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JUST IN: Shina Peller bows out of Green Chamber, drums up support for successor
The Ayedero of Yorubaland, Honourable (Dr.) Shina Abiola Peller, has urged the returning members of the House of Representatives to extend his cordial relationship with them in the last four years to his successor, Honourable Shina Oyedeji aka O’Shine.
Honourable Peller, who represented Iseyin/Itesiwaju/Kajola/Iwajowa federal constituency at the ninth National Assembly, made this appeal yesterday after attending the valedictory session of the House.
The Ayedero, who described the last four years in the House as “awesome” added that it served as great opportunity for him to know how government works, especially in the legislative arm. He also recalled that it was a deliberate plan on his part not to return to the House for second term. He added that his decision was driven by his desire to give room for the other zone of his constituency to produce the next representative which hasn’t happened in the last 16 years.
Similarly, Honourable Peller used the avenue to acknowledge the leadership feat of the House Speaker, Rt. Honourable Femi Gbajabiamila, describing it as outstanding and remarkable. He noted that the Speaker was able to steer, stabilize and put the House together as one in spite of the different political, religious and ethnic affiliation of members.
Honourable Peller thanked his constituents for giving him the opportunity to serve them, while he urged them to give overwhelming support to his successor in the overall interest of the constituency.
His statement read in full:
“Yesterday, we had the valedictory session which marked the end of the 9th House of Representatives.
The last 4 years in the House has been so awesome as it gave me the opportunity to know how government works especially in the legislative arm. It also gave me the opportunity to work and mingle with different personalities with diverse culture from different federal constituencies of the federation.
“I must acknowledge and appreciate the outstanding and remarkable leadership feats of our speaker, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, who was able to steer, stabilize and put the House together as one, for good four years notwithstanding our different political affiliations.
“Unfortunately, I won’t be returning to the House for a second term, which was the plan from the onset in order to give room for the other zone of my constituency to produce the next representative which hasn’t happened in the last 16 years.
“As I sign out from the 9th National Assembly, I hope that the cordial relationship that I have built with members in the House will be transferred to my successor, Hon. Shina Oyedeji (O’Shine) of Kajola Local Govt, in the overall interest of my constituency which is made up of four local governments namely Iseyin, Itesiwaju, Kajola and Iwajowa.
“To God be the glory for everything! Special thanks to the loving people of my constituency for giving me the opportunity to serve them.”
In a somber development for Nigeria’s journalism community, Yakubu Mohammed, a co-founder of the iconic Newswatch magazine and its former deputy chief executive officer, has died at the age of 75.
Mohammed’s passing, announced recently, follows closely on the heels of the death of his longtime colleague and fellow co-founder, Dan Agbese, who succumbed to a prolonged illness on November 17, 2025, at age 81.
This marks yet another significant loss among the pioneering generation that launched Newswatch in 1984, revolutionizing investigative journalism in Nigeria.
Alongside Dan Agbese, Ray Ekpu, and the late Dele Giwa (who was tragically assassinated via a parcel bomb in 1986), Mohammed helped establish Newswatch as a trailblazing weekly newsmagazine known for its bold, fearless reporting and commitment to truth during a turbulent era in Nigerian history.
Reports indicate that Mohammed had been battling an undisclosed ailment before his death. Just months prior, in October 2025, he released his memoir, Beyond Expectations, which provides deep insights into the magazine’s founding, its challenges, and its enduring impact on Nigerian media.
The deaths of Agbese and now Mohammed represent profound blows to the legacy of Newswatch, which set new standards for ethical, investigative, and interpretative journalism in the country.
Tributes are expected to pour in from media practitioners, political leaders, and the public as the nation mourns another pillar of its press freedom movement. May his soul rest in perfect peace.
News
U.S. delivers ‘critical military assets’ to battle terrorists, bandits
Nigeria’s Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Aneke, visited the U.S. to quicken the process for the supply of 12 AH-1Z fighter jets by Bell Textron of California.AH-1Z, a modern attack helicopter, is equipped with advanced sensors and precision-guided weapons with night-fighting capabilities.
The US Africa Command (AFRICOM), has confirmed the delivery of critical military supplies to Nigeria to support the ongoing security operations against terrorists and other non-state actors.
“This delivery supports Nigeria’s ongoing operations and emphasises our shared security partnership,” said AFRICOM on its official X account yesterday.
AFRICOM, however, did not name the “critical military” tools.
Nigeria’s Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Aneke, visited the U.S. to quicken the process for the supply of 12 AH-1Z fighter jets by Bell Textron of California.AH-1Z, a modern attack helicopter, is equipped with advanced sensors and precision-guided weapons with night-fighting capabilities.
The supply of the critical military tools came after Washington launched deadly strikes on terrorists in the Northwest on December 24.
News
World Bank projects Nigeria’s urban population to reach 264m by 2050
According to the report entitled ‘Multi-sector analytical review and pathway to transformation’, Nigeria’s urban population has grown exponentially over the last 65 years – from just under seven million in 1960 to over 128 million in 2024, with nearly half the urban population living in slums.
• Lagos Business District
The World Bank says that people living in Nigerian cities will over the next 25 years reach 264 million from the current 140.3 million people.
The Bank made the projection in its Global Economic Prospects report, released yesterday, also forecasts that the Nigerian economy will grow by 4.4 percent in 2026 and maintain that pace in 2027.
In the report, Nigeria is expected to be the third most populous country in the world, after China and India
According to the report entitled ‘Multi-sector analytical review and pathway to transformation’, Nigeria’s urban population has grown exponentially over the last 65 years – from just under seven million in 1960 to over 128 million in 2024, with nearly half the urban population living in slums.
It is projected that 70 percent of the population will live in urban areas by 2050, with cities at the centre of the country’s economic future.
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