Politics
37 Sacked College Teachers Cry To Gov Sanwo – Olu
The 37 teachers recently sacked from the Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education, Ijanikin, Lagos State, have pleaded with Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to save them from starvation and untimely death.
Their spokesman, Mr Gabriel Oguntuase, made the plea in an interview with newsmen, yesterday in Lagos.
Oguntuase said that the affected teachers were initially employed as staff of the institution.
According to him, “later, we were moved to teach in the primary and secondary schools’ section of the institution, while the remaining staff were given harmonisation letter as bona fide staff of the college”.
Oguntuase said that their ordeal started sometime in 2010 when their promotions in the two schools they were posted to, primary and secondary, were stopped.
“We wrote so many letters to the management on the matter, but we got no response.
“This continued until 2015 when our salaries were reduced by more than half, and all benefits due to us as statutory employees were taken away.
“From then onward, we were deprived of all allowances, including annual increment.
“Then, on May 2, 2019, the council and management of the institution terminated our employment, giving redundancy as the reason without following the rule of redundancy.
“It is indeed unfit for a College of Education, which prides itself as a foremost teachers training institute in Nigeria, to expose its teachers to the kind of horrific experience we are undergoing,” he said.
Oguntuase appealed to the governor and the people of the state to intervene and save them from inhuman treatment meted out to them.
“We are teachers, and we are Nigerians. We don’t deserve the treatment we are getting from the management of Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education, Ijanikin.
“Where do we go from here, after using our youthful energy, giving the whole of our productive years to building and moulding lives? Ours should not be doomed to perpetual slavery and miseries.
“We have worked diligently between 10 and 27 years with letters of recommendation given to us by the management council of the school.
“We went to schools like every other professional, and we deserve every bit of our benefits.
“We have our appointment, confirmation and promotion letters duly signed by the college.
“AOCOED should not be allowed to take away what belongs to us.
“Please, our amiable governor, save us and our dependants from starvation and sudden death,” the teachers’ leader pleaded.
He said they should have emulated the Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo, that moved all their teaching staff from the staff school to various departments and units in the college without slashing their salaries.
Politics
Alleged Coup: Protests Rock N’Assembly As Detained Officers’ Children, Wives Demand Justice
Scores of children and wives of military officers detained over an alleged coup plot yesterday staged a peaceful protest at the National Assembly, demanding a speedy trial and the release of the accused officials.
The protesters who gathered at the entrance of the National Assembly complex, moved in a slow procession while clutching placards with inscriptions such as “Don’t Kill Our Daddies,” “Detention Without Trial is Injustice,” and “Six Months of Torture: Enough Is Enough.”
Amid tears and trembling voices, the children appealed for justice and access to their detained fathers, many of whom they said they had not seen for months.
The appeal was made during a press briefing in Abuja attended by no fewer than 20 wives and several children of the detained officers, including a two-month-old baby.
The families were accompanied by human rights lawyer, Deji Adeyanju and activist Omoyele Sowore.
At the briefing, the families lamented that the officers had been held for over 160 days without trial or contact with their relatives, describing the situation as a violation of their fundamental rights.
Speaking on behalf of the families, Memuna Bashiru said the prolonged detention had thrown their households into uncertainty and emotional distress, noting that while allegations had been widely publicised, families remained in the dark about the fate of their loved ones.
The arrest of the indicted officers was first announced on October 4, 2025, by the then Director of Defense Information, Brigadier General Tukur Gusau, who disclosed that 16 officers were taken into custody for alleged breaches of military regulations and acts of indiscipline.
However, an interim investigation later suggested the existence of a clandestine network of officers, allegedly coordinated by a senior Army officer, which had begun preliminary planning for a coup.
According to the report, the alleged plot involved surveillance of key national assets, including the Presidential Villa, Armed Forces Complex, Niger Barracks in Abuja, and major international airports, with October 25, 2025, cited as the planned date for the operation.
Those reportedly in custody include Brig Gen M. A. Sadiq, Col M. A. Maaji, Lt Col S. Bappah, Lt Col A. A. Hayatu, Lt Col P. Dangnap, Lt Col M. Almakura, Maj A. J. Ibrahim, Maj M. M. Jiddah, Maj M. A. Usman, Maj D. Yusuf, Capt I. Bello, Capt A. A. Yusuf, Lt S. S. Felix, Lt Cdr D. B. Abdullahi, Sqn Ldr S. B. Adamu and Maj I. Dauda.
The alleged plot, according to findings, targeted senior government officials, including President Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima.
In a statement issued yesterday, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Mr Felix Morka, said the exercise would take place in all wards and designated centres nationwide.
He called on existing members to update their records, while encouraging new entrants to join the party through the digital platform.
“As the electronic membership registration exercise resumes in all wards and designated locations nationwide, we urge existing members to validate their membership while new members are encouraged to register and join the progressive family,” Mr Morka said.
According to him, eligibility for registration is limited to individuals aged 18 and above who possess a valid National Identification Number (NIN).
The party said the initiative is part of efforts to modernise its operations by transitioning to a digital database that would enhance record accuracy and accessibility.
Mr Morka noted that the e-registration would “digitise the party’s membership register, ensure the integrity of records, and enhance efficient access to membership data for planning and management decisions.”
He added that the move is also aimed at promoting internal democracy within the party and strengthening its commitment to democratic innovation.
The APC had previously introduced electronic registration as part of broader reforms to streamline its membership system and improve organisational efficiency.