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JUST IN: Afenifere Appoints Oba Oladipo Olaitan As Acting Leader
The Pan-Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere, has appointed Oba Oladipo Olaitan as its acting leader following the passing of its former leader, Pa Ayo Adebanjo.
The decision was reached at Afenifere’s monthly general meeting held at Isanya Ogbo, Ogun State, the country home of the late Adebanjo.
Delegates from the six South-West states, Kogi, Kwara, and the Itsekiri community of Delta State attended the meeting.
READ MORE: End of an Era: Afenifere Leader Ayo Adebanjo Dies At 96
According to a communiqué issued after the meeting and signed by Afenifere’s Secretary General, Chief Sola Ebiseni, and National Publicity Secretary, Justice Faloye, on Tuesday, Oba Olaitan will serve as leader in an acting capacity until after the final burial of Pa Adebanjo, when he will formally assume office as the substantive leader.
The group described Oba Olaitan as a seasoned politician and legal expert with decades of experience in governance and public service.
Called to the Nigerian Bar in 1971, he served as Political Adviser to Governor Lateef Jakande and was a member of the Lagos State Executive Council from 1979 to 1983.
He later became a House of Representatives member (1999–2003), leading the Alliance for Democracy (AD) caucus in the House.
A lifelong member of Afenifere for over 45 years, Oba Olaitan has held key positions within the group, including National Financial Secretary under Chief Reuben Fasoranti and Deputy Leader under Pa Ayo Adebanjo.
In his acceptance speech, the new leader pledged his dedication to Afenifere’s vision and core values, particularly its advocacy for restructuring and true federalism.
“I am committed to the ideals of Afenifere as a socio-political organisation and an unrelenting advocate of restructuring and true federalism,” he said, adding that he would work to strengthen unity within the organization.
The meeting also addressed growing security concerns in Nigeria, expressing alarm over the kidnapping of Prince Eniola Ojajuni, whose ordeal has been widely circulated on social media.
The group called on the Ondo and Kogi State governments and relevant security agencies to act swiftly, stating:
“The Meeting called on the governments of Ondo and Kogi States, around which common boundaries the kidnapping was reported to have taken place, and the relevant security agencies to act without further delay and ensure the rescue and safety of the young man.”
Afenifere members paid glowing tributes to their late leader, describing him as a nation-building icon whose contributions to Nigeria had been widely acknowledged.
The group also commended Adebanjo’s family for their hospitality in welcoming numerous visitors to his residences in Lekki, Lagos, and Isanya Ogbo, Ogun State, since his passing.
The meeting was attended by several prominent figures, including: Senator Femi Okunrounmu, Senator Gbenga Kaka, Former Ogun State Deputy Governor, Pekun Awobona, Chief Tola Mobolurin, Tokunbo Ajasin, Engr. Bayo Adenekan, Hon. Leke Mabinuori, Olayemi Olajuyinu, Olu Pessu, Chief Olusegun Olawoyin
With Oba Olaitan at the helm, Afenifere looks set to continue its advocacy for Yoruba interests and national development.
Oil marketers have warned that Nigerians may soon pay as much as ₦1,500 per litre for Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol, as global oil prices surge following the escalating conflict involving Iran in the Middle East.
The National President of the Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN), Dr. Billy Gillis-Harry, issued the warning on Tuesday while speaking on a television programme on the impact of the global crisis on fuel prices.
According to him, the current volatility in the international oil market has already pushed petrol prices above ₦1,000 per litre at the depot level, with the ex-depot price from the Dangote Petroleum Refinery now standing at about ₦1,175 per litre.
He explained that once logistics, transportation, and other operational costs are added, the final pump price could rise significantly, possibly reaching ₦1,500 per litre in the near future.
Despite concerns about the rising cost of fuel, Gillis-Harry noted that steady availability of petroleum products from the Dangote Refinery remains a major relief for Nigeria, stressing that consistent supply is better than a nationwide fuel scarcity.
He added that the refinery’s production capacity is helping to stabilize supply across the country at a time when global markets remain highly unstable.
