Osun State concluded its local council election on Saturday despite the opposition of the Federal Government to the exercise.

Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, who  earlier  declared that the exercise would go on despite the opposition of the Federal Government to it cast his vote Saturday morning at Unit 9, Sagba Abogunde Ward 2, in Ede North Local Government Area of the state around 7:56 a.m.

The governor arrived at the polling unit alongside his supporters and some members of the Peoples Democratic Party.

After casting his vote, Adeleke commended the State Independent Electoral Commission for the peaceful process in the conduct of the election.

The governor also advised residents to go out and cast their vote without any fear of intimidation, urging political stakeholders and the electorate to shun violence during and after the election.

Adeleke expressed confidence that all PDP candidates would emerge victorious in the elections.

“I want to urge everyone to come out and cast their votes. The election will be peaceful”, the governor assured.

In a statement by his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, the governor emphasised the importance of grassroots democracy and called on the people to participate actively without fear or intimidation.

Commenting further, Adeleke described the President as “a true democrat with huge democratic credentials,” adding that his administration has all along been very supportive and collaborative with the federal government.

The governor also denied a fake news article in a publication about alleged remarks on President Tinubu, submitting that the news is fake and that he did not at any point utter any negative remarks about the President.

“In my first state broadcast on this crisis, I said this about the President: ‘Let me affirm that I know Mr. President to be a true democrat, a lover of the rule of law, and a believer in the sanctity of the judicial process.

“I know, as a matter of fact, that Mr. President will never authorise a dictatorial violation of the constitution, irrespective of who is involved. It is crucial to add that Mr. President will never support any action that is capable of generating bloodbath and bloodshed.

“In my second broadcast, I said this about Mr President: ‘We have confidence in the democratic credentials of President Tinubu, who we know will always insist on the rule of law.

“We urge the public and stakeholders to ignore the fake news as Governor Adeleke did not attack President Tinubu in any way before and during ongoing local government development,” Adeleke said.

A South-South Leader and former Federal Commissioner For Information, Edwin Clark, is dead.

The Pan Niger Delta Forum, PANDEF leader died at 97 on Monday night, according to a statement signed by Prof. C. C. Clark, for the family.

The statement read: “The Clark-Fuludu Bekederemo family of Kiagbodo Town, Delta State, wishes to announce the passing of Chief (Dr.) Sen. Edwin Kiagbodo Clark OFR, CON on Monday 17th February , 2025.

“The family appreciates your prayers at this time.Other details will be announced later by the family.”

An Isoko socio-cultural and non-partisan organisation Enyaharo Okugbe Emo Isoko (Enyaharo Isoko) has condemned in very strong terms the arrest and detention of social media content creator Ajiri-Oghene Otagba (also popularly known as MC2 Kingdom) since Friday by a contractor Matthew Edevbie who abandoned the 132KVA power sub-station at Ozoro in Isoko North LGA of Delta State for well over 15 years now.

In a statement on Sunday, the group said that it was “a sad commentary on moral deficiency that a man who abandoned a contract he successfully bid for, won and then abandoned halfway would turn around to arrest anyone calling on him to return to site to complete the said project. Isoko experiences the worst power outage in all of Nigeria because of the flagrant recalcitrance of Edevbie who has refused to complete the contract, but who finds it easy to arrest anyone calling him out to account. It is a tragic irony that Isoko that gives Nigeria over 15% of her daily oil production output has been in darkness for years because of Edevbie’s inefficiency, but is efficient in wilfully taking the laws into his hands to compromise The Nigeria Police to perpetrate injustice on an innocent Nigerian.

Ajiri-Oghene Otagba

“After reviewing the circumstances of Ajiri-Oghene Otagba’s arrest by men of the Nigeria Police in Lagos in Gestapo fashion and subsequently dragging him to Abuja for prosecution in a civil matter of alleged defamation that should not concern the Nigeria Police as the IGP Egbetokun recently warned his men, Enyaharo views the development as an act of aggression and oppression of a poor Nigerian youth and whistle-blower, and therefore an affront to the sensibility of the Isoko nation by Edevbie and his companies,”

The statement by the President of Enyaharo Mr. Amos Iwary continued: “You cannot fart on someone and then turn around to give him a knock on the head for your indiscretion. That’s exactly what Mr. Edevbie has done to the entire Isoko nation. He alone failed to complete a contract he duly won over 15 years ago. Upon being asked to return to site to complete it, he replies by arresting an Isoko son who is affected by Edevbie’s breach of contract that denies him (Otagba and millions of Isoko people) power to run their business

“Enyaharo Isoko therefore calls on Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori to immediately set processes in motion to compel Edevbie and his company to return to site to complete the Ozoro power sub-station’s upgrade from the initial 132KVA contract awarded him. Isoko has suffered enough power problems on account of Edevbie’s contract breach. Edevbie is killing businesses in Isoko while his people in Ughelli enjoy uninterrupted power supply. Edevbie’s action is sabotage of the business aspirations of Isoko people. Edevbie is preventing new businesses from being established to engage our army of youths. Edevbie’s stubborn refusal to complete the power sub-station is an act of economic sabotage to Isoko. It stops now.

“Enhayaro Isoko hereby demands from Delta State Government that, should Edevbie refuse to return to site and complete the project, he should immediately return all monies paid him so far on the Ozoro power sub-station, so the contract is awarded to a more reliable contractor to execute the project in the shortest possible time. In fact, we give the state government till the end of 2025 to complete the Ozoro power sub-station, so Isoko can have light. Edevbie might deceive himself that he arrested only one Isoko son. But in fact, he has arrested the entire Isoko nation for demanding what is theirs by right. Isoko will not stand by and let this injustice go unchallenged and unpunished.”