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Oyo Kingmakers Who Collected Bribe May Be Prosecuted -Makinde

  Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has threatened to prosecute and punish all Chiefs or Kingmakers within the Oyomesi or others, who might have collected bribe or gratification in the selection process that culminated into the emergence Akeem Abimbola Owoade as the 46th Alaafin of Oyo. This followed reports that cash was allegedly offered to some chiefs by a contender for the Alaafin stool. Makinde issued the warning on Monday during the official presentation of the Staff of Office and Certificate of Appointment to Oba Owoade.  Owoade succeeded late Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III, whose reign lasted for five decades. At the brief ceremony, Governor Makinde emphasised transparency and accountability in the selection process of the new monarch The governor described the Alaafin-elect as a leader poised to upholding the cultural and historical heritage of the Oyo Kingdom, noting that the Alaafin of Oyo is not just a traditional ruler but a custodian of rich history and...

Army arrests four during fee hike protest in UI

 

Officers of the Nigerian Army have reportedly arrested and detained four individuals at the University of Ibadan  amid a protest against fee hikes.

According to report, the detained protesters identified as Aduwo Ayodele, Made Gbadegesin, Olorunfemi Adeyeye, and Nice Linus, were apprehended and bundled into an Army van during a Monday demonstration.

Adeyeye, the National Secretary of the African Action Congress, managed to record a distressing video while inside the van. In it, a man in military uniform is clinging to the vehicle as it speeds towards the Agodi area of Ibadan.

In a distress message sent to our correspondent on WhatsApp chat, Adeyeye said, “UI security officers swooped on us as I joined UI students to raise placards. They dragged us, beat us, and then called soldiers from Operation Burst.”

A student, requesting anonymity for fear of victimisation, disclosed that the arrests occurred concurrently with a swearing-in ceremony for the new Students’ Union executives, with protesters voicing their dissent against the fee hike.

Efforts to reach the Nigerian Army spokesperson, Brig. General Onyema Nwachukwu and the UI Dean of Students Affairs, Prof Adekeye Abiona, were futile at press time.

Expressing condemnation and demanding the protesters’ release, human rights group, the Take It Back Movement, in a post on X, said, “Here is @activistfemi being moved to an unknown location by @HQNigerianArmy officers. He was arrested by operation burst during an ongoing protest around the University of Ibadan. We condemn this as despicable, and demand his immediate release.”

The National Association of Nigerian Students in April denounced the “outrageous” fee hike for new UI students, citing financial burdens imposed on families already grappling with economic challenges.

According to NANS Public Relations Officer Victor Igbudu, the fee increase for the 2023/2024 academic session, which ranged from N230,000 to 412,000, was deemed unacceptable.

 

 

 

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