News

Arewa Forum: Producing President In 2023 Not Exclusive Right Of South

Published

5 years ago

March 5, 2020

The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) on Wednesday said it was not the exclusive right of the South to produce the president in 2023.

Speaking exclusively with Daily Independent, Anthony Sani, a northern leader and the outgoing Secretary-General of the ACF, said there was no national consensus on zoning that was binding on political parties in the country.

According to him, since Nigeria was practising a multiparty democracy, each political party was free to zone its presidential ticket to any part of the country.

“In a multiparty democracy, it is political parties that field candidates for elective positions because there is no provision for independent candidates.

“And if any political party, in its winning game plans, fields a candidate from the South and majority of Nigerians vote for him, so be it! That would be democracy in action.

“I say so because the president coming from the South is not a matter of right, considering there is no national consensus on politics of identity symbolised by zoning that is binding on the political parties.

“As long as there is no national consensus on politics of identity symbolised by zoning that is binding on political parties, it is not possible to shut out any region or zone or state from the contest for the post of the president.

“Recall when President Obasanjo wanted to force politics of zoning on the nation by bringing the late President Umaru Yar’Adua from the North after the South, he had to use political blackmail to shut out people like former Rivers State governor, Peter Odili, from the South.

“And when President Yar’Adua died, one did not expect former President Goodluck Jonathan to contest with Muhammadu Buhari in 2011 and 2015, in the spirit of zoning. But he did.”

Also reacting to the statement made by Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State that the presidency should rightly return to the Southern part of the country, Sani said the statement was El-Rufai’s personal opinion and not the general belief of the North.

The ACF scribe said, in the last presidential election, even when it was agreed that the North should produce presidential candidates, a large percentage of presidential candidates that participated in the 2019 elections were from the Southern part of the country.

“In 2019, it was thought that the spirit of zoning would leave the field for presidential candidates from the North, but there were over 70 candidates, most of them from the South.

“This is testament to the fact that there is no national consensus on zoning that is binding on political parties with exclusive preserve to field candidates for elective posts in our multiparty democracy. That is why what Governor El-Rufai has said is not more than his personal opinion,” he said.

News

BREAKING: FUOYE Vice-Chancellor Suspended Amid Sexual Harassment Allegations

Published

4 days ago

April 14, 2025

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The Governing Council of the Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE) has suspended Vice-Chancellor Prof. Abayomi Sunday Fasina following allegations of sexual harassment brought against him by a senior university official, Engr. Folasade Adebayo.

The suspension was confirmed in a statement issued on Monday by the university’s Registrar and Secretary to the Governing Council, Mufutau A. Ibrahim.

According to the statement, “At its 7th Emergency Meeting held virtually on Monday, April 14, 2025, the Governing Council reviewed a request from the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Abayomi Sunday Fasina, to embark on his accumulated Annual and Research Leave. The Council approved a six-month leave—totaling 126 working days—effective from Monday, April 14, 2025, out of his total leave entitlement of 228 days.”

Furthermore, the Council appointed Prof. Olubunmi S. Shittu, the current Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academics) and the most senior among the three deputy vice-chancellors, as Acting Vice-Chancellor for the six-month duration.

This move follows pressure from the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, who reportedly expressed strong dissatisfaction with how the Council initially addressed the complaint. Sources say the Minister was displeased that the Council allegedly dismissed the harassment claims and asked the complainant to apologise to Prof. Fasina.

“The Minister was furious that the complaint was being swept under the rug and that the victim was being compelled to apologise,” a source revealed. “He personally contacted the Chairman of the Governing Council, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba (SAN), to express his displeasure.”

Following the minister’s intervention, Senator Ndoma-Egba convened an emergency online meeting of the Council on Monday afternoon. During the session, members agreed to suspend Prof. Fasina. However, the Vice-Chancellor reportedly requested to proceed on his accumulated leave instead of facing a direct suspension.

In the interim, Prof. Samuel Olubunmi Shittu, a Professor of Soil Science and the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academics), will serve as Acting Vice-Chancellor.

News

Man Reportedly D!es Trying To Cart Away Agemo Statue In Ijebu

Published

5 days ago

April 13, 2025

lagoslately

A suspected thief, identified as Jeremiah Kosesochi Nwoke has reportedly d!ed while attempting to cart away the Agemo statue located at the Itoro Roundabout in Ijebu Ode.

The incident, which occurred overnight, has thrown residents into shock as the statue stands near the roundabout leading to the ultramodern palace of the Awujale of Ijebuland.

It was gathered that the deceased allegedly made several futile efforts under the cover of darkness to uproot and steal the symbolic statue.

However, the deceased allegedly uprooted the heavily-padded statuebut d!ed in the process of carting it away.

Celebrities

“Don’t Be Deceived by Twitter Polls or Social Media Hype” – Burna Boy Advises Fellow Artists

Published

1 week ago

April 8, 2025

lagoslately

Grammy-winning artist Burna Boy has offered some candid advice to fellow musicians, urging them not to get carried away by online popularity.

In a message shared via his Instagram Stories, Burna warned artists not to be fooled by Twitter polls or the support of Nigerian social media fans, pointing out that this virtual applause rarely translates into real-world success—especially when it comes to filling stadiums around the globe.

He emphasized that achieving a number one spot on streaming platforms in Nigeria shouldn’t be seen as the pinnacle of success. Instead, he encouraged artists to set bigger goals or consider having alternative business ventures.

His post read:

> “Dear artists,
Don’t let Twitter polls and Naija social media fans deceive you. They won’t fill up any stadium for you in any part of the world.
Your song being Number 1 on any streaming platform in Nigeria is not something to celebrate. Aim higher or do other businesses on the side. I type with love. No sign of aw.”

In a similar vein, singer Spyro also had a message for upcoming acts. He advised that signing to a major label or linking up with a top artist is no guarantee of success. According to Spyro, having a “failure mentality”—where one expects everything to be handed to them—will only lead to amplified failure, no matter how big the platform.

He stressed the importance of diligence and hard work, stating that talent alone isn’t enough. Spyro urged emerging artists to stop chasing fantasies and start putting in real effort to build their careers.