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One-Day Lagos Governor Seeks Infrastructure Improvement In Schools

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The One-Day Governor of Lagos State, Miss Eniola Ajala, has appealed to Governor  Babajide Sanwo-Olu to provide more infrastructure in the state’s  public schools.
Ajala made the appeal while holding extraordinary meeting with the Lagos State Executive Council at the Exco Chamber at the Lagos House, Ikeja.
Being One-Day-Governor is an honour given to the winner of the New Era Spelling Bee Competition for public schools in Lagos, of which Miss Eniola Ajala won the 2018 edition.
She said there was need for infrastructure improvement, especially in the schools of all the winners of the competition, so as to create an ambient environment for learning.
Ajala, who was at the extraordinary meeting with her cabinet members,  thanked Gov. Sanwo-Olu’s administration for the honour bestowed on the winners of the Spelling Bee Competition.
She also commended the governor for the T.H.E.M.E.S agenda of his administration and his efforts in handling the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to her, members of the Lagos state executive council are good products of quality education and policies in the state.
She enjoined students to be focused, determined, prayerful and committed in order to overcome their challenges in life.
The One-Day-Governor, Ajala, is a student of Lafiaji Senior High School, Lagos Island, while her cabinet members included, Miss Grace Ikhariale of TinCan Island Senior High School, Tolu (Deputy Governor) and Miss Oluwatosin Akinbodewa of Iworo Ajido Senior Secondary School, Badagry (Speaker).
Other were Miss Eunice Adedotun of Agbde Senior School, Ikorodu (Commissioner for Education) and Master Ekene Ezeunala of Meiran Community High School (Chairman, House Committee on Education).
Reacting, Sanwo-Olu said his government was committed to quality education in the state, as education would continue to be a major stake on the T.H.E.M.E.S agenda in order to improve the learning outcome of students in public schools.
He said his government would continue to improve on the ambience of learning in public schools to bring out the best in students across the state.
Sanwo-Olu said that the competition was about excellence and to encourage students and youth population in Lagos State.
The governor urged students in various schools in the state not to rest on their oars to be the best, to persevere and be committed to reach their goals and endeavours in life.
He applauded Ajala for demonstrating confidence, knowledge, eloquence and pride, while admonishing her and cabinet members to be steadfast and not allow the little feats to get to their heads.
Sanwo-Olu promised to fulfill the requests made by the One-Day-Governor, among which were rewards for teachers, principals and infrastructural improvement in schools.
He also commended the Ministry of Education, as well the Office of Quality Assurance in the ministry for their efforts and tenacity in improving the education sector.
Sanwo-Olu also appreciated former First Lady and the founder of New Era foundation, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu, who is currently representing Lagos Central Senatorial District in the National Assembly for initiating the Spelling Bee Competition.
He said the competition which had started for the past 20 years was not about race nor tribe but an excellence platform available to students of public schools in Lagos.
Speaking to journalists at the event, the Director General, Office of Education Quality Assurance, Abiola Seriki-Ayeni, said the winners of the Spelling Bee competition would be sponsored on a tour programme to Finland.
“ Oluremi Tinubu, wife of a former governor of Lagos, Sen. Bola Tinubu, started the Spelling Bee Competition for public schools students and 20 years later, the programme still exists; that says a lot about Lagos State Government.
“To prepare for the Spelling Bee Competition takes a lot; it takes perseverance, hard work and consistency and that is what we expect our students to be able to do to prepare them for the future.
“It is good to know that all the winners of the One-Day-Governor and Spelling Bee Competition have succeeded in their various expected areas.
“We have people that are lawyers, Phd holders, doctors and professionals in other areas. We have those who are currently employed in Lagos State Government,” Seriki-Ayeni said.
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Makinde Renames Polytechnic After Late Ex-Gov

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Oyo State Governor, ‘Seyi Makinde, has renamed The Polytechnic, Ibadan as Omololu Olunloyo Polytechnic, Ibadan, in honour of a late former governor of the State, Dr Omololu Olunloyo.
Dr Olunloyo, who died on April 6, 2025, was the pioneer Principal of the Polytechnic, Ibadan, while he also served as Governor of Oyo State between October 1 and December 31, 1983.
Governor Makinde made the announcement at the state interdenominational funeral service held yesterday in honour of the late former governor at the Obafemi Awolowo Stadium, Liberty Road, Ibadan.
Governor Makinde said Dr Olunloyo lived an eventful life, adding that his attainment and personality could not be summarised in one sentence.
“He was not a man we could summarise in one sentence. He was a scholar, a statesman, a technocrat, a lover of culture and, above all, a man of deep conviction.
“While giving the exhortation, I was listening to Baba Archbishop Ayo Ladigbolu and he said in 1983, Baba became Governor of Oyo State. Though his time in office was brief, his election victory over a popular incumbent remains a powerful testament to the trust people gave him.
“I talked about preserving and digitising his library yesterday [Wednesday] as a mark of honour to Baba Olunloyo.
“Today, we will be giving Baba another honour to immortalise him. He was the first Principal of The Polytechnic, Ibadan; that institution will now be named Omololu Olunloyo Polytechnic, Ibadan.”
Earlier in his sermon, a retired Methodist Archbishop of Ilesa and Ibadan, Ayo Ladigbolu, described the late Olunloyo as a role model with intellectual inspiration and unassailable integrity.
The cleric said the deceased also demonstrated leadership in most superior quality during his lifetime.
In attendance were the state Deputy Governor, Chief Abdulraheem Bayo Lawal; wife of a former Military Governor of the old Oyo State, Chief (Mrs) Dupe Jemibewon; wife of a former Governor of Oyo State, Chief (Mrs) Mutiat Ladoja; former Deputy Governor and PDP Deputy National Chairman (South), Ambassador Taofeek Arapaja; and former Deputy Governor, Hazeem Gbolarumi.
Others were the member representing Ibadan North-East/South-East Federal Constituency, Hon Abass Adigun Agboworin; Chief of Staff to the Governor, Otunba Segun Ogunwuyi; Oyo State Exco members; Chairman of Oyo State Elders’ Council, Dr Saka Balogun; Chairman of All Local Government Chairmen in Oyo State, Hon Sikiru Sanda; President-General of the Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes (CCII), Chief Adeniyi Ajewole; religious leaders and family members, among other dignitaries.

