At Zenith Bank’s 35th anniversary gala, Vice-President Kashim Shettima praised founder Jim Ovia’s visionary leadership and CEO Dame Adaora Umeoji’s barrier-breaking rise, celebrating the bank as Nigeria’s benchmark of corporate excellence
“A Culture Where Innovation Is Instinct, Integrity Non-Negotiable” – Shettima Hails Zenith Bank at 35
Vice-President Kashim Shettima has lauded Zenith Bank as a true benchmark of corporate excellence in Nigeria, crediting its 35 years of remarkable growth to the visionary foresight of founder Jim Ovia and the transformative leadership of its first female Group Managing Director/CEO, Dame Adaora Umeoji.
Speaking at the bank’s 35th anniversary gala in Lagos on August 15, 2025, Shettima described Ovia as “the master of foresight, the architect of dreams, the conjurer of possibilities, the alchemist who turns vision into gold.” He recalled how Ovia embedded innovation into Zenith’s DNA long before technology became the driving force of global banking.
“Where others see risks, he invents solutions; where they feel lost, he provides a compass,” the Vice-President said, attributing Zenith’s dominance—including 16 consecutive years as Nigeria’s largest bank by Tier-One capital—to Ovia’s unwavering discipline and ingenuity.
Highlighting Zenith’s long list of accolades, Shettima noted the bank’s fifth recognition as Best Bank in Nigeria by Global Finance in 2025, its victory at the Euromoney Awards for Excellence 2025, and its double win as Most Sustainable Bank, Nigeria by International Banker in 2023 and 2024. It was also crowned Bank of the Year (Nigeria) at The Banker’s Awards in 2024, alongside multiple recognitions for corporate governance and commercial banking.
As a proud Zenith alumnus, Shettima underscored that the institution’s greatest strength remains its people, shaped by Ovia’s mentorship culture that has produced leaders within and beyond the bank’s boardroom.
Turning to current CEO Umeoji, Shettima hailed her as “the embodiment of continuity and innovation”—a leader who has “shattered a glass ceiling and replaced it with a skylight through which others can glimpse the possibilities above them.” Since assuming office in mid-2024, Umeoji has steered Zenith to record-breaking performance while championing empathy and inclusion as central to her leadership. Read More
He further credited Ovia’s guiding philosophy—that “no decision should be made in any place where women are absent”—as the foundation of Zenith’s inclusive culture and Umeoji’s historic rise.
Concluding with a stirring tribute, Shettima declared: “As we celebrate Zenith at 35, we are honouring a culture where innovation is instinct, integrity is non-negotiable, and service to humanity stands as tall as service to shareholders. May the next 35 years see you continue breaking barriers and setting standards—proving that in Nigeria, greatness is not an exception; it is an expectation.” Read More
-An official response to Seyi Bakare, the legally illiterate media aide
By Dr. Ope Banwo
Ordinarily, I would have ignored your bile-filled tirade in response to my article about your boss, Governor Dapo Abiodun, over his illegal and vindictive attempts to demolish Senator Gbenga Daniel’s properties without due process. Frankly, I had never heard of you before, and your poorly written rejoinder struck me as a waste of my time and intellectual energy.
However, your personal attacks, coupled with your deliberate misrepresentation of my person, my credentials, and everything I stand for, finally convinced me—after much persuasion from my team—that you deserved a one-time, unfiltered response. Not for your sake, but because the internet never forgets, and silence can sometimes be mistaken for guilt or ignorance.
Besides, even the Scripture reminds us in Proverbs: “Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own eyes.”
So here is my response to your sponsored piece published on https://justnews. ng/gbenga-daniel-defending-the-indefensible- by-seyi-bakare/?amp= just in case the readers of my article are what a communications neophyte like you masquerading as a Media Aide to a sitting governor said to me to provoke this so they can judge for themselves if you deserved this personal smack down (see, unlike your power drunk boss, I like to give fair hearing to all]
When I first saw the poorly written, condescending, and utterly confused piece titled “Gbenga Daniel: Defending the Indefensible” by one Seyi Bakare, I wasn’t upset. I was only embarrassed for him. I was also not surprised because Gov Dapo Abiodun, like every insecure dictator wannabe, has a reputation for surrounding himself with incompetent wannabes who are ready to jump even before the ‘J’ is out of his mouth in their ridiculous attempts to satisfy everyone of his unfortunate whims and caprices.
The moment I realized Dapo Abiodun’s barely educated media aide, Seyi Bakare, was trying to lecture me — a trained and practicing attorney on two continents — on legal doctrine, I knew I was dealing with a man who doesn’t know what he doesn’t know. But when I discovered he’s not just a random political attack dog, but a Media Aide to Governor Dapo Abiodun, it all made sense. The frothing, the bile, the misplaced aggression… classic symptoms of a man paid to bark, not to reason.
Seyi Bakare: An Uneducated Media Aide Who Forgot the Ethics of His Job
It’s no surprise that Mr. Bakare, in his hyper-defensive rant, abandoned both facts and decorum, since his job description seems to have mutated from “media aide” to “professional propaganda peddler.”
