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OBA MOHOOD ISHOLA OLALEKAN BALOGUN ALLI OKUNMADE II. A HUGELY REMARKABLE REIGN AND GLORIOUS PASSAGE INTO ETERNITY.
OBA MOHOOD ISHOLA OLALEKAN BALOGUN ALLI OKUNMADE II. A HUGELY REMARKABLE REIGN AND GLORIOUS PASSAGE INTO ETERNITY.
By Prof Soji Adejumo.
Oba Lekan Balogun came on to the throne at a time Ibadanland was in dire need of a cultural and developmental turn around. He came at a time Ibadanland needed a leader who could steer the affairs of this megapolis with academic precision, social and political wisdom. He came when Ibadanland needed to reinvent the imperial ethos of the Kingdom.
Oba Olalekan Balogun ticked all the boxes. Presiding over traditional institutions in a Kingdom comprising of 1 Metropolis, 42 Royal Kings, 67 Traditional Chiefs, over 600 Mogajis, 3000 Baales in 11 Local Governments, 63 Towns, and over 3000 villages, is no mean feat.
I became acquainted with our late Kabiyesi in the late eighties when he had just cut his political teeth during the Shehu Shagari era. He came across to me as a social philosopher and an aristocrat with a socialist flavour. He would talk to me for hours in his expansive Alarere House which later became his Palace. He was a social and political ideologue and would discuss any of such issues under the sun. He was always rhetorically explicit with his choice of words and I admired him greatly. He also loved to talk about the Nigeria of his dreams where there will be justice and equity for all. We talked about education and agriculture and his vast knowledge and experiences were amazing. Our political paths were also aligned and I looked up to him for leadership mentorship and direction. The relationship was that of a younger brother to an older brother and relating with him was always interesting because of his huge sense of humour.
He loved Ibadanland and was always proud of his ancestral antecedents. He was climbing the rungs of the traditional ladder and running his political affairs side by side. He became a Senator and topped that with his coronation as the 42nd Olubadan of Ibadanland. I remember telling him about ten years ago that if God should enable him to become an Olubadan, he must modernise the monarchy and he gave his word. He fulfilled the promise to the letter. Shortly before his coronation, his younger brother, Senator, Dr. Kola Balogun along with some Ibadan sons and daughters including my humble self setup the Ibadan Royalty Committee to assist Kabiyesi from the background in addressing issues pertaining to the development of Ibadanland and the enhancement of the dignity and prestige of the Ibadan Monarchy. Kabiyesi tremendously appreciated our humble efforts and gave maximum support and encouragement. He and the Olubadan Advisory Council suceeded in modernising the unique traditional culture of Ibadanland with good grace. Oba Lekan Balogun was a man without angst, who also did not suffer fools gladly, but was also very generous and large hearted. He could not hold a grudge beyond a few hours and many people exploited this attribute of his to their advantage. He was always very quick to forgive and forget and never turned down any request for help.
As a Monarch, he maintained an open door policy and was always ready to assist everyone who came to him for help or favours irrespective of their tribe and creed. I cannot recall the tens of letters he wrote daily for people who needed help from him to get jobs, engagements and other services. I very well recall someone who approached me on behalf of a friend of his whom I had never met before and who wanted to secure a job with a huge multinational company and felt that a letter of recommendation from Kabiyesi would help the process. The request came very late in the evening and Kabiyesi was already retiring for the night, but when he was informed of our mission, he waited for us and granted the person his request before retiring to bed. Such was his selfless nature. I am happy to have been associated with the giant strides of Oba Balogun all within a short span of two years. I am also humbled by the honour he bestowed on me as the Ajiroba of Ibadanland. He witnessed the completion of the new Olubadan Palace but fate has decreed he would not live there. Such is life. Now, the work is done and finished. Kabiyesi has finished his glorious race and our testimonies and remembrances will keep his memory alive. The architect of the modern era of the very unique Ibadan traditional institution Oba Lekan Balogun has joined his ancestors.
I commiserate with the Governor of Oyo State and an illustrious Ibadan son, ENGR. Seyi Makinde, The Olubadan-In-Counci, Baba Kekere Olubadan, Senator Dr. Kola Balogun, the Good people of Ibadanland and Oyo State and Nigeria as a whole on the passage of our Monarch and the end of a short but indelible era. I wish the suceeding Monarch a glorious and peaceful reign. The King is dead. Long live the king!
Prof Soji Adejumo. The Ajiroba of Ibadanland
OBA MOHOOD ISHOLA OLALEKAN BALOGUN ALLI OKUNMADE II. A HUGELY REMARKABLE REIGN AND GLORIOUS PASSAGE INTO ETERNITY.
