Ayekooto media

    IBADAN, OYO STATE — The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) will on Saturday, August 29, 2026, commence the public display of the names of candidates nominated by political parties for the 2027 governorship and State House of Assembly elections, including those in Oyo State. The exercise is part of INEC’s preparations for the 2027 electoral cycle and is expected to give political parties, candidates and members of the public an opportunity to scrutinise and verify the information submitted to the commission. Oyo State is among the 28 states where governorship elections are scheduled to hold in 2027, while elections into the State Houses of Assembly will take place across all 36 states. Oyo Set for Another Major Political Contest The forthcoming display is particularly significant for Oyo State, where the political atmosphere has already begun to intensify ahead of the 2027 governorship contest. The exercise will provide voters and other stakeholders with an op...

Alh. Abdulwaheed Akintola Olajide Former Secretary of Oyo State IBADAN — Oyo State has been thrown into mourning following the death of former Secretary to the Oyo State Government (SSG), Alhaji Abdul Waheed Akintola Olajide, a respected public servant and political figure who served during the administration of the late former Governor Abiola Ajimobi. Olajide reportedly died on Tuesday, August 25, 2026, with his family formally announcing his passing on Wednesday. In a statement announcing the death, the family described him as a beloved husband, father, grandfather, uncle, brother and cousin, while expressing gratitude to Almighty Allah for a life they described as well lived. The family also appealed to relatives, friends, associates and members of the public to remember the deceased and the family in their prayers. Former Ajimobi SSG Dies Olajide served as Secretary to the Oyo State Government during the administration of the late Senator Abiola Ajimobi, who governed the state from...

  IBADAN — Tension reportedly gripped the Ayegun Oleyo area of Ibadan, Oyo State, after officers from the Kwara State Police Command arrived in the city to arrest prominent Isese advocate Abdulazeez Adegbola, popularly known as Tani Olohun. The attempted arrest, which occurred on Tuesday, August 25, 2026, attracted the attention of residents after videos showing armed men in civilian clothing attempting to take Tani Olohun away circulated on social media. The situation reportedly became tense as residents confronted the officers, with some initially questioning whether the men were genuine police personnel. According to reports, Tani Olohun resisted being taken away, while residents gathered around the scene. The confrontation eventually attracted the intervention of Yoruba activist Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho. Police Explain Why Kwara Officers Came to Ibadan The Oyo State Police Command has now clarified that the men involved were indeed police officers from t...

Dr. Sikiru Akeem Babatunde   Director of Information and Communication Technology (DICT) and the Head of the Directorate of Research and Development at FUAZ.  ZURU, KEBBI STATE — It is a universal truth that every journey with a beginning must certainly have an end, and true success in leadership is never fully realized without preparing a capable successor. Today, the Federal University of Agriculture Zuru (FUAZ) marks a significant administrative transition as Dr. Sikiru Akeem Babatunde officially hands over his duties as the pioneer College Examination Officer (CEO) of the College of Agriculture. Stepping down after a highly successful and foundational tenure, Dr. Babatunde leaves behind a legacy of academic coordination, administrative excellence, and teamwork.  A Journey of Trust and Pioneering Leadership Reflecting on his tenure, Dr. Babatunde attributed his success first to Almighty Allah for the grace to serve, and subsequently to the visionary leadership of ...

Elder Michael Okunade-Igboho  There are some lives that are lived quietly but speak loudly across generations. There are men whose greatest monuments are not statues erected in their honour, nor streets named after them, but the footprints they leave on the sands of time—the lives they touch, the battles they survive, the sacrifices they make and the stories that remain long after their footsteps have disappeared. Michael Okunade-Igboho belongs to that rare generation of men whose lives are themselves a testimony. His is not merely the story of a soldier. It is the story of a young man who walked through the valley of uncertainty and emerged on the mountain of grace. It is the story of courage in the face of hunger, determination in the presence of rejection, faith in the midst of darkness and survival when circumstances seemed determined to pronounce failure. It is the story of a son of Igboho whose journey from the uncertainty of 1969 to the dignity of elder statesmanship...

