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BREAKING: Protest Rocks Ondo Town, Igbokoda As Governor Aiyedatiwa’s Brother Allegedly Attacks Monarch, Traditionalists Declare ‘Abomination’

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The monarch was allegedly attacked and beaten by Dayo, who holds the title of Akogun of Obe-Nla, during an official flag-off ceremony for the dualisation of the Okiti-Pupa/Igbokoda road on Monday.

Tension has gripped Igbokoda, the headquarters of the Ilaje Local Government Area in Ondo State, as various groups including women, youths, and traditional worshippers have taken to the streets in protest after the alleged physical assault of the town’s monarch, His Royal Majesty Oba Afolabi Odidiomo, by Dayo Aiyedatiwa — elder brother to Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa.

The monarch was allegedly attacked and beaten by Dayo, who holds the title of Akogun of Obe-Nla, during an official flag-off ceremony for the dualisation of the Okiti-Pupa/Igbokoda road on Monday.

SaharaReporters gathered that the attack occurred in full public view, sparking immediate outrage across the ancient riverine community.

In response, women dressed in white and bearing traditional leaves flooded the popular Igbokoda Market, chanting and decrying the act as a “grave abomination.”

They declared that the gods of the land had been deeply offended.

Many later marched to the Larada shrine, invoking deities and demanding spiritual justice.

Traditionalists, led by masquerades, also staged a ritual procession to the two rivers surrounding Igbokoda Island, chanting the names of local gods.

Early Friday morning, a mysterious object believed to be part of a ritual sacrifice was seen floating on the river, further heightening tensions.

A building in the town reportedly linked to Dayo Aiyedatiwa was sealed off with red traditional symbols — a cultural sign of taboo and exclusion.

Palace sources confirmed to SaharaReporters that Oba Odidiomo, said to be recovering from injuries, remains under spiritual restriction and “forbidden by the gods” from speaking.

One of them said “Kabiesi was bitten by a mad dog and we know the owners of the dog have been using their powers to sponsor lies in the media against our king.

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“We are the owners of this land. We are civilised and our Oba is well educated and respected. That’s their headache. They will soon hear from God.”

Meanwhile scores of prominent traditional rulers from different places were trooping into the palace on solidarity visits and they were the only people allowed into the Palace.

On June 3, 2025, SaharaReporters reported that Dayo Aiyedatiwa, the elder brother of Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, was accused of physically assaulting the Olu of Igbokoda, His Royal Majesty Oba Afolabi Odidiomo, during an official flag-off ceremony.

Dayo is the Akogun of Obe-Nla and the elder brother of Governor Aiyedatiwa.

The incident reportedly occurred on Monday at “Zero Zero,” the headquarters of Ilaje Local Government Area, during a public event.

Oba Odidiomo had told SaharaReporters that, as the chief host in his community, he welcomed the traditional rulers as they arrived one after the other and ensured they were seated. Eventually, there were no more seats available.

The monarch explained that each time a new monarch arrived, he would stand up and make room for them, then find another place to sit.

He said he continued this way because he felt it was his responsibility to ensure all the traditional rulers were comfortable in his hometown.

He had said that after seating everyone, he noticed Dayo, the governor’s elder brother, bringing a chair to sit directly in front of the table where all the traditional rulers were seated.

The monarch said he approached Dayo and politely said, “Please, sir, where you are sitting is not appropriate. You are sitting in front of kings.”

In response, Dayo reportedly replied, “Do you know who you are talking to?”

The monarch told SaharaReporters that he did not know who Dayo was, frankly.

He said, “God knows I didn’t know him.”

Oba Odidiomo said he did not need to know who Dayo was before telling him that the seat he was occupying was inappropriate.

“If I, as the monarch, should look at where he’s sitting, I would ask myself—does that seat befit him?” he added.

However, the monarch stated frankly, “The people seated behind him were kings, and Dayo was not one of them.”

He said it was not appropriate for Dayo to sit there.

“Immediately I said that, he responded by saying it would not be well with me. God is my witness—if I am lying against him, may I not wake up if I sleep tonight,” he said.

He continued, “He said it would not be well with me. I couldn’t keep quiet for a moment. I asked myself—was he just being bold because he was questioning who I am, or does he truly not know me? At the very least, I was dressed in full royal regalia.