Govt Namadi Awards Special Scholarship to 801 PWDs, Destitute Children
By: Aminu B Dutse
No fewer than 801 People Leaving With Disabilities (PWD), PWDs and other destitute children students studying in various tertiary institutions across the country got special scholarship in addition to general scholarships from Jigawa State governor Malam Umar Namadi.
Speaking while launching the programme, governor Malam Umar Namadi at Banquet Hall at government house, said the programme is under the “Danmodi Students Care” initiative where the beneficiaries drown from 27 local government areas of the state.
Malam Umar Namadi explained that the initiative complements the state’s annual local and foreign scholarship program, which benefits over 36,000 of students from the state.
He revealed that in 2024, his administration reviewed and increased the annual scholarship allowance by 150%, ensuring it covers at least 50% of undergraduates’ registration fees.
Governor Namadi emphasized his administration’s commitment to investing in human capital development, particularly in education and empowerment, which are fundamental to achieving sustainable growth and development.
According to him “Education is a key pillar in our 12-Point Agenda, and we will continue to invest in our students, who are the future assets of our dear state, he said.
At the event, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Student Affairs and President of “*Danmodi Students Care”, Comrade Salisu Muhammad Seeker, explained that the special scholarship targets students studying Medicine, Health Sciences, Engineering, Agriculture, and selected Arts and Social Science courses.
“Additionally, students under the ‘Women for Health’ program” , selected from rural areas, are among the beneficiaries,”* he said.. “The scholarship will support them from admission until graduation, subject to annual academic performance reviews based on the program’s criteria.” Comrade Salisu stated.
He noted that the initiative aligns with Governor Umar Namadi’s agenda to ensure access to education for every child in the state, regardless of their parents’ socioeconomic status.
Comrade Salisu further stated that, For the 2024/2025 academic session, Danmodi Student’s Care assisted over 1,000 students to gained admission into various universities and tertiary institutions, with 400 of them qualifying for this scholarship.
He revealed that “Danmodi Students Care” is an initiative designed to support rural and underprivileged students in securing tertiary education admission while providing comprehensive welfare and academic support to enhance their performance.
Govt Namadi Awards Special Scholarship to 801 PWDs, Destitute Children
Police Conduct Raids Across Abuja, Arrest 62 Suspects for Criminal Activities
By: Zagazola Makama
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has arrested 62 suspects during a series of coordinated raids on black spots and uncompleted buildings across various areas in Abuja.
Police sources confirmed that the raids took place on the night of April 17 at around 11:40 p.m. Police operatives from multiple divisions, including Kubwa, Nyanya, Kabusa, Lokogoma, Utako, Gwarinpa, and Bwari, participated in the operation targeting criminal hotspots in their areas of responsibility.
The police recovered a quantity of dried leaves suspected to be Indian hemp, as well as illicit drugs, from the locations raided.
“The arrested suspects are currently in custody and undergoing screening and interrogation at their respective divisional offices. Those found to be involved in criminal activities will be charged to court,” the sources stated.
Police Conduct Raids Across Abuja, Arrest 62 Suspects for Criminal Activities
Joint Nigeria–Niger Airstrikes Target Terrorist Enclave in Lake Chad Region
By: Zagazola Makama
The Nigerian Air Force, in a coordinated operation with its Nigerien counterpart, on Friday launched a series of precision airstrikes on suspected terrorist hideouts along the Nigeria–Niger border in the Lake Chad region.
The joint operation, which reportedly lasted for over four hours, was based on actionable intelligence gathered by Nigerien air surveillance units. The intelligence guided Nigerian fighter jets to specific locations believed to be used by terrorists for cross-border attacks.
According to initial field reports, the targeted area, described as a strategic terrorist enclave, was suspected of housing a mix of fighters, women, and children. The location had been under sustained observation for its alleged role in coordinating operations across the tri-border region of Nigeria, Niger, and Chad.
Following the bombardment, over 50 individuals were reportedly seen fleeing towards Fefewa, a remote village within the Lake Chad basin. Some of the escapees, according to unverified accounts, may have been attempting to regroup with a larger armed faction said to be fortified in nearby forested zones.
Although the casualty figures remain unclear, sources monitoring the operation, including Phantom Eye Hub, confirmed that investigations are underway to ascertain the impact and full extent of the strikes.
The joint air campaign underscores the increasing regional collaboration between Nigeria and Niger in countering insurgency threats.
Joint Nigeria–Niger Airstrikes Target Terrorist Enclave in Lake Chad Region
Govt Namadi Awards Special Scholarship to 801 PWDs, Destitute Children
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