The residence of Chief Sunday Adeyemo aka Sunday Igboho, a Yoruba activist and prominent agitator for the independence of the Yoruba nation was reportedly attacked by gunmen.
The yet-to-be-identified gunmen who adorned Nigerian military camouflage stormed the Ibadan residence of the separatist leader in the early hours of Thursday, July 1, 2021.
In a live feed captured by the media page of Igboho’s spokesperson, Mr. Olayomi Koiki, which has been viral on social media, it could be observed that even though Igboho was not at home at the time of the incident, the attack was carried with destruction in mind.
While his properties and furniture, including, his vehicles – a G-wagon and a Prado jeep – suffered a certain degree of damage, ranging from the shattered windscreen to bullet holes, a serious amount of bloodstain could be seen on the floor of the sitting room.
At the time of this report, it is not clear whose blood was on the floor of the house as captured by the live video, however, it has been widely reported that seven persons were killed and Sunday Igboho’s wife was abducted during the invasion with her whereabouts still unknown.
This is coming, just hours after the federal government announced that they have rearrested the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
Several online media have reported that the attack was carried out by the Nigerian military because of the army uniform worn by the unknown assailants however, the Nigerian Army has since distanced itself from the incident at the home of Sunday Igboho.
In his reaction, the leader of the Umbrella Body of Yoruba Self-Determination Groups, Ilana Omo Oodua (IOO), Prof Banji Akintoye, in a statement said the attack was carried out by the Nigerian Army.
“This is an emergency response to an emergency matter by Ilana Omo Oodua. Around 1am today Thursday 1st July 2021, the Ibadan, Oyo State Residence of one of the leading men in our struggle for Self-Determination in Yoruba Land, Chief Sunday Adeyemo fondly called Sunday Igboho was unfortunately attacked by gunmen.
“I want to say to the whole world that the attack was carried out by the elements of the Nigerian Army who were accompanied by International Terrorists hired by the Nigerian State.
“The assailants spoke the French language fluently. Seven people were killed by the attackers, with their corpses were taken away. Scores of people, including the wife of Chief Igboho, were also taken away by the gunmen.
“Let me state without any fear or intimidation that the Muhammadu Buhari-led administration was responsible for the war that has just been declared against the peace-loving people of Yoruba land.
“We have been peaceful since the inception of this struggle. We have adhered to both the Nigerian and International laws guiding the agitation for self-determination.
“All our agitations have been peaceful, orderly, and lawfully executed. We have commended the officers of the Nigerian Police many time for being professional in their modus of operations in relating to our protests and rallies for Self-Determination in Yoruba Cities.
“Therefore, I say on behalf of the Yoruba people that this attack on Chief Igboho’s house was unnecessary, unfortunate, wicked, callous, cruel, irresponsible, illegal, and atrocious.
“We are holding the Muhammadu Buhari-led administration responsible for this barbaric attack. This is a declaration of war against peace-loving people.
“I call on our people across at home and in the diaspora to immediately begin mass protests in front of palaces in Yoruba land, and opposite the offices of the United Nations, European Union, British, French and United States Governments.
“We want to confirm again that the Pro-Yoruba Nation rally scheduled to hold on Saturday, July 3rd, in Lagos will proceed as scheduled.”
Communications Minister Hints At Upcoming Call and Data Tariff Increase
Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani has announced that prices are expected to rise by 30-60 percent.
The revelation comes days after Tijani confirmed that telecom services tariffs would increase, but not by the proposed 100 percent.
Tijani says the telecommunications sector relies heavily on investment to drive Nigeria’s economic growth. He said investors in the sector must continually invest in equipment to remain relevant, despite the challenges posed by inflation.
“The sector is about investment in infrastructure; the technologies are changing, so you have to keep investing in technology. Things like 3G will be decommissioned at some point because you have higher technology, so they have to keep investing in equipment. And we all know that there is inflation. For us, as we are protecting them, we want to keep importing capital in the sector. The foreign direct investment in our sector in the first quarter of 2024, driven by telcos, was close to $199 million; this is bigger than the entire inflow in 2023. We can’t get to a $1 trillion economy if mobile network operators are investing at a snail’s pace,” he stated.
Telecommunication operators have been advocating for approval to increase service tariffs, citing the rising inflation in the country. The implementation of key policies by the present administration, such as the removal of fuel subsidies and the unification of exchange rates, has significantly contributed to the increase in economic inflation across Nigeria.
Rejecting telecom operators’ calls for a 100% hike, Dr. Tijani emphasized that a moderate increase would balance affordability and sector growth.
“The telecommunications sector contributes over 16% to our GDP, employs thousands of Nigerians, and is vital to the digital economy. However, we must ensure services remain accessible while sustaining the sector’s viability,” Dr. Tijani explained.
He highlighted that the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) is leading a data-driven tariff review process, prioritizing consumer interests and long-term sector sustainability.
