Connect with us

Politics

You’re An Educated Illiterate – Galadima Blasts Akeredolu Over Calls For Eviction Of Herdsmen

Published

on

…Insists Fulani, Other Ethnic Groups Have Right To Live Anywhere

By Augustine Akhilomen

One time factional National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Buba Galadima, has described Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu as an educated illiterate for ordering the eviction of Fulani Herdsmen from forest reserves in the state.

Galadima stated this on Wednesday during an interview on AIT’s Kakaaki’s programme in Abuja, where he said that the governor has shown his ignorance of the laws of Nigeria.

Galadima expressed his surprise at the order by a governor who is a lawyer and a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), saying that Akeredolu should know that “there was no law that permits him to evict Fulani herders for any reason,” as any Nigerian can choose to live in any part of the country.

“Governor Akeredolu of Ondo State who calls himself a SAN is an educated illiterate. He shouldn’t be giving such orders in the first place. All Nigerians are free to live in any part of Nigeria,” Galadima said in the interview.

“It should be that any group of people living in any part of the country should be protected at all costs irrespective of their tribe, ethnicity or religion.

“So also, the Fulani or any other tribe, be it in Ondo, they are under the protection of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“Who owns the forest reserves? Who gazetted the ownership of the forest reserves? It was gazetted by the then colonial masters. Once, it is gazetted, it is a Federal land and even if for instance, it is Ondo land, Nigerians are free to carry out businesses in any part of the country.

“The lands are vested in governors of various states to hold in trust for the people. And in Ondo, they are part of the people that the Act says the governor should hold the land in trust for.

“You see, there are certain things you do; you play the law; you play morality, and you play unity. On this issue, Ondo State governor is supposed to play unity and it’s wrong to declare a certain ethnic group ‘persona non-grata’ in a certain area of your state.

“We now know why there was so much acrimony even from the people in Ondo, when Akeredolu was running for a second term in office.

“He has manifested himself so well that he is not a leader. He suggested that if the people living in Ondo forests are security threat, they should be raided and neutralized rather than being evicted.

“If what he meant was to have the Fulanis registered for easy identification which he later claimed, how would they be registered in their own country? I am not a Fulani and I am not talking for them. This kind of things should not happen.

“Of course, it is legitimate for government to try to identify the actual people who are carrying out heinous crimes, particularly in the obvious infiltration of foreigners, but not to evict.

“There is a difference between identification and eviction. What I said is that it is not right to evict anybody.

“There are Fulani herdsmen in every part of Nigeria. Some of them in South-West, South-East or South-South; some of them speak the indigenous languages more than their own dialects.

“They have adopted the culture of the people. What they have left of their culture is the rearing of cattle and I want Nigerians to understand that there is a difference between bandits who kill, who abduct and kill innocent persons, and Fulani cattle herders.

“In all these, we haven’t seen any Fulani herder who keeps cattle on a farm and ensure the farmer is killed.”

Loading

Politics

Abiodun presents Adeola to Ijebu royal fathers

Published

on

…Seeks support for APC ticket ahead of 2027 governorship election

Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, on Friday formally presented the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, and his running mate, Mrs. Kudirat Abiodun Adegunwa-Balogun, to the Ijebu Traditional Council, seeking the support and blessings of the royal fathers ahead of the 2027 governorship election.


The presentation, held at the Awujale’s Palace in Ijebu-Ode, marked another major political consultation by the governor following the emergence of Senator Adeola as the APC standard-bearer.

Addressing the traditional rulers, Governor Abiodun said his choice of Senator Adeola as his preferred successor was informed by the twin principles of equity and competence, stressing that the Ogun West Senatorial District deserves the opportunity to produce the state’s governor for the first time since Ogun was created 50 years ago.

He said his search was not for a third term by proxy, but for a capable leader who would consolidate on the achievements of his administration and sustain the state’s developmental momentum.

“I was not looking for a third term, but for somebody who would comfortably step into my shoes and continue to build on what we have achieved from day one,” the governor said.


“I was looking for that person from Ogun West because it is only fair and just. In the last 50 years since the creation of Ogun State, no son of Ogun West has had the opportunity to serve as governor. In Senator Solomon Adeola, I have found all the qualities I have been looking for.”

Governor Abiodun recalled the prayers and support he received from the traditional institution when he sought their blessings ahead of the 2019 election and appealed for the same goodwill to be extended to the APC governorship candidate.

“The same way you prayed for me in 2018 and have continued to support me over the past seven years, I ask that you extend the same prayers and support to him. I can confidently assure you that he will not disappoint the people of Ogun State,” he said.


The governor also canvassed support for the deputy governorship candidate, Mrs. Kudirat Abiodun Adegunwa-Balogun, describing her as an accomplished professional whose corporate experience would complement Senator Adeola’s leadership.

Highlighting his administration’s achievements in Ijebuland, Governor Abiodun said the promises he made to the traditional rulers before assuming office had either been fulfilled or were at various stages of implementation.

He listed the reconstruction of the Ijebu-Ode-Epe Road, the Federal Government’s takeover of Tai Solarin University of Education (TASUED), and the ongoing transformation of Ogun Waterside through strategic infrastructure and economic projects as evidence of his administration’s commitment to the area.


The governor also noted that Ogun Waterside, which had suffered years of neglect under previous administrations, was now receiving the attention it deserved.

