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Busted: Osun #EndSARS protesters disown Bakare, Sowore’s associate
Conveners of #EndSARS protest in Osun have disowned one Olawale Adebayo Bakare, known in the local parlance as Mandate, saying he appears to be pursuing ‘Revolution Now’ agenda under the guise of #EndSARS.
Bakare, is an associate of Omoyele Sowore, the promoter of “Revolution Now,” who is standing trial for a reasonable offence.
In a statement jointly signed by four of the conveners, two of whom are members of the Osun Judicial Panel of Inquiry on Police Brutality, they described Bakare as an impostor, seeking to use the #EndSARS platform to achieve an ulterior motive.
The conveners are: Abdulazeez Ismail Abiodun, Queen Aderemi Fisayo, Babawale Poopola and Oluwasegun Idowu.
#EndSARS protesters had last Saturday suspended all forms of protest in Osun, following the hijack by hoodlums who laid siege on the parts of the State for several hours, looting private and government property in the process.
In a well circulated video that went viral in the State, Bakare was not only seen but also spoke on the need to suspend the protest.
But by Wednesday, he was said to have purportedly issued another statement which was at variance with the earlier position they had jointly taken.
However, the conveners of the #EndSARS protest in Osun are saying Bakare does not have their mandate to speak on their behalf.
In their statement, “Re: Osun EndSARS Protests and Judiciary Panel of Enquiry,” a copy of which was made available to journalists in Osogbo, the conveners said: “Our attention has been drawn to trending publication titled “OSUN STATE #ENDSARS PROTESTERS CONDEMNS MANIPULATIONS AND THE PRO-GOVERNMENT TENDENCIES OF THE JUDICIAL PANEL OF ENQUIRY; CALLS FOR IMMEDIATE REVIEW ” purportedly signed by Olawale Adebayo Bakare (Mandate) as Spokesperson, Olushayo Ogunleye, Mobilisation Secretary, and Queen Fisayo, Chairperson, Finance/Welfare Committee.
“#EndSARS protest movement in Osun never endorsed Olawale Bakare and others as spokespersons or any one amongst the purported signatories as the face and representatives of the struggle.
“We want to explicitly state that the author, who we strongly suspect to be Olawale Bakare, impersonated one of the signatrioes, Queen Fisayo, who is the one of the conveners of #EndSARS in Osun, the act that intrinsically gives out the narrative as criminally-motivated.
“That all the claims in the piece are false, misleading, selfserving and pursuance of personal and parochial agenda, which is totally in conflict with the original tenets of #EndSARS legitimate agitations.
“We are of robust conviction that these individuals are pursuing a very different agenda beyond #EndSARS and good governance. They are clearly out to blackmail amalgam of concious youths in the State of Osun, for the covert goal of making them to blindly accept their ‘Revolution Now Agenda’ under the pretext of genuine agitation against police brutality.
“They are obviously angry that the majority of #EndSARS activists in the state have agreed to put on hold the genuine protest, considering the prevailing circumstance of being hijacked by hoodlums, contrary to their wish of holding the entire state into ransom for selfish reason of impressing their paid masters and allies in ‘Revolution Now Fraternity’.
“It is instructive to note that those who are youths and students representatives in the Judiciary Panel of Enquiry are foundational #EndSARS conveners and part of the struggle from the begining to the day of suspension. They are also people of integrity with sound judgement to seek redress and ensure justice for the victims of police brutality.
“It is on that note that we want to urge the members of the public to disregard the so-called release, which tends to rubish the judicial Panel of Enquiry and sabotage the genuine prospect of EndSARS struggle. Their intents have been exposed as tactical move to put our dear state in disarray and state of anarchy.
“We therefore passionately put all security agencies on alert to nip this criminality and chaotic tendencies in the bud.
“We want to emphatically assert that we have no relationship whatsoever with ‘Revolution Now Agenda’ and we are using this opportunity to inform the general public that #EndSARS protest remains suspended across the state to give room for government to address the legitimate and fundamental issues raised by the teeming youths in the state.
“Finally, we implore the general public to disregard the claims of Bakare and his cohorts and approach the panel with their petitions, as members of the panel are men and women of integrity, carefully drawn from the Academia, Civil Society Organizations, Youths Council, Student body and Nigeria Bar Association. It is indeed certain that Osun citizens will laugh at last and laugh best,” the conveners said.
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Remember there’s a God of second chance” – Ooni tells inmates during visit to Kuje Correctional Centre
The Ooni of Ife, Ooni Adeyeye Ogunwusi, on Tuesday, kickstarted his annual coronation anniversary with a humanitarian visit to the Kuje Correctional facility in Abuja, Federal Capital Territory.
According to Director of Media & Public Affairs, Ooni’s Palace, Otunba Moses Olafare, the monarch told the inmates to always remember that God created everyone and that he’ss the God of second chance.
