The President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio has clarified the reason behind the “let the poor breathe” joke he made at the plenary session on Tuesday, a sarcastic remark that has been greeted with criticisms by Nigerians.

On the floor of the Senate, Akpabio, in his urge to stop the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) and distribution companies (DisCos) from hiking tariff jokingly presented the motion moved by Senator Akintunde Abiodun, from Oyo State.

Reacting to the criticisms, the Senate President, in a statement date July 27 and posted on Friday, said he did not mean to insult the citizens, as he was aware of the hardships resulting from the high cost of living.

He said the motive behind his ‘let the poor breathe’ remark “was to firmly reject any plan of increasing electricity tariffs for Nigerians, considering the ongoing economic challenges that Nigerians are faced with.”

The statement added, “We are deeply concerned about the negative tilting of a very harmless statement by President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, about his deep concern and that of the Senate on the plight of the ordinary Nigerians as a result of the prevailing economic situation in the country.

“‘Let The People Breathe’ made during the Plenary on 26th July 2023, was made by Senator Akintunde Abiodun while speaking on the motion to halt the planned electricity tariff hike.”

Akpabio assured Nigerians that the upper legislative arm of the country cannot treat crucial matters with trivialities, and affirmed that the lawmakers cannot make a mockery of the challenges confronting the people.

The statement further reads, “We want to assure the general public that all matters discussed during Senate sessions are of utmost importance and are treated with great seriousness by the President of the Senate and his Distinguished colleagues

“It is crucial to clarify that the intentions of the mover of the motion and the comments of the President of the Senate were never to make light of the hardships, suffering and economic challenges faced by Nigerians at this critical juncture.

“The purpose of the proposal was to firmly reject any plan of increasing electricity tariffs for Nigerians, considering the ongoing economic challenges that Nigerians are faced with.

“The primary focus of the current National Assembly under the Chairmanship of Senator Akpabio is on the implementation of effective and well-structured policies that truly benefit the people. He has repeatedly assured Nigerians that the current Senate will work for all Nigerians.

“The President of the Senate deeply empathises with Nigerians and has never considered the current economic crisis in the country as a matter of jest. His unwavering commitment lies in serving the best interests of the Nigerian people with the release of the ministerial list and the subsequent screening and swearing-in of the ministers, we have high hopes that the newly appointed officials will promptly address the challenges and bring the much needed relief and succour to all citizens thereby, easing the current hardship and pains experienced by Nigerians.”

Says resuscitating Ajaokuta Steel Complex, Aluminium Smelter Company priorities

Vice President Kashim Shettima has reassured Nigerians, especially those living in Russia that the country will work again under the administration of President Bola Tinubu.

A statement issued by the Director of Information in his office, Mr Olusola Abiola, said the Vice President gave the assurance late Friday evening in St Petersburg at a forum with members of the Nigerian community in Russia.

Senator Shettima, who was addressing concerns raised by members of the community, said: “Be rest assured that in the next nine to twelve months, there will be a swift change in the fortunes of Nigeria.

“I’m talking with all sense of certainty and responsibility because I believe in the capacity and commitment of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.”

Speaking on the efforts of the administration to reposition the economy, the VP said: “We are here for the Africa-Russia Summit, but we are also here fundamentally to pursue the completion of the Ajaokuta Steel Complex and revival of the Aluminium Smelter Company of Nigeria (ALSCON).

“It is going to be a game changer. Having a vibrant steel industry is a sine qua non for the industrial take off of any nation. I can bet you, I can promise you that the President will bring Ajaokuta to reality.

“Be rest assured that if there is one legacy that President Tinubu would bequeath to fellow Nigerians, Ajaokuta is one.

“I’ll come back to Russia. We are going to drive this process, and my leader, my boss and principal, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is irrevocably committed to Ajaokuta and to ALSCON.

“We have begun the discussion, and we will see to it that these two companies take off. We have no option but to bring them to reality.”

Speaking further about the prospects for Nigeria’s transformation, the VP said the Tinubu administration will harness the vast human and material resources to put the country on the path of sustainable development and growth.

According to him, “this is the land of opportunities. We have the landmass and vibrant youth population. By 2035, there will be 65 million talent deficit in the world. America, Russia, Brazil will all suffer six million talent deficit, and Nigeria with a vibrant young population will be expected to fill the gap.

“So, opportunities abound in the digital space. Our target is to train 1,000,000 Nigerians on digital skills.”

