Author: Bolanle Akinwalere

Residents and motorists at Mokola, Ibadan, were thrown into panic on Thursday morning when a patrol van of the Western Nigeria Security Network, popularly known as Amotekun, went up in flames. The incident, which happened around 9:30 a.m. beneath the Mokola flyover bridge, occurred while operatives of the corps were being conveyed for an operation. Eyewitnesses recounted how passersby and other road users desperately attempted to douse the fire, but their efforts proved abortive as the van was completely razed before the arrival of personnel from the Oyo State Fire Service. Although no casualties were recorded, the vehicle was destroyed…

The Oyo State House of Assembly has officially acknowledged a letter from Governor Seyi Makinde, informing lawmakers of his plan to embark on a one-month vacation beginning Thursday, August 29, 2025, and ending Monday, September 29, 2025. The correspondence, read during Tuesday’s plenary session presided over by the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Adebo Ogundoyin, was in line with Section 190(1) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), which mandates a governor to formally notify the legislature before proceeding on leave. In his letter, Governor Makinde stated that he would temporarily transfer the reins of government to…

The Olubadan-designate, Oba Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja, on Monday returned to Ibadan to commence the traditional and spiritual activities marking his journey to the throne as the 44th Olubadan of Ibadanland. Oba Ladoja, a former governor of Oyo State, arrived at about 1:20 p.m. and went straight to his family house in Isale-Osi, Ibadan South West Local Government Area. There, he was joyfully welcomed by relatives, associates, and a large crowd of well-wishers. Special prayers were offered for him in both Islamic and Christian traditions, as part of the day’s events. After the prayers, the monarch-in-waiting is expected to proceed to…

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced Hon. Folajimi Oyekunle, popularly called DoN, of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as the winner of the Ibadan North Federal Constituency bye-election. The Returning Officer for the election, Professor Abiodun Oluwadare of the University of Ibadan, declared the results on Saturday at the Collation Centre located in Ikolaba High School, Ibadan. According to the official figures, Oyekunle polled a total of 18,404 votes to defeat his closest rival, Hon. Adewale Olatunji, popularly known as Murphy, of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who secured 8,312 votes. The election was conducted to fill the…

The Federal Government has explained its decision to appoint Fuji musician, Wasiu Ayinde, popularly known as K1 De Ultimate, as an ambassador for proper airport security protocols. Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, in a statement on Wednesday, said the move aligns with global practice where repentant offenders are engaged to educate others against misconduct. He described the role as voluntary and similar to community service. “For further clarification, it is common practice all over the world that a repentant offender is made to preach publicly against the exact conduct from which he has repented. It is akin…

It was a day of celebration for Comrade Adeogun Ayobami and his team as they emerged victorious in the keenly contested Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) elections. Out of the 13 positions up for grabs, Adeogun’s team clinched 11, securing a sweeping majority and reaffirming their strong grassroots support among members of the union. The NULGE Integrity Group (NIG), led by Comrade Salaudeen Ibrahim Olaiya, won two positions, putting up a spirited fight despite the outcome. The election, which was held in a peaceful and orderly atmosphere, drew attention from stakeholders across the local government workforce, with many…

The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has advised all candidates who participated in the 2025 school-based West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) to revisit its official result portal within the next 24 hours and recheck their results. The directive was issued on Thursday in a statement signed by the Council’s spokesperson, Mrs. Moyosola Adesina, amid mounting concerns over the accuracy of the recently released results. According to the statement, the call for a recheck follows the discovery of technical issues during a post-release internal review by the Council. These glitches affected the integrity of the results initially published on…

Nigeria’s media landscape has lost one of its most illustrious pioneers, Dr. Doyinsola Abiola, who passed away on Tuesday, August 5, 2025, at the age of 82. A trailblazing journalist and former Managing Director of the now-defunct National Concord newspapers, Dr. Abiola was widely celebrated as the first Nigerian woman to serve as editor-in-chief of a national daily. Born Doyinsola Aboaba, she began her academic journey at the University of Ibadan, where she earned a degree in English and Drama in 1969. Soon after, she joined the Daily Sketch newspaper, where she quickly gained prominence through her column, Tiro, which…

Oyo State Governor, ‘Seyi Makinde, has approved the reconstruction of a critical 23-kilometre road linking Okaka to Igbojaye and the Kunle Afolayan Productions (KAP) Film Village located in Komu, all in Itesiwaju Local Government Area of the state. The approval, announced on Tuesday during the Hijrah 1447 luncheon organised by the state government at the Presidential Lodge, Secretariat, Ibadan, fulfills a promise the governor made during the commissioning of the KAP Film Village in April 2025. At the time, he had committed to enhancing rural infrastructure and boosting culture and tourism across Oyo State. Speaking at the event, Governor Makinde…

The ancient city of Ibadan came alive on Monday as Comrade Salaudeen Ibrahim Olaiya, a top contender for the presidency of the Oyo State chapter of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), brought his statewide campaign to a resounding close at the iconic Mapo Hall. The event, which marked the grand finale of the NULGE Integrity Group (NIG) campaign, drew a massive crowd of union members, supporters, and key stakeholders from all zones across the state. Hosted within the Ibadan South East Local Government Area, the occasion also served as the Ibadan Zone’s official rally in support of…