NEWS
Ondo Govt Pledges Ongoing Support To Families Of Owo Attack Victims
The Ondo State Government has expressed its commitment to providing ongoing support to the families affected by the tragic gunmen attack that took place on June 5, 2022, at St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo which resulted in the loss of 41 lives and numerous injuries.
In remembrance of the victims who lost their lives within the church premises, a memorial park was inaugurated.
On Saturday, the State’s Deputy Governor, Mr. Lucky Aiyedatiwa, along with other members of the state executive council, attended a memorial mass held at the church in Owo.
During the service, Aiyedatiwa acknowledged that the day held a mix of emotions, as people still vividly recalled the loss of their friends and loved ones during the attack.
He further stated that the incident marked a somber and tragic day for the people of Ondo State and Nigeria as a whole.
In his address, the State’s Deputy Governor, Mr. Lucky Aiyedatiwa, expressed gratitude towards Governor Rotimi Akeredolu for his unwavering support and efforts on behalf of the victims and survivors.
Aiyedatiwa shared that each survivor had received a total of N500,000, distributed in two installments.
He emphasized that the Ondo State Government had taken care of all the medical expenses incurred by the injured individuals, expressing his gratitude to all those who contributed and donated in various ways to support the victims during their recovery.
He said “It was indeed a black Sunday for us in Ondo State. The unfortunate incident happened when they were doing one of the things the Lord has mandated us to do – worship him.
“We commiserate with those that have lost their loved ones. They are saints of the Lord now. We need to get closer to God and fulfill His purpose.
“Ondo Government since this incident happened have done so much in a way to support the families of those who have lost their loved ones. We appreciate the governor for all he has done on this disaster”, he added.
Aiyedatiwa assured the public that the state government would remain dedicated to safeguarding and supporting all individuals, regardless of their tribe or religion, emphasizing that the government valued and prioritized the lives and dignity of every human being.
During his homily, Most Rev. Jude Arogundade, the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Ondo, conveyed that the purpose of the gathering was not to rekindle anger but to demonstrate to the world how the victims had found healing through their faith in Christ.
Arogundade urged the government to fulfill its responsibilities by taking decisive action against the perpetrators of the heinous act.
He also emphasized the need for introspection and self-reflection as a means to advance the progress of Nigeria as a nation.
The bishop reaffirmed that the unwavering love of Christ would prevail over any malicious intentions, emphasizing that the Ondo State Government had fulfilled its duty towards the victims, just as any responsible government would have done in a similar situation.
He appealed to the Federal Government to ensure that the culprits responsible for the attack were identified and held accountable.
Mrs. Jumoke Veronica, who tragically lost her mother in the attack, shared that life had drastically changed for her since the incident occurred.
Gabonese citizens lined up at polling stations on Saturday to cast their votes in a landmark presidential election, the first since the military ousted the Bongo dynasty in a coup last August.
Eight candidates are vying for the top job, but all signs point to junta leader General Brice Oligui Nguema — the man behind the August 30, 2023, coup — emerging as the frontrunner.
Oligui, who toppled Ali Bongo and ended 55 years of family rule widely criticized for corruption and economic mismanagement, has dominated opinion polls in the run-up to the vote.
In the capital, Libreville, snaking queues formed outside polling stations as voters turned out early.
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Among them was 30-year-old Aurele Ossantanga Mouila, who cast his ballot for the first time after finishing a night shift at a casino.
“I did not have confidence in the earlier regime,” Mouila told reporters, echoing the sentiments of many young voters hoping for change in the oil-rich central African nation.
Oligui, who served as transitional president while civilians drafted a new constitution, swapped his military uniform for campaign attire as he seeks a seven-year mandate.
He faces seven challengers, including his main rival, former Prime Minister Alain-Claude Bilie By Nze, a longtime insider under Ali Bongo who now brands himself as the face of a “complete rupture” from the past.
Despite Oligui’s promises of reform, critics question his commitment to breaking with the old system, noting his deep ties to the Bongo era.
His campaign slogan, “C’BON” — a clever wordplay blending his initials with the French phrase for “It’s good” — has been plastered across Libreville, while rival candidates struggle for visibility.
As roughly 920,000 registered voters cast their ballots, the election is taking place against a backdrop of pressing national issues.
High unemployment, failing infrastructure, regular power outages, and soaring government debt — projected to reach 80 percent of GDP this year — have fueled public frustration.
