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You’re undermining Southwest support for Tinubu — Gov. Adeleke warns Ganduje

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Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State has challenged the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Abdullahi Ganduje, to stop trying to destabilise the Southwest if he loves President Bola Tinubu.

Adeleke was reacting to Ganduje’s remarks about the Southwest after the Ondo State governorship election.

Ganduje had said Osun and Oyo states are APC’s next target after the party emerged victorious in the Ondo State governorship election.

Reacting, the governor argued that Ganduje’s statement was intended to destabilise the southwest region and incite conflict.

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A statement by Adeleke’s spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, reads partly: “As a well-read politician, one would have expected Dr Ganduje to know that electoral contests depend mostly on local indexes and factors and what was obtained in Edo and Ondo is surely different from political facts on the ground in Osun State.

“If Dr Ganduje truly loves Mr President, why is he pushing to destabilise the president’s home zone through open threats to violate electoral law and deny the electorate their rights to vote and be voted for?

“By threatening to hijack opposition states, the APC leader is undermining the general consensus among Yoruba people, which accepts Mr President as their own irrespective of political differences.

“If however the statement of the APC leader is borne out of ignorance, he is invited to study Osun politics to get better informed of the dynamics of this state’s politics and to appreciate that what works in Edo and Ondo cannot play out here for several reasons.”

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COP29: Reps, Others Advocate Equitable Policy For Energy Transition

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By Gloria Ikibah
The House of Representatives has solicited for accessible and equitable policies, including tax breaks and vocational grants to empower youth in renewable energy in African nations, and most especially in Nigeria.
Chairman, House Committee on Renewable Energy, Rep. Victor Afam Ogene made this call alongside other stakeholders at a side event co-hosted by the Committee on Renewable Energy and INCLUDE, a Netherlands based knowledge platform, at the ongoing Conference of Parties, COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan, where world leaders are gathered to discuss issues of climate change.
Rep. Ogene also want the inclusion of youths and legislators in conferences and workshops where issues involving policies regarding developments in climate change and energy transitions are discussed, for a better understanding that would engender right policy formulation and intentional youth involvement.
The side event, titled “Driving the Just Transition: Labor-Based Incentives and Youth-Centric Policies for a Sustainable Future,” according to a statement endorsed by both Hon. Ogene and Anika Altaf, PhD, Executive Director, INCLUDE, focused on actionable strategies to foster a fair and inclusive renewable energy transition in Africa. The discussions centered around labor-based incentives, youth-centered policies, and the intersection of equity, sustainability, and job creation.
Speakers at the side event included Ogene, Dr. Altaf, Victoria Manya, (Knowledge Broker, INCLUDE), Nurgul Iliazova, Professor of Economics, Bishkek State University, Kazakhstan, Farida Ally, Kenyan youth leader, Solomon Abu, a nuclear scientist and Kgaugelo Mkumbeni, research officer, Institute for Security Studies, Kenya.
Dr. Altaf in her presentation suggested mentorship programmes and international funding to authentically support youth-led renewable energy projects.
The conversations outlined a comprehensive approach to design labour incentives that not only support job creation, but also address the specific needs of young people. This includes accessible financial incentives, such as grants for youth-led startups and subsidies for skills acquisition in renewable energy industries; and policies that will integrate transparency and inclusivity to ensure equitable access.
The outcomes of the event reflected a unified approach to addressing Africa’s unique challenges and opportunities in the global energy transition.
The statement said further: “Victoria Manya set the scene for the panel’s conversation predicated on three critical points:
• Africa has pressing needs, like job creation and energy access, to address energy poverty.
• Africa contributes less than 4% of global emissions, so our transition must prioritize fair, localized strategies.
• For this transition to truly benefit Africa, we must base it on labour incentives that empower youth to take the lead.
“The event underscored the importance of crafting policies that resonate with young people. This involves using youth-friendly language, actively involving young voices in policy formulation, and prioritizing initiatives that align with their aspirations, such as meaningful, skill-based employment opportunities in the renewable energy sector.”
The various speakers were also in agreement that “Young people are emerging as key contributors to renewable energy solutions tailored to their communities. These innovations are not only effective but scalable, demonstrating the transformative potential of youth-led technological advancements in combating climate change. Emphasis was placed on the role of AI and digital technologies in enabling this progress. Early exposure, such as teaching coding skills to children as young as eight, was highlighted as a critical step in fostering a generation capable of driving impactful solutions.”
Participants also stressed the importance of involving youths, not merely as advisors but as decision-makers in climate policy formulation.
Standardized toolkits and training programmes were identified as essential for equipping youth with the skills necessary to thrive in the renewable energy sector.
The session called for partnerships between governments, educational institutions, and private sector actors to develop and implement targetted technical and vocational training.
A critical theme in the conversation was ensuring that vulnerable and marginalized communities are not left behind in the renewable energy transition. Inclusive policies must address systemic inequalities by bridging access gaps, particularly for young people in underprivileged regions.  This approach includes promoting social equity in labour opportunities and decision-making processes.
Global and regional collaboration,
international organizations and regional stakeholders were urged to provide authentic support for youth-led initiatives. These includes mentorship programs, direct funding for grassroots projects, and platforms for cross-sector collaboration that prioritize local solutions.
The event concluded with a call for turning discussions into actionable frameworks, including involving piloting labour-based incentives, integrating youth-focused priorities into national renewable energy policies, and leveraging global forums such as COP 2024 to amplify Africa’s voice in the energy transition.
Participants unanimously urged international organizations and regional stakeholders to provide authentic support for youth-led initiatives. This includes mentorship programmes, direct funding for grassroots projects, and platforms for cross-sector collaboration that prioritize local solutions.
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Alleged adultery: Shari’a court clears Jigawa commissioner

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The Upper Shari’a Court in Kano, presided over by Ibrahim Sarki Yola, has cleared Jigawa State’s Commissioner for Special Duties, Auwal Danladi Sankara, of allegations of committing adultery with a married woman.