The latest price adjustment by the Dangote Refinery marks the fourth review within two weeks. Petrol prices increased from ₦995 per litre to ₦1,175 per litre, while diesel rose from ₦1,430 to about ₦1,620 per litre.
The development comes amid a sharp spike in international crude oil prices triggered by fears of supply disruptions due to the ongoing Middle East conflict.
Brent crude recently climbed above $102 per barrel, while West Texas Intermediate (WTI) rose to around $101 per barrel.
Industry analysts say the rising oil prices are already having a ripple effect on Nigeria’s downstream petroleum sector, forcing depot operators and fuel marketers to adjust their prices in response to the global market trend.
Meanwhile, the management of Dangote Petroleum Refinery has stated that although Nigeria introduced a crude-for-naira arrangement to support local refineries, the facility still purchases crude oil at international market prices, leaving it exposed to global price fluctuations.
The United Nations has raised the alarm over a dramatic surge in attacks on schools worldwide, reporting a 166% increase between 2021 and 2024.
The rise highlights the escalating dangers faced by children in conflict zones.
United Nations Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights, Nada Al-Nashif, revealed the figures during the annual meeting of the UN Human Rights Council on the rights of the child on Monday.
The session, themed “Mainstreaming the Rights of Children in Armed Conflict: Prevention and Protection,” focused on protecting children amid global conflicts.
Al-Nashif noted that the attacks were particularly concentrated in Sudan, Ukraine, the Gaza Strip, Myanmar, and Ethiopia, where children remain among the most vulnerable victims.
“In 2024, armed conflict directly affected nearly one in six children globally—about 470 million children,” she said. “Years of lost education, trauma, and lasting mental scars shape societies for generations. Long after the fighting subsides, children continue to face deadly risks.”
She highlighted Gaza as having the world’s highest number of child amputees per capita, warning that the impact of war goes far beyond immediate violence.
In Lebanon, government figures show that more than 450,000 people were displaced in less than a week, with at least 394 fatalities, including 83 children, during the 2024 conflict with Israel.
Al-Nashif also stressed the disproportionate risks for displaced children, who are more likely to die from disease linked to unsafe water and sanitation than from direct violence.
In the Democratic Republic of Congo, a 2025 cholera outbreak killed 340 children, underscoring the long-term consequences of conflict.
She called on states to uphold their international obligations to protect children, insisting that protecting children is “both a legal obligation and a humanitarian moral imperative.”
Also speaking at the council, Vanessa Frazier, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, warned that violence against children continued at extreme levels in 2025.
She urged mainstreaming child protection across peace, security, humanitarian, human rights, and development efforts, emphasizing that children should actively participate in shaping policies designed to safeguard them.
Frazier highlighted her office’s global campaign, “Prove It Matters,” aimed at amplifying children’s voices in conflict resolution and peacebuilding.
The UN report underscores the urgent need for coordinated international action to protect children and ensure their safety in conflict zones worldwide.
Portugal officially inaugurated its new president, Antonio Jose Seguro, on Monday, pledging to bring stability to a nation shaken by political uncertainty and natural disasters.
Seguro, the centre-left candidate, won last month’s presidential run-off against far-right rival Andre Ventura, following weeks of catastrophic storms that killed at least seven people and caused approximately €4 billion ($4.6 billion) in damage.
Speaking at his swearing-in ceremony in Lisbon’s parliament, Seguro emphasized cooperation with the minority right-wing government and vowed to end the country’s “electoral frenzy.”
SEE MORE: Spain, Portugal Plunge Into Darkness Amid Widespread Power Outage
“I will do everything I can to put an end to this electoral frenzy,” he said, pointing to the inability of previous governments to complete their terms.
Amid global crises, including conflicts in the Middle East and a more isolationist US approach under President Donald Trump, Seguro stressed the importance of multilateralism.
“The force of law has been replaced by the power of the strongest,” he remarked.
Seguro succeeds Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, a conservative who leaves office at 77 after serving two five-year terms.
While the Portuguese presidency is largely ceremonial, Seguro’s leadership signals a commitment to political stability and international engagement.
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