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New Year Message: Adeleke Assures Osun, Lauds Tinubu
The Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke has assured the citizens that he will continue to strive to deliver the dividends of democracy.
The governor took to his new year message, a statewide address delivered in Osogbo on Monday, monitored by Biztellers to count his achievements and share his vision for the state.
While lamenting the level of economic hardship confronting the people, the governor lauded President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and assured the citizenry that he would remain focused on the implementation of the 2024 budget.
Sen Adeleke expressed appreciation for the mass support and high approval ratings he enjoyed among the populace and posited that he and his team are challenged to expand delivery of good governance across the sectors of the state.
He said, “Our administration has big ambitions to develop our dear state. We seek to bridge the developmental gap, to combine human and physical development. We are in a hurry to achieve both human and capital growth. My people, it is achievable. It is doable.
“In the new year, we will refocus attention on cushioning current economic hardship while at the same time building the state’s economic base. Both goals are achievable as we have demonstrated in the last one year.
“We seek your continued support to achieve our common agenda for collective prosperity. We promise to continue to be a listening and responsive administration, a government of the people, by the people and for the people.”
On the ambitions and plans for the state, Gov Adeleke told the people that his “dream is for an Osun economy that gradually moves away from its civil service status to a modern agro – industrial based, creative industry focussed economy”, stressing that such “diversification with a functioning cargo/commercial airport will grow Osun as an export oriented economy as well as a global tourist destination, being the host of important Yoruba cultural assets.
According to the Sen Adeleke, “we remain firmly focused on the Five-Point-Agenda under which you, Osun people, elected us into office. We reaffirm our faith in the principles guiding the five-point-agenda which are transparency and accountability, open government, localisation, responsive leadership and attunement to citizens’ aspirations”
He maintained that his administration achieved a lot in the last one year by ensuring belt tightening, reducing cost of governance and denying ourselves many perquisites of office, adding that “as a Governor, my official expenditures are covered through the approval process rather than security votes, thereby assuring transparency and accountability.
“As of today, our administration is struggling to purchase official vehicles for the state cabinet because the officials of the previous government bolted away with state vehicles. So our cabinet and other top officials have been using their private cars since we appointed them into office. Also, we are still working to renovate the official quarters vandalized by the officials of previous governments. Many of our top officials still operate from their private houses.
“Despite the above handicap, our team is determined to continue to deliver on our electoral promises. I am glad to report with gratitude to God that we have remained responsive to the will and aspirations of our people. We get positive feedback and we are satisfied with our high approval ratings.
“We are challenged to do more. We are prepared to make corrections where necessary as much as we will remain uncompromising when it comes to anti-corruption drive, transparency and accountability as well due process. As I always affirm, our tenure is married to due process, rule of law and fear of God”, Gov Adeleke stated.
He assured of his administration’s willingness to intervene to ameliorate the economic hardship confronting the masses.
While lamenting the harsh economic challenges facing Nigeria, Gov Adeleke commended President Tinubu for his concerted efforts to solve the knotty questions of high inflation, high cost of living and general dislocation in the national economy,which he described as “macro and micro economic issues largely beyond the purview of the state governments.
“We, as a state government, commend President Bola Tinubu for his relentless actions towards economic restoration. But as we all know and as we are still experiencing, the economic crisis continues unabated despite the best of efforts. Osun, through the National Economic Council, is collaborating with the central government to support federal initiatives targeted at reducing inflation, cost of living and stabilising the national economy”, he stated.
The management of Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK), Awka, Anambra State, has suspended a professor in the Department of Chinese Studies, Prof. Ifeanyi Odinye, for three months over an alleged sexual assault involving a female student.
The suspension, approved by the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Ugochukwu Anyaehie, followed the preliminary report of a six-member special investigative panel set up to examine the circumstances surrounding the incident.
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The university said Odinye would serve the suspension with half salary in the first instance.
The development follows an August 15 incident in which the professor was allegedly assaulted and stripped by some students after he was accused of attempting to sexually molest a female student in his office.
A video of the incident subsequently went viral on social media. In the footage, the female student was seen leaving the lecturer’s office with his clothes while alleging that he had attempted to sexually assault her.
The lecturer was later seen being pursued and assaulted by individuals believed to be students before leaving the university premises in a tricycle.
According to the university’s Public Relations Officer, Mr. Aloysius Attah, the investigative panel chaired by Prof. Emmanuel Obidimma, Provost of the College of Postgraduate Studies, has so far addressed two of its five terms of reference.
