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Osun Cooperative Movement Endorses Adeleke’s Re-election

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The Osun State cooperative movement numbering over 130,000 has pledged total support for the re-election of Governor Ademola Adeleke as a reward for his massive contribution to the growth of the cooperative movement since 2022.

According to a government house statement in Osogbo, on Thursday, the cooperative leaders numbering about 40 who came to represent the Federation of Osun State Cooperative Movement declared that since the administration of late Obafemi Awolowo, no administration has done as much as Gov Adeleke for the cooperative sector.

Through its Executive Secretary, Alhaji Tiamiyu Adeoye, the movement noted that during late Awolowo’s premiership, the western cooperative movement was giving a seed capital of One Million pounds but lamented that since then, only Gov Adeleke has revived the tradition for grassroots economic financing.

The Executive Secretary spoke further: “Under the previous APC governments, we were invited and publicly given a cheque as cooperative seed capital. A day after, we were recalled to bring the cheque for correction. Till date, that cheque was never returned to the cooperative movement. We were deceived.

“However, Mr Governor, you surprised us because when you pledged almost N4billion naira as revolving loan, seed capital for the cooperative movement; we thought you were playing politics like others did with us. But you have disbursed over N1.6billion so far.

“We are really glad; we are here to show our appreciation. We have never had any state government giving us seed money since the creation of Osun state. You came in and from the beginning, you addressed that critical question of grassroots economic financing. Mr Governor, you are doing a lot across sectors in Osun.

“But for us cooperatives, where roads and bridges cannot reach, your seed capital has reached. The billions of naira flowing from the Government is reaching our people at the local level. You have strengthened us. The seed capital is a form of human capital development. Across Osun state and among our over 130, 000 cooperative members, grassroots economic financing is thriving.

“Aside from the seed capital, we expressed thankfulness for the release of withheld cooperative deductions of our members. The withholding of the cooperative deductions by the previous government displaced and inflicted a lot of hardship on our members. As of today, all the check ups and deductions are paid up to date. Mr Governor you restored hope and empowerment among the cooperative movement in Osun state.

“If under your first term, you did so much for the cooperative movement, we strongly believe continuity is in the best interest of the cooperative movement in Osun state. In pursuance of that determination, February 10, 2026 has been scheduled for an endorsement rally for Mr Governor”, the Executive Secretary told the governor.

Responding to the cooperative leadership, Gov Adeleke, flanked by the Deputy Governor, Prince Kola Adewusi; Head of Service, Ayanleye Aina; and Cooperative Commissioner, Bayo Ogungbangbe, expressed appreciation to the cooperative movement in Osun State for their acknowledgment of his contribution to the empowerment and strengthening of the cooperative movement.

“The Governor spoke further: “From the very beginning, we made a deliberate decision to place cooperatives at the centre of our economic empowerment strategy. This conviction led to the establishment of the Ministry of Cooperatives and Empowerment in July 2023, an initiative that has since earned national recognition. It also guided our decision to convene the first Osun State Cooperative Summit and Awards. This was to strengthen dialogue, coordination and shared responsibility among stakeholders.

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“We have equally invested in long-term capacity building through the total rehabilitation and upgrade of the Cooperative College at Ode-Omu, now renamed Senator Isiaka Adetunji Adeleke Cooperative College. This reflects our belief that sustainable cooperative growth must be driven by education, skills and strong institutions.

“At the grassroots, we expanded ward-based cooperatives across the State. We also provide them with interest-free revolving loans. We have also extended significant funding to conventional cooperative unions under FOSCOOP. Our administration empowered thousands of individual cooperators, supported our people in the diaspora and ensured inclusive access. This also includes targeted support for persons living with disabilities. Altogether, over 1.5 billion naira has been disbursed to strengthen cooperative activities under this administration.

“These efforts are driven by one clear objective: to put economic power directly in the hands of the people. Cooperatives remain one of the most effective tools for inclusive growth, shared prosperity and community stability”, the governor posited.

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‘Dem Dey Use Stick Dey Flog Women’ — Nigerians in India Camp Cry Out

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Nigerian women allegedly being held at a deportation facility in India have cried out over their treatment, with a video circulating online showing some of them displaying injuries and alleging that security personnel flogged detainees.

The video began circulating online on Wednesday and shows a group of Nigerian women inside and around what they described as a deportation camp.

Several of the women pointed to marks, bruises and apparent injuries on their legs, feet and bodies while alleging that they were beaten with sticks or canes.

SEE ALSO: Rufai Oseni Row: NiDCOM Breaks Silence on Nigerians Detained in India, Addresses Ekene’s Case

“See my video, see my leg,” one of the women could be heard saying in the footage.

Another woman said, “Mona see wetin dem dey do for deportation camp.”

“Deportation camp, na dem flog person, see,” another woman said while showing what appeared to be an injury.

The women further alleged that female detainees were beaten with sticks.
“Dem dey use stick dey flog women, mona dey see am,” one of them said.

Another woman, while pointing at an injured detainee, said, “Dem carry cane flog o… see her body, dem flog am.”

The women also alleged that police officers carried sticks inside the facility.

“Police carry stick like say dem dey cut firewood,” one of the women said.

The footage shows the women appearing distressed as they moved through the facility and gathered in an outdoor area.

They repeatedly appealed to Nigerians to share the video and draw attention to their situation.

“Make una see… make this video trend/go,” one woman said.