The Vice President expressed confidence in the capacity of President Tinubu to transform Nigeria, noting that “the President passionately believes in the Nigeria project,” and that his emergence as leader of the nation “did not happen by chance.”

Citing examples of President Tinubu’s sterling performance as Lagos State governor, Senator Shettima said the President has shown “the propensity to inspire development across all sectors, and he has also shown the zeal, passion as well as the commitment to transform Nigeria.”

He then commended the conduct of leaders and members of the Nigerian community in Russia, stating that “the maturity exhibited by Nigerians living in Russia is an understatement, and I must confess that I am impressed by the Ambassador’s impressive achievements.”

Representatives of the Nigerian community in separate remarks commended the initiatives of the Tinubu administration to actively engage with the Russian government to improve relations between Nigeria and Russia.

Present at the forum were Nigeria’s Ambassador to Russia, Amb Shehu Abdullahi; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Mr Gabriel Aduda; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Mines and Steel Development, Mrs Mary Ogbe; President of Nigerian Community in Russia, Dr Maurice Okoli, and Chairman of Nigerians in Diaspora (NIDO), Russia, Mr Sampson Uwem, among others.

After six days in the kidnapper’s den, abducted Anambra native doctor and social media influencer, Mr. Chidozie Nwangwu, otherwise known as Akwa Okuko Tiwara Aki, has been released after his abductors demanded N350 million ransom, which was delivered to them.

It was gathered that the popular native doctor, considered one of the richest men in his Oba community in Idemili South Local Government Area, was released yesterday morning.

An indigene of the town who confirmed the release said: “Akwa Okuko was released very early this morning (Saturday) and he is still celebrating with his friends and well wishers in his house in Oba. His friends rallied round and raised the money for the abductors.”

Police PPRO, DSP Tochukwu Ikenga, said: “Yes, he was released this morning. We are waiting to debrief him with a view to getting his experience and clue of who the abductors were, so that we can go after them.”

Nwangwu, however, declined to confirm if a ransom was paid and the location the release transpired.

Recall that Akwa Okuko Tiwara Aki was kidnapped in one of his hotels in Oba last Sunday, while two of his personal aides were killed.

American rapper Jay-Z is reportedly plotting a bid to take over Tottenham Hotspur after owner J oe Lewis was accused of insider trading.

Spurs owner Lewis has been charged with conducting an insider trading scheme by prosecutors in America, and if found guilty would be forced to give up his ownership of the club per Premier League rules.

On the backdrop of this, The Mirror reports that Jay-Z is waiting in the wings to come in.

The American rapper has previously opened up on his interest to invest in a Premier League club.

Speaking back in 2010, he said: “I don’t know a lot about the business of soccer, but in the future if the right opportunity presented itself, then who knows?

This interest was, however, reported at the time to be in Spurs’ great rivals Arsenal, having previously revealed his allegiances lie with the Gunners when it comes to football.

The Bridge parish of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) at the Lagos Airport Hotel, Ikeja, has announced that it would fill the fuel tanks of members who arrive at church by 8am on Sunday, July 30th.

The parish is headed by Pastor Leke, the son of the RCCG General Overseer, Pastor Enoch Adeboye.

In the advertorial floated by Leke on Saturday, vehicles whose tanks will be filled with petrol must come to the service “filled with people.”

The cars must also remain in church until the end of church service by 11:30am.

The gesture is apparently aimed at assisting members attend church services following the hike in fuel price occasioned by the Federal Government’s recent petrol subsidy removal.

In his inaugural address on May 29, Tinubu had said “fuel subsidy is gone”, and subsequently promised to provide palliatives to cushion the effect on Nigerians.

“I can assure you that I understand your pains and the pains of your uncles, brothers, your mums. I understand, I feel it. It is not easy to get out a monster of over 40 years that is called subsidy,” Tinubu said afterwards without drawing back on his decision.

Amid the development, the governors have supported the president’s decision.

Lately, the governor of Bayelsa State, Douye Diri rolled out over 100 cars in the state to assist residents in their movements

Tinubu prepares to host ECOWAS emergency meeting

The African Union has issued a 15-day ultimatum to the junta in Niger to reinstall the country’s democratically elected government.

The ultimatum coincided with a meeting the coup leaders had with senior civil servants to discuss how they would run the country and as the U.S. and the European Union threatened sanctions against the regime.

