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...
Less than 24 hours after the increase in the ex-depot price of Premium Motor Spirit (petrol) was announced, some filling stations in Lagos and Ogun states have adjusted their pump prices, selling the product at between N150 and N162 per litre. Our correspondent, who visited several filling stations along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, observed that Fatgbems sold a litre of petrol at N162; NNPC, N160; and Mobil, N159.9. Enyo sold the product at N159.9 per litre; Capital Oil and Gas, N158; and Oando, N150. The PUNCH had earlier reported that the pump price of PMS appeared set to hit N160 per litre as the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation increased the price at which it sells the product to marketers from N138.62 per litre to N147.67. The Petroleum Products Marketing Company, a subsidiary of the NNPC had, on Wednesday, increased the ex-depot price of the PMS to N151.56 per litre, with marketers saying the product would be sold at between N158 and N162 per litre. The ex-depot price is the price at which the product is sold to marketers at the depots. The Chairman, Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria, Mr Adetunji Oyebanji, told our correspondent on Thursday that pump prices would have to be adjusted to reflect realities of the increase of ex-depot prices by PPMC. He said, “However the magnitude of the increase, timing and location is a decision left to each company. Consistent with global best practices, MOMAN does not dictate prices to its members, as this would be anti-competition in a fully deregulated market. “We welcome the government’s action in allowing the market to determine prices, as we believe it will prevent the return of subsidies while allowing operators the opportunity to recover their costs. “This will, in the long run, encourage investment and create jobs.”