A member of the House of Representatives, Hon Adebayo Omolafe is dead. Hon Omolafe was said to have slumped and died in the early hours of Monday. Before his death, he was a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), representing Akure North/Akure South Constituency in the House of Reps. The Publicity Secretary of the PDP in Ondo State, Kennedy Peretei confirmed the lawmaker’s death in a statement, saying his departure was too much to bear especially when he wasn’t sick. He described Hon. Omolafe, popularly known as ‘Expensive’, as a political star since he was elected as Executive Chairman of Akure South Local Government Area in 2004 under the platform of the PDP. He also condoled with his wife, children and the entire family and prayed for the repose of his soul. Read the PDP’s full Statement Below: THE EXIT OF OMOLAFE ADEDAYO IS A COLLOSAL LOSS TO ONDO PDP. Everyone will die one day or another. But some departures are too much to bear. The sudden and tragic demise of Hon. Omolafe Adedayo, popularly known as Expensive is difficult to accept, especially when he was not sick. Expensive had been a constant political star since he was elected as Executive Chairman of Akure South Local Government Area in 2004 under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He was the State Co-ordinator of the Sure-P program under former President Goodluck Jonathan. His dream to represent Akure South/ Akure North Federal Constituency at the House of Representatives did not come to fruition since 2007. Now that he became elected in 2019, on the platform of PDP, the cold hand of death has extinguished this bright star in the middle of his tenure. The Peoples Democratic Party, Ondo State Chapter is pained. We cannot find the exact words to convey the extent of our grief. The exit of Expensive is a collosal and irreparable loss to our party in Akure Federal Constituency and the entire PDP in the State. Hon. Omolafe Adedayo is a household name in Akure. His footprints on the sands of time are indelible. Our party commiserates with his wife, children, and indeed the extended family. May God in His infinite mercies grant him bliss in the world beyond. Kennedy Ikantu Peretei State Publicity Secretary, Ondo PDP 16th August, 2021.

Governor David Umahi was on hand to direct the search-and-rescue operations. He mourned the death of Mr Elem and the two others believed to be police escorts. The visibly angry Governor condemned the activities of miners who dig the morning pits indiscriminately thereby endangering lives and destroying the environment. He said his government will set up a committee to look into the issue warning that from henceforth his administration will not tolerate such practice from miners in the state. Umahi also commiserated with the APC and the Nigerian Police over the loss.

The leadership of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has said that the suspension of the already planned sit-at-home order, on Monday, 16th August 2021, announced by the IPOB Head of Directorate, was ordered by the leader of the self-determination group, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. In a statement issued and endorsed by the IPOB Media and Publicity Secretary Emma Powerful, the group acknowledged the feelings expressed by the global community on the suspension of the weekly sit-at-home order earlier announced by the IPOB Head of Directorate of State. IPOB added that it was aware that people embraced the civil action wholeheartedly without any compulsion. ‌ “The leadership appreciates the innate desire of Biafrans in sacrificing their time, resources and energy in ensuring that their leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is released unconditionally from the illegal custody of the Nigerian State who criminally renditioned him from Kenya to Nigeria.” “This simply means that all command from the Supreme leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) will be obeyed and implemented to the latter by the Directorate of State of the Indigenous People of Biafra,” the statement added. According to IPOB, such a principle had enabled the movement to surpass even the expectations of both Biafrans and non Biafrans alike. The leadership encouraged “Biafrans to focus on the most pressing issue confronting this great family presently which is ensuring the safety of our leader while still in the illegal custody of the DSS and to secure his unconditional release from detention.” Emma Powerful clarified that the sit-at-home would in the meantime be observed on the date of their leader’s court appearances. The lPOB leadership urged Biafrans worldwide to take note of the next court appearance of their leader which is the 21st of October 2021. “If we have any reason or directive from the IPOB highest command that requires us to reactivate the suspended weekly sit-at-home, the leadership will not hesitate to lift the suspension and continue with the civil action,” the IPOB spokesman stressed. The body appreciated all Biafrans, friends and sympathisers who faithfully observed the Monday, August 9 sit-Aat-home which was a huge success throughout Biafra land, asking God to continue to bless and uphold all those who are committed to the struggle. The body while considering Biafra restoration as a sacrosanct call to duty added that any other information regarding the sit-at-home in Biafraland not emanating from IPOB through their main channels of information dissemination should be disregarded. It advised the “Nigeria Government to heed to the voice of reason coming from within Nigeria and from outside the shores of Nigeria to unconditionally free our leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu,” while it announced “a date for Biafra referendum or plebiscite where people will choose where they wish to belong before it is too late.” YOU SHOULD NOT MISS THESE HEADLINES FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE Kanu ordered suspension of sit-at-home We Have Not Had Water Supply In Months ― Abeokuta Residents In spite of the huge investment in the water sector by the government and international organisations, water scarcity has grown to become a perennial nightmare for residents of Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital. This report x-rays the lives and experiences of residents in getting clean, potable and affordable water amidst the surge of COVID-19 cases in the state… Kanu ordered suspension of sit-at-home.

The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, has said President, Muhammadu Buhari’s visitation to the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, Bola Tinubu, was not a show of support for the former Lagos State Governor ahead of the 2023 presidential election. While speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Adesina explained that Buhari visited Tinubu to show goodwill after reports on the APC chieftain’s health. He clarified that Buhari would not support any aspirant for the 2023 presidential election without APC’s affirmation. When asked about the purpose of the meeting, Adesina said, “Yes, that meeting actually happened, but it is all about goodwill and best wishes. “We know that Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu had been in London about the same time the President was there. We don’t believe what we read on social media, but we have read a lot about Asiwaju Tinubu’s health, so the President’s visit was a goodwill visit.” On whether the visit was a show of support for Tinubu’s possible presidential ambition, Adesina said, “The President still has two years less three months in his tenure of office. So, for him to start supporting somebody now will just be like jumping the gun and you know that President Buhari will never do that. “Before the 2019 elections, people began to campaign for him (Buhari) before INEC blew the whistle for the campaign to start. He was the one who came out to say ‘no, don’t do it; don’t jump the gun’; the President himself will dare not jump the gun in terms of supporting one candidate or the other. “Also, recall that he had said anybody that wants to be President after him should go out and work; that means the President may not be supporting anybody until maybe perhaps a candidate of the party emerges. Knowing President Buhari, he will never jump the gun.” After attending the Global Education Summit on Financing Global Partnership for Education, the president had stayed back in London to see his doctors and returned to the country on Friday. Before leaving London, Buhari, on Thursday, visited Tinubu, who is also believed to be on medical trip to London.