Brig-Gen. Mohamed Toumba, one of the soldiers who ousted President Mohamed Bazoum on Wednesday, told state television that the junta met with civil servants on Friday and asked them to continue their work as usual, following the suspension of the constitution.

“The message given was not to stop the processes underway, to keep on with things,” said Brig. Gen. Toumba.

“Everything that must be done will be done,” he said, signaling the intention of the regime led by Gen. Abdourahmane Tchiani, who also goes by Omar, to remain in power.

After its meeting on Friday, the African Union Peace and Security Council said it was concerned by the “alarming resurgence” of coups that undermine democracy and stability on the continent.

It asked the soldiers to “return immediately and unconditionally to their barracks and restore constitutional authority within a maximum of fifteen (15) days.”

Bazoum, whose condition and that of his officials remains unknown since the government was overthrown, should also be released immediately and unconditionally, the AU said.

Failure to do so, it said, would compel the bloc to take “necessary action, including punitive measures against the perpetrators.”

On the streets of the Nigerien capital Niamey on Saturday, things appeared to be returning to normal, though many in the international community were still on lockdown with hotels full of foreigners, many given instructions not to leave.

Locals say they’re waiting to see what unfolds, with many still in support of Bazoum who has not yet resigned.

“I’m with him, he does a good work. (But) what can we do?” said Mohamed Cisse, a street seller. “This is (the new leader’s) time, Bazoum’s time is over,” he said.

Tchiani, the junta leader and commander of Niger’s presidential guard, is close to former Nigerien president Mahamadou Issoufou, who stepped down in 2021 after a decade in office.

Tchiani’s takeover of power will reinforce speculation that Issoufou is behind the coup, said Ulf Laessing, head of the Sahel program at the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, a German think tank and consultancy.

President Bola Tinubu is billed to hold a special meeting of the authority of heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in Abuja today.

A statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Special Duties Communication and Strategy, Mr Dele Alake, on Friday said the special meeting had been called to deliberate on the situation in Niger Republic.

President Tinubu is the Chairman of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of the ECOWAS Commission.

Nigerians may need to brace up for more hard times in August as persistent high inflation and low disposable income will continue to weigh heavily on their spending, PricewaterhouseCoopers has revealed.

PWC the second largest professional service provider also believes that the clamour for a review of wages of workers by the Nigerian Labour Congress to mitigate the impact of fuel subsidy removal may be unlikely.

The warning was contained in PWC’s Nigerian Economic Outlook for August, seen by THE WHISTLER.

“Inflation is expected to rise in the short to medium-term. Consumers are expected to be pressured by higher prices causing demand to slow down. Wage adjustments are unlikely to be adjusted simultaneously and proportionately,” PWC projected.

PWC believes that further impacts of these would be that continued inflationary growth and rise in the cost of living may slow real economic growth in the medium term.

“Continued inflationary growth and rise in the cost of living may slow real economic growth in the medium term. High FX rates may drive up production costs and impact negatively on firm performance,” PWC said.

For most Nigerians, living in Africa’s most populous nation has been unbearable since the new administration headed by Bola Tinubu removed fuel subsidy and floated the naira.

The price of fuel has jumped to over N600 from N190 per litre since Tinubu assumed office in May 2023.

Although Tinubu has been vocal about his intention not to ‘suffocate’ the poor and let them ‘breathe’, consumer price index which measures inflation has hit 22.7 per cent while the food component has surged to 25 per cent.

The figures did not even factor in the removal of fuel subsidy, the National Bureau of Statistics admitted in a statement.

Businesses will also bear the pains of the policy reforms as their revenues may decline in the short-term mainly due to the direct impact of input costs and reduction in disposable incomes.

PWC said naira floating is expected to drive up the cost of imported raw materials, adding that “cost of borrowing (Naira) could remain elevated due to the increase in MPR rate to 18.5 per cent in July 2023 by 25 basis points.

“Finance costs to increase due to exchange rate losses from higher interest payments incurred on exposure to foreign currency denominated loans. These losses are on account of the currency devaluation.”

However, other positives according to PWC are that floating of naira from an average of N472 to N771 per dollar “could provide incentives to corporates to explore local sourcing or backward integration in the medium term.

”Economic reforms such as the FX market liberalisation could gradually attract foreign investments and boost capital inflows in the long term. However, in the short-run, investors will likely adopt a wait-and-see approach.