Ayekooto Media Cultural Desk Chief Alabi Ogundepo  SAKI, OYO STATE— The traditional Yoruba drums are beating a mournful rhythm today, and the sacred forests of the hunters have fallen silent. Chief Alabi Ogundepo, the legendary Saki-born poet, writer, and unparalleled master of "Ijala" (Yoruba hunters’ poetry), has passed away at the age of 84. According to a press release officially signed by Dupe Ogundepo Falana on behalf of the family, the cultural icon transitioned to the realm of the ancestors on Monday, August 24, 2026. With his passing, Nigeria has lost not just an entertainer, but a walking encyclopedia of Yoruba history, a moral compass, and a towering custodian of African heritage. A Son of Saki: Early Life and the Call of Ijala Born in the historic town of Saki, Oyo State, Chief Alabi Ogundepo was a true son of Oke Ogun. From his early years, he was deeply immersed in the rich cultural and traditional ethos of his people. He did not merely learn the Yoruba language...

Ayekooto Media Entertainment Desk   Alhaji Taiwo Hassan  ogogo  ILARO, OGUN STATE — A massive tree has fallen in the dense forest of Nollywood, and the earth is vibrating from its impact. Today, Monday, August 24, 2026, the Nigerian entertainment industry was brought to a standstill as the remains of one of its finest pioneers, Alhaji Taiwo Hassan, universally beloved as Ogogo, were laid to rest in his hometown of Ilaro, Ogun State. He passed away at exactly 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, August 23, 2026, at the age of 66, following a courageous but agonizing battle with stage-four cancer. As his body was committed to mother earth according to Islamic rites at the Asade Agunloye Pavilion Ground today, the heavens seemed to mourn alongside the tear-streaked faces of his colleagues, family, and millions of fans across the globe. The Boy from Ilaro: Early Life and Background To understand the discipline and grace of Ogogo, one must look at his roots. Born on October 31, 1959, into the...

Ayekooto Media Today, August 20, is not merely another date on the calendar for millions of Yoruba people and adherents of the indigenous Yoruba spiritual tradition. It is Ìṣẹ̀ṣẹ̀ Day — a day of remembrance, identity, spirituality, heritage and connection with a civilisation whose roots reach deep into the history of West Africa. In 2026, Lagos, Ogun and Oyo States have declared Thursday, August 20, work-free in recognition of the celebration. Lagos has observed the day as a work-free day since 2023, while Ogun and Oyo have also formally recognised the occasion. But beyond the holiday, beyond the colourful clothes, drums, processions and traditional ceremonies, lies a much bigger story. What exactly is Ìṣẹ̀ṣẹ̀? Where did it come from? Why does it matter to the Yoruba? And why has a tradition that survived colonialism, religious transformation and centuries of social change suddenly become one of the most visible expressions of indigenous identity in contemporary Nigeria? ÌṢẸ̀ṢE IS ...

Ayekooto Media OSOGBO — Tension gripped Osogbo, the Osun State capital, on Wednesday after suspected hoodlums reportedly attacked the convoy of Governor Ademola Adeleke shortly after his visit to the palace of the Ataoja of Osogbo, Oba Jimoh Oyetunji. The incident reportedly triggered an exchange of gunfire between the suspected attackers and security personnel attached to the governor’s convoy, sending residents, traders and visitors in the area scrambling for safety. The incident occurred shortly after Adeleke visited the traditional ruler following his receipt of the Certificate of Return from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), confirming his victory in the August 15 governorship election. Reports indicate that Adeleke arrived at the Ataoja’s palace at about 3:15 p.m. in a motorcade of roughly 20 vehicles after leaving the Osun State headquarters of INEC in Osogbo. During the visit, the governor reportedly presented his Certificate of Return to the monarch, who pr...