In his remarks, Senator Adeola pledged to consolidate on the achievements of the Abiodun administration and pursue major economic projects capable of unlocking the vast potential of Ogun Waterside.

He said his administration would work towards making Ogun an oil-producing state through commercial oil exploration, facilitate the establishment of a deep seaport, and revive the Olokola Liquefied Natural Gas (OKLNG) project.

The APC governorship candidate also pledged to support the agitation for the creation of Ijebu State while ensuring that Ijebuland receives its fair share of development and government attention.

“I appreciate the support our traditional rulers have given Governor Abiodun over the past seven years, and I assure you that we will build on his achievements while advancing projects that will accelerate the development of Ogun State,” Adeola said.

Speaking on behalf of the traditional rulers, the Acting Chairman of the Ijebu Traditional Council and Orimolusi of Ijebu-Igbo, Oba Lawrence Jaiyeoba, assured Governor Abiodun that the royal fathers would support Senator Adeola’s governorship aspiration.

He also pledged the support of the traditional institution for Governor Abiodun’s Ogun East Senatorial bid, expressing confidence that continuity in leadership would guarantee the execution of more developmental projects across the senatorial district.

The event, attended by APC leaders and stakeholders from the three senatorial districts of the state, climaxed with special royal blessings offered by the traditional rulers for Governor Abiodun, Senator Adeola and Mrs. Adegunwa-Balogun ahead of the 2027 elections

Loading

Continue Reading

Politics

NDC urges Nigerians to register for PVC ahead of 2027 elections

Published

on

The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has urged Nigerians to take advantage of the ongoing Permanent Voter Card (PVC) registration exercise by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) ahead of the 2027 general elections.


The party also called on eligible voters to support its preferred presidential ticket of Peter Obi and Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso in the next election.

This was contained in a statement issued by the NDC National Publicity Secretary, Barrister Osa Director, following the party’s PVC registration mobilisation exercise.


According to the statement, Osa Director described the PVC as the most important tool for citizens to determine the country’s future through the ballot box.

He urged Nigerians, particularly young people and first-time voters, not to miss the opportunity to register and collect their voter cards.


“The PVC remains the most powerful instrument for every citizen to determine the future of Nigeria through the ballot box,” he said.

The NDC spokesman said the country needs citizens who are ready to participate actively in the democratic process, stressing that meaningful change begins with voting.

He added that the time had come for Nigerians to unite in building a New Nigeria, where hope is restored to the hopeless, justice prevails, opportunities are created for all, and good governance becomes the standard.


Osa Director also encouraged Nigerians who desire positive change to vote for the party’s preferred candidates in the 2027 presidential election.

According to him, “Peter Obi and Dr. Musa Kwankwaso are leaders with the vision, integrity and capacity to transform Nigeria.”

He reaffirmed the NDC’s commitment to promoting credible leadership, national unity, economic growth, security and good governance.

Loading

Continue Reading

Headline

2027: Tinubu settles for Shettima as party beats INEC deadline

Published

on

….We’re not afraid, Tinubu going in with 12m bloc votes – APC

National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress APC, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, has declared that the party is not threatened by opposition propaganda ahead of the 2027 general election, saying President Bola Tinubu is going into the race with a bloc of over 12 million votes from party members. ExecutiveBranch

Yilwatda spoke on Friday while receiving the duly completed Independent National Electoral Commission INEC presidential nomination forms of President Tinubu, and Vice President Kashim Shettima, at a ceremony in Abuja. ExecutiveBranch

INEC has set Saturday, July 11, 2026, as the deadline for political parties to upload the names of their candidates to its nomination portal.

The submission of both forms effectively ended months of speculation about the president’s choice of running mate, as he has now settled for Shettima.

It also paved the way for the upload of Tinubu and Shettima unto the INEC portal, an action concluded on Friday night, beating the INEC deadline. ExecutiveBranch

The nomination forms were presented on behalf of President Tinubu by his Special Adviser on Political and Other Matters, Hon. Ibrahim Masari. The ceremony was attended by APC governors led by the Chairman of the Progressives Governors’ Forum and Governor of Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodinma, some governors, deputy governors, members of the National Working Committee, the APC Caucus in the National Assembly, members of the Federal Executive Council, senate and governorship candidates, and other party leaders and stakeholders.


Speaking at the event, Yilwatda said the occasion climaxed a process that began with primary elections across all levels of government, from the House of Assembly to the National Assembly to governorship and the presidential primary. “Today is a reflection of the wishes of over 12 million of our members of APC who overwhelmingly voted Mr President as their candidate to flag off the party candidature in the 2027 presidential election,” he said. ExecutiveBranch


He added that beneficiaries of the administration’s programmes, including over 1.5 million students on the student loan scheme and their families, as well as communities benefiting from new road networks across the six geopolitical zones and fertiliser support to farmers in states such as Borno and Niger, would swell the ranks of those voting for the president.

Yilwatda urged governors and supporters to mobilise and publicise the administration’s achievements, saying his own people have fact-checked claims of government projects during a visit to his community and found them accurate.

He charged Masari to convey to President Tinubu that party members would vote massively for him in the election, expressing confidence that the APC would post its highest-ever votes across the geopolitical zones.

“We are not afraid, we are not in doubt of our success, there is no shaking at all in any way, that come 2027 our victory as a party is assured and assured,” Yilwatda said.

Loading

Continue Reading

Trending