“This may be a result of the absence of further reforms to strengthen business and economic fundamentals.

“Rise in inflation will likely reduce the real yields or returns on investment. Proposed new ministerial cabinet to drive economic direction and fiscal policy management. Implementation of new tax reforms to drive revenue generation.”

Comprehensive palliatives promised by President Bola Tinubu to cushion the effects of the removal of petrol subsidy may take a while to come, going by the slow pace of work of the Presidential Steering Committee (PSC) the President has raised for the assignment.

The committee had been constituted on June 19 with a time frame of eight weeks to deliver on its mandate.

The implication is that by August 18, the committee’s report should be delivered to the government to enable it work on the comprehensive package of palliatives for Nigerians.

The panel is chaired by Governor Nasir Idris of Kebbi State with members such as Governors Bala Mohammed of Bauchi, Charles Soludo of Anambra, Uba Sani of Kaduna and Hyacindu Alia of Benue, as well representatives of the Organised Labour and Civil Society Organisations.

But a member of the committee says more than one month after, they were not going at the anticipated speed, saying the deadline for the assignment may not be met unless the government fast-tracked the process.

“So far, we have stayed more than one month and we feel that we are not going at the speed we anticipated”, Trade Union Congress (TUC) President, Mr Festus Osifoh, who is representing TUC on the committee, said after its meeting in Abuja. “We want government to fast-track the action to ensure that between now and the next two weeks; all the committees must have submitted their reports so that the Presidential Steering Committee (PSC) can conclude its work immediately because we cannot continue to blow grammar while Nigerians are suffering and trekking long distances to work”.

Osifo noted that the Federal Government gave a two-month ultimatum for discussions to be concluded on both sides.
His words: “As of today (last Thursday), we have formed technical committees on cash transfers, intervention funds, reduction of cost of governance, fixing energy and power, developing CNG as an alternative to PMS and fixing of refineries.

“We also have technical committees on education and health as well as mass transit.
“Government gave a timeline of eight weeks, beginning from June 19. Going by that calculation, eight weeks is going to end by August 19.

“We are ready to work because the plight of Nigerian workers is a great concern to us. “Anything that would affect Nigerian workers is what we fight to correct.

“Beyond the workers, it is also about the well-being of the masses because we have a lot of Nigerians that are today unemployed.

“What we are canvassing across these technical committees is to ensure that whatever is put in place should be aimed at alternative and cheaper energy like the CNG.

“There should also be a consideration for palliatives that would better the lives of the people and the issue of reduction of cost governance.”

Earlier, the committee Chairman had assured that Nigerians would have a cause to smile soon as the body was doing its best to bring succour and ease current difficulties.

“The committee sat and deliberated on possible ways to cushion the effects of subsidy removal and very soon Nigerians will start reaping the benefits of this”, the Kebbi governor had said.

“We are determined to come up with a good and suitable outcome that will benefit Nigerians, therefore, be rest assured that the committee is up to the task.

“All we need is patience, support and cooperation from all Nigerians to enable us to achieve the set goals and objectives of establishing the committee by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.”

Damagum denies taking sides with ex-Rivers gov in party crisis

The national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is due to take a definite decision on the immediate past governor of Rivers State, Mr Nyesom Wike, following his nomination as minister by President Bola Tinubu.

Wike has been locked in a running battle with the PDP after the party decided to go into the last elections with its then National Chairman, Dr.Iyorchia Ayu, and presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, both from the North.

The Acting National Chairman, Ambassador Umar Damagum, told The Nation on the phone yesterday that consultation was already in progress on the Wike issue.

“We are already consulting with the PDP Governors Forum on the matter and the National Working Committee (NWC) will be meeting on Monday to take a definite position on it,” Damagum said.

The chairman said that contrary to allegations that the PDP has gone to bed since the outcome of the elections, the leadership has been engaging the various party organs in consultations with a view to addressing the various challenges confronting the party.

Damagum said: “There is no lull in the PDP like you said, just because you have not seen us moving to the streets. Consultations are ongoing with key stakeholders.

“Among those we are consulting with are state chairmen, the PDP Governors Forum, past National Chairmen and a select group of PDP elders.

“We are also meeting with the leadership of the PDP Youth organ next week. So we have not been idle as some people might think.”

On why the party has not convened its National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting in the last 10 months, Damagum said there were still issues to be resolved before NEC meeting can hold.

