Author: Optimal Times

By Bukayo  Agboluaje, Ibadan  The Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Sen Lekan Balogun,  Alli Okunmade II, on Saturday,  mourned the demise  of Iyalode of Yorubaland, Chie Mrs. Alaba Lawson, describing it aa a great loss. Oba Balogun described  Lawson as a gem to Nigeria in general and Yorubaland in particular. This was contained in the immediate reaction of Olubadan to the mid-day news report of the sudden demise of the woman of substance on Saturday as contained in a press statement made available to the media in Ibadan by the Personal Assistant (Media) to the Olubadan, Oladele Ogunsola. Olubadan, who described…

By Odunayo Agboluaje, Ibadan  An Associate Professor of  Creative Writing  in English, Dr. Bayo Adebowale, will on November 2, 2023, join the league of  Chinua Achebe, Wole Soyinka, John  P. Clark, Mabel Segun, Labo Yari, T. M. Aluko, Kole Omotoso, Femi Osofisan, Ken Saro-Wiwa, Olu Obafemi, Elechi Amadi, Zaynab Alkali, Akachi Adimora-Ezeigbo and others as the Association  of  Nigerian Authors (ANA) has nominated him for its Fellowship. In a letter sent to the popular author, which was signed by the General Secretary of ANA, Maik Ortserga, the Association said Adebowale had constantly remained on the side of reason, offering…

By Our Editor  A former Chairman of Trade Union Congress{TUC} in Oyo State   Comrade Andrew Emelieze, said the congress of  the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN) will  continue to uphold the law by standing with Comrade Bola Innocent Audu as the duly elected of the worker union. Emelieze, who is a former member of the National Executive Council of ASCSN, said the constitution is clear on who becomes the President of the Union. In a statement made available to journalists in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, Emelieze emphasized that it is unconstitutional…

…Warns against further harassment of students …Says EFCC must apologize to College, SUG, NANS By  Bukayo  Agboluaje, Ibadan The Nigerian Association of Nigerian  Students (NANS), Southwest Zone D, on Friday, called on the Oyo  State Government and the Federal Government to direct the Police to arrest some  erring officers of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission {EFCC}  over the clash that ensued  at the Federal College of Forestry, Ibadan, involving students of the college and some officers of the anti-corruption agency. The Southwest Coordinator {Zone D}, Comrade John Alao, in a statement made available to journalists in Ibadan,…

…Prays for wisdom,  sound health for duo  From Odunayo Agboluaje, Ibadan  A former Minister of Communications, Barr. (Dr.) Abdur-Raheem Adebayo Shittu, on Friday, congratulated President Bola Tinubu and Vice President,  Senator Kashim Shettima, over their victory at the Supreme Court. It would be recalled that the presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar and that of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi had dragged Tinubu and Shettima of All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal to challenge their victory. Tinubu and Shettima won at the trial Court on September 6, 2023. Unsatisfied  with the outcome of…

From Bukayo Agboluaje, Ibadan  The Director General, Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF), Dr Joseph Onoja has  identified growing urbanization and coastal erosion  as the critical factors affecting  ecotourism development in Nigeria.  Dr. Onoja stated this while speaking at a  lecture organized by the Department of Wildlife and Ecotourism Management of the premier university.  The guest lecturer,  who was the guest lecturer, said there was a need to promote biodiversity and fufil human needs despite urbanization and erosion.  NCF DG disclosed  that the foundation was established in 1980 and registered in 1982. The DG said ecotourism  enhances harmonious human relationship with nature,…

…Urge Nigerians should come together to build economy By Our Editor  A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party {PDP} in Oyo State,  Chief Dare Adeleke, and a former Chief of Staff to the late Governor Abiola Ajimobi, Prof. Gbade Ojo, on Thursday, congratulated President Bola Tinubu over his victory at the Supreme Court. The two political leaders, who spoke with journalists in Ibadan, said with the judgment, Nigerians should come together and bring back the economy. Adeleke urged Nigerians to shun ethnic coloration which played out during the 2023 general election. The PDP…

…Decry inter-agency rivalry  From Odunayo Agboluaje, Ibadan  President,  Nigerian Baptist Convention (NBC), Rev. Israel Akanji; a Professor Criminology and Social Problems at the Lead City University,  Ibadan, Oludayo Tade; a security expert, Amb. Adelowo Yekini and others, on Wednesday, called on the Federal Government to increase the capacity of security agents in order to defeat the myriad of security challenges plaguing Nigeria. They also decried rivalry among security agents, lamenting that Nigeria would  not win the war if there is unhealthy competition among security officers who are supposed to work in synergy. The made the call…

From Bukayo  Agboluaje, Ibadan  Leader of Afenifere Worldwide, Chief Reuben Fasoranti, on Thursday,  congratulated President Ahmed Bola Tinubu on his victory at the apex court on Thursday, October 26, 2023. In a statement released by the organization’s National Publicity Secretary, Jare Ajayi, Fasoranti lauded the judiciary for upholding justice. It would be recalled that the Supreme Court, after dismissing the appeals filed by the Presidential Candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party and Labour Party,  affirmed that Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu was the winner of the 2023 Presidential election as announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Tinubu was the…

From Bukayo Agboluaje, Ibadan   The Chair of  the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library Wildlife Park and immediate past Dean of Faculty of  Applied Sciences,the KolaDaisi University, Ibadan {KDU-I}, Professor   Olajumoke Morenikeji, has stressed  the need for Nigeria must to preserve its ecosystem and wildlife to  achieve  sustainable development. Prof. Morenikeji, who is a scholar in the fields of Parasitology, Ecology and Environmental Biology in the department of Zoology, University of Ibadan (UI), Ibadan, made the call in an interview with journalists. According to her, preserving wildlife is crucial for several reasons, which include ecological balance, biodiversity, human well-being, and sustainable development.…