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Suspected Fulani Herdsman Attacks Father, Son In Bayelsa

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An unidentified herdsman has attacked a 58-year-old farmer Goodhead Nation and his 18-year-old son in Otuoke Community, Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State. Mr. Goodhead Nation, has revealed how he and his 18-year-old son.

The attack, which reportedly happened on Friday evening, and currently generating tension in Yenagoa, the state capital, almost left the 18-year-old boy simply identified as Samuel dead.

It was learnt that the victim, Samuel Nation, who was attacked with a machete, inflicting grievous injuries on his fingers and head over an allegation of a missing cow, underwent four hours of surgery at the emergency ward of the Federal Medical Centre (FMC).
The father, Goodhead Nation, reportedly escaped the attack with heavy bruises in the left hand.

He said: “I and my son were in the farm working when one of these cow herders approached me and asked where one of his cows was. I was surprised and I answered that I don’t know what he was talking about, and decided to continue what I was doing; the next thing I heard was a hit with a stick on my back, I turned and defended with my hand and he hit me again but when he noticed my little son was running to go raise alarm, he left me and chased after him.

“I couldn’t move faster so I trailed him slowly, on reaching a distance I saw my son on the floor in the pool of his blood, I quickly moved around and saw some other persons working in the farm, so I cried out for help, that was how we managed to move him to the river side where we used a local canoe to bring him back to Otuoke town for emergency treatment.”

Nation, who was full of tears while narrating his ordeal at the Federal Medical Centre, Yenagoa, said “we got to the hospital at midnight of Saturday but we were just attended to this Sunday afternoon, I don’t have a dine on me, I don’t want my son to die.”
Reacting to the development, the spokesman of the Ijaw Youths Council (IYC), Comrade Ebilade Ekerefe, who visited the victim at the hospital, expressed sadness over the incident.

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“This shows the intent was to kill the boy, because it is not the first time we got information on cases of herdsmen terrorising our communities; as Ijaw people considering the mood of the country at the moment, we don’t want reprisal to happen. We want to believe it’s an isolated case, and we also want to believe it’s not intended to cause a crisis in the state. We will continue to consult with our leaders and other security agents.

“Let me say, this is not the first time this kind of incident happened. But this one is too many. Considering the mood of the country, the Ijaw Youths should not carry out reprisal attacks. It is an isolated attack. We do not want to believe that the attack was planned.

“We want to call on security agencies to arrest the culprit. If the culprit is not arrested, it will show that it was planned. The Hausa/Fulani Community in Bayelsa should show sympathy with the victim by ensuring the culprit is arrested. We don’t want to pre-empt anyone. They should come out to exonerate themselves.

“Ijaw youths should brace up and defend their clans against any form of enemy attacks. The Ijaw youths should welcome peace-loving people and defend themselves against any form of threats”.

In his brief remark, the Chairman Ijaw Youth Council, Central Zone, Comrade Clever Inodu, expressed grief on what he described as “undue invasion on innocent citizens”, noting that the council feels the pain of the victims and will do something about the incident.

He appealed to the people of the state to remain peaceful and not take laws into their hands, assuring that the leadership of the state was already on top of the situation.

“Ijaw people are very hospitable, we will not appreciate if the love we show to others is thwarted by incidents like this, we are already setting modalities and plans to ensure such menace do not happen again,” he said.

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Abiodun Appoints Oluwatoyin Taiwo As Chief Of Staff

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Dr Oluwatoyin Taiwo

Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun has appointed Dr. Oluwatoyin Taiwo as his Chief of Staff.

Prior to this appointment, Dr. Taiwo was the Deputy Chief of Staff (DCOS) to the governor.

The Chief of Staff’s letter of appointment was handed over to him by Governor Abiodun on Wednesday, according to a statement signed by the Special Adviser on Media and Strategy to the governor, Hon. Kayode Akinmade.

The appointment, according to the letter, took effect from 18th December 2024.

The Governor, while congratulating the new Chief of Staff, described the appointment as well-deserved, the statement added.

