Traditionalists in Ogun State have vowed to take the state’s chieftaincy law, which governs monarchy’s installation and burial rites, to court.

On Monday, Governor Dapo Abiodun signed the bill into law. Oba Sikiru Adetona, the Awujale and Paramount Ruler of Ijebuland, started it in 2020.

The bill, titled “Obas, Chiefs, Council of Obas and Traditional Council law of Ogun State, Bill 2021,” aims to “respect human dignity and promote modernity” in traditional rulers’ installation and burial.

When a monarch dies, the law gives his or her family the power to choose the mode of burial.

While the bill was hailed as a “welcome development” by the Muslim community, traditionalists in the state opposed it, calling it a move to erode Yoruba cultures.

High Chief Ifasola Opeodu, the Oluwo of Iperu and Vice Chairman of Osugbo Remo Parapo, threatened to challenge the law in a competent court in Abeokuta yesterday.

Read Also:  Shonekan will be remembered in Nigeria for his bravery and selfless service – Oyetola

“A dead man has no right under the law,” he argued.

Opeodu also stated that becoming a king is not by force, and that no Christian or Muslim should ever bury an Oba.

“A dead man has no legal rights,” he said. Any person who has died has lost all of his rights.

“The Obas’ right that they claim we are infringing on is invalid because a dead man has no right under the law.”

“Secondly, what we’re saying is that the Obaship institution is optional; we’re not forcing people to go, and we’re not saying they shouldn’t bury Obas; but, if you follow our argument, how can they now say Christians and Muslims should come and bury traditional heads?”

“If there is anything they do not want during their burials, they should say so, but traditionalists, not Christians, must bury Obas.”

“Why don’t they say that the monarchs should be installed by Christians or Muslims?” They aren’t saying anything about it. Without prejudice to traditionalists’ rights under customary law, the governor said.

Read Also:  10 dead, many trapped As a church building collapses in Delta

“They’re all there,” says the narrator. We are not saying that Obas should not be buried, but they should not be buried by Christians or Muslims.”

Friends and relatives are in tears after a church building housing Salvation Ministries collapsed during a service on Tuesday evening.

According to reports, the newly constructed church building is located in Okpanam, Oshimili North local government area of Delta state.

Read Also:  Nguru Nsukka community praises Gov. Ugwuanyi, warns blackmailers in Enugu

While many people are still trapped in the rubbles, it has been reported that eight worshippers have been rescued unharmed, with over ten deaths reported, and at least four people have been rushed to the Asaba Specialist Hospital for medical attention.

During Tuesday evening service, the building, which was being used for the first time, reportedly collapsed at around 5:55 p.m.

Read Also:  Shonekan will be remembered in Nigeria for his bravery and selfless service – Oyetola

The Secretary to the State Government, Chief Patrick Ukah, the State Commissioner for Health, Dr Ononye Mordi, a team of Red Cross officers, and fire fighters were on the ground on a rescue mission at the time of filing this report.

Chief Ernest Shonekan, according to Osun State Governor Adegboyega Oyetola, was a leader who will be remembered for his courage, selflessness, and patriotic service to the country during a difficult time.

Governor Oyetola also described Chief Shonekan as a “elder statesman” and “industrialist” whose exceptional qualities demonstrated a strong commitment to Nigeria’s peace, unity, and development both in and out of office.

Read Also:  Buni Committee Blames Governors, Stakeholders for Delay at APC Convention

On Tuesday, the Governor issued a condolence statement, which he signed and made available to his Chief Press Secretary, Ismail Omipidan.

While expressing sadness over the death of the former head of the Interim National Government, the Osun governor added that his death had left a gap that would take a long time to close.

“On behalf of my family, government, and people of Osun, I express my condolences to Chief Ernest Shonekan’s wife, his family, government, and people of Ogun State,” he said.

Read Also:  Nguru Nsukka community praises Gov. Ugwuanyi, warns blackmailers in Enugu

“I pray that God grant Chief Shonekan’s soul eternal rest and that God grant his beloved wife, family, and the people of Ogun State the strength to bear his loss.”

Chief Ernest Shonekan, a former Chairman of UAC Plc, died on Tuesday morning in Lagos. Between August 26 and November 17, 1993, he was the Interim National Government of Nigeria’s leader before being deposed by General Sani Abacha.

The people of Nguru community in Enugu State’s Nsukka Local Government Area have praised Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi and member representing Nsukka/Igbo-Eze South Federal Constituency, Hon. Pat Asadu, for the community’s road construction.

This was part of the community’s communique following a stakeholders’ meeting on Sunday.

The communique, which was made available to the community, also expressed complete trust in the traditional ruler, His Royal Highness, Igwe Linus Obayi, and warned against any further attacks on him.

Read also:   Osun Governor expresses condolences on the death of former Osun Governor Ernest Shonekan

Edoga Paul Eze, Attamah Ezoguda, Edoga Fidelis Eze, Onyishi Umuodeju, Ochiebo Obayi Obute, Onyishi Amagu Uwani, Edoga Godwin Onyishi, Onyishi Umudimojome, Edoga Godwin Onyishi, Onyishi Umudimojome, Edoga Godwin Onyishi, Onyishi Umudimojome

Arumona Lazarus Attah, for Oha Nguru, Arumona Augustine Alumona, for Oha Nguru, Arumona Emeka Ugwuede, for Oha Nguru, Omerubo Nkwo Asogwa, for Umuada Nguru Nsukka, Chief Attah Chigozie Emmanuel, for Nguru Youths, and Chief Thomas Obute, for Nguru Land Committee were among those

The Akpuru arua (Onyishi) of all the villages, nd’Oha, Igwe in council (cabinet members), Umuada, and the Nguru youths, men, and women were all present at Nguru Nsukka’s all-inclusive stakeholders’ meeting.

