Personality in Focus
Prof Banji Akintoye Berates the 2023 General Election
By Kayode Emola
In an interview granted to the Yoruba World Media last weekend, Prof Akintoye berated the ongoing 2023 General election stating that what the Yoruba people need is an independent Yoruba nation. Prof. Akintoye stated that the international observers will have noticed that southern Nigeria especially the Yoruba region was heavily militarised during this election. This cannot be a way to conduct a free and fair election.
The Inspector General (IG) of Police some few weeks ago made a statement that the Yoruba people were amassing guns and other weapons to disrupt the 2023 elections which was not true. It is now clear to the whole world that the IG statement was just a ruse for the federal government to intimidate the Yoruba people. We have made it clear that we cannot be intimidated in our own land and we stand ready to defend it, no matter what. A few years ago, President Buhari made a coded statement for any Fulani in West Africa to come to Nigeria even without proper documentation and since then, they have been coming in large numbers since 2015. Once arrived in Nigeria, they are automatically given Nigeria citizenship and the right to vote which is an insult to the indigenous peoples of Nigeria.
Recall that a former president of Nigeria, Olusegun Obasanjo, has stated previously that the Fulani are planning for a war in Nigeria and it is the plan of the Fulani to conquer the indigenous peoples of Nigeria and take over their land. Prof. Akintoye stated that there is already a silent war going on amidst the election as innocent people are being kidnapped on a daily basis on the highway. Farmers are unable to go to their farms for fear of being kidnapped and maimed by Fulani militias.
It is now clear to the world that the government has always been looking for an excuse to invade the Yorubaland. We have always conducted our self-determination struggle with the utmost decorum and all our rallies have been peaceful. Our rally in Ibadan had over 1.5 million people in attendance and we thought that was big, however, when we went to other Yoruba cities, the crowd grew bigger and bigger until our rally in Ado Ekiti recorded over 3.5 million people in 2021. All we are trying to do is to take our Yoruba nation out of the barbarism of Nigeria. Nigeria is no longer a safe place for the Yoruba people and we need to get out now.
Nothing is safe in Nigeria and in the last 2 weeks, it has been madness everywhere in Nigeria. First, it was petroleum products that were not made available and then it became no currency for the people to spend. This caused distress to many of our people as some people resulted in stripping themselves naked in banking halls. The failed currency redesign has caused riots on the streets, in all of this, the government is now resulting in using the army to intimidate our people.
This is the true situation of things in Nigeria so I want the international observers to see what is happening and not the ruse that the government is projecting. What the government is showcasing to the world is untrue, the brutality on our people is inhumane and we cannot tolerate the oppressive Nigeria regime. There is a destructive war in Nigeria that the government is not showing, and this is what I want you to take back to your respective countries.
To my Yoruba people, I congratulate us as we inch closer to victory, and for being peaceful throughout our campaign. Many people have asked what happens after the elections? Elections may be taking place today but it doesn’t mean that we are happy. Even after the elections, it doesn’t mean that the country may not disintegrate. We just continue to press on with our quest for an independent Yoruba nation.
It doesn’t mean that we will cause any trouble, the trouble will come from those who are embittered by the results of the election in Nigeria and we will be ready to take our Yoruba country out by then. We will not ferment any trouble but my prayers are that there should be a situation in Nigeria that will cause will give us the opportunity to take our Yoruba nation out of Nigeria.
Even if a new president comes into office, we will continue to fight and we are now fighting better. We now have a lot of our people in several countries working for us, most of them are even doing it without us giving them any money and they are getting good results. I say to you my Yoruba people, we will be free very soon and be able to build the most prosperous black nation on earth.
Kayode Emola is the Spokesperson for Prof. Akintoye
By NOMA
The Nigerian Online Media Alliance (NOMA) has celebrated Mr. Olakunle Aderinokun on his 55th birthday, describing him as a distinguished strategic communications expert and media professional whose nearly three-decade career continues to shape Nigeria’s communications and business landscape.
In a statement by Theresa Moses, Chairperson, NOMA highlighted Aderinokun’s current role as Head, Media and Public Relations at Access Holdings Plc, where he leads group-wide media strategy, executive communications, crisis management, and corporate reputation positioning across local and international markets.
The Alliance noted that his ability to align corporate narratives with business strategy, stakeholder expectations, and regulatory realities has strengthened institutional credibility and public trust.
Aderinokun’s career reflects a unique blend of journalism, financial services, and corporate leadership. He spent 24 years at THISDAY Newspapers, rising to the position of Group Business Editor and Associate Editor, where he played a significant role in shaping Nigeria’s business journalism ecosystem. He later served as Editor, Business at ARISE News Channel, further consolidating his reputation for editorial excellence and impactful storytelling.
Throughout his journalism career, he covered critical sectors including banking, capital markets, energy, aviation, and macroeconomics, engaging directly with top policymakers, regulators, and corporate leaders. His extensive international exposure includes participation in global platforms such as the IMF-World Bank Meetings, African Development Bank Meetings, TICAD in Japan, the Nigeria-China Business Forum, Africa Oil Week in Cape Town, and Vaasa Energy Week in Finland.
Beyond journalism, Aderinokun brings strong financial and investment expertise, having worked with United Bank for Africa (UBA) and Wall Street Trust Company (now WSTC Financial Services), where he handled equity analysis, market research, and investment advisory. This foundation, NOMA noted, has enabled him to effectively bridge financial performance with strategic communication outcomes.
An entrepreneur, he founded Pure Synergy Ltd in 2013, a firm focused on reputation management and strategic communications, and later served as CEO of Excite Enterprise Ltd, an online business solutions platform.
