASE (SIMPLE OFFENCES)
- OLUBO SUNDAY
- ISAH UMAR BIODUN
- FAWAS KAREEM
- OMIRIN TEMITAYO
- OLARENWAJU AYOMIDE
- DARE SUNDAY
- OLADAPO TUNDE
- GANIYU SAHEED
- ADEWUMI SODIQ
- ADEBAYO ADEOYE KEHINDE
- LASIS KAZEEM
- DAUDA OJO (59 YEARS)
- ISMAILA RAJI
- OSENI MICHEAL
- AJAYI KOREDE
- ABIONA NURUDEEN
- OSHI SAMUEL
- SHEU YUSUF OLATUNJI
- OJO AANU
- MUSTAPHA KEHINDE
- LASIS ABEEB
- ALEXANDRA IORLAHA
- OJO TAIWO
- AZEEZ MUJEEB
- AKINYEMI DAVID
- ADEOSUN ADEKUNLE
- OLAOBAJU SAMUEL
- ADURA ADEFEMI
- PAUL BASIL
- KUNLE DAVID
CONVICT RECOMMENDED FOR OUTRIGHT PARDON FOR GOOD CONDUCT (CAPITAL OFFENCES) – 4 (FOUR)
- SUNDAY MORAKINYO
- SEGUN OLOWOOKERE
- TUNDE OLAPADE
- DEMOLA ODEYEMI
CONVICT RECOMMENDED FOR OUTRIGHT RELEASE ON HEALTH GROUND, (CAPITAL OFFENCES) –
1 OLUWAFEMI FAGBEMI
2 BEWAJI SUNDAY
- AMEHIN GEORGE
- AYOMIDE ARULOGUN
- TAIWO OLUWATOBI STEPHEN
- ABUBAKAR ABDULAZEEZ
CONVICT RECOMMENDED TO BE COMMUTED FROM DEATH TO 15 YEARS IMPRISONMENT HAVING SPENT AT LEAST 10 YEARS IN CUSTODY
- OJEKUNLE TIMOTHY
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has approved a new policy allowing visa-free entry to Ghana for all African nationals, fulfilling a promise he made earlier this year.
The initiative is expected to be implemented before the end of his term on January 6, 2025.
With this move, Ghana will join Rwanda, Seychelles, The Gambia, and Benin as one of the few African nations offering unrestricted visa-free access to all African passport holders.
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The policy is seen as a significant step toward promoting free movement across the continent, enhancing trade, and deepening economic integration under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
President Akufo-Addo announced the policy during his keynote address at the 2024 Africa Prosperity Dialogues (APD) held in Accra.
Speaking under the theme “Developing Prosperity in Africa: Produce, Add Value, and Trade,” he highlighted the challenges Africans face when traveling within the continent.
“Many of you had to acquire a visa to attend this event,” he said, emphasizing the barriers to intra-African mobility.
He described the visa-free policy as a solution to these challenges and a critical step toward achieving the goals of the AfCFTA.
“The free movement of people is essential for stimulating intra-African trade and fostering collaboration across borders,” Akufo-Addo added, noting that the policy aligns with Ghana’s broader vision of promoting economic growth through integration.
The visa-free initiative is expected to enhance Ghana’s standing in the region, making it easier for African nationals to travel, trade, and collaborate.
By eliminating visa requirements, Ghana aims to position itself as a leader in continental integration, creating opportunities for deeper economic ties with other African nations.
The policy also underscores Ghana’s commitment to the AfCFTA, which seeks to establish a unified market for goods and services across Africa.
Officials believe this move will attract businesses and encourage cross-border trade, ultimately boosting the continent’s economy.
The Ghanaian government has begun taking steps to implement the policy, with full rollout expected before the end of Akufo-Addo’s presidency.
Officials are updating immigration procedures to accommodate the new framework and ensure a smooth transition.
President Akufo-Addo reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to the initiative during his address.
“We are taking concrete steps to ensure that this policy becomes a reality this year,” he stated, signaling that the groundwork for implementation is already underway.
Nigeria’s Vice President, Kashim Shettima has assured Nigerians of the federal government’s dedication to national security, economic transformation, and welfare of the citizens.
This was detailed in a Christmas message on Wednesday afternoon in Abuja under the signature of the Senior Special Assistant to The President on Media & Communications (Office of The Vice President), Stanley Nkwocha.
According to the Vice President, the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu remains unwavering in its focus on these critical areas, as the country looks forward to the dawn of a new year.
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He said, “In these times of economic transformation, I want to assure you that the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration remains steadfast in its commitment to improving the lives of all Nigerians.”
Vice President Shettima particularly urged the citizens to imbibe the virtues of national unity during the yuletide season.
“Nigeria’s diversity remains our greatest strength. Let us avail ourselves of the time provided by the holiday season to strengthen the bonds of brotherhood that unite us across all faiths and regions,” he said.
Senator Shettima assured Nigerians of the continued vigilance of the nation’s security forces, noting that “our brave security personnel will continue to work round the clock during this festive period to keep us safe.”
He said enhanced security measures have been put in place to protect the citizens during the holiday period.
“The relevant agencies have been mobilized to ensure your safety and comfort on all major routes,” he stated, urging travelers to remain vigilant.
VP Shettima expressed optimism about the nation’s trajectory in the coming year, saying, “I am filled with hope and optimism about Nigeria’s future. Together, we will build a more prosperous and united nation.
“To our young people, you are the backbone of our nation. The Renewed Hope administration is implementing various initiatives to create opportunities for you to thrive and contribute to Nigeria’s development,” he added.
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