As someone who’s been around long enough to understand the unwritten rules of political communication, I am disappointed — though not shocked — that a supposed spokesperson for the Governor would descend to such disgraceful depths of ignorance and intellectual recklessness.
Even as a media aide, Bakare is still bound by the ethics of truth, professionalism, and logic — especially when engaging legal matters. But instead, he chose to pick a public fight on legal terrain with someone who actually understands the subject.
That’s like a man with a slingshot picking a fight with a trained sniper.
Here’s my free advice, Bakare: the next time you feel the urge to discuss burden of proof, presumption of regularity, or constitutional due process, do your homework first — or better yet, pick a fight with your mates, not with a seasoned, dual-qualified lawyer. Otherwise, you risk being publicly disrobed as you were in this embarrassing attempt to look smart.
No, Mr. Bakare — The Burden of Proof Is Not on the Accused. Your legal logic is so dangerously flawed that it should come with a public health warning.
You quoted Section 131 of the Evidence Act and proudly cited Latin like a law student trying to impress during moot court, except you got the application of the principle completely backward. Let me educate you — slowly, so it sticks, since you are obviously very slow in the uptake:
The Ogun State Government made an accusation: That Senator Gbenga Daniel built illegally.
The State marked his property for demolition: That is not a “neutral” act; it is a punitive government action.
Therefore, the burden of proof lies on the accuser — i.e., the State — to show why it is justified in demolishing those properties.
You don’t mark someone’s home for destruction and then start asking for papers afterward. That’s called administrative recklessness, not governance. Due process demands you inspect, serve notice, offer opportunity to be heard, and then act based on verified findings.
You clearly confused civil burden of proof with the government burden of justification under public administrative law. That’s like confusing paracetamol with plutonium. Both may sound important, but only one won’t kill you when misused.
*3. Your Misuse of the Portable Analogy Is Laughable
In your desperate attempt to sound insightful, you compared a sitting Senator and former Governor to… Portable, the Zazu crooner? What a joke by a paid puppet journalist who cannot even research basic things before rushing to do the bidding of his out-of-control boss.
Portable is a private citizen whose permit issue was with new construction in 2023. OGD is a two-term Governor whose buildings were erected during his lawful tenure, with civil servants and agencies that operated under his own administration’s documented approvals. If you knew anything about the Presumption of Regularity (which courts apply to official acts of public officers), you’d know that the buildings must be presumed legal until the State proves otherwise.
That is established Nigerian administrative law, not hero worship.
But again, your analogy, Mr. Seyi Bakare, on behalf of your equally inept governor — like your article — crumbled under the weight of your ignorance.
*4. Retroactive Application of Law? You’re Helping My Case
You confidently quoted Section 72(3) of the Ogun State Physical Planning Law, which allows enforcement actions even for structures erected before the law came into effect.
Congratulations. You just made my case.
Yes, the government can serve notices under that provision. But it must still follow due process:
Proper inspection,
Opportunity to regularize,
Transparent and fair application across the board.
What the Governor did was target one man — OGD — while ignoring similar properties in the same neighborhood, many of which are owned by political cronies. That’s not enforcement, that’s political persecution.
And your defense of this selective targeting only proves the point I made in my original article: this is a vendetta and misuse of government power to destabilize a perceived political opponent, not governance.
*5. When You Can’t Argue Law, You Attack Credentials
Your personal jabs at my titles and qualifications were a dead giveaway. When a man starts attacking another man’s résumé instead of his arguments, you know he’s already lost the debate.
You say I’m “pompously” loading myself with titles? Funny — all I did was state my qualifications, which are facts, not embellishments:
Attorney admitted to the New York Bar.
Barrister-at-law in Nigeria.
Legal consultant with over 38 years of transnational experience in both public law and private rights. And that’s just stating a very small fraction of my resume, in case you didn’t even know.
SO, if you find those titles “offensive,” that’s not my problem. That’s your inferiority complex in full display. Let me ask you: How much education or qualifications did YOU GET before your governor probably plucked you from the streets, without any formal interview, to come and become his ‘Media boy-boy’ disguised as Media Aide? Reel them out and let’s see it!
*6. This Is Not About OGD. It’s About the Rule of Law
Let’s be clear: This is not about Gbenga Daniel being a saint. It’s about the weaponization of state power.
The issue here is process, not personalities. If the State wants to enforce laws, it must do so transparently, fairly, and legally. Not by bullying political opponents under the guise of planning laws.
You may not understand that, Seyi. But I do. And I will always speak up — not because I’m a fan of any individual, but because I fear what happens when government power is turned into a tool for vengeance.
My Final Word As the Mayor of Fadeyi:
Seyi Bakare, stay in your lane. You’re a media aide. Defend your boss by spinning facts, not by pretending to understand laws you clearly haven’t read.
Don’t bring a slingshot to a legal shootout. Next time you feel the urge to attack a constitutional lawyer on legal grounds, do yourself a favor: Google first. Or better yet — stay silent and be thought wise.
