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Personal Statement From President Bola Tinubu on the passing of H.E. ROTIMI AKEREDOLU
I MOURN MY FEARLESS BROTHER, ROTIMI AKEREDOLU
It is a difficult task to have to pen a tribute and sing a dirge for a departing soul. It is a more difficult job in our African culture when one is compelled to do so for a younger person. Here am I having the difficult job of singing a dirge for Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu, my beloved brother, confidant, political soulmate, and the Executive Governor of Ondo State.
It is an impossible task to fully capture in words Rotimi’s towering figure and his human essence. Rotimi was a man who moved our nation towards equity, fairness and justice in his strident advocacy against every form of injustice in our country through the instrumentality of the law as a senior advocate, attorney-general of his beloved state, as President of the Nigerian Bar Association and Governor of Ondo State.
In a challenging moment of our statehood when marauding agents of darkness spread their tentacles across our country, Rotimi was a strong voice in wilderness calling us to rethink our security architecture so we can have a more secure nation. His unrelenting advocacy led to the birth of the local police in the South West.
Rotimi was a man of ideas and action. While he was with us, he taught us the power of action and service. In Ondo State, where he had the honour to serve as the Governor over the past six years, he served his people with absolute loyalty, dedication, and forthrightness. His footprints dot the entire landscape of the state through the hundreds of kilometres of roads he built, the many schools he built, and healthcare facilities that he provided. During the dark hours when marauding agents of darkness visited the state and killed defenceless citizens where 40 worshippers of the Catholic Church of Owo were killed on June 5, 2022, Rotimi’s leadership qualities as a true statesman and compassionate leader radiated brightly to the world. He was a mourner-in-chief who guided his people through an agonising period. Today, I mourn a fighter and fearless defender of truth and the masses.
My personal journey with Rotimi started as joint members of the progressive family. We fought many battles together to restore progressive governance in the South West, Edo State, and Nigeria as a whole. During this uncertain period, Rotimi was resolute and unflinching. He showed uncommon courage as a member of our legal team in our battles to reclaim our stolen mandates in Ekiti, Ondo, Edo, and Osun States. A gallant lawyer and one of the finest of the legal profession. I beckoned on him to contest for the governorship position of Ondo State in 2012. Even though he did not make it in his first attempt, his enthusiasm and determination to serve his people never diminished. He eventually made it to the Alagbaka Government House in his second attempt in the 2016 election, Since he was sworn in in February 2017, he had served the people with devotion.
Rotimi has played his role well and left us untimely. We will never see his likes again. Let me tell the people of Ondo State that I am grieving with you. We will honour Rotimi’s memory and make sure his legacy of service is never forgotten.
In my grief and sadness, I have telephoned his wife, Betty, and Acting Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa to commiserate with them and urge them to take heart over this national tragedy.
Governor Akeredolu was not just a friend and associate, the departed leader was a brother and a soulmate.
His death is a blow to our governing APC and the progressive family as we are diminished by it.
I hope that his successor Aiyedatiwa will hold steadfast to the vision of governance left by this towering political leader.
News
Senate confirms Vanguard’s Editor, Eze Anaba For National Human Rights Commission Board
President Bola Tinubu had in April written to the Senate, seeking the screening and confirmation of the nominees as part of efforts to strengthen the country’s human rights protection framework.
The Senate on Wednesday confirmed the appointment of the President of the Nigeria Guild of Editors (NGE) and Editor of Vanguard Newspapers, Eze Anaba, and 15 other nominees to the governing board of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC).
The NHRC is mandated to promote and protect human rights, investigate alleged violations and encourage compliance with national and international human rights standards.
The confirmation followed the consideration of a report presented today by the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, Senator Adeniyi Adegbonmire (SAN, APC, Ondo Central).
The Senate also confirmed Dr Salamatu Hussaina Suleiman as chairman of the board and Dr Anthony Ojukwu (SAN) as Executive Secretary.
Other confirmed nominees are Mrs Roseline Tasha, Ambassador Adam Yubak Baku, ACG Felix Lawrence, Edmund Chinonye, Chinonye Obiaku (SAN), Oluwakemi Asiwaju Okere-Odo, Professor Adedeji Ogunji, Kingsley Chidozie, Mohammed Adelodu, Maupe Ogun Yusuf, Otunba Francis Meshioye, Patience Patrick Udoh and Hawwa Ibrahim.
President Bola Tinubu had in April written to the Senate, seeking the screening and confirmation of the nominees as part of efforts to strengthen the country’s human rights protection framework.
The letter was read on the floor of the Senate by the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio.
In the letter, Tinubu sought the reconstitution of the commission’s governing board in line with statutory provisions.
The President said the nominations were made pursuant to Section 2(3) of the National Human Rights Commission (Establishment) Act, 2010, which empowers him to constitute the board, subject to Senate confirmation.
The nominees were drawn from diverse professional backgrounds, including the media and legal sectors.
News
MultiChoice Says Subscribers To Now Choose From Four DStv, GOtv Packages
Under the new structures scheduled to take effect on November 5, 2026, DStv subscribers will choose from four packages: Starter, Select, Sports and Premium, while GOtv customers will have Easy, Starter, Select and Sports.
Lagos| Pic: Chief Executive Officer of MultiChoice Nigeria, Kemi Omotosho, flank by other executives after the press briefing held at the company’s headquarters in Victoria Island, Lagos.
MultiChoice Nigeria, a CANAL+ company, has structured it’s DStv and GOtv channels saying that they are aimed at giving subscribers more choice and better value through packages tailored to their viewing preferences.
Under the new structures scheduled to take effect on November 5, 2026, DStv subscribers will choose from four packages: Starter, Select, Sports and Premium, while GOtv customers will have Easy, Starter, Select and Sports.
The announcement was made at a press briefing held at the company’s headquarters in Victoria Island, Lagos, where executives outlined
Chief Executive Officer of MultiChoice Nigeria, Kemi Omotosho, said that the restructuring forms part of CANAL+’s broader strategy to develop a more unified, customer-focused portfolio following MultiChoice’s integration into the group.
Omotosho emphasised that the changes were driven by customer feedback and shifts in how audiences consume entertainment across television sets, smartphones, tablets and laptops.
News
Leadership Names Obaigbena, Rabiu Persons of Year 2026
According to Leadership, the duo are being honoured for “building influential institutions, nurturing talent, challenging convention, and breaking new ground” in their respective fields.
Lagos |Pic: Presentation of Leadership Newspapers Person of the Year 2026 to Prince Nduka Obaigben, at the Ikoyi Offices of Arise News Channel in Lagos. In picture at the event were: Ombudsman, Kayode Komolafe; Leadership Newspapers Vice Chairman & Editor in Chief, Azu Ishiekwene; Leadership Newspapers Chairman, Mrs Zainab Sam Nda Isaiah; THISDAY Managing Director, Eniola Bello and Arise News Director of Politics, Akin Osuntokun.
Leadership Newspapers has named the Chairman of THISDAY Group and founder of Arise News, Prince Nduka Obaigbena, and the Chairman of BUA Group, Abdul Samad Rabiu, as its Persons of the Year 2026.
The newspaper announced the recognition, while citing the businessmen’s contributions to institution-building, talent development, innovation, investment, job creation and philanthropy.
According to Leadership, the duo are being honoured for “building influential institutions, nurturing talent, challenging convention, and breaking new ground” in their respective fields.
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