Recall that the case was filed by Nasiru Buba, who accused Sankara of having an illicit affair with his wife, Tasleem Baba Nabegu.

While delivering his ruling, Sarki Yola stressed the need for holistic and cautious investigations by law enforcement and regulatory bodies like the Hisbah Commission, noting that allegations against prominent individuals must be handled with care to avoid unnecessary tarnishing of reputations.

The court also observed that the complainant and his legal representatives failed to appear to contest the Police findings.

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“Following the investigation by the office of the Assistant Inspector General of Police, the report shows there is no evidence to prove that there was any illicit affair between Auwal Danladi Sankara and Tasleem Baba Nabegu.

“Since the complainant and his lawyers are not present to challenge the submission by the police, I have no choice but to strike out the case,” the judge stated.

Speaking on behalf of Sankara, his counsel, Barrister Sadam Suleiman, expressed satisfaction with the judgment.

“We have always maintained that our client is innocent. The court has affirmed this by clearing his name based on the police investigation,” Suleiman said.

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Meanwhile, Rabiu Shu’aibu, counsel for Tasleem Baba Nabegu, indicated that his team might take further legal action against Nasiru Buba for defamation.

“We will discuss with our client to explore the possibility of filing a case against Nasiru Buba, as he has defamed her name,” Shu’aibu remarked.

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Court hears suit challenging Lagos-Calabar highway contract Jan 14

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The Federal High Court in Lagos, on Monday, adjourned the hearing of the Lagos- Calabar Coastal Highway Project over environmental impact to January 14, 2025.

A former governorship candidate of the African Democratic Congress in Lagos State, Funsho Doherty, had dragged the Attorney General of the Federation, Bureau of Public Procurement and HiTech Construction company before the court over open competitive bidding.

He alleged that the Federal Ministry of Works violated the Public Procurement Act 2007 by awarding the first two phases of the highway to Hitech Construction through a single-source procurement process, bypassing the required open competitive bidding.

Doherty is accusing the Federal Ministry of Works of unlawfully awarding the highway’s first two sections to Hitech Construction without adhering to Nigeria’s public procurement laws.

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In his originating summons, Doherty argued that the ministry’s decision bypassed the open competitive bidding process mandated by the Public Procurement Act 2007.

He claimed that the construction began without the required Environmental Impact Assessment, which breaches the Environmental Impact Assessment Act 1992.

The plaintiff is asking the court for a declaration that the award of the first two sections of the Lagos- Calabar Coastal Highway Project by the Federal Ministry of Works to the third defendant without subjecting same to open competitive bidding was unlawful and void, being in breach of the Public Procurement Act 2007.

He also asked the court for a declaration that the commencement of construction of the Lagos- Calabar Coastal Highway Project without first undertaking an Environmental Impact Assessment was unlawful and a breach of the Environmental Impact Assessment Act, 1992.

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He further sought a declaration that the Federal Ministry of Environment and the second defendant failed in their statutory duties of ensuring compliance with the Environmental Impact Assessment Act and the Public Procurement Act.

Doherty asked the court for an order setting aside the award of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project to the third defendant.

“An order of court restraining the Federal Ministry of Works and the third defendant, by themselves or through their agents, from further construction of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway until compliance with the Public Procurement Act and the Environmental Impact Assessment Act.

“An order of court directing the Federal Ministry of Works to subject all other sections of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project yet to be awarded to open competitive bidding as contemplated under the Public Procurement Act.”

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When the case came up on Monday, the plaintiff’s counsel, D. D. Duru, informed the court that the matter was coming up for the first time.

He informed the court that the defendants had been served and had responded with counter-affidavits and a preliminary objection, making the matter ripe for hearing.

But the first and second defendants counsel, Abiodun Owonikoko (SAN), who announced his appearance for both defendants, was opposed by Duru, for representing the second defendant, arguing that the second defendant’s separate counsel should appear as it is an independent institution.

Owonikoko, in his reply, said the process referred to by the plaintiff’s counsel was only brought to his notice on Monday.

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“The process referred to by my learned friend was only brought to my notice today.

“I asked if the counsel who filed the processes was in court but it appears he was not,” he said.

Owonikoko then asked that the process filed by the second defendant should be struck out.

Duru, in his response, said,” It will be improper for the SAN, to say he was instructed to ask for the striking out of the second defendant’s application.

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“It is either the lawyer who signed the processes that come to withdraw or the SAN files for change of counsel.”

The third defendant’s counsel, Oyinkansola Badejo-Okunsanya, sought an extension of time.

She said the application was filed on November 15, 2024, adding that the application was supported by an 11-paragraph affidavit.

Badejo- Okunsanya, moved the application in terms, which the court granted.

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Justice A. O. Owoeye adjourned the case till January 14, 2025, to regularise the processes and scheduled the hearing for January 27, 2025.

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