The PDP constitution stipulates that NEC meeting must hold every quarter (three months) and vests the National Chairman with the power to convene the meeting. The last NEC meeting was convened on September 8, 2022.

But Damagum said he alone cannot take the decision to convene NEC meeting.

He said: “The fact that I am the chairman does not make me the Alpha and Omega in the PDP. There are stakeholders in other organs of the party who are also critical to any decision to convene the NEC. Among them are the organs I mentioned earlier.

“And don’t forget that we still have our case in court”, referring to the ongoing presidential election petition where the PDP and its presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, are challenging the victory of President Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Asked to clarify media reports that he was receiving backing from the Wike camp, Damagum said he was neutral in the entire fray and that he would remain neutral in the overall interest of the PDP.

The chairman said he was not aware of any moves by some interest groups within the party to remove him from office.

Some online publications had reported yesterday that the Atiku camp was plotting Damagum’s removal from office over his alleged romance with the Wike group.

The nomination of Wike for ministerial position in the APC administration is causing ripples in the PDP.

The former Rivers State governor and four of his fellow PDP governors, Seyi Makinde (Oyo),Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia ),Samuel Ortom (Benue) and Ifeanyi Ugwuayi (Enugu) opted not to work for the party in the presidential election on account of the issue of national chairman and presidential candidate coming from the same part of the country.

Our correspondent learnt yesterday that Wike has been working in the background to draw his four other friends in the G-5 closer to President Tinubu.

A source close to ex-Governor Ortom confirmed the development to our correspondent in a telephone chat on Friday.

According to the source, who does not want his name in print, Ortom had resolved his differences with the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume. The SGF is the leader of the APC in Benue State.

Akume, who was Benue governor from 1999 to 2007, used to be Ortom’s political godfather before they parted ways shortly before the 2019 general election.

Akume was instrumental to how Ortom joined the APC and got elected governor in 2015 on the party’s platform.

The two politicians, however, had a disagreement that led Ortom to later defect to the PDP where he secured the party’s ticket for his re-election in 2019.

The source confirmed that Ortom and some of the G-5 members were in Abuja yesterday for a scheduled meeting with Akume.

According to him, Wike was billed to be part of the scheduled meeting where some key decisions were expected to be taken.

The source said Akume might lead the group to meet with President Tinubu after the meeting.

“You must be aware that ex Governor Ortom has already reconciled with Senator Akume. The initial arrangement was for President Tinubu to reconcile them. But they have made the President’s job easier by being able to settle their differences on their own,” said the source.

In what looks like an unending supremacy battle, Muslims and Osun devotees again clashed in Ilorin penultimate weekend as Islamic cleric stormed Yemoja community in a bid to stop the traditional worshippers from performing their rites at a river in the community.

For the umpteenth time, a rowdy scene broke out when some Muslim clerics and Osun devotees clashed in the Yemoja area of Ilorin, Kwara State penultimate weekend. The latest clash occurred when some traditional worshippers performed some rites at Yemoja River, prompting the Muslims to confront the traditionalists at the river bank.

A group of Islamic clerics led by one Imam Baba Olokuta Agidi was said to have threatened to deal with the traditionalists if they did not desist from carrying out the rites at the river; a development that was said to have angered the traditionalists.

The cleric and some Muslim leaders had got wind of the activities of the Osun devotees through a video posted on social media, that they were making sacrifices at the river, but they did not know their exact location. Irked by the development, the Muslim leaders fruitlessly combed the town for three days to know the whereabouts of the Osun devotees.

Their search paid off penultimate Sunday when they were tipped off that the Osun devotees were visiting the river again. The Muslim clerics stormed the riverside and confronted the traditionalists.

A video obtained by our correspondent shows that a group of traditional religion worshippers also warned the Islamic clerics not to test their will.

“We are at the Iyemoja River, because we saw a footage posted on the social media wherein it was claimed that some people parading themselves as traditionalists came to this river to offer sacrifices and that they would be seriously dealt with. However, what amazes us is the fact that this river is called Yemoja River and not Zem Zem River (in Mecca, Saudi Arabia).

“As far as we are concerned the people behind the threat to poison the river with charms if we traditionalists come to carry out sacrifices here are just blabbing. They (Muslim clerics) should desist from issuing threats to us.

“Won’t passersby that drink from this Yemoja River die if the clerics make good their threat to poison this river just because we traditionalists come here to make appeasement?