“Make una share am,” another added.
One of the women also expressed frustration over their alleged experience at the facility, saying, “We don suffer, every time, every time.”

The footage comes amid ongoing concerns over Nigerians detained at the Lampur detention centre, also known as Sewa Sadan, in New Delhi.

Recall that in September, reports emerged that more than 200 Nigerians were being held at the facility, with some detainees alleging poor food, inadequate medical care and prolonged detention.

The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) subsequently defended its handling of the situation and said the Nigerian High Commission in India was seeking another amnesty period to facilitate the departure of Nigerians without proper immigration documentation.

No official response from the Indian authorities or the Nigerian government specifically addressing the allegations in the latest video had been made available at the time of publication.

 

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‘Military Gets Huge Budgets, Yet Air Crashes Persist’ — Shehu Muhammad

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Military Conducts Mass Burial For Slain Soldiers In Niger Ambush, Air Crash

Rights activist, public affairs analyst and Chief Executive Officer of The Dialogue, Shehu Muhammad, has questioned the continued occurrence of military aircraft crashes despite the huge budgetary allocations to the country’s defence and security sector.

Muhammad spoke while reacting to the recent Nigerian Navy aircraft crash in Irele Local Government Area of Ondo State during an interview on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief.

Describing the incident as “one incident too many,” he recalled that Nigeria had recorded several military aircraft crashes involving the Nigerian Air Force and Nigerian Army over the years.

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He said the recurring incidents had raised concerns among members of the public about the condition of military aircraft and the process through which military hardware is procured.

“People have begun to cast aspersions as to the honesty, sincerity, and openness in the purchase of military hardware, including airplanes,” Muhammad said.

According to him, the concerns are heightened by the substantial funds allocated to the military and other security agencies over the years.

“There are insinuations by the public that, after all, the military receive the highest amount of money from the budget year in, year out,” he said.

Muhammad also questioned the transparency of defence procurement, particularly the process of selecting contractors for the supply of military equipment.

He argued that the repeated crashes should prompt authorities to examine military aviation operations, aircraft procurement and the management of defence resources.

The latest crash occurred in Irele, Ondo State, with recovery efforts reportedly complicated by the difficult terrain around the crash site.

Muhammad said the latest incident should not be treated in isolation, but should lead to broader questions about military aviation safety and the management of resources allocated to the defence sector.

He called for greater transparency and accountability in the procurement and management of military hardware to restore public confidence.

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‘NYSC Has Outlived Its Usefulness, Should Be Scrapped’ — Shehu Muhammad

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Gombe NYSC Prioritises Safety of Corps Members

Rights activist and public affairs analyst, Shehu Mohammed, has called for the scrapping of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), saying the scheme has outlived its usefulness amid growing security concerns across the country.

Shehu made the call on Wednesday during an interview on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief, while reacting to the kidnapping of prospective corps members travelling to orientation camps in Akwa Ibom and Anambra states.

He described the incident as “one incident too many,” noting that kidnapping, maiming and the detention of victims in kidnappers’ camps had become frequent in several parts of the country.

SEE ALSO: 2027: North Should Back South-West To Complete 8 Years In Power — Shehu Sani

“I think it is just a case of one incident too many. There are more unreported cases of kidnapping and maiming and detention in kidnappers’ den, almost all over the country, especially in the northern part of the country: the Middle North West, North East, and North Central. It’s a daily, daily happening,” Sani said.

He said the security situation had made him question the continued relevance of the NYSC scheme, which was established to promote national unity.

“When Bukola was saying that she objects to the scrapping of NYSC, I tend to take a different view. My view is that the entire NYSC was meant to unite Nigeria, but if in uniting Nigeria you lose your daughter, you lose your son, you lose your uncle, you lose your sister, you lose your neighbour, then it’s not worth the trouble,” he said.

Shehu argued that corps members should instead be allowed to serve in their respective states, eliminating the need for young Nigerians to travel long distances to orientation camps.

“This NYSC issue should be scrapped, removed from the constitution, allow each and every corps member to serve in his own state, traveling with all the dangers, with all the costs,” he said.

He also highlighted the financial burden placed on families when corps members are posted far from their home states.

“If a child is going from Katsina to Anambra State to report to the camp, minimum that you give him is three hundred thousand naira for transfer cost, three hundred. How many parents have three hundred thousand naira to give their wards?” Sani asked.

He said the financial burden was only one aspect of the problem, with corps members also facing security risks and possible trauma during interstate travel.

“Minus all the dangers, the consequences, the uncertainties, the traumas involved. If your child has to go through a trauma, through uncertainty, through pain, through kidnapping, through raping, eventually through killing, why do you have to go for NYSC?” he said.

“As far as I’m concerned, the NYSC project has outlived its usefulness. It should be scrapped.”

Shehu also warned that kidnapping in Nigeria was taking a new dimension, with criminal groups increasingly targeting vulnerable groups.

“Corps members are vulnerable groups. Travelers for commercial purposes all over the country are vulnerable groups. Therefore they are now going for soft targets,” he said.

According to him, kidnappers also use abductions to blackmail victims’ families and government authorities into paying ransom.

“The next one is blackmailing either the parents or blackmailing government to collect money,” he said.
Sani alleged that ransom payments were subsequently used to finance criminal activities.

“So they can finance their arm purchase. They can finance their purchase of hard drugs to enable them operate without pity and compassion, and to send permanent fear into the community,” he said.

He added that the kidnappers were using their activities to create fear within communities, despite being relatively few in number.

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