Otherwise, you’ll keep exposing yourself as a legally clueless attack dog barking at legal giants from the foot of the mountain of truth.
Dr. Ope Banwo, Attorney and founder of Naija Lives Matter, wrote from the USA
Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, congratulates Oba Rashidi Ladoja on becoming the 44th Olubadan of Ibadanland, hailing his blend of tradition, political experience, and visionary leadership
Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, has congratulated His Imperial Majesty, Oba Senator Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja, on his historic ascension as the 44th Olubadan of Ibadanland, describing the event as a union of deep tradition, political experience, and visionary leadership.
In a statement released on Friday, Adelabu, who is also the Agbaakin Parakoyi of Ibadanland, said the coronation of Oba Ladoja was both “a divine ordainment and the glorious culmination of a destiny long foreseen by the people of Ibadan.”
He praised the Ibadan chieftaincy system for its resilience and transparency, adding that it had once again produced “a man of impeccable pedigree, unwavering principle, and proven leadership.”
“The story of Oba Rashidi Ladoja is one that is intricately woven into the modern fabric of Ibadan and Oyo State. He is not just a monarch; he is a former Governor, a distinguished Senator, a titan of industry, a philanthropist, and above all, a proud and passionate son of the soil whose love for Ibadan is unmatched,” Adelabu said.
Highlighting the monarch’s vast political and administrative background, Adelabu said Ladoja’s reign promised unity, progress, and stability.
“Having served as the Governor of Oyo State, he possesses an intimate understanding of governance, public policy, and developmental economics. Combined with his astute business acumen and deep-rooted connection to Ibadan traditions, this creates a formidable combination that promises a reign of progress, unity, and stability,” the Minister added.
He further emphasized the critical role of traditional rulers in modern governance, stressing that Oba Ladoja’s leadership would help strengthen collaboration between the federal government and grassroots communities, particularly in the power sector.
“As the Minister of Power, I see the ascension of a leader of Kabiyesi’s stature as a tremendous opportunity for synergy. Together, we can illuminate every home and empower every business in our beloved city,” he said.
Adelabu also paid tribute to the immediate past Olubadan, Oba Owolabi Olakulehin, acknowledging his brief but impactful reign. He prayed for his soul’s repose while calling for unity under the new monarch.
In his closing remarks, Adelabu offered prayers and pledged loyalty to Oba Ladoja:
“On behalf of myself, family and the great people of Ibadanland both at home and in the diaspora, I extend our most sincere and hearty congratulations to His Imperial Majesty, Oba Senator Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja, the 44th Olubadan of Ibadanland. We pray that Almighty Allah grants Kabiyesi a long, peaceful, and prosperous reign.” Read More
Dangote Cement Re-trains Hundreds of Truck Drivers to Boost operational efficiency
…expresses commitment to absolute safer roads policy
Management of Dangote Cement Plc (DCP) has expressed its irrevocable commitment to training and constant retraining of its truck drivers to promote operational efficiency and safe driving across Nigeria.
Speaking during its 2025 Annual Drivers’ Retreat themed, Dangote Cement’s Group Managing Director, Arvind Pathak emphasised that as a leading cement manufacturer with thousands of trucks in its fleet, safety on the road remains the company’s core mandate. He said the essence of the yearly training is to remind the drivers of the core values of the brand and ensure that they are all committed to the Absolute Safer Road Policy of the Group.
The training exercise for the drivers in DCP Ibese Plant took place in Ilaro area of Ogun State, with over 900 drivers in attendance. Another extensive re-training exercise for more drivers has been scheduled to take place in Obajana, Kogi State next week.
The Dangote Cement boss reaffirmed the Company’s commitment to road safety, transparency, appropriate ethical conduct, and provision of detailed clarity on the comprehensive systems and procedures to mitigate against any incident along roads across the country.
Mr. Pathak said Dangote was a responsible organisation that consistently cooperates with the Nigeria Police and other relevant authorities in the investigation of reported incidents with support of all lawful processes, aimed at establishing the facts and routinely implement recommendations that strengthen public safety.
He explained that that every driver employed by Dangote Cement is required to undergo an extensive and rigorously structured recruitment process that includes Valid Driver’s license class G, background verification of both the driver and their guarantors, comprehensive medical evaluation, including vision screening (eye test), blood pressure checks, body mass index (BMI), random blood sugar (RBS) test as well as drug and alcohol testing.
“Other recruitment screening covers usage within a three-month detection window, ensuring identifying any history of substance use before employment, completion of a two-week intensive training programme, which consists of twelve safety modules, practical driving assessments, and written examinations”, the Cement GMD stated.
According to him, “In the past two months alone, over 2,000 prospective drivers have successfully completed this process. Only those who meet all required standards were engaged and certified to operate any Dangote Group vehicles. Our commitment to safety extends beyond recruitment. All drivers undergo mandatory pre-trip medical assessments, conducted by licensed nurses and doctors.
