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Prince Abubakar Audu University, Anyigba Honours Asiwaju Prince Olatunji Olusoji with Honorary Doctorate Degree

The Senate of the Prince Abubakar Audu University, Anyigba, (PAAUA) Kogi State, under the leadership of the Vice Chancellor, Professor Marietu Ohunene Tenuche, has approved to honor the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of GROSVENOR GROUP OF COMPANY, the founder of Prince Olatunji Olusoji Foundation, (PROOF) and the Asiwaju of Ayere Kingdom, Prince Olatunji Olusoji with a Honorary Doctorate Degree (Honoris Causa) at its 7th Combined Convocation Ceremonies and 25th Anniversary Celebration.

According to the letter of nomination addressed to the philanthropist of repute and cited by our correspondent in Lokoja, confirmed that the conferment ceremony will take place on the 24 January, 2026, at 10:00 am in the University Auditorium in Anyigba, Kogi State.

The letter further confirmed that Asiwaju Prince Olatunji Olusoji was honored with the recognization based on his philanthropy and contributions to the university and humanity. The university has invited Olusoji to accept the award and forward his acceptance letter by January 15, 2026, which he has graciously done.

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***demand resignation of Finance Minister, Uzoka-Anite

No fewer than one thousand (1000) Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) have formed a strong Coalition to back the ongoing protest against the Federal Government, by Nigeria’s local contractors in Abuja.

The Coalition has also called on the Minister of State for Finance, Dr. Doris Uzoka-Anite, to resign quietly, to save Nigeria of the imminent economic crisis.

This was contained in a statement jointly signed on Wednesday by the Representative of National Vanguard for Accountable and Transparent Democracy (NVATD), Comrade Wisdom Abah; that of Nigerian Young Professionals Forum (NYPF), Engr. Istifanus Pam; Movement for Accountable and Good Governance (MAGGo), Comrade Babatunde Ibidapo; National Coalition for Peace, Unity and Progress (NCPUP), Alhaji Babale Idris; and that of National Forum of APC Young Professionals (NFAYP), Engr. Lukman Adejobi; on behalf of other groups.

The groups frowned at the refusal of the Finance Minister to implement the directive of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on the outright payment of the outstanding debts owed the indigenous contractors in Nigeria.

They tagged it as a major sign of “economic sabotage”, ascribing the ongoing protest to “unwarranted negligence” of Dr. Uzoka-Anite, saying the ongoing civil action would hamper and ground the nation’s economy.

“We have been sounding this warning, calling and begging the Honourable Minister of State for Finance. This was what we were trying to avoid. But today, it is coming upon the nation. This whole thing was avoidable, but for the unwarranted negligence of the Minister, this is happening”, the statement said.

The Coalition, while acknowledging “the patience, long suffering, perseverance, and display of patriotism” by the Contractors whom they said, have endured the “shame and suffering since 2024”; also called on President Tinubu to urgently constitute another Presidential Committee to take over the responsibility of payment of the debts from the Finance Minister and her team.

“We have understudied this whole issue and we can comfortably tell anyone, including Mr. President, that this is a dangerous signal for economic sabotage. Dr. Uzoka-Anite and her collaborators should not be allowed to handle this issue anymore. It would do this country more harm than good. Infact, the Minister should quietly resign and abdicate her duties, to save the country from the looming economic crisis.

“If not for sabotage, why on earth should you allow the Federal Government to accumulate such a high debt of over four trillion naira (N4tr) since 2024, on projects that have been completed and even Commissioned by the executive. Her own case is even worse than Mr. Wale Edun. She is said to be selecting those contractors from her state of birth or those close to her contacts and paying them.

“Dr Doris Uzoka-Anite promised that warrants would be released once the list of eligible contractors was provided. The Contractors have since submitted the list of eligible recipients and it has been duly confirmed. Yet, no payment has followed the submission, aside some handful selective payments.

“Some of these local contractors have died as a result of pressure from banks where they took loans from, to execute the jobs. Some companies are now rendered bankrupt, while some business owners are down with stroke. Yet, the government is engaging in selective payment to their cronies and foreign contractors.

“Despite the intervention of the Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, and the directive from President Tinubu in December that all debts should be cleared, these guys appear adamant. And it is not as if there is no fund. This is total sabotage and the end result is disastrous”, the Coalition warned.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), had reported that, the All Indigenous Contractors Association of Nigeria (AICAN) on Monday resumed its protest in Abuja over N4 trillion debt owed to its members by the Federal Government for completed capital projects appropriated in the 2024 budget.