“Do the Muslims intend to kill other people that drink from this Yemoja River? And what do Muslims want to do with this river by asking us not to come here and threatening to poison it?

“The Muslims are calling us idol worshippers, but we want to let them know that we are genuine indigenes of Ilorin. We are traditionalists and we can never be ashamed of our religion.

“Therefore, this Yemoja River we are standing beside, should any Muslim cleric come here to do evil to the water, such person would face calamity before he gets home.

“May water kill anyone that comes to this river to do evil. Anyone that attempts to poison this river because of us will be swept away alongside his children by the river.

“We traditional worshippers are peace loving people. Hence it is absurd to hear that some people have been threatening to kill those who come to carry out sacrifices here.

“We are warning you (Muslim clerics) to stop threatening us, because we also have charms that we inherited from our forebears and we might be forced to bring them out to liberate ourselves.

“As you can see, the water the Muslims said is laced with poisonous substance is what we are drinking now and nothing has happened to us.”

The traditionalists had barely finished their comments when a group of Muslim clerics stormed the scene and an altercation ensued. In the middle of the confrontation, the Muslim leaders led by Imam Baba Olokutaagidi again warned the traditionalists never to set their foot on the river again.

There was eruption of cacophony of voices as the Muslim leaders said they would resist any attempt by the traditionalist to use the river for sacrifices.

They said the Yemoja community where the river is located is not the name of the river. Rather, Imam Baba Olokutaagidi said the river is known as Odo (River) Oko Olowo.

Hear them: “We have come back to confront those idol worshippers at the Odo (River) Oko Olowo.

“This river is not where you idol worshippers can make sacrifices or appeasement at all.

“We will not tolerate that. We don’t want Osun river worshipping in Ilorin.”

When the confrontation subsided, Imam Baba Olokutaagidi reiterated that the traditional worshippers were not welcomed in the community.

He said: “The matter on ground does not call for altercation or fighting except you (traditionalists) want to fight, and we would advise you to bring it on because we are ready for you.

“The Mogaji (community leader) is here with us. He was duly turbaned by Ilorin monarch and he is a Muslim…”

In the course of the confrontation, one of the Muslim leaders at the scene interrupted Imam Baba Olokutaagidi declaring the traditional worshippers as persona non grata.

“We don’t want anything that has to do with do with idol worshipping at this river…we are also spiritually endowed but we chose to run away from trouble… I am not happy seeing you here and I do not want you to wait for too long here…

“We trailed you to this area and the presence of these clerics here means that the Emir of Ilorin is aware of their mission here…we have been seeing the sacrificial pots not far away from here, and a car crash just occurred this morning here (suggesting there is a link between the sacrifice and the accident).”

Continuing, Imam Baba Agba Olokutaagidi said that he was alerted to the activities of the traditional worshippers at the river three days earlier. Hence, he decided to trail them.

He said: “Three days ago, I was alerted that some idol worshippers were carrying out sacrifices at River (Yemoja) Oko Olowo. We tried in vain to locate the exact axis of the river until around 11pm when we saw a post on the social media which detailed how some idol worshippers robed in white apparel with heathen pots emerged from three commercial tricycles and went to this river to carry out sacrifices. Hence, I came to this river three days ago and threatened to lace the river with a poisonous substance.

“Any religious activity that is at variance with our religious beliefs in Ilorin that would make anyone to come and worship this river, such persons will end up leaving here with calamity.

“We brought some Tirah, which we intended to use to teach these idol worshippers a bitter lesson. Unfortunately, it started raining and we couldn’t bring out the Tirah as rain water could render it ineffective.

“We then promised that we shall return to confront the idol worshippers with our Tirah some other time when rain would not prevent us from bringing it out from the underneath of our dress to teach them a lesson. Hence we are here today.

“Although we are not your enemies, we would not accept anything that is ungodly from you. You cannot worship river goddess in Ilorin, the city of Alimi. We won’t accept it.

“What we know about Ilorin is that it is not a city of pagans. They cannot revive a culture of paganism that has long been eradicated in Ilorin.

“Prophet Muhammed (SWT) was instructed by Allah to eradicate paganism in Mecca and he did. So also paganism has long been cancelled here in Ilorin and cannot be revived again.

“We cannot ask those of you who are indigenes of Ilorin not to live here, but we cannot allow you people to give Ilorin a bad name.