“These include regular checks on blood pressure, vision, and overall fitness, ensuring drivers are physically and mentally fit to operate safely. To enforce compliance with our zero-tolerance policy on substance use, random drug tests are conducted routinely across our operations.”
Mr. Pathak stated that Dangote Cement would continue to collaborate with the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and other regulatory agencies to ensure that all training, compliance, and operational processes are not only standardised but also continuously improved, adding that these authorities are also actively involved in monitoring and evaluation of their safety practices.
He maintained that Dangote Cement remains fully committed to strengthening driver onboarding and training, enforcing strict safety and behavioural standards, applying punitive measures to curb errant driving, collaborating with government agencies, regulators, and communities to improve road safety, ensuring transparency, accountability, and compassion in everything they do.
Also addressing the assembled drivers, the Group Chief, Health Safety Social and Environment Officer & Sustainability function, Dangote Industries Limited (DIL), Dr. James Adenuga stressed the importance of safety protocols and noted that the process was not just to train the drivers on the consequences but to continuously remind them of essentials of safety guides.
Adenuga further stated that the regular training was to educate them in the language they understand and teach them how the training matters to them. He gave insights on the measures put in place to ensure the right individuals are recruited as drivers, saying some of the qualifications for recruiting the drivers included minimum of secondary school certificate, ability to speak English language with writing and reading skills, free of substance abuse, 2-5 years driving experience, possession of Class-G drivers’ license, guarantors and rigorous training among other measures.
“We also partner Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) to train and prepare them for professional driving so as to equip and give them the basics and fundamentals to prevent them for reckless driving. We equally have a process to give recognition and award to those that profess conduct and good behaved drivers among their peers,” he added.
Taking the drivers through some requirements for safe driving, a Road Safety Expert, Mr. Oje Ebhota explained that the choice of the topic for his paper centred on safety driving habits for accident-free journeys.
Mr. Ebhota listed acts such as aggressiveness, impatient driving, use of phone while driving, taking alcoholic drink and disobedience to traffic signs, as negatives against the tenet of safe driving.
He advised the assembled drivers to be conscious of dangerous overtaking and to drive within the driving limit of 60km per hour so that they do not veer off the road and cause accidents that could affect negatively other road users.
According to him, “let me tell you all, drivers are the ambassadors of Dangote Group. Aside being ambassadors, you are also stakeholders that should be careful and consider other road users as important while on the road.” Read More
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has declared Abdullahi Bashir Haske, son-in-law of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, wanted over alleged criminal conspiracy and money laundering.
In a statement released by EFCC spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, the anti-graft agency urged Nigerians to provide useful information that could aid in Haske’s arrest.
“The public is hereby notified that Abdullahi Bashir Haske, whose photograph appears above, is wanted by the EFCC in an alleged case of criminal conspiracy and money laundering,” the notice read.
Haske, 38, was last known to reside at No. 6 Mosley Road, Ikoyi, and 952/953 Idejo Street, Victoria Island, Lagos State. The EFCC called on the public to report any information about his whereabouts to its offices nationwide, including Abuja, Lagos, Port Harcourt, Kano, Maiduguri, and other state commands, or through its official hotlines and email.
Investigation Focus
Haske, a businessman with interests in the oil and aviation sectors, is reportedly under investigation for suspicious financial dealings linked to private jet operations and contracts involving the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL).
Investigators allege that large sums were moved through shell companies, aviation service providers, and offshore accounts. Evidence also suggests the use of private aircraft and bulk cash transfers as possible channels for laundering illicit proceeds.
Financial trails are believed to connect to contracts facilitated through NNPC EnServe Ltd., a subsidiary under NNPCL’s Upstream Directorate.
Haske’s company, AA & R Investment Group, is a key player in Nigeria’s energy sector, with reported stakes in OML 148, an onshore oil block in the Niger Delta. His wide network of political and business connections has drawn heightened scrutiny, particularly his close ties to NNPCL Group CEO, Bashir Bayo Ojulari.
EFCC Appeal
The commission stressed that public cooperation is critical in apprehending Haske. Nigerians with credible information are urged to approach any EFCC office nationwide. Read More
Ogun Customs seizes Rolls-Royce and other cars worth ₦905m, plus contraband valued at ₦1.4bn, as revenue surges 27% in July 2025
Nigeria Customs
Customs Seizes ₦905 million Rolls-Royce, Exotic Cars, and Contraband Worth ₦1.4bn in Ogun
The Nigeria Customs Service, Ogun 1 Area Command, has intercepted luxury vehicles and contraband goods valued at over ₦1.4 billion, including a 2021 Rolls-Royce Ghost with a duty paid value of ₦905 million.
Speaking at the command’s headquarters in Idiroko, Comptroller Godwin Otunla said the seizures reflected the command’s unwavering determination to curb smuggling and tackle the activities of economic saboteurs.
Among the impounded vehicles were a 2014 Mercedes-Benz 4Matic, valued at ₦21,423,400, and a 2018 Honda Accord, worth ₦32.2 million.
