Shockwaves are reverberating across Yorùbáland and the global Yorùbá diaspora following the sudden death of the Baba Ọba (King’s Father) of the famed Oyotunji African Village in South Carolina, USA. The late Baba Ọba, Lukman Arohunfale, a revered socialite and traditionalist, passed away under circumstances already sparking fierce controversy. His death comes just days after he publicly accused the newly installed Alaafin of Oyo, His Imperial Majesty Oba Akeem Adéyẹmọ Owoade, of allegedly ordering his courtiers to beat him mercilessly during a recent courtesy visit to the Oyo palace in Nigeria. In a widely circulated voice recording, the deceased recounted how what was meant to be a simple homage turned violent. Although the Baba Ọba had reportedly battled ill health in the past year, growing insinuations suggest that the alleged physical assault may have aggravated his condition, ultimately leading to his untimely death. The palace in Oyo recently denied that s...
Speaker of the house of representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila has stated that the acting managing director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Kemebradikumo Pondei, will no longer appear before the panel probing him and the agency. Recall that Pondei was enmeshed in a drama today July 20, after fainting at the venue of the probe. Commenting on the development, Gbajabiamila apologized for the stuffy hearing room and also wished Pondei a speedy recovery.
He said;
“We wish him well. I have been here barely five minutes and I am already sweating profusely. So I do understand and apologize to everybody here for the poorly conducive atmosphere. I want to say at this point and make it clear, that is not an adversarial hearing. It is not even inquisitorial. “It is a fact-finding mission for the people of Nigeria. Just to make things better and we should handle this as such. No one is under an inquisition. The fact must come out and that is why the committee is doing what it is doing. “Because of these conditions in this hall, we don’t need to hear further from the acting MD because he has already submitted his written report. I think you can use the documents to do the work that needs to be done. “Starting from the minister, Dr. Cairo and all the executive directors we are sorry under the conditions which you have been invited and my members are under the same conditions. We wish Mr. Pondei all the best.” The speaker also commended the chairman of the probe panel, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, for recusing himself from the investigation.
Gbajabiamila added;
“I want to commend the chairman of the committee who this morning recused himself from being part of the proceedings. It shows the level of integrity of himself and by extension his committee and a further extension to the house of representatives. I believe he has set the stage for a fair hearing."