Attah said the panel’s preliminary report indicted Odinye for allegedly violating Section 5.8.3 of the university’s General and Academic Regulations.
He explained that the professor allegedly failed to properly record and submit an examination misconduct case involving the student, Chikamso Favour Okechukwu, using the prescribed examination misconduct report form.
The lecturer was also accused of returning an offending phone recovered during the examination to the student on the same day, allegedly in violation of Section 5.8.1(iv) of the university’s regulations.
Meanwhile, the student involved in the matter has been referred to the university’s Student Examination Misconduct Committee.
The Vice-Chancellor has extended the investigative panel’s assignment by another two weeks to enable it to complete its remaining terms of reference.
According to Attah, the outstanding issues include determining whether sexual harassment occurred, identifying those involved in the assault on Odinye and establishing whether there was any incident of kidnapping.
“The committee members are expected to conclude their findings with recommendations to the Vice Chancellor before a final verdict is initiated, including possible criminal prosecution,” the university spokesman said.
Attah added that the Vice-Chancellor had reiterated his administration’s commitment to the welfare of staff and students, while maintaining a zero-tolerance policy towards unethical practices.
The university also stressed that transparency and fair hearing would be upheld throughout the investigation as the panel works towards its final recommendations.
Former South-East spokesman of the Tinubu/Shettima Presidential Campaign Council, Denge Josef Onoh, has urged President Bola Tinubu to review the composition of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council ahead of the 2027 election.
Onoh made the call in a memorandum addressed to Tinubu, expressing concerns over the 223-member campaign council and what he described as inadequate representation of key APC stakeholders and loyalists from the South-East.
He warned that the composition of the council could undermine the party’s mobilisation efforts in the region ahead of the presidential election.
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According to Onoh, the structure used for the 2023 presidential campaign was more inclusive and provided opportunities for regional stakeholders and grassroots mobilisers who played roles in the party’s campaign.
He alleged that the latest campaign structure failed to adequately accommodate some longstanding APC supporters in the South-East.
Onoh also questioned the region’s representation in key operational, policy and management directorates of the campaign council, arguing that broader inclusion would give stakeholders a greater sense of ownership of Tinubu’s re-election bid.
The former campaign spokesman further criticised the council’s media structure, saying the campaign required experienced political communicators capable of effectively responding to the opposition.
“With the strict exception of only two persons who possess genuine fire and strategic depth, the current media team completely lacks the political tenacity and intellectual grit to face the opposition’s sophisticated PR machinery,” Onoh said.
He warned that leaving experienced campaigners and media operatives out of the structure could create vulnerabilities for the APC and provide opposition parties with an opportunity to gain political advantage.
Onoh therefore called on Tinubu to order a comprehensive review of the 223-member campaign council, with particular attention to geopolitical balance and the inclusion of established party leaders and grassroots mobilisers.
He also urged the President to strengthen the campaign’s media team by bringing in politically experienced and resilient communicators.
Onoh further appealed to Tinubu to ensure that APC stakeholders across the country felt a sense of ownership of the re-election campaign.
“Mr. President, do not let the short-sighted selfishness of a few handlers ruin the future of your administration. You cannot win a national re-election by shrinking your support base and telling an entire region they have no stake in your campaign,” he said.
He maintained that broader representation and effective coordination would be crucial to the APC’s efforts to retain the presidency in 2027.
A 56-year-old shoemaker identified simply as Anthony has reportedly died by suicide inside the Obudu Main Market in Obudu Local Government Area of Cross River State.
The incident occurred in the early hours of Sunday, August 23, 2026.
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Anthony, who was said to be from Bekwarra Local Government Area, was found dead inside the market, prompting community leaders to shut down the facility.
The leaders reportedly demanded N300,000 from the deceased’s family for cleansing rites, insisting that the circumstances surrounding his death were considered sacrilegious.
Confirming the incident, the Cross River State Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Sunday Eitokpah, said the deceased was a 56-year-old man simply identified as Anthony.
Eitokpah said the police had commenced an investigation to establish the circumstances surrounding the death and determine whether foul play was involved.
He said, “Police operatives visited the scene, documented the area, and recovered the body to the mortuary. The circumstances surrounding the death are yet to be established.
“Further updates will be provided as the investigation progresses.”
The police spokesman’s statement indicates that the exact circumstances of Anthony’s death remain under investigation.
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