Lifestyle

Security Demands Unity, Abiodun Tells Nigerians

By Web News 238

By Oluwatoyin Adegoke

Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, has called on Nigerians to embrace the nation’s diversity as a powerful force for unity and strength, not a trigger for division.

Represented by the Deputy Governor, Mrs Noimot Salako-Oyedele, Governor Abiodun delivered the charge at a Special Jumat Service held at the Central Mosque, Kobiti, Abeokuta, to commemorate the 2026 Armed Forces and Remembrance Day.

The governor described Nigeria’s prevailing security situation as a solemn reminder that peace is preserved through sacrifice, vigilance, and national unity.

He urged citizens to promote tolerance and actively support lawful security efforts across the country.

Governor Abiodun also commended President Bola Tinubu for his sustained efforts to strengthen the Armed Forces, improve personnel welfare, and confront security challenges, stressing that the peace Nigerians enjoy today has come at a significant cost.

In his sermon, the Mufassir of Egbaland, Alhaji Abdulahi Odaranile, emphasized that the security of lives and property remains fundamental to national development.

He called for prayers for fallen heroes and continued support for their families.

Speaking on behalf of traditional rulers, the Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo, described security as a shared national responsibility, while Chief Abdulrasheed Raji offered prayers for the nation’s leaders and praised ongoing support for families of fallen security personnel.

Edited by Maxwell Oyekunle

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Culture

Committee Outlines Activities for Alake’s 20th Coronation Anniversary

By Web News 493

By Oluwatoyin Adegoke

The Alake and Paramount Ruler of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo, has credited the remarkable peace and steady development witnessed in Egbaland over the past two decades to the prevailing unity and cooperation among the people.

Speaking at a press conference ahead of activities marking his 20th Coronation Anniversary, Oba Gbadebo said the harmony and togetherness of the Egba people remained the basis for social, economic, and cultural advancement across the kingdom.

The Monarch noted that during his reign, Egbaland had experienced significant infrastructural growth, expansion of industries, improved road networks, and increased social awareness, adding that development efforts were deliberately extended beyond Abeokuta to other parts of the kingdom.

Earlier, the Chairman of the Organising Committee, Chief Oluyinka Kufile, had described the 20th Coronation Anniversary as the celebration of purposeful leadership, gratitude, and two decades of visionary service to the people of Egbaland and Nigeria.

Chief Kufile explained that the week-long activities would feature cultural displays, thanksgiving services, youth and women empowerment programmes, medical outreach and a civic reception.

Key events, according to him, would include a Jumat Service and scholarship presentations on 14th November, chieftaincy installations on the 15th, school visits and health outreaches, traditional homages, as well as a sensitization on menopause and health screening for 1,000 people, alongside free eye screening and distribution of glasses scheduled to take place on Monday, 17th November.

The Egba High Chief said the celebration’s climax would be a thanksgiving service on 19th November at the Cathedral Church of St. Peter, Ake Abeokuta, while a South West Junior Squash Tournament would round off the events on Saturday 22nd November, 2025.

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Culture

Egba Traditional Council Suspends Olu of Obafemi

By Web News 529

By Olusegun Folarin 

The Egba Traditional Council has suspended the Olu of Obafemi, Oba Taofeek Owolabi, for six months over allegations of land grabbing brought against him by a community association in Ogun State.

In a letter dated December 13, 2024, signed by the Alake of Egbaland and President of the Egba Traditional Council, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo, the council cited Oba Owolabi’s failure to honour invitations by both the Ogun State House of Assembly, OGHA, and the council’s Ethical Committee.

The council noted that after its unsuccessful attempts to mediate through its Ethical Committee, invoked Section 36 (1) and (2) of the Ogun State Obas and Chiefs’ Law of 2021 to justify the suspension.

It declared that Oba Owolabi’s actions constituted behaviour entirely unexpected of anyone who has any claim to being a traditional ruler.

The suspension, effective immediately, bars Oba Owolabi from attending government functions or presenting himself publicly as the Olu of Obafemi during the six months.

The suspended Oba had in October been arraigned before a Magistrate Court sitting in the Owode-Egba Area of the state for allegedly defrauding one Michael Adeyemi to the tune of 75 million naira and assaulting a police officer.

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Lifestyle

Dignitaries Eulogize Alake @ 80

By Web News 536

By Abimbola Bamgbose

The premises of st Peters Anglican church Ake, Abeokuta was adorned with royal colors and glitz as dignitaries from all works of life trooped into the church auditorium to grace the 80th birthday Thanksgiving service of the Alake of Egbagland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo.

Melodies from sonorous voices of the Ace Anglican choir set the tone for the service that was full of glamour and colour.

In his congratulatory remarks at the service, President Bola Tinubu described the Alake and paramount ruler of Egbaland as a symbol of unity who has continuously fostered a sense of belonging among his people.

President Tinubu said Oba Gbadebo’s support for arts, culture and education had enriched the lives of his subject and ensured the preservation of their heritage for generations to come.

The President who was represented by Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, noted that Alake’s reign has been marked by wisdom, compassion and unwavering dedication to his people, even as he appreciated Alake’s unique commitment to the wellbeing of his subjects and indeed the nation at large

In his personal remarks, the Governor of Ogun State, Prince Dapo Abiodun eulogized the monarch for his dedication to the preservation of the cultural heritage and traditions of Egbaland.

Governor Abiodun described the Alake and paramount ruler of Egbaland as a disciplined and dependable monarch, and commended his unique way of resolving conflicts in collaboration with other royal fathers in the State.

