The Governor of the State of Osun, Adegboyega Oyetola, has made it compulsory for all the public and civil servants to wear Adire to work every Thursday. The governor, who launched mass production, promotion and marketing of Adire Osun, also declared every Thursday of the week ‘Adire Osun Day’. This was contained in a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Ismail Omipidan, titled, ‘Osun Int’l Fashion Week: Oyetola launches mass production of Adire Osun …declares every Thursday Adire Osun Day’. Oyetola said Adire is indigenous to Osun and that it is not for nothing that Osogbo, the State capital, is referred to as ‘Ilu Aro’ (Home of dye). he explained that the initiative was to reawaken the people’s consciousness towards socio-cultural and artistic renaissance in the State. Oyetola who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Prince Wole Oyebamiji, stressed that the State under his watch would continue to support the cause of employing indigenous resources to grow her revenue base. Oyetola said, “I wish to recall that at the inauguration of this administration under my leadership, I did state that the economy of our State should be repositioned and that Economic Summit would be organised to, among other initiatives, develop strategies that would drive meaningful youth employment, enhance food security and agricultural development, activate mining prospects and boost the tourism potential of the State. “You will also recall that I stated in my inauguration speech that the Medium and Small-Scale Enterprises would be strengthened to enhance their productive capacity so as to generate jobs, create wealth and further boost our local economy. “I also promised that the State of Osun would be made a cultural destination and tourism enterprise zone in the South West. “It is in line with the above Vision that the Government has swung into action by harnessing all the various tourism resources that the State is greatly endowed with. “Due to the various commitments of the State Government, the Federal Government and other Private and Public Development Partners are collaborating with the State for the provision of infrastructure and the upgrade of our cultural and tourism sites to global standards.” Oyetola announced that “it has become compulsory henceforth, for all the Public and Civil Servants to wear Adire same day as part of efforts to quicken the actualisation of the set objectives of the initiative as Osun remains the leading light in African culture and tradition in the country”. He also urged the residents to take advantage of the opportunities offered by the initiative to draw economic opportunities and benefits to themselves for huge economic development. “In furtherance of efforts of this Government to preserve and promote the production of Adire Osun as well as bolster the image of Osun as a culturally correct and indigenous product inclined State, every Thursday has been declared Adire Osun Day. Consequently, effective from August 27th, 2021, all Public and Civil Servants in the State shall wear Adire to work”, he added.

One of the umbrella bodies of herdsmen in Nigeria, the Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, has alleged that South-West governors are “hiding” wanted Yoruba activist Sunday Adeyemo aka Sunday Igboho. Spokesman for the group, Saleh Alhassan, stated this in an exclusive interview with The PUNCH on Monday. But Donald Ojogo, an aide to the Chairman of South-West Governors’ Forum and Governor of Ondo State, Rotimi Akeredolu, said it is demeaning for the governors to respond to Miyetti Allah’s accusation. The PUNCH had earlier reported that the Department of State Services on July 1, 2021, raided Igboho’s Ibadan residence in Oyo State, detained 13 of his followers, and killed two of the activist’s associates in a “gun duel”. Igboho, a spearhead of the separatist agitation for the Yoruba nation, escaped the bloody raid and was subsequently declared wanted by the secret police on allegations of stockpiling arms to destabilise the country, which he has since denied. The whereabouts of the Yoruba nation agitator, who gained popularity in January, following his eviction notice to suspected killer herders in the Ibarapa area of Oyo State, had since been unknown. Speaking with The PUNCH on Monday, the Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore spokesman said the DSS should have raided Igboho’s house earlier than it did. Alhassan, however, advised the activist to turn himself in to security operatives because he would be forcefully apprehended. He said, “It is in his (Igboho) own best interest if he submits himself peacefully so that he can face justice. Why is he running? Is he not a revolutionary? He should submit himself before they get him because as it is now, he has been declared wanted, he should present himself to the nearest police station.” The group’s spokesman also alleged that the six governors in the South-West region are hiding Igboho. He said, “All his (Igboho’s) actions are political; he is being used. His godfathers in the South-West should bring him out. “The security agencies are speaking the language he understands, they will get him. I know the governors are hiding him but they (security agents) will get him. “The (Nigerian) State has declared him wanted. He is not more than the state. The governors keeping him should produce him.” “He declared a republic; that was a rebellion. How can you be threatening the sovereignty of the (Nigerian) State and you still have the guts to be walking around and be organising rallies?” Alhassan queried. However, Ondo State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Donald Ojogo, said it is belittling for the governors to respond to the allegation by Miyetti Allah. When contacted for a reaction on the allegation by the herders’ group, Ojogo told The PUNCH that “It is not necessary, absolutely demeaning for elected governors to engage an association in a media banter.” Meanwhile, the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, another herders’ group in the country, kept mum on Igboho’s imbroglio. “We don’t have any comment on the matter; we don’t talk on political or security issues,” MACBAN Secretary-General, Usman Baba-Ngelzerma, told our correspondent when contacted on Monday.

For the second time in three weeks, the main building of the national assembly complex played host to a flowing stream of sorts, following a heavy downpour on Monday. The source of the leak was the dome at the complex, which houses a main lobby that leads to the chambers of the senate and the house of representatives. On June 22, the roof had leaked after a heavy downpour, and workers at the complex quickly swung into action to drain the pool of water. However, unlike the previous incident, the lawmakers were not present in both chambers because Monday is not a legislative day. Following the downpour, workers were seen using mops to redirect the water that had leaked into the building. After the initial incident, Senate President Ahmad Lawan had said the flooding of the complex is a “clear” confirmation that the edifice needs repairs. The senate president said the complex is long overdue for rehabilitation, adding that since it was built, there has never been major repairs on it. “The fact there was a leak to me is a clear testimony, confirmation and vindication of the position the national assembly took initially,” Lawan had said. “Everyone knows that this place is overdue for rehabilitation.” In 2019, the national assembly had budgeted over N30 billion for the renovation of the complex. This sparked off criticism as some Nigerians frowned at the sum earmarked for the renovation. Meanwhile, no maintenance work has been carried out on the edifice even after the sum budgeted was reviewed to about N9 billion.