Other contraband confiscated during the period under review included 4,424 bags of foreign parboiled rice (equivalent to more than seven truckloads), 1,936 parcels of cannabis sativa, and 105 used tyres. In total, the duty paid value of all seizures stood at ₦1,401,531,923.95.
The customs boss also revealed a significant rise in revenue collection. “In addition to these anti-smuggling feats, the Command also in July 2025 generated a total revenue of ₦45,054,191.00, which is higher than the ₦35,327,852.00 recorded in July 2024, representing a commendable increase of 27.47%,” Otunla said.
He credited the growth to enhanced compliance, improved border monitoring, and strengthened stakeholder engagement.
In line with inter-agency collaboration, the seized drugs were handed over to the Commander of the NDLEA Idiroko Special Command, Ekundayo Williams, for further investigation and action.
Otunla reiterated that the war against smuggling required collective effort, warning perpetrators that the command would remain relentless. “We remain vigilant, resolute, and unyielding. No matter the sophistication of your tricks, our officers will continue to thwart your antics, and we shall bring the full weight of the law against you,” he warned.
He commended his operatives for their dedication and praised the support of security agencies and patriotic border community members who provided credible intelligence to aid operations. Read More
Many who followed their political journey, alongside Senator Amosun will regard the trio as friends who took turns to govern Ogun State
l-r: Gbenga Daniel, Dapo Abiodun and Ibikunle Amosun
OGD vs DA: The Real Story Untold
In the news circle across Nigeria for almost a month now has been the constant animosity between Governor Dapo Abiodun and former governor and Senator Gbenga Daniel. Many who followed their political journey, alongside Senator Amosun will regard the trio as friends who took turns to govern Ogun State.
But what many consider friendship is merely a marriage of convenience and a relationship built on quicksand. While Daniel and Amosun seem to have mended fences after years of attacks and intimidation, that of Abiodun and Daniel is deeply rooted in more damning hatred than what the public knows.
Background:
In the early 90s after the emergence of General Sani Abacha, the late general started courting relationship with some young men across the country. These guys were nicknamed the Abacha Boys. Some of them include Ali Modu Sheriff of Borno, Abubakar Bagudu of Kebbi State, James Ibori of Delta State, of course Major Hamza al-Mustapha of the Kudirat Abiola fiasco and our own Dapo Abiodun who years beforehand was indicted for credit card fraud in Miami-Dade County in Florida, United States and was forced to relocate to Nigeria.
These Abacha boys were considered as the brains behind the clampdown on NADECO and as well as the laundering of billions of dollars stolen under the Abacha regime.
When Nigeria returned to democracy following the death of Abacha, Dapo Abiodun already gained prominence in the Abuja social circle due to his membership of the Abacha Boys club. Mind you, every member of the Abacha Boys ended up as governor of their respective States later in life but I digress.
During the first term of Obasanjo presidency in 1999, Dapo Abiodun had built a strong relationship in the north due to the influence of his late principal and when the North decided to support Obasanjo against Falae in 1999, the likes of Dapo automatically offered to help.
Ogun 2003 election
Otunba Gbenga Daniel with Sen. Ibikunle Amosun during their victory parade after winning the 2003 governorship election with the PDP platform 2003
After emerging as President, Olusegun Obasanjo began the move to solidify his base in Southwest as he was facing opposition from the North which felt he was not supposed to seek re-election based on their understanding. To achieve this solidification move, Obasanjo began showing interest in who would become the governor of Ogun State and being from Ogun State and the only ‘friend’ around him who belonged to the PDP, Chief Obasanjo choose Dapo Abiodun as his candidate.
For the 2003 governorship election then, the aspirants were Otunba Gbenga Daniel and Colonel Shoda from Sagamu, Prince Yemi Adedulu from Ilisan, Dr. Doyin Okupe from Iperu and Dapo Abiodun also from Iperu. While Chief Obasanjo was supporting Dapo Abiodun, Chief Okupe enjoyed the support of PDP party chieftains led by late Chief Oshinrinde. Then Minister of State for Finance, Senator Jubril Martins Kuye stood with Gbenga Daniel.
But the relationship between Dapo Abiodun and President Obasanjo suddenly turned sour. Many found the turn of events strange but it was business mogul, Chief Emeka Offor, who offered the clarification.
It happened that Chief Offor was bidding for one of the Nigerian oil well through his company Chrome Group and since Dapo Abiodun was considered a close ally of the president, he reached out to him. Dapo Abiodun told Chief Offor that president Obasanjo demanded a bribe of three million dollars ($3m) to enable Chrome get the oil bloc allocation. Unknown to Chief Offor, that demand was purely manufactured by Dapo and while he took the money, he absconded with it. When president Obasanjo learnt of this, he cut ties with Dapo.
But Dapo was still confident of victory. Though he was the youngest amongst the contestants, he believed he had a wider reach within the presidency to pick up the ticket and should he succeed Obasanjo would have no choice but to support him.
What Dapo didn’t envisage was the wild card Obasanjo played up at the end of the day.