“I asked him, ‘What did you just say?’ He repeated it—he said it would not be well with me. I pointed at him and asked, ‘Am I the one you’re saying it should not be well with? Is that acceptable?’”

The monarch reportedly responded and told Dayo, “When you wake up in the morning and gather your fruits in the afternoon, in the night, it will not be well with you. You will not enjoy the fruit of your labour.”

“Immediately I said that, he jumped up and tried to lift me. I’m sure if he had succeeded, he would have slammed me to the floor,” the monarch said.

The monarch explained that he had initially approached Dayo politely and said, “Please, sir, where you are sitting is not appropriate. You are sitting in front of kings.

“But I made it impossible for him to carry me. When he saw he couldn’t lift me, he used one hand to release me from the way he was holding me and bent my head to the side—towards my ear. That was when I gave him a shoulder. I hit him with my shoulder. He staggered a bit and let go of my ear.

“He was holding a walking stick. I know that type of walking stick usually has a sword hidden inside. So someone who could bite me might also use a sword. So the first thing I did as he staggered away was to take the stick from him.”

Oba Odidiomo told SaharaReporters that when he noticed that blood was already dripping from his ear, he used the walking stick to hit him.

“And I felt it was embarrassing,” he said.

“People started coming to me, saying, ‘That’s the elder brother of the governor.’

“And then I came home. As I’m talking to you now, just as you called me, the younger—I don’t know—the younger brother of the governor, maybe the next in line to him, is calling me. People have been begging me, everybody. They’ve been begging me.”

The monarch explained that he felt that the situation would be embarrassing for the governor, who had nothing to do with it, as his name had been coming up in the press because of his brother’s public behaviour.

He said, “Those who tried to provoke me into saying all sorts of things—I ignored them. My brother, I can forward a picture of my ears to you.

“That’s the situation. I have refused to grant any press interviews for two reasons. First, speaking now does not erase the embarrassment, the pain, and the dent on my reputation. So, granting a press review at this point would only ridicule the matter further.

“Second, the person involved is the governor’s eldest brother—same father, same mother. And I feel publicising this issue further could damage the governor’s image. But I have now chosen to speak out for two reasons.”

Oba Afolabi explained that the matter was already circulating in the press in a way that suggested a deliberate attempt to cover up the truth.

The monarch said, “I believe that when someone does wrong, they should be told the truth. Even if they forgot or didn’t intend it, they can be corrected calmly. But when someone deliberately misleads, then the truth must be exposed.

“Let me explain what I mean. There is a report from Roving Reporters, an online news outlet. In their story, they claimed that I was attacked because I arrived late to a function, after everyone had already taken their seats. They claimed I went to meet a community leader, whose name they could not provide, and was then attacked.

“They even used an old photo from 2017, presenting it as an image of the alleged attack. They claimed the attacker was unknown and urged the government to investigate it.”

He said the article was written by someone from Ilaje, the area where Dayo Aiyedatiwa hails from, noting that it shows there may be a biased narrative.

He said the reporter made it seem as though he was the one who approached a community leader, whose identity they did not verify, and was attacked as a result.

The monarch noted that this is not just a misrepresentation; it’s a deliberate distortion of facts.

He said the reporter urged the authorities to take the following steps: Suspend Oba Afolabi pending investigation, conduct a thorough investigation into the incident and the monarch’s past behaviour and consider dethroning him if found guilty of misconduct.

When asked what he expected the league of traditional rulers to do, he said, “To start with, I am the victim here, and I do not want to be a judge in my own case. I want the traditional rulers and all people of good conscience to look into the incident and do what is right—what must be done.

“As far as I’m concerned, traditionally, it is forbidden for my blood to spill and touch the ground. And as I speak to you, traditional rites concerning that have already commenced. We are going to get to the truth.

“I’ve considered legal action and many other options, but with the appeals coming in… So, I think the basic traditional rites began last night, and they are going to last for three days.”

“Someone just told me that some youths gathered in front of the local government office protesting or something like that. I’m going to quell it. I don’t want any noise about it, for my sake and the sake of the government,” he said.

“But I think it is quite interesting, as it were. That’s all I can say for now.”