In the public sector space, Aderinokun served as Media Adviser to Senator Tokunbo Abiru in 2020, where he led media strategy and publicity for the Lagos East Senatorial campaign, contributing to its successful outcome.
Academically, he holds a Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics (Pure and Applied) from the University of Ilorin and an MBA from the University of Lagos, complemented by executive education at Lagos Business School and professional training with the World Bank Institute, NIPR, and Standard Bank Group, South Africa. He also holds multiple professional certifications across public relations, banking, marketing, and digital communications.
NOMA described him as a quintessential, multifaceted professional whose career embodies excellence, innovation, and leadership.
“Olakunle Aderinokun represents the very best of strategic communication and media practice in Nigeria. His journey is not only inspiring but also instructive for the next generation of professionals navigating the evolving media and corporate landscape,” the statement read.
As he marks his 55th birthday, NOMA commended his enduring contributions and wished him continued success, good health, and greater accomplishments in the years ahead.
The Executive Secretary/CEO of the Lagos State Security Trust Fund (LSSTF), Dr. Ayodele Ogunsan, has congratulated the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, on the occasion of his birthday, commending his visionary leadership and reform-driven approach to policing in Nigeria.
In his birthday remarks, Dr. Ogunsan described the IGP as a “distinguished officer whose career has consistently reflected professionalism, courage, and a deep commitment to public safety.”
He noted that since assuming office as the 23rd Inspector-General of Police early this Year 2026, Disu has demonstrated a clear resolve to reposition the Nigeria Police Force towards greater efficiency and public trust.
Dr. Ogunsan particularly praised the IGP’s emphasis on intelligence-led policing, a strategy aimed at enhancing proactive crime detection and prevention, as well as his push for the integration of digital tools and forensic capabilities into police operations. These reforms, he said, signal a shift towards modern, accountable, and citizen-focused policing.
He further highlighted Disu’s decisive steps to strengthen the state policing agenda and officers’ welfare. He praised him for the effective policing model through the restructuring and reduction of tactical units, a move designed to address concerns over excesses while redeploying personnel to police divisions for improved community-level security.
The LSSTF boss also acknowledged the IGP’s consistent advocacy for discipline, integrity, and professionalism within the Force, noting that such values are critical to restoring public confidence and enhancing institutional credibility.
Reflecting on his track record, Dr. Ogunsan recalled Disu’s impactful leadership roles across key commands, including the Rivers State and the Federal Capital Territory Commands, where he contributed significantly to crime control and intelligence-driven operations.
His tenure as the Commander of the Rapid Response Squad in Lagos is a testament to his operational excellence and urban crime management.
Ogunsan wished the IGP good health, wisdom, and continued success in his efforts to build a more secure Nigeria. “On this special occasion, we celebrate not only a remarkable leader but a reformer whose vision continues to inspire confidence in the security architecture of our nation,” Ogunsan said.
Terrorists in northeast Nigeria killed a brigadier general in an assault on a military base, a local government chairman told AFP on Thursday, the second killing of a high-ranking officer in five months.
Africa’s most populous country has been fighting a terrorist insurgency for 17 years, since Boko Haram’s 2009 uprising, which has seen the emergence of powerful splinter groups, including Islamic State West Africa Province.
In an overnight attack, unidentified terrorists killed at least 18 soldiers and torched vehicles at a base in Benisheikh, about 75 kilometres from Borno state capital Maiduguri, an intelligence source told AFP.
“Unfortunately, the brigade commander, Brigadier General O.O. Braimah, lost his life,” Kaga Local Government Chairman Zannah Lawan Ajimi told AFP in a phone interview.
Two intelligence sources confirmed Braimah’s death to AFP.
His death follows the killing of Brigadier General Musa Uba by ISWAP in November. He was the highest-ranking military official to die in the long-running conflict since 2021.
“They overran the brigade,” one of the intelligence sources said, giving the death toll as “at least” 18.
The second intelligence source said that “the terrorists killed several troops” and “burnt vehicles and buildings before they withdrew,” without giving a toll.
The army and Nigeria’s Defence Headquarters did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
– Rising terrorist violence –
Researchers have warned of an uptick of violence since 2025.
Borno capital Maiduguri has seen two suicide bombings since December — the type of bloody, urban attacks reminiscent of the insurgency’s peak a decade ago.
On Wednesday, the US State Department said in a notice it was authorising “non-emergency US government employees” to leave Abuja “due to the deteriorating security situation”.
While the insurgency is concentrated in the northeastern countryside, terrorists from Nigeria and the neighbouring Sahel have made inroads western Nigeria, where organised crime gangs known as “bandits” have been raiding villages and extorting farmers and artisanal miners for years.
Gunmen killed at least 90 people across several remote villages in northwest Nigeria this week, according to an AFP tally of tolls given by local and humanitarian sources.
Among the attacks was an assault in Kebbi state that police blamed a local terrorist group known as Mahmuda, which is affiliated with Al-Qaeda.
Kebbi sits on Nigeria’s border with Benin and Niger and since 2025 has been targeted by a rising number of terrorist attacks.
Conflict monitor ACLED says there has been a surge in violence in the area carried out by militants affiliated with Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State group.
In nearby Kwara state, in October, fighters from the Al-Qaeda-affiliated JNIM claimed an attack after years of researchers warning that the terrorist conflict ravaging the Sahel risked spreading south towards coastal West African states.
In December, the United States, with Nigerian assistance, bombed northwest Sokoto state, targeting Islamic State Sahel Province fighters usually found in neighbouring Niger, along with Mali and Burkina Faso.
AFP