Dr. Taiwo served as Commissioner for Culture and Tourism during the first term of Governor Abiodun and was subsequently elevated to the position of Deputy Chief of Staff before his new role.

He is an alumnus of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, where he obtained a B.Sc. in Statistics before pursuing further degrees up to Ph.D.

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Labour Appreciates Abiodun For Approving Christmas Bonus For Ogun Workers

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My Dad Asked Me To Prioritise Civil Servants, Pensioners, Teachers - Abiodun

The Trade Union Congress (TUC) and the Joint Negotiation Committee (JNC) in Ogun State have described Governor Dapo Abiodun as a compassionate leader who has the interest of workers at heart.

In separate letters of gratitude to the governor for approving the Christmas bonus for the state workforce, the two unions said the gesture was a further demonstration of Prince Abiodun’s commitment to the welfare of their members.

TUC, in a letter signed by the Chairman of the Ogun State Council, Comrade Akeem Lasisi, described the bonus payment as a gesture that would help workers overcome the present economic challenges.

“This development was not unexpected, as we are well aware of the compassionate leadership that His Excellency embodies.

“The Christmas bonus package further reinforces the current administration’s reputation for delivering positive changes. This gesture will significantly help alleviate the daily economic hardships that our workforce and their families face. We assure you that this unexpected display of care from His Excellency will encourage our colleagues to strive for even more outstanding achievements for our beloved state.

“We sincerely appreciate the government’s efforts to maintain stability in our industrial relations.

“Please accept our heartfelt gratitude, unwavering loyalty, and support for your administration,” TUC said.

In its own letter of appreciation, JNC Chairman Comrade Olude Isa said the bonus would empower the state workers to have successful celebrations.

He said: “Beyond rhetoric, His Excellency, Prince Dapo Abiodun, CON, has done it once more, putting smiles on our faces in this season of celebrating Jesus Christ. The bonus has brought to the state workforce two factors: economic empowerment and the faithful heart of inclusiveness.

“We all received the payment; confidently and joyfully, we went shopping. Also, we felt that, indeed, we are included in the overall schemes of relevant stakeholders in our dear state. Honestly, we are very grateful for the timely gesture.

“May the good tidings of Christmas be with His Excellency always. And to his amiable cabinet, the strength to bring our state to our desired greater heights will surely be bestowed on each and every one of them.

“To you, Sir, our truest, passionate leader, the rewarding spirit of His Holiness will ever remain with you and yours.”

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For The Record

The Palamadi Fall

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Dele Jegede In Conversation With Prince Yemisi Shyllon
Prof. Toyin Falola

By Toyin Falola

The ancient Greek stones, time’s sentinels, align,
Their whispers weave with the winds’ resigned sighs.
A thousand steps, hewn out of will and design,
Call out the brave to the skies of the Venetians.

Every rise makes my heart a fast-beating drum,
The Argolic Gulf expands as a timeless sea.
Strangers go before, their strength steadfast,
While my family mounts upwards in boldness.

But at the topmost stair, fate played its freak,
A slip, a fall, the edge of the world thrown.
My head struck stone; my body, at rest—
The fortress walls my weakness thrown.

The echoes of fear rose from behind,
Three voices cried, their anguish shared.
Yet life, that dogged thread, still aligned,
And from it, I emerged repaired.

I rose with bruises, humbled, sore
But my spirit, Leonidas, roared to rise.
To stand and climb was my sacred chore,
To touch the heavens, claim the prize.

Finally, the summit wind stroked my face,
The bastions whispered: heroes past.
Kolokotronis, Achilles-their mighty grace,
Speaking to me that strength shall always last.

Then came my family and stood next to me, proud and serene,
Their courage-a mirror to who I could have been.
I gazed at my son and my daughter, their shine,
Their future, a fortress stronger than me.

Going down, the steps became small,
A survived journey-a life regained.
Palamidi heights, its rise, its fall,
Forever etched in memory’s frame.

For information on the Palamidi, see https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palamidi

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