The eventful Thanksgiving service couldn’t have ended without the word of life from the holy bible taken from the book of Psalm 101, verse 2-8, by the Archbishop, Metropolitan and Primate of All Nigeria(2000-2010); The Most Reverend Peter Akinola who also urged the celebrant to always emulate the psalmist by being honest.

Most Reverend Akinola described the monarch as a child of God who showcase exemplary leadership qualities in Egbaland and Nigeria as a whole

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Agriculture

Agricultural sector can take care of Nigeria’s needs if properly harnessed – Expert

By Web News 1245

Key players in the agricultural sector have identified the need for more Nigerians, especially the youths to tap into the lucrative prospect of the sector’s value chain in their bid to boost wealth creation.

They made the submission as discussants at an Agro-allied exhibition, organized in Abeokuta by the Ogun State Ministry of Agriculture as part of activities to commemorate the 17th anniversary of Oba Aremu Gbadebo as the Alake and paramount ruler of Egbaland. 

An investor in the Cassava Value Chain, Mr Goke  Adeyemi while speaking on Agro-processing and Agro-Cultural space, said the available natural resources in the country were enough to grow sector all sectors of the economy and urged the youths to explore the values of cassava processing. 

Also, the Ogun State Secretary of the Poultry Association of Nigeria, Mr Oludare Kuforiji called on the government to invest more in agriculture to better the lot of Nigerians.

A representative of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Dr Yemisi Olukoya said the federal government through the bank had initiated the Agricultural Credit Guarantee Scheme among other interventions to enable farmers to access loans from commercial banks.

Dr Olukoya tasked the Ogun State government, private investors and other development partners to key into the various agricultural programmes of the federal government to enhance the nation’s food production capacity.

Addressing the people, the Alake of Egbaland, Oba Aremu Gbadebo called on the CBN to sustain the tempo of interventions in the agricultural sector and urged beneficiaries of government’s loans to pay back promptly in the interest of others. 

Ogun State Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr Adeola Odedina who took the dignitaries at the event on an inspection of the agricultural exhibition, said the event was part of efforts aimed at repositioning the sector. 

Oluwatoyin Adegoke

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News

2023: Tinubu Visits Awujale, Alake Over Presidential Ambition

By Web News 651

The National leader of All Progressives Congress (APC) Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu says he has commenced consultations with Nigerians and his international friends on his ambition to bevome president of Nigeria.

The former Lagos State governor disclosed this in Abeokuta after visiting the Alake of Egbaland, Oba Aremu Gbadebo to seek his royal blessings on his presidential ambition.

Asiwaju Tinubu, who had earlier paid same visit on the Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona had private meetings with the two monarchs.

The APC national leader while addressing the convergence of Egba traditional chiefs, said he informed President Muhammadu Buhari about his presidential ambition because of the passion to uphold mutual respect and not to create bad blood.

Alake of Egbaland while responding prayed for the APC national leader to achieve his desired goal of ruling Nigeria come year 2023.

Oba Gbadebo also expressed the optimism that Nigeria will witness more development under Asiwaju Tinubu’s Presidency.

Wale Oluokun

Transportation

Gov. Abiodun Pledges To Complete Ijoko-Alagbole-Akute Road

By Web News 823

Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, has expressed his readiness to complete the 32-kilometre Ijoko-Alagbole-Akute Road to alleviate the sufferings of the motorists passing through the area.

Governor Abiodun who stated this at a virtual town hall meeting on the 2022-2024 Medium Term Expenditure Framework and 2022 Budget for Ogun Central Senatorial District, said the road was crucial to the socio-economic well-being of the people in the axis.

While pointing out that the Future City Project spearheaded by the United Kingdom Foreign Office was still on course, Governor Abiodun emphasized that the project would promote overall development in Abeokuta, the state capital.

Governor Abiodun also said his administration would partner private investors for the completion of the 250-bed hospital in Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, adding that world-class equipment had been supplied to the hospital.

In his contribution, the Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo, who commended the state government for promoting Adire fabrics, urged the government to take action on Chinese Adire currently flooding the local markets in Nigeria.

In a remark, the Speaker of the Ogun State House of Assembly, Mr. Olakunle Oluomo gave the assurance that accelerated attention would be given to the budget when presented to the Assembly.

Bolanle Adesida

Religion

We need all to contribute towards building a prosperous Nigeria – Gov. Abiodun

By Web News 572

Ogun State Government has called for the contribution of all Nigerians towards building a virile and prosperous nation.

Governor Dapo Abiodun made the call in Abeokuta during a special Jumat Service to commemorate Nigeria’s 61st Independence Anniversary. 

The commemorative Jumat service for Nigeria’s 61st Independence Anniversary which was held at the Central Mosque, Kobiti, Abeokuta, was part of activities lined up by the state government to celebrate the national day.

In a message to the service, Governor Dapo Abiodun noted that the task of building a united and indivisible Nigeria required the concerted efforts of all citizens, regardless of the people’s tribe, ethnicity or religion.

Governor Abiodun who was represented by his Chief of staff, Alhaji Salis Shuaibu said it was time for Nigerians to change the narrative of negative comments but to be optimistic that the country would get better.

Governor Abiodun also used the occasion to solicit the support of residents of the state in the efforts to deliver more democratic dividends to the people.

In a remark, the Alake and Paramount Ruler of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo, encouraged Nigerians to continue to pray for the unity and progress of the country.

Earlier in a sermon entitled “Work and Pray”, the Mofasir Of Egbaland, Imam Taofeek Amolegbe had emphasized the need for government at all levels to intensify efforts towards addressing the nation’s security challenges.

The Jumat service witnessed by leaders of various security agencies, traditional rulers and top government officials, also featured special prayers for unity and peace in the country and Ogun State in particular.

Olusegun Folarin