ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

Former Oyo State Commissioner for Education and immediate past Federal Character Commissioner representing Oyo State, Professor Adeniyi Olowofela, has expressed deep sadness over the death of the Dean of the Faculty of Administration, Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Professor Rafiu Oyesola Salawu.

Olowofela, who is also a former Chairman of Ido Local Government, described the late Salawu as a seasoned professor and his junior at the United Christian Secondary School (UCSS), Omi-Adio, Ibadan.

In a condolence message, Olowofela commiserated with the deceased’s family, the UCSS Omi-Adio community, OAU, Ile-Ife, and other associates of the late scholar.

“The tragic loss of my junior at UCSS and a seasoned Professor at Obafemi Awolowo University has just been brought to my attention. I commiserate with the family, UCSS Omi-Adio, O.A.U, Ile-Ife and in particular Dr. Zach Adedeji, Chairman Federal Revenue Service who enjoyed tutelage under Professor Salawu. May his soul rest in peace,” he said.

Professor Salawu’s death has thrown the Obafemi Awolowo University community into mourning. He passed away on Sunday, although the cause of his death has not been officially disclosed.

Earlier, the university’s Public Relations Officer, Abiodun Olanrewaju, confirmed the death, saying the institution’s management received the news with profound shock and a deep sense of loss.

According to the university, Salawu made significant contributions to the Faculty of Administration despite serving as Dean for barely a year.

Under his leadership, virtually every office in the faculty was equipped with air-conditioning systems, CCTV security systems and solar-powered energy solutions, aimed at creating a modern, secure and technology-driven academic environment.

Beyond infrastructure, Salawu was remembered as a passionate advocate for students and a bridge-builder who prioritised staff welfare, student advancement and strong alumni relations.

Olanrewaju said the late professor’s approachable and resourceful leadership reflected his determination to leave the faculty significantly better than he found it.

The Vice-Chancellor of OAU, Professor Adebayo Simeon Bamire, on behalf of the Governing Council, Senate, management, staff and students, expressed condolences to the bereaved family and the university community.

Bamire described Salawu as a dedicated academic, accomplished administrator and servant-leader whose brief tenure had already established an enduring legacy of institutional transformation.

The university management prayed that Almighty God would grant the deceased’s family, colleagues, students and the entire OAU community the fortitude to bear the loss.

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State has alleged the killing of Dele Ayegbo, nephew of its governorship campaign Director-General, Wole Oke, in Esa-Oke, Obokun Local Government Area.

Ayegbo was reportedly shot dead on Wednesday night, two days before the state’s governorship election scheduled for Saturday, August 15, 2026.

According to the APC, Ayegbo was attacked at a road junction close to his residence in the Idofin area of Esa-Oke by suspected political thugs.

In a statement, the party’s spokesperson, Kola Olabisi, alleged that the attackers were supporters of the Accord Party, who were reportedly travelling in a vehicle when they opened fire on Ayegbo.

The APC also alleged that another party member was shot during the incident and taken to an undisclosed hospital for treatment, while Ayegbo reportedly died at the scene.

The party condemned the incident, describing it as another disturbing development amid heightened political tension ahead of the election.

“The killing of the nephew of our campaign Director-General in Esa-Oke is one death too many which must be urgently unravelled by the police in the interest of fairness and justice,” Olabisi said.

The APC further alleged that more than 30 of its members had been killed by political thugs across Osun State since 2022, claiming that 17 of the reported deaths occurred in Ijesaland.

Olabisi urged the police to intensify security measures across the state and investigate Ayegbo’s death, warning that continued violence could intimidate voters and party supporters ahead of Saturday’s poll.

“The purpose is to scare away our members and supporters from exercising their civic responsibility on Saturday,” he alleged.

The allegation had not been independently confirmed as of the time of filing this report.

Efforts to obtain a reaction from the Osun State Police Command were unsuccessful, as its spokesperson, Abiodun Ojelabi, had yet to respond to inquiries.

