Friday, April 28

Oba Akiolu finally speaks on snub of Ooni of Ife, Buhari addresses his health issues and other major headline stories you missed today!

Dear KFBers, we have got loads of interesting stories in tonight's #MajorHeadlinesYouMissedToday feature...enjoy!

Oba Akiolu finally speaks on snub of Ooni of Ife

Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu, Thursday evening, cleared the air on the video that showed him snubbing the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, at a public function in Lagos. Oba Akiolu said his gesture was not ‘snub’ as being dubbed but that it was the culturally acclaimed way of greeting a monarch in Lagos.

Oba Akiolu has received several knocks over the incident.
Oba Akiolu spoke through by one of the white cap chiefs of Lagos, Lateef Aderibigbe Ajose, who is the Opeluwa Onido of Lagos.
Ajose said the Lagos monarch did not ignore Ooni of Ife at the public function as being misconceived by people.

He said Oba Akiolu’s response to Oba Ogunwusi was the culturally acclaimed way of greeting a monarch in Lagos.
He added that the Lagos King is basically trying to revive the culture and tradition of ancient Lagos, which is peculiar to the State.
Other tribes also have their peculiar ways of greeting, he said.

Ajose stated: “The sign by Oba Akiolu signifies ‘inu mi, inu e’, the culture of greeting in Lagos.
“If Oba Akiolu wanted to ignore, he would have turned his face away from Ooni.
“There is no misunderstanding between both highly revered monarchs in Yorubaland.”
According to Ajose, the relationship between both Yoruba kings is peaceful and mutual.
He said: “Oba Akiolu was well represented at the coronation of Ooni of Ife, which attested to the fact that he does not disregard the office of Ooni Adeyeye.”
Chief Ajose said Oba Akiolu had waited till this time to react to the issue because he had to meet with other chiefs in the palace to rub minds before addressing the public on the matter.
He said: “There is no sentiment in the culture of Lagos. As we met it, that is the way we are doing it.
“Kabiyesi Oba Akiolu is trying to bring back the old pattern, the old culture we have left behind.
“What happened that day was wrongly speculated by the social media to disrupt peace and order and misinterpret Oba Akiolu’s action.
“We just want to appeal to the social media to stop spreading wrong information.
“They should try and understand the reason behind every action carried out, most especially by traditional rulers. “Yoruba has a very rich culture.
“There is no quarrel between the Oba of Lagos and Ooni of Ife.”

Don’t worry about my health, I’m fine – Buhari tells Nigerians

The Federal government of Nigeria has reacted to fears by Nigerians over the health status of President Muhammadu Buhari.
Buhari missed Wednesday’s Federal Executive Council, FEC, meeting.

Minister of Information later said the President needed rest and would work from home.
However, in a statement signed by president Buhari’s Media chief, Garba Shehu, made available to the press, the presidency urged Nigerians not to be apprehensive over Buhari’s health.
The statement reads, “The Presidency hereby assures the good people of Nigeria that, despite the insinuations of a number of media organizations, there is no need for apprehension over the health of our President, Muhammadu Buhari.

“President Buhari’s absence at the Federal Executive Council meeting of Wednesday, April 26, was a last minute decision; otherwise, the cabinet and the public might have been alerted in advance.
“As eager as he is to be up and about, the President’s doctors have advised on his taking things slowly, as he fully recovers from the long period of treatment in the United Kingdom some weeks ago.
“President Buhari himself, on his return to the country, made Nigerians aware of the state of his health while he was in London. Full recovery is sometimes a slow process, requiring periods of rest and relaxation, as the Minister for Information, Lai Mohammed, intimated in his press briefing after the FEC meeting on Wednesday.

“Despite his lack of visibility, Nigerians should rest assured that President Buhari has not abdicated his role as Commander-in-Chief of Nigeria. He receives daily briefings on the activities of government and confers regularly with his Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo. His private residence, in which he has been spending the majority of his time recently, also has a fully equipped office.
“God is the giver of life and health. We are grateful that He has seen our President through the worst period of his convalescence in London. We are thankful that the President has passed a number of benchmarks already. We pray that God continues to see him through this period of recuperation.”

Naira falls slightly against dollar

The Naira on Thursday depreciated slightly against the dollar at the parallel market.
The Nigerian currency lost two points to close at N390 to the dollar, while the Pound Sterling and the Euro traded at N495 and N415, respectively.

At the Bureau De Change window, the naira was sold at N362, while the Pound Sterling and the Euro closed at N490 and N420, respectively.
Trading at the interbank window saw the naira close at N305.85 to the dollar.
The naira, however, appreciated marginally at the investment and export window, as it closed at N379.04, from the N379.89 it opened earlier today.

Lagos rescues 237 abandoned babies from streets

The Lagos State Government on Thursday said it rescued 237 abandoned babies from the streets of Lagos in the last one year.
Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Mrs. Uzamat Akinbile-Yussuf disclosed this on Thursday at a ministerial press conference in Alausa, Lagos, Southwest Nigeria.
According to Akinbile-Yussuf, adequate care and protection were provided for vulnerable children, abandoned, homeless, abused or other children whose rights and privileges as stipulated by the Child’s Rights Law (2007) had been trampled upon.
“Two hundred and thirty-seven abandoned children and babies were rescued during the period under review. This comprises of 106 male and 131 female. This figure is higher than the corresponding figure of 149 children that were rescued in 2015 while between January 2017 till 53 children have been rescued,” she said.

Boko Haram: Troops kill 15 terrorists, several others injured in Borno

Troops of the 21 Brigade on Thursday engaged the Boko Haram terrorists in gun battle at the Sambisa Forest leading to the terrorists recording huge casualties.
A statement from deputy director army public relations, Lt Col Kinsley Samuel said, the terrorists paid dearly as the troops neutralized 15 of them and wounded several others.

The Acting General Officer Commanding (GOC) 7 Division Nigerian Army, Brigadier General Victor Ezugwu also commended the troops for delivering a devastating deep punch to Boko Haram terrorists leading to the capture of large quantities of terrorists’ equipment.
“The display of bravery that led to successful and decisive repelling Boko Haram terrorists attempted incursion into their location in Sambisa forest, Borno State early morning today, Thursday, 27th April 2017, has yield positive result.
“In addition, the gallant troops made heavy seizures with the destruction of 1 vehicle bound Improvised Explosive Device (VBIED) belonging to the terrorists and capture of 1 Buffalo Gun truck mounted with Long Barrel Shilka Gun, 2 General Purpose Machine Gun, 1 PKM Gun, mortar tubes, 3 AK-47 rifles, 2 FN rifles, 1 G3 rifle. Others are 5 pieces of 60mm mortar Bombs, various GSM handsets, 36 Hand Grenade, 12 rifle magazines, Shilka fill tray, 750 rounds of 7.62mm (NATO) ammunition, 106 rounds of 32mm ammunition, a 12 volt battery, 3 Automatic Grenade Launcher bombs and 5 mortar charges, among others,” the statement said.