Speaking with journalists during the protest at the Ministry of Finance on Monday, AICAN President, Mr Jackson Nwosu, warned that the association might be forced to take drastic action if the outstanding payments were not settled.

Nwosu said the funds used to execute the 2024 capital projects were largely sourced from commercial banks, placing contractors under severe financial pressure; threatening to totally shut down the economy of the country, as “our next line of action”, “if they do not kill us”

NAN quoted Nwosu as saying, many contractors had defaulted on bank loans, leading to the seizure of properties, while some members had reportedly died as a result of the financial strain.

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The Ogun State government has ordered an immediate halt to the ongoing selection process for the next Awujale of Ijebuland, directing the Awujale Kingmakers Council and the Fusengbuwa Ruling House to suspend all activities related to the emergence of a new monarch.

The directive, issued by Governor Dapo Abiodun’s administration, was conveyed through the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs in a letter dated January 20.

It was signed by the commissioner, Ganiyu Hamzat, and addressed to the Chairman of Ijebu-Ode Local Government Area, Dare Alebiosu.

According to the letter, the decision to halt the process was informed by security reports, petitions, and concerns raised by key stakeholders over the conduct of the selection exercise.

“As you are aware, the Awujale stool is a foremost stool in Yoruba land generally and in Ogun State particularly, where it is one of the paramount stools. Further, the stature of the immediate past Awujale, Oba Sikiru Adetona, who reigned for 65 years, significantly enhanced the modern esteem and prestige of the stool.

These realities place a lot of focus, attention, and scrutiny on the next Awujale and the process by which he emerges.

“In this regard, the state government has received several petitions, reports from security agencies, and other key stakeholders in relation to the ongoing selection process. In order to maintain public order, protect the integrity of the process, and maintain the veneration of the stool, it has become imperative to halt the selection process for the stool at this time,” the Abiodun administration said.

The government further explained that its action was backed by extant laws regulating traditional institutions in the state.

It added, “In taking this decision, the government has had due regard to the provision of the Obas and Chiefs’ Law of Ogun State, 2021, which empowers it to ‘set aside an appointment if the Executive Council is satisfied that it is in the interest of peace, order and good government to do so’. Thus, given the reports at its disposal, the government has elected to act proactively without further delay in the interest of peace, order, and good government by halting the process in its entirety.”

The letter directed the Ijebu-Ode Local Government chairman to immediately notify the relevant traditional bodies of the government’s decision.

“Therefore, the state government hereby directs that you convey this decision to the Awujale Kingmakers Council and the Fusengbuwa Ruling House immediately.

The latter, particularly, should be advised to await further directives regarding the selection process.”

The order comes just days after 94 princes and one princess from the Fusengbuwa ruling house emerged as contenders for the vacant Awujale stool during a nomination meeting held at Bisrod Hall, GRA, Ijebu-Ode.

The selection process has also been mired in controversy following the disqualification of Fuji music legend, Wasiu Ayinde, who applied for the vacant stool in October 2025.

He was disqualified by the Fusengbuwa ruling house in November 2025, a move that prompted him to institute a legal action against the Ogun State Government in December, seeking the suspension of the selection process and his inclusion among the contestants.

Meanwhile, amid the heightened tensions surrounding the succession process, the Awujale Kingmakers Council announced the cancellation of a planned meet-and-greet earlier scheduled to be held at the Aafin Awujale.

Instead, the council directed all Awujale nominees to report to the Department of State Services (DSS) office in Ijebu-Ode on Wednesday.

This was contained in a formal communication dated January 20, 2026, addressed to the Chairman of the Fusengbuwa ruling house, Otunba Lateef Owoyemi; his deputy, Otunba Dokun Ajidagba; and the Vice Chairman, Prof. Fassy Yusuf.

According to the notice, nominees were instructed to present themselves at the DSS office located along NTA Road, beside the State Psychiatric Hospital, off Igbeba Road, Ijebu-Ode.

The letter reads, “We write to formally inform you that the meet-and-greet earlier scheduled for this morning at the Aafin Awujale has been cancelled.

“Accordingly, the Awujale nominees are hereby directed to report to the Department of State Services (DSS) office located at State Security Service (SSS) Along NTA Road, Beside the State Psychiatric Hospital, Off Igbeba Road, Ijebu-Ode. Time: 11am prompt.

“We sincerely apologise for any inconvenience this change may cause. Kindly ensure that all concerned nominees are punctual and comply strictly with this directive.”

The latest intervention by the Ogun State government effectively freezes the Awujale succession process pending further directives, as authorities seek to address security concerns and preserve peace and order in Ijebuland.