Ooni Ogunwusi was on an official duty in the F.C.T. when he decided to visit inmates at the facility for a programme organized by Hopes Alive Initiative (HAI) under his Chairmanship to motivate those who are often ignored by the society.
Addressing the gathering of inmates and prison’s officials after being welcomed into the facility by officers of the Nigeria Correctional Service, Ooni Ogunwusi who was flanked by his Queen & Deputy Convener of Hopes Alive Initiative HAI Olori Temitope Enitan-Ogunwusi, explained that the best part of human life is the one spent to serve others particularly the poor and vulnerable individuals.
“We should always remember that God created all of us and that is the God of second chance, we have seen in this country from prison to presidency, right from prison all the way to become the president of this country.
“So please do not write off yourselves, whatever the situation you might have found yourselves here remember that their is a God of second chance.
“I am here to tell you that there is a life after here, it does not end here and that is why you all must see this current phase of your life as a learning stage for the lessons with which you will live for life after here.
“I have not come here to tell you that it is not difficult but I am here to tell you that it is possible for you all to be better and be amongst the best members of the larger Nigerian society when you eventually leave here.”
Highpoint of the event was when five (5) inmates were freed after fulfilling all requirements including payment of bail/fines through the assistance of the HAI, with a promise to keep an eye on them and also empowering them in the trade they learned while in the Correctional Centre.
Other event earmarked for the Ooni Ogunwusi’s coronation anniversary is the Staff Appreciation Night during which all staff members (Traditional and Official) working with His Imperial Majesty will be honoured and gifted series of items including cars for the best performing ones.
In the same vein, parts of the statement said the Palace is not unaware of false, malicious and misleading reportage particularly by some unprofessional bloggers and armchair journalists about the event which does not tally with the event or any of its realities.
“These purveyors of fake news who are bent on blackmailing top personalities for income (Online traffic), prominence or whatever reasons predetermined by them wrote nonsense from the figment of their imagination and got it circulated by armchair (lazy) journalists with no regard for principles, laws and ethics of the prestigious pen profession.”
The Ooni’s Hopes Alive Initiative (HAI) has in the last five years engaged in the charity work which targets to give hope to the hopeless and vulnerable members of the society. Ooni Ogunwusi through the NGO has donated befitting homes to the orphanage and destitute, water borehole facilities to several market’s across the South West in Nigeria, educational materials to several schools in the country.
The Nigeria Union of Journalists,Osun State Council will on Friday hold a Commendation Service in honour of late Bishop-Elect, Adesunmbo Samson Abioye.
A statement by the Chairman of the union,Comrade Wasiu Ajadosu and Secretary,Comrade Adeyemi Aboderin indicate that the service will hold at NUJ Press Centre, Iwo /Ibadan Road,Osogbo by nine in the morning.
The statement calls on members of the union,friends and associates of the deceased to be part of the ceremony.
Late Bishop-Elect, Adesunmbo Samson Abioye was a former Secretary of NUJ,Osun State Council.
The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has said that the second in command of an outlawed Eastern Security Network (ESN) Commander, Ebube Virus, has been killed in a fierce gun battle.
The deceased suspect was on the Imo State Police Command’s wanted list due to his nefarious activities in the Aboh Mbaise area of the State.
The Commissioner of Police, Imo State Command, CP Aboki Danjuma, disclosed this in a statement issued by the Police spokesman, Henry Okoye, on Tuesday.
According to the CP, “Following the confessions made by the suspected IPOB/ESN Terrorist allegedly involved in the killing of DPO Ahiazu Mbaise and other dastardly acts in the Mbaise axis, operatives of the Command’s Anti-Kidnapping squad led by CSP Oladimeji Odeyeyiwa on Monday 4th of December, 2023 stormed the criminal hideout of a deadly IPOB/ESN Terrorist Syndicate led by Ebube Virus and Ishaka, at Umuogu Amuzu in Aboh-Mbaise LGA of Imo State and dislodged the terrorists.
“In the process, a ferocious battle broke out between the terrorists and the combat-ready Police agents, neutralizing the Second in Command Ebube Virus, who is well-known on the Command’s wanted list due to their nefarious actions in the Mbaise axis. Others who had been shot at had escaped. From the neutralized terrorist, one AK-47 rifle with 19 rounds of live ammunition was found.
“An operation is underway to find additional fugitive suspects and bring them to justice.”
While praising the brave officers for their unwavering efforts in the fight against all violent crimes in the State, CP Danjuma affirmed the Command’s commitment to working with other security agencies with the aim of restoring peace in the state.
CP Danjuma called on Imo residents to support the Police and other sister security agencies with timely and actionable information that will assist in the crusade against terrorism in the state.
He encouraged owners of hospitals and first-aid outlets to report any person seen with or treating gunshot injuries to the nearest Police Station.
Source: Leadership
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