From Ayinde Akintade, Osogbo

Commissioner for Rural Development and Community Affairs in Osun State, Aare Ganiyu Olaoluwa Asejere at the weekend emphasized that meaningful development could be achieved where there is unity and collective responsibility, while pledging his continued support for initiatives that uplift Osogbo land.

Asejere, who is also the Osun Central Senatorial Hopeful made this known at the annual anniversary ceremony and award presentation of Osogbo sons and daughters at Osogbo Grammar School.

The Osogbo born politician said, his priority is to continue to work for the welfare and betterment of the entire residents of Osogbo land and its environs.

“I will not relent in pursuing the upliftment of all nooks and crannies of Osogbo land which is the capital of Osun State and gateway of the state. I want to use this medium to appreciate Governor Ademola Adeleke of the state for the ongoing infrastructures in Osogbo, Mr Governor has done well towards the complete development of the ancient Osogbo.

“In Osogbo today, we can boast of good roads, over-head bridges, rehabilitation and construction of roads among others, all these for the betterment of the citizens”, the Commissioner stressed.

In a notable display of generosity, Aare Asejere announced a ₦500,000 donation through his Blue and White Hotel, managed by his daughter as CEO. He also made an undisclosed personal donation, further underscoring his dedication

In recognition of his impactful contributions to grassroots empowerment and community advancement, Aare Asejere was honoured with an Award of Excellence, which follows with commendation from attendees.

Other awardees included Hon Teslim Igbalaye, Hon Adewale Maruff Gangaria, Lawal Bamidele Rasheed, and Isiaq Jagaban, alongside other distinguished personalities. Royal Fathers were also represented on behalf of Ataoja of Osogbo, adding cultural prestige to the ceremony.

The representative of the governor, Barrister Kolapo Alimi, Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Prof Maruff Ademola Adeleke, Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning and other notable personalities from Osogbo were present.

The celebration reaffirmed a shared commitment to progress, with Aare Asejere standing tall as a steadfast champion of Osogbo’s sustainable development.

By David Torough, Abuja

A former governor of Kaduna State, Nasir el-Rufai, has asked the Office of the National Security Adviser to clarify what he described as information available to opposition figures regarding the alleged procurement of a toxic chemical substance.

In a letter dated January 30, 2026 and addressed to the National Security Adviser in Abuja, el-Rufai said he was seeking “clarification and reassurance” over reports that the office planned to obtain thallium sulphate from abroad.

El-Rufai posted a copy of the letter on his official X handle on Sunday.

The former governor noted that the substance is regarded as dangerous and tightly regulated, stressing the need for transparency.

“I am writing as a concerned citizen to seek clarification and reassurance regarding information available to the political opposition leadership about a procurement of approximately 10 kilograms of Thallium Sulphate by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), reportedly from a supplier in Poland.

“Given that thallium salts are highly toxic and tightly controlled substances, I believe it is important – for public safety, democratic accountability and for maintaining public trust – to confirm the following details”, the letter partly read.

He listed six areas where he wants explanations, including “the intended purpose and end-use of the imported thallium sulphate, the identity of the supplier and whether the importation followed due authorisation, the quantity and concentration involved, storage arrangements, and the regulatory oversight and coordination in place with NAFDAC, NCDC, and relevant public-health and environmental agencies.”

El-Rufai also asked, “Whether any public-health risk assessments or hazard-mitigation plans have been developed, given the compound’s extreme toxicity.”

While emphasising that the request was not made in bad faith, he argued that openness would strengthen trust in public institutions.

He further requested continued engagement from the security office.

“I want to stress that this inquiry is made in good faith, solely to ensure that due processes, safety standards, and transparency are observed.

“Public confidence in the integrity of national institutions is