“The custodians and all peace-loving people of Nguru Nsukka have confidence in HRH Igwe Linus Obayi as the most humble and peace-loving Igwe,” the communique read.

“Thanked the Executive Governor of Enugu State, Rt Hon. Dr Ifeanyi Lawrence Ugwuanyi, and the Member of Parliament for Nsukka/Igboeze South, Rt Hon. Dr Pat Asadu, for the excellent road construction and asphalting work in Nguru.”

“Declared that peace is paramount in Nguru Nsukka and must be maintained by all.”

They also “condemned the attitude of the Nguru Concerned Citizens group, which on Monday, 3/1/22, blocked major roads in Nguru Nsukka in the name of protest, thereby holding the lives and economic conditions of all Nguru Nsukka people and the neighboring community to ransom, and described the group’s attitude as barbaric and uncivilized,” according to the statement.

“I urged the Nguru Concerned Citizens’ aggrieved members to engage in dialogue and stop spreading false information to some members of our community.”

Read also:  FCTA Promises to Help All Abandoned, Vulnerable Children

“Maintained that, despite being the traditional ruler, HRH Igwe Linus Obayi does not have absolute power over Nguru Nsukka land, as the _Akpuru aruas (Onyishis)_ and Land Committee had been handling Nguru land matters even before the Igwe’s coronation.”

“Commended the Igwe in the community for his humility, intelligence, and wisdom, as well as his good leadership style.”

“Resolved that the Nguru Town Union is very important and must be supported by all stakeholders, and that delegates to the Town Union are at the discretion of villages, while maintaining the cultural and constitutional provisions of delegation/nomination; the Onyishi of each village has the power to endorse all delegates, and the delegates are invalid in the absence of Onyishi endorsement.”

“At all times, our traditional ruler, the Igwe, the Akpuru arua, and other custodians must be treated with the utmost respect.”

“Advised Nguru Concerned Citizens members to leave HRH Igwe Obayi alone, as the Igwe is innocent of all charges leveled against him.”

“Resolved that the traditional ruler, regardless of creed or status, is the leader of everyone in the community.”

“Reiterated that Nguru Nsukka is a single, indivisible entity, and urged all sons and daughters to lend their full support to the Igwe in moving Nguru forward.”

Read also:  Nigeria yet to vaccinate 50% of the target population against COVID-19, says FG

“Called on all members of the community to be security conscious in order to ensure the safety of everyone in Nguru Nsukka’s lives and property.”

“Demanded an unqualified apology from members of Nguru Concerned Citizens for holding the lives and economic conditions of all members of Nguru Nsukka and other neighboring communities hostage on January 3, 2022.”

The hearing date for Nnamdi Kanu’s basic rights case in the High Court of Abia State has been set for January 19, 2022.

Aloy Ejimakor, his lawyer, announced this in a statement on Wednesday.

Justice Benson Anya of the High Court of Abia State in Umuahia heard and decided the case on December 10, 2021, according to Ejimakor.

The lawsuit, which I filed on August 27, 2021, seeks “a declaration that the Nigerian government’s military invasion of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s home in Abia State in September 2017 was illegal, unlawful, and unconstitutional, and amounts to an infringement of his fundamental rights to life, dignity of his person, personal liberty, and fair hearing, as guaranteed by the Nigerian Constitution and the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights.”

Read Also:  Gunmen kidnap the wife of Deputy Chief of Staff, Dr. Samuel Audu Health Director in Plateau

“A declaration that the arrest of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu in Kenya by Nigerian government agents without due process of law is arbitrary, illegal, unlawful, and unconstitutional, and amounts to a violation of his fundamental rights to personal liberty and a fair trial, as guaranteed by the Nigerian Constitution and the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights.”

“A declaration that the Nigerian government’s torture and detention of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu in Kenya is illegal, unlawful, and unconstitutional, and amounts to a violation of his fundamental rights against torture and to a fair trial, as guaranteed by the Nigerian Constitution and the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights.”

“A declaration that the Nigerian government’s expulsion of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu from Kenya to Nigeria, as well as his subsequent detention and planned prosecution in Charge No: FHC/ABJ/CR/383/2015 (Federal Republic of Nigeria v. Nnamdi Kanu) are illegal, unlawful, and unconstitutional, and amount to an infringement of his fundamental rights against unlawful expulsion and detention, and to a fair hearing, as guaranteed by the Nigerian Constitution and

“An order of injunction prohibiting the Nigerian government from proceeding with the prosecution of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu in Charge No: FHC/ABJ/CR/383/2015 (Federal Republic of Nigeria v. Nnamdi Kanu) in connection with his unlawful deportation from Kenya to Nigeria.”

“An order directing and obliging the Nigerian government to immediately release Mazi Nnamdi Kanu from detention and restore him to his liberty, as of June 19, 2021; and to repatriate him to the United Kingdom, his place of domicile and citizenship.”

Read Also:  FG To Assure Manufacturers Of Better Infrastructure And Forex Access This Year – Adebayo

“An order ordering the Nigerian government to write an official Letter of Apology to Mazi Nnamdi Kanu for the violation of his fundamental rights, and to publish said Letter of Apology in three national dailies.”