Enters OGD
Otunba Gbenga Daniel as Ogun former Governror
Far away in Lagos was a young engineer who was a member of the Alliance for Democracy (AD), a financier of NADECO and one of the pillars of support for the new governor of Lagos Senator Tinubu. His name was Gbenga Daniel. As of 2002, Daniel must have only heard of Dapo Abiodun due to the latter’s association with Abacha. They were neither friends nor acquaintances. Dapo was on the side of Abacha while Daniel was busy supporting NADECO, finding ways to ferry some of its members who were being hunted by the military junta through Benin Republic en route United States.
Incidentally for Obasanjo, his first encounter with Daniel was in Lagos in 1998 when he came to seek for support from successful Yoruba businessmen and intellectuals. Amongst them were Wale Edun, Chief Supo Shonibare, Gbenga Daniel and few others I can’t remember for now. The stormy session, was however , not pleasant for the to-be president as majority of the members were pro-NADECO and felt if anyone should be president as at then, it shouldn’t be Obasanjo.
Despite the turn of the meeting Obasanjo took a liking to Daniel, not just because of his open-minded posture during that encounter, but his pan-Yorubanism. According to Daniel, the two top candidates were Yorubas and anyone who wins will still be of benefit to the region.
l-r: Dapo Abiodun with Gbenga Daniel
So when Obasanjo started shopping for a replacement for Dapo, he found the alternative in Daniel. This singular move ended up creating decades of hatred, backbiting and jealousy.
At the primaries in 2002, Dapo teamed up with Doyin Okupe and Colonel Shoda, having failed to get Daniel dropped from the primaries the week before.
What happened was that Dapo allegedly called a meeting of party chairmen across the local governments and allegedly gave them an attendance fee of N5,000 (Huge money then), but with the condition that they sign for the money in an attendance register. They all obliged.
Unfortunately for them, they woke up the next morning only to read in the papers that they had suspended Daniel and their signatures attached. They felt shocked and betrayed.
At the primaries, Dapo made a pact with Okupe and Shoda, since what was needed to win the primary was a total score of 51% by the aspirant, and since no one can get the 51% as the contestants were four, the voting is likely to enter into a run off. At the second round, others would rally round him, so he can defeat Daniel. Unfortunately for him, Daniel won the primary at the first ballot with more than the 51% mark required.
But Dapo’s unpopularity amongst the people of Remo and Ijebu was his own doing. At every interval he contests for public office and loses, he sends militias against people he purportedly gave money, communities he donated transformers to and individuals he gave empowerment to, retrieving his gifts and money with force. These acts reoccurred at every run for his Senate.
After becoming governor, Daniel appointed Dapo Abiodun as the Chairman, ‘Ogun State Oil & Gas Committee’ in 2009, a state-owned petroleum company with filling stations across the state and a Licence to lift oil in 2006. Dapo himself confirmed this appointment in his inauguration brochure in 2019. It is alleged that it was from this venture that Dapo Abiodun built his Heyden Oil and Gas.
l-r- Dapo Abiodun and Ibikunle Amosun
When Amosun became governor in 2011, Dapo found a new ally in Amosun. He told Amosun that for him to have a firm grip of the state, Daniel must not be allowed to have a free reign. As Amosun would later confess, the attempt to demolish Daniel’s father’s church in Sagamu, the Asoludero residence as well as the locking of the Conference Hotel in Abeokuta were all engineered and advised by his then friend Dapo Abiodun. He disclosed that it was Abiodun that also drove Dangote out of Ogun State as the Chairman of Olokola Free Trade Zone when he decided to renegotiate the terms of contract signed between the State and Dangote and the Daniel administration.
Taking from the Maradona skill of Abacha, Abiodun ran to Daniel in 2019 to support his governorship ambition leveraging on the soiled relationship between Daniel and Amosun which he engineered. But while Daniel simply felt he was helping a friend, Dapo had other plans.
The first taste of what Dapo had in plan was felt by Daniel when he requested Dapo to reinstate the C of O to his properties revoked by Amosun (remember it was Dapo’s idea in the first place) which the court has upturned, Dapo refused. Secondly, he met with him to compensate some of his political supporters who worked for him during the election, Dapo refused. So Daniel kept to himself.
Trouble started in 2022 when Daniel decided it was time for him to give the Senate seat a shot. This was the first time he was contesting for public office after 11 years of being out of power. He approached Dapo for support in this bid. Not only did Dapo refused, he gave a standing instruction to the leadership of the party in the state not to support him. Civil and public servants who attended Daniel’s rallies were issued queries and sacked.
Unfortunately for Dapo, the national leadership of the party decided to takeover the conduct of the primaries. At the Itoro Hall in Ijebu Ode where the primary was being held, Dapo was given a security report. After delegates from five local governments already voted, he got intelligence that Daniel was coasting to victory. To save face, he ran to the late Awujale to call for a peace meeting. It was at this peace meeting he conceded the ticket to Daniel who would have naturally won should the voting be allowed to go on.