Addressing rural connectivity, the minister announced plans to deploy 90,000 kilometers of fiber-optic cables and construct telecom towers in remote areas through Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs). He also noted Nigeria’s leadership in managing telecommunications infrastructure resilience, particularly in mitigating submarine cable disruptions.
Dr. Tijani reaffirmed the government’s commitment to harmonizing taxes, declaring telecom infrastructure a critical national asset, and holding operators accountable for service interruptions.
32 Lagos State House of Assembly members impeached Speaker Mudashiru Obasa yesterday while he was still in Atlanta, Georgia, USA. The action, free of infighting, marked the end of Obasa’s eight-year tenure as Speaker.
Obasa who represented Agege Constituency 1 at the House was impeached on Monday by members of the House for offenses bordering on poor leadership style, misconduct, and perpetual lateness to legislative sections and plenary amongst others.
The lawmakers cited allegations of corruption, gross misconduct, and authoritarian leadership as reasons for his removal. They declared they were ready for a change, with one legislator stating, “We’ve had enough.”
Following the impeachment, Obasa’s deputy, Hon. Mojisola Meranda, was promptly sworn in as the new Speaker, making history as the first female to hold the position in Lagos State. Hon. Fatai Mojeed, formerly the Deputy Chief Whip, was elected Deputy Speaker.
In the aftermath of Lagos Assembly Speaker Mudashiru Obasa’s impeachment, details have emerged about the pivotal role played by Alhaji Tajudeen Olusi, a respected political leader in Lagos State.
According to ThisDay, Olusi reportedly gave a detailed situation report to President Bola Tinubu, detailing Obasa’s alleged insubordination toward political leaders in the state and repeated acts of disrespect toward Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
Obasa’s bold gubernatorial ambitions further fueled tensions. His declaration that “no one could stop him” from becoming the next governor of Lagos State reportedly caused unease among party stalwarts.
Hon. Femi Saheed moved the motion for impeachment under “Matter of Urgent Public Importance,” accusing Obasa of misappropriating funds, high-handedness, and perpetuating division among lawmakers.
Saheed described Obasa’s leadership style as “authoritarian and undemocratic,” adding that he was often late to sessions and failed to respect legislative protocols.
The impeachment motion, grounded in Section 92(2)(C) of the Nigerian Constitution, was adopted unanimously through a voice vote.
Tinubu Pledges to complete $13bn rail line connecting PH to Maiduguri
President Bola Tinubu says his administration will complete the Eastern Rail line connecting Port Harcourt to Maiduguri.
Tinubu gave the assurance at an interactive session with South East leaders in Enugu during his visit to the state on Saturday, Bayo Onanuga, his spokesman, said in a statement.
The President also pledged that his administration would support the development of the Anambra Basin as a significant energy reserve.
The basin is estimated to hold up to 1 billion barrels of oil and 30 billion cubic feet of gas.
“On the support of the gas infrastructure. Sure, gas is an alternative to petrol. There is no wasting of time than to invest more in it. We will do it together, and I am lucky I have good governors,” he said.
President Tinubu praised Gov. Peter Mbah for his development model and philosophy after inaugurating several projects executed by the state government.
He pledged that the federal government would continue to support Enugu and other states in their development efforts.
Among the projects inaugurated by the President are the GTC Smart Green School; New Haven/Bisalla Road, the International Conference Center, the Command-and-Control Center, and 150 patrol vehicles equipped with surveillance cameras.
The President also performed the virtual commissioning of other notable projects from the Enugu State Government House.
At the inauguration of the Command-and-Control Center, the President said investment in security would bring rapid development.
“This is a profound demonstration of what we can do together. It reassures me that more revenue going to the sub-nationals and local government is not a waste. It is for development.
“We have committed leaders like Peter Mbah taking Enugu on the path of 21st-century development, taking Enugu to greater heights, and building our tomorrow today,” he said.
President Tinubu further lauded the governor, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), for demonstrating an irrevocable commitment to human development.
“I don’t care which party you come from; you are my friend. Alex Otti of Abia State is also doing very well. It is not about the differences in languages and place of birth.
“No one of us has control of the mother tongue. God created us, and you can find yourself in Enugu, Onitsha or Lagos.
“We are all members of one huge family called Nigeria, but we live in different rooms in the same house.
“We must build this house to satisfy our immediate and future needs,” he said.
Mbah commended the Tinubu administration for establishing the South East Development Commission and liberalizing the electricity sector through the Electricity Act (Amendment).
“Your Excellency, your credential as a true federalist stands out brightly, and the legacies thereof will long earn you resounding accolades.
“In signing the Electricity Act (Amendment) Bill, you liberalized electricity generation, transmission, and distribution. That singular act will consistently rank as an enduring legacy.
“It is noteworthy that Enugu State was the first sub-national to which the NERC ceded regulatory oversight of the local electricity market. That reflects how swiftly we are pursuing our goals,” he said.
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