The reported killing comes amid heightened political tension in Osun, where the APC and the Accord Party have traded accusations in the final days of the governorship campaign.

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

A legal practitioner and author, Timothy Tugbiyele, has called on Afrobeats singer David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, to apologise to Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, over his social media post displaying the governor’s alleged West African Examinations Council result.

Tugbiyele made the call in a now-trending video originally uploaded on Facebook on Monday while commenting on the ongoing political exchanges ahead of the August 15 Osun State governorship election.

Davido had shared what appeared to be Okpebholo’s WAEC result on his Instagram Story on Friday, shortly after the Edo governor mocked Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke over his penchant for dancing.

Okpebholo had criticised Adeleke’s leadership style while campaigning for the All Progressives Congress candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, popularly known as AMBO.

The Edo governor said, “Before somebody signs paper, he will dance. Are you not tired? For four years, this man has been dancing. Before he takes breakfast, before he drinks tea, he will dance.”

Davido, who has been actively campaigning for his uncle, subsequently shared the alleged WAEC result of Okpebholo without a caption.

Reacting to the development, Tugbiyele said Davido should not have responded personally to the governor’s remarks.

He said, “I watched a video when Governor Okpebholo called the governor of my state, Adeleke, the dancing governor. And the governor’s relation, David Adeleke, replied by publishing the WAEC Secondary School leaving result of Governor Okpebholo, the governor of Edo State.”

According to the lawyer, although Okpebholo’s alleged result may not have been impressive, it should not have been used to ridicule him.

He said, “The result is not good enough, but it’s possible. The governor did a resit. We are not aware of that, but I think Davido, David Adeleke’s publication is inappropriate.”

Tugbiyele argued that Adeleke could have responded to his Edo counterpart through official channels instead of allowing Davido to engage him.

He said, “Governor Adeleke, Ademola Adeleke, would have replied his contemporary governor, or caused one of his workers, maybe a commissioner of information or a special assistant, to reply. Not Davido, David Adeleke.”

The lawyer also stressed that Davido and Okpebholo occupy different positions and should therefore not engage each other on the same level.

He said, “David Adeleke and the governor of the state, they are not in the same social class. They are not of the same status. They are not in the same class.”

Tugbiyele described Davido’s post as disrespectful and appealed to the singer to apologise.

“I think what Davido did is disrespectful and I will plead with him, he should exercise some humility and apologise,” he said.

He recalled seeing photographs of Davido prostrating before elders, describing him as a well-brought-up Yoruba man.

“I’ve seen his pictures in time past, prostrating. He’s a properly well-brought-up Yoruba boy,” the lawyer said.

Tugbiyele also rejected the argument that the exchange should simply be viewed as part of political rivalry.

He said, “I have heard it said by one of the political leaders that everything is fair in politics. No, when you are fighting below the belt, when you are insulting, when you disrespect elders, that is not fair in politics.”

He urged older people and Davido’s elders to caution him, adding that political disagreements should not become personal attacks.

“You do not disrespect elders. He should apologise to Okpebholo. I’m not saying what Okpebholo did is right, to disrespect his uncle, but it should not be an eye for an eye,” he said.

The lawyer further argued that poor academic performance at one stage of a person’s life should not be used to define the individual.

Using his own experience, Tugbiyele said he had also obtained results that were not good enough but was encouraged by his father.

“I’ve had results that are not, I mean, results not good enough. But one of the things that has kept me going is that I had a father who never called me a dullard. He continued to encourage me,” he said.

He added, “So, oh, Governor Okpebholo had a result that was not good enough. He’s governor today. All of that, the bad result is in the past. Politics does not really have to go to that extent.”

Tugbiyele concluded by directly appealing to the singer, saying, “Davido, David Adeleke, please, as a proper Yoruba, please apologise to Governor Okpebholo. God bless you, David. God bless Nigeria.”

The controversy comes amid heightened political activity in Osun State ahead of Saturday’s governorship election, with Davido openly supporting Adeleke’s bid for a second term.