Otunba Gbenga Daniel raised Dapo Abidoun’s hand in 2019 at OGD’s Asoludero Court to support and work for his victory at the polls to emerge as the governor of Ogun State
The truth of the matter is that Dapo’s political career has always been in Abuja. The network and connections he built all his life has been in Abuja and he has a long dream of retiring there. The Senate offers this opportunity. This is why he has always contested and struggled to be in the Senate.
He understands that Daniel’s continuous influence in his Senatorial district is a threat to his long held dream. He may have been caught unawares in 2002, this time, he won’t give anything to chances. Daniel must either throw in the throwel and surrender to his leadership or be ready to face the consequences.
The demolition of his wife’s building in Ijebu Ode, the threat to demolish his hotels and residence which was stopped after calls from the presidency, the Facebook suspension from APC as well as the planned recall process from the Senate are part of the scheme to cut Daniel to size.
If he failed in 2002, Dapo, with the state security apparatus at his beck and call, has no plan to fail in 2025. Daniel must fall no matter what!
Governor Abiodun has his job well cut out for him. The strategy is simple; frustrate OGD out of the APC with all the threats of demolition and purported suspension and then blackmail him with the Villa that he is not a reliable political ally to the President. Part of the plot is also to sponsor thugs against OGD’s business interests; to cripple him economically and to also create the impression that people are angry with the Senator. All these are the sinister Marshal plan already crafted to unfold in the next few days and as the battle for the Senate ticket gathers steam.
Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Akeem Owoade, denies being in a supremacy tussle with the Ooni of Ife, stressing his exclusive authority over Yoruba-wide titles and reaffirming his role as custodian of tradition and culture
Alaafin Owoade Denies Supremacy Battle with Ooni, Reaffirms Authority Over Yoruba Titles
The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Akeem Owoade, has dismissed reports suggesting he is locked in a supremacy battle with the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi, or any other Yoruba monarch.
The clarification came in a statement released on Thursday by his Director of Media and Publicity, Bode Durojaiye, in Ibadan, Oyo State.
Recent media reports had hinted at a fresh rift after Oba Owoade faulted the Ooni’s decision to confer the title of Okanlomo of Yorubaland on businessman Dotun Sanusi, popularly known as Ilaji, during the unveiling of the indigenous social media platform 2geda at Ilaji Hotel, Ibadan. The Alaafin reportedly gave the Ooni a 48-hour ultimatum to revoke the chieftaincy title, describing the move as an “affront” to his authority.
Oba Owoade insisted that the exclusive right to confer titles covering the entirety of Yorubaland rests with the Alaafin alone. He accused the Ooni of overstepping his traditional boundaries and ignoring a Supreme Court judgment which, according to him, affirms that prerogative.
“The conferment of chieftaincy titles that concern Yorubaland is the exclusive preserve of the Alaafin,” the statement read. “The Ooni’s action is unlawful, derogatory, and amounts to going against the authority of the Supreme Court.”
However, in Thursday’s clarification, the Alaafin emphasized that he has no interest in engaging in a supremacy contest with any monarch.
Quoting the ruler, Durojaiye said: “Why Alaafin does not need to get into any battle for supremacy with any Oba, either in Yorubaland or anywhere in the universe? These immortal words of Alexander Graham Bell – The most successful men in the end are those whose success is the result of steady accretion – sum up the life voyage of Owoade, an indomitable monarch with an unequalled passion for the great good of all.”
The statement described Oba Owoade as a monarch “who combines humility with royalty to meet modern-day demands,” stressing that he would never compromise tradition, culture, or the development of his people “for a pot of porridge.”
It further noted that the Alaafin remains “a veritable custodian of Yoruba culture and tradition,” spiritually empowered through his induction into the mysteries of Yoruba deities such as Ifa and Sango.
“At the hallowed ground of the Yoruba ancient shrine, Owoade made a covenant with illustrious Yoruba ancestors that he would defend, protect, and add glamour to the Yoruba norms and tradition,” the statement added.
Recalling Oyo’s historical preeminence, the palace highlighted the empire’s rise to power through wealth and military might, noting that the British colonial administration once recognised the Alaafin as the “Superior Head of the Yoruba Nation” during treaty signings.
On governance, the Alaafin reaffirmed his commitment to the sanctity of his throne and the welfare of his people. “The basic concept of government was monarchy with a rigid adherence to the monolithic Oduduwa dynasty and of the paternal line,” the statement concluded. Read More
Nigeria’s Lithium Revolution And The End Of Economic Surrender | By Olabode Opeseitan
By Olabode Opeseitan
For decades, Nigeria stood at the edge of promise—rich in minerals, rich in minds, yet poor in outcomes. The story was painfully familiar: foreign firms arrived with fanfare, extracted our birthright, and left behind dust, debt, and disillusionment. Communities watched trucks roll out with wealth they would never touch. Governments signed deals that mortgaged tomorrow for pennies. And the people—resilient, brilliant, hopeful—were told to wait.
But something is shifting. Quietly. Purposefully.
In the ochre hills of Nasarawa, machines now hum with intent—not to extract and export, but to refine and retain. Nigeria’s first lithium processing plant, commissioned in 2024, is not just a factory—it is a statement. It says: We will no longer sell our future raw. It says: We will build here, employ here, prosper here.