Business

Private or public, let the refineries work – IPMAN to FG, NNPCL

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The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, IPMAN, Port Harcourt Depot Unit, has stressed that the Port Harcourt Refinery requires more than periodic rehabilitation, calling instead for a “consistent and experienced management focused on functionality and long-term sustainability”.

The position was made known in a statement signed on June 12, 2025, by the Chairman of IPMAN Port Harcourt Depot Unit, Tekena Thankgod Ikpaki.

The association was reacting to a recent statement by the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPCL, Mr. Bayo Ojulari, who hinted that the Federal Government may consider selling some of its refineries as a solution to persistent rehabilitation and efficiency challenges.

Ikpaki noted that as major stakeholders in the downstream oil sector, petroleum marketers fully understand the strategic importance of the Port Harcourt Refinery, not just for Rivers State and the Niger Delta region, but for the Nigerian economy as a whole.

He observed that the brief resumption of operations at the refinery in November 2024, followed by another shutdown in May 2025 for maintenance, once again underscored the lingering operational and technical issues affecting Nigeria’s refineries.

Ikpaki, however, stated that it is less concerned about who manages the facility and more focused on ensuring the refinery functions optimally.

He said, “Whether the facility remains under the direct control of the NNPCL or is eventually handed over to a private entity, the most critical issue for us at this point is ensuring the Port Harcourt Refinery operates at optimal capacity.

“We believe that a fully functional refinery will have far-reaching benefits, offering alternative sources of refined products, stabilizing the domestic market, creating jobs, boosting local content, and contributing to national energy security,” the statement added.

The association appealed to the Federal Government and NNPCL to ensure that any future sale or concession process prioritizes competence and technical proficiency.

IPMAN urged the authorities to “prioritize competence, technical expertise, and a proven track record in refinery operations in selecting any prospective buyer or management partner, should the company proceed with the sale or concessioning process.”

The association emphasized that privatization should not be pursued for its own sake but must lead to measurable improvements in output, performance, and national benefit.

Ikpaki concluded by reaffirming the association’s willingness to collaborate with all stakeholders to ensure a successful transition.

“We are committed to working with all stakeholders to ensure that the transition, if and when it happens, will be transparent, accountable, and ultimately beneficial to Nigerians, particularly those of us who operate directly within the value chain,” he said.

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BREAKING! Tinubu Orders National Mourning for Late Buhari, Declares Tuesday July15 Public Holiday

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President Bola Tinubu has declared Tuesday, July 15, 2025, a public holiday in honor of former President Muhammadu Buhari, who passed away on Sunday, July 13, 2025.

The Federal Government announced a seven-day national mourning period, during which national flags will fly at half-mast from July 13 to July 19.

 

Public Holiday:Tuesday, July 15, 2025, has been declared a public holiday to honor the late former President.

National Mourning: A seven-day national mourning period was declared by President Tinubu.

Flag Protocol:*National flags will fly at half-mast until Saturday, July 19.

Burial Arrangements:The late President’s burial is scheduled for Tuesday, July 15, 2025, in his hometown of Daura, Katsina State.

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Buhari, served nation with firm resolve – Nwoko

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Senator Ned Nwoko (APC-Delta) has joined other Nigerians to mourn former President Muhammadu Buhari, saying he served the nation with firm resolve.

This is contained in a statement by Nwoko himself, who represents Delta North Senatorial District, and made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Abuja, on Monday.

The Nigerian former President was said to have died on Sunday in a London clinic.

Nwoko said that he received the passing of the former President with deep sadness.

“Buhari was a man whose name had become etched in Nigeria’s political and historical journey.

“I received with deep sadness the news of the passing of former President Muhammadu Buhari, a man whose name has become etched in Nigeria’s political and historical journey.

“President Buhari served the nation with firm resolve, both as a military Head of State and later as a democratically elected President.

“Though opinions about his leadership varied, his love for Nigeria was never in doubt. He was a symbol of resilience and a product of history who returned to power after several attempts, reminding us all that perseverance is a virtue in public service.

“To his family, the government and people of Katsina State, and indeed the entire nation, I offer my heartfelt condolences.

“May his soul rest in peace, and may his contributions to Nigeria continue to be remembered with introspection and respect.”

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