Analysts, like political observer Neyer Kenga, say the vote represents a critical test for Gabon’s return to civilian rule and constitutional order.
“Today all Gabonese are firmly in favour of a democratic game that is played within the rules,” Kenga noted, adding that the outcome remains uncertain in a nation scarred by post-election violence in 2009 and 2016, as well as last year’s coup.
The interior ministry has pledged a “transparent ballot” and results are expected by Monday. Meanwhile, Oligui remains confident of victory.
“The builder is here, the special candidate, the one you called,” he declared at his final rally, as music and dancing filled the streets of Libreville.
The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Southwest Zone D, has cautioned the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) against actions capable of disrupting academic activities at the Federal University Oye Ekiti (FUOYE).
In a statement released on Saturday in Ado Ekiti, the student body condemned what it described as “veiled threats” by SSANU Western Zone to mobilize its members for industrial action or protest at FUOYE, following the university’s handling of a sexual harassment allegation against the institution’s Vice Chancellor, Prof. Abayomi Fasina.
The controversy stems from an extraordinary meeting of FUOYE’s Governing Council, which exonerated Prof. Fasina of the sexual misconduct allegation, while two local SSANU leaders were found guilty of misconduct.
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The council directed the implicated unionists to issue written apologies and undertakings to abide by university regulations within seven days, although their suspensions were lifted, with a forfeiture of half salaries for the period under review.
In reaction, SSANU’s National Vice President for the Western Zone, Abdussobur Salaam, rejected the council’s decision and announced plans to mobilize union members across 26 universities for a possible industrial action until their demands were addressed.
Responding, NANS leaders Taiwo Owolewa (Coordinator), Olutunde Oluwole (General Secretary), and Eromidayo Kuku (Public Relations Officer) warned that any attempt to destabilize the academic environment would be met with firm resistance from the student body.
“Nigerian students and the entire NANS structure in the South-West and beyond will resist such moves with even greater mobilization across our over 70 tertiary institutions comprising more than 300,000 students,” the statement read.
They emphasized that students would not stand idly by and allow any group or union to jeopardize the academic future of over 50,000 students at FUOYE.
“This is not a threat; this is a declaration of readiness to protect the academic future of Nigerian students. FUOYE or any of our institutions in Southwest is not a battleground for political vendettas or union showdowns,” the student leaders asserted.
While urging SSANU to seek lawful and peaceful avenues to resolve grievances, NANS also called on stakeholders to step in and prevent any action that could compromise the stability of the institution.
Additionally, the association aligned itself with the conclusions of the university panel that cleared the Vice Chancellor of wrongdoing, citing corroboration from both the Nigeria Police Force and the testimonies of the concerned parties.
“Our foremost concern remains the welfare of students,” NANS stated, endorsing the Governing Council’s plans to establish a Peace and Reconciliation Committee as well as onboarding and reorientation programmes aimed at fostering a positive institutional culture.
Suspended Senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has urged the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to disregard a petition filed against her by Senate President Godswill Akpabio and instead open a thorough investigation into allegations of threats to her life.
Akpabio had accused the embattled senator of defamation and incitement, following claims that he was involved in an alleged plot to assassinate her.
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Describing the allegations as “heinous lies,” Akpabio insisted they were designed to damage his reputation and stir public unrest.
Reacting through a statement released by her lawyer, Victor Giwa, Akpoti-Uduaghan dismissed the Senate President’s petition as an attempt to distract law enforcement from investigating the real issues.
“It is our client’s position that the Senate President should submit himself for a full investigation to security agents before any allegation of incitement against him,” the statement read.
Giwa went further to accuse Akpabio of trying to avoid scrutiny by raising counter-allegations, claiming that the Senate President was the “principal suspect” in the matter and had allegedly ordered the withdrawal of Akpoti-Uduaghan’s security.
The statement argued that Akpabio’s petition could only be considered after the allegations against him had been properly investigated and proven false.
“We therefore call on the Senate President to submit himself to full investigation rather than divert the attention of the security agents through a bubble petition,” Giwa stated.
“It is only when the investigation has been concluded, and the allegation has been shown to be false, that the issue of incitement and false allegation against Senator Natasha can be entertained.
“We therefore call on the Inspector General of Police to discontinue the Senate president’s Petition as being diversionary and prejudicing of investigation,” the statement concluded.
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