This is not a lone effort. It is a coordinated uprising of vision. Under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s reformist leadership, Nigeria has declared an end to the era of economic surrender. His administration has banned the export of unprocessed lithium, demanded value addition, and insisted that every investor must leave behind more than profit—they must leave behind progress.
And they are listening.
By mid-2025, six lithium factories—some operational, others nearing completion—dot the Nigerian landscape. From Avatar New Energy’s 1-million-ton-per-year plant in Nasarawa to Ming Xin’s 1,500-ton-per-day facility in Kaduna, the numbers are staggering. Jiuling Lithium Mining and Canmax Technologies are investing hundreds of millions more, with new plants rising near Abuja and along the Kaduna-Niger border. ReElement Technologies and Jupiter Lithium have joined the charge, bringing UK and US capital into the fold.
Together, these factories will form the foundation of a new industrial base. But the true measure of this revolution is not in tonnage, but in value. And the numbers are staggering in their own right.
Based on direct projections from the landmark $1.3 billion investment led by the African Finance Corporation and the Solid Minerals Development Fund, Nigeria’s initial lithium factories are expected to generate approximately $1.2 billion in annual economic output once fully operational. This is not a distant dream—it is the stated target for the first wave of major processing facilities in Kaduna and Nasarawa.
But this is merely the beginning. This $1.2 billion base is the proof of concept—the critical first step that validates Nigeria’s strategy of banning raw exports and demanding local beneficiation. Industry analysts, seeing this momentum, forecast that as more plants come online and export supply chains mature, total lithium sector revenues could surge to $4.2 billion by 2025, and reach as high as $8.5 billion by 2035.
The math of sovereignty is now clear. Even at this initial stage, the state’s share—captured through taxes, royalties, wages, and local procurement—will far exceed the crumbs of the past. This time, the wealth won’t vanish into offshore accounts or foreign boardrooms. It will build roads, fund schools, power homes, and pay salaries. It is the fruit of a policy that insists: We will no longer sell our future raw.
But this revolution is not just economic. It is emotional. It is moral.
It is the story of a country reclaiming its dignity. Of a government saying never again to the exploitation of its people and land. Of communities like Endo and Kangimi, once forgotten, now becoming hubs of innovation and employment. Over 50,000 jobs are projected—engineers, welders, drivers, cooks, teachers. The ripple effect is real.
Backing this vision with precision and resolve is the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Henry Dele Alake—a man whose tenure has brought rare dynamism and order to a sector long plagued by opacity and neglect. Under his watch, Nigeria’s solid minerals space has shifted from chaos to clarity, from speculation to structure. He has ensured the implementation of President Tinubu’s policies in the solid mineral sector with meticulous fidelity. His administrative mantras are not just technical—they are transformational, rooted in discipline, transparency, and a fierce commitment to national interest.
And it is the story of Africa rising—not as a supplier of raw materials, but as a manufacturer of solutions. Lithium powers the batteries in electric cars, solar panels, and smartphones. It is the mineral of the future. And Nigeria, with its reserves and resolve, is positioning itself not just to participate, but to lead.
President Tinubu’s stance is clear. When global giants came asking for raw lithium, he said no. Not out of defiance, but out of duty. “The era of exporting raw solid minerals from Nigeria is over,” he declared. And with that, he drew a line in the sand—a line between the past we endured and the future we deserve.
This is not a miracle. It is a movement. A silent revolution, built on policy, discipline, and belief. It is the kind of change that doesn’t scream—it works. And it is working.
So let the cynics watch. Let the skeptics wait. Nigeria is not asking for applause. It is building. Deliberately. Powerfully. Permanently.
The ground beneath our feet is no longer just soil—it is sovereignty. And from it, a new Nigeria is rising. One that will never again trade its birthright for peanuts. One that will refine its minerals, its vision, and its destiny.
This is our lithium dawn. And it is irreversible. Read More
The ‘WANTED’ poster of actress Iyabo Ojo did not emanate from the Nigeria Police Force. It is false
Police Debunks Viral ‘Wanted’ Poster of Nollywood Star Iyabo Ojo
The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has dismissed a viral social media “wanted” notice targeting Nollywood actress Iyabo Ojo, describing it as fake and misleading.
The notice, which claimed that the actress was wanted by the Office of the Inspector General of Police Monitoring Unit, was widely circulated online earlier this week. But in a statement posted on its official Facebook page, the NPF clarified that it never issued such a notice.
“FAKE NEWS ALERT! This ‘WANTED’ poster of actress Iyabo Ojo did not emanate from the Nigeria Police Force. It is false, misleading & was never posted on any official NPF platform. Disregard & stop spreading fake news,” the statement read.
The Force further cautioned Nigerians to verify news only from official police channels to avoid falling victim to misinformation.
“Verify only from official NPF channels,” it stressed.
The clarification comes amid growing concerns over the spread of false information on social media, especially involving high-profile figures. See post
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