Olu Adamolekun, chairman of Ikere-Ekiti Local Government Area of Ekiti State, has sworn in his advisers and supervisors of wards in the LGA with a cutlass.

In a video making the rounds on social media on Tuesday, the appointees are seen taking turns wielding a cutlass (a totem believed to be for the god of iron) in one hand and either Quran or Bible in the other.

Ògún is a deity in African (Yoruba) traditional religion. It is often regarded as the “god of iron.”

The swearing-in ceremony coordinated by Adamolekun took place on May 2 at the chairman’s office’s conference hall.

Speaking, the LG boss congratulated the newly sworn-in supervisors and advisers while urging them to see their appointment as a call to service.

He further charged them to be guided by the document of the oath of swearing-in and discharge their duties diligently and accordingly.

The supervisors were identified as Femi Ayeni representing Are/Aramomi/Ayetoro Ward, Olu Ogundipe (Okeruku Ward), Idowu Ojo Omowumi (Atiba/Aafin Ward), and Ajayi Mathew Oladele (Ogbonjana Ward).

Others are Sola Alonge of Odose Ward, Boluwaji Daramola (llapetu/ljao Ward), Toyin Owolabi (Agbado/Oyo Ward), Akojiyan Olamilekan Rasaq (Oke Osun Ward) and Filani Motunrayo (Afao/Kajola Ward) sworn in as advisers.

Before this video surfaced, political officeholders usually swear an oath of office using the Quran or Bible while pledging allegiance to the country’s Constitution.

The Otun Olubadan of Ibadanland, High Chief Rasidi Ladoja, on Tuesday, finally withdrew the suit filed against members of Olubadan-in-Council.

High Chief Ladoja instituted a suit against the members of the Council over the beaded crown worn before the demise of the late 42nd Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Lekan Balogun.

The coast is now clear for the enthronement of the Olubadan-designate, Oba Owolabi Olakulehin, as the 43rd Olubadan of Ibadanland.

More to follow…

The Lagos State House of Assembly has kicked against the position of the Inspector-General of Police, IGP, Olukayode Egbetokun, that Nigeria is not ripe for the establishment of state police.

Speaker of the House, Mudashiru Obasa, directed the Clerk of the House, Olalekan Onafeko, to write the Inspector-General and the National Assembly stating that the state lawmakers reject Egbetokun’s position.

Recall that the IGP, represented at a recently held one-day dialogue on state policing, themed, ‘Pathways to Peace: Reimagining Policing in Nigeria,’ opposed the establishment of state police, arguing that it would increase ethnic tension and cause divided loyalty in states of the federation.

The IGP also suggested that the Federal Road Safety Corps and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps be merged with the police force.

However, speaking at plenary on Monday, Obasa, who noted that the FRSC and the NSCDC have not been able to solve the problems of accidents on roads and pipeline vandalism respectively, wondered how effective they would be if they are merged with the police force.

“In Lagos State, we have the Security Trust Fund through which successive administrations starting from that of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu have provided enormous support to the police command in Lagos State. Yet, crime of different dimensions has continued.

“This shows that no matter what Egbetokun has proffered as solution, such won’t solve our problem. The position of the IGP is unacceptable.

“We strongly believe that if we have state police, we would be able to solve the issues of crime in our nation or reduce it to the minimum.

“As we have seen in other climes, the United Kingdom has different levels of policing just like the United States of America. So why should ours be different?

“The lives of our people are very important and we must do everything possible to make sure we protect lives and property. We want to state categorically that we believe in state police and we want to urge the National Assembly to continue with its intendment to establish state police through the process of constitutional amendment,” Obasa said while praising President Tinubu for his resolve to end insecurity in the country.

Commending the Speaker for his stand on the issue of state police, the lawmaker representing Badagry Constituency 1, argued that with its current structure, it would be difficult for the Nigeria Police Force to effectively secure the country.

Also declaring his support for state police, another lawmaker, Hon. Sa’ad Olumoh (Ajeromi/Ifelodun 1), said each Nigerian state currently has a local security outfit in the semblance of state police.

“Today, which state does not have state police one way or the other? This is a cause that should be supported. For the IG to come out and say state police is not in the interest of Nigeria shows he is not considering the reality of insecurity on Nigerians,” he said.