“We don’t want to see anyone of you at this river anymore. If we hear that you idol worshippers carry out any sacrifice in any river anywhere in Ilorin, we will come for you and ensure that such persons become physically disabled when they get home.

“Although this community is called Yemoja, this river is not Yemoja River, and as such cannot be used as an excuse to worship it. The leaders of this community are here and you people should behave yourselves. We don’t want any celebration of Isese festival in Ilorin.”

The traditional ruler of Yemoja community, Alhaji Mogaji, explained that he tried in vain to prevent the traditionalists from carrying out sacrifices at the river.

“We learnt that they (Osun devotees) were at the river and that others were coming to this river in three commercial tricycles, and I asked my people to block the path to the river with logs of wood.

“When they eventually arrived, we denied them access to the river. However, their colleagues who had finished their propitiations and were coming from the riverside threatened that we would be swept away by the river if we tried to stop them and other Osun devotees from using the river, and we were upset by their comments.

“I was born and raised here in Yemoja Village and my forebears never offered sacrifices to this river. We are all Muslims in this community.”

However, the traditional worshippers vowed to resist any further attack or intimidation from Muslims who they claimed were fond of stopping them from freely practising their religion.

“The Muslim clerics said they had poisoned the river and that is why we went to the river and drank from it and nothing has happened to us as we speak.

“We traditional worshippers will never be afraid of Muslims. The fight has just begun and we will stand by our members in any part of Kwara State.

“Despite the attempts to stop us from using the river, we are also taking some steps on that matter and we will never be afraid of the Muslims.”

The latest clash trails a recent warning issued by a Muslim group to an Osun priestess not to go ahead with her plan to celebrate Isese (traditional) festival in Ilorin in her own interest.

The priestess, Yeye Adesikemi Olokun Omolara Olatunji, had reportedly released fliers on the social media announcing a three-day festival aimed at celebrating some Yoruba deities.

Members of the Muslim group Majlisu Shabab li Ulamahu Society had stormed the residence of the priestess Yeye to stop her from hosting the event and imposed a ban on any form of Isese traditional religion festivals in five local governments in Kwara State.

The four local governments are Ilorin West, Ilorin East, Ilorin South and Asa.

Members of the group, in a viral video posted on Facebook a few weeks ago by one Arowolo Abdulfatai, said the visit followed reports of an imminent traditional festival known as Isese, which was to be hosted by the priestess.

The development has since been generating mixed reactions across the country with people speaking for or against the attempt to stop traditional worshippers from freely practising their religion.

Nobel laureate Prof Wole Soyinka, in an open letter to the Emir of Ilorin recently, condemned the development, saying: “It is sad to see the ancient city of Ilorin, a confluence of faiths and ethnic varieties, reduced to this level of bigotry and intolerance, manifested in the role of a presiding monarch.

“Your Royal Highness, it is conduct like this that has bred Boko Haram, ISIS, ISWAP and other religious malformations that currently plague this nation, spreading grief and outrage across a once peaceful landscape, degrading my and your existence with their virulent brand of Islam,” he said.

“It is conduct like this that has turned, before our very eyes, a once ecumenical city like Kaduna into a blood-stained mockery of cohabitation. It is conduct like this that makes it possible for a young student, Deborah, to be lynched in the very presence of armed police, on mere allegation of having belittled the image of a revered prophet.

OSun river

“It is action of this nature, perpetrated in obscure as well as prominent outlets of the nation that turns a young generation into mindless monsters, ever ready to swarm out and kill, kill, kill. Simply kill for the thrill of it, but under presumption of religious immunity.

“It is conduct like this that then nerves one extremist to wake up one day in a Scandinavian country, publicly announce his intention, and proceed to make a bonfire of copies of the Qur’an.

“Reprisals followed, equally mindless, trapping humanity in an ever-ascending spiral of costly but gleeful violence.”

He added: “…rein in those agents of division, of triumphalist intolerance, such as the Majlisu Shabab Ulamahu Society. There is a thin line between power and piety.”

“Call Yeye Ajasikemi OIokun Omolara to your side, make peace with her and make restitution whichever way you can for this grievous insult to our race. We know the history of Ilorin and the trajectory of your dynasty – but these are not the issues.

“The issue is peaceful cohabitation, respect for other worldviews, their celebrations, their values and humanity. The issue is the acceptance of the multiple facets of human enlightenment.”