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10 NWC Members Oppose Damagum Over National Secretary’s Reinstatement

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Ten members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Working Committee (NWC) have countered the Acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, on the reinstatement of Senator Samuel Anyanwu as National Secretary.
The dissenting members, led by the Deputy National Chairman ( South), Taofeek Arapaja, in a joint statement, said no organ of the opposition party could overturn the decision of the 99th meeting of the National Executive Committee (NEC).
The dissenting NWC members include Arapaja; Setonji Koshoedo, Deputy National Secretary; Okechukwu Obiechina-Daniel, National Auditor; Debo Ologunagba, National Publicity Secretary; Ologunagba; Woyengikuro Daniel, National Financial Secretary and Ahmed Yayari Mohammed, National Treasurer.
Others are Chief Ali Odefa, National Vice Chairman (South East); Emmanuel Ogidi, Caretaker Committee Chairman (South South); Mrs. Amina Darasimi D. Bryhm, National Woman Leader and Ajisafe Kamoru Toyese, National Vice Chairman (South West).
The group also insisted that contrary to the position of the acting National Chairman, the 100th NEC meeting of the party would be held on June 30 as earlier scheduled.
The statement read: “The attention of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been drawn to a press briefing by the acting National Chairman, Amb. Umar Damagum, today Wednesday, June 25, wherein he attempted to overturn the resolution of the 99th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting which scheduled the 100th NEC meeting for Monday, June 30.
“The acting National Chairman in the said press briefing also reportedly announced that Senator Samuel Anyanwu has been asked to resume as National Secretary of the party contrary to the resolution of the 99th NEC meeting, which referred all matters relating to the office of the National Secretary to the 100th NEC meeting.
“The pronouncements by the acting National Chairman have no foundation as no organ of the party (including the NWC), individual or group has the power to cancel, overrule, veto or vary the resolution of the National Executive Committee (NEC) under the Constitution of the PDP (as amended in 2017).
“For the avoidance of doubt, the NEC is the highest decision-making organ of the party, second only to the National Convention. By virtue of Section 31 (3) of the PDP Constitution, the resolution of the NEC to hold its 100th meeting on Monday June 30, is binding on all organs, officers, chapters and members of the party and no organ, group or individual can vary or veto this resolution of NEC.
“Furthermore, the claim by Damagum that Sen Anyanwu has been asked to resume office as the National Secretary of the party is, therefore, misleading being contrary to the resolution of NEC.
“In the light of the foregoing, the 100th NEC meeting as scheduled for Monday, June 30, has not been canceled or postponed.”

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Presidency Slams El-Rufai Over Tinubu Criticism …Says He Suffers From Small Man Syndrome

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The Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, has fired back at former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, following the latter’s scathing criticism of President Tinubu’s administration and his 2027 re-election prospects.
In an interview on live television, Mallam El-Rufai said it would take a “miracle” for President Tinubu to be re-elected in 2027, citing an internal poll that purportedly shows a 91 percent disapproval rating for the president across key regions in the country, including the South-East and the North. He also claimed that President Tinubu’s disapproval rating in Lagos stood at 78 percent.
Reacting on Wednesday via a post on X (formerly Twitter), Mr Onanuga took a swipe at the ex-governor, quoting a harsh assessment of Mallam El-Rufai’s character from former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s memoir, My Watch.
“Nasir’s penchant for reputation savaging is almost pathological,” Mr Onanuga wrote, citing Chief Obasanjo’s words. “Why does he do it? Very early in my interaction with him, I appreciated his talent. At the same time, I recognised his weaknesses; the worst being his inability to be loyal to anybody or any issue consistently for long, but only to Nasir El-Rufai.”
The presidential adviser emphasised Chief Obasanjo’s remarks that Mallam El-Rufai often tries to elevate himself by diminishing others. “He lied brazenly, which he did to me, against his colleagues and so-called friends,” Mr Onanuga continued, quoting the former President. “I have heard of how he ruthlessly savaged the reputation of his uncle, a man who, in an African setting, was like a foster father to him.”
Chief Obasanjo, who appointed Mallam El-Rufai as the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory between 2003 and 2007, did not mince words in the memoir, describing Mallam El-Rufai as suffering from “small man syndrome.”
Mr Onanuga’s post is seen as a direct rebuttal to Mallam El-Rufai’s recent criticism and growing opposition role. The former governor is reportedly playing a central role in forming a new coalition to challenge President Tinubu in the 2027 general election.
In March 2025, El-Rufai officially dumped the All Progressives Congress (APC) and joined the Social Democratic Party (SDP), intensifying speculations about his 2027 political ambitions.
As the political rift deepens, Mallam El-Rufai remains one of the most vocal critics of the Tinubu administration, while Mr Onanuga and other presidential allies continue to push back against what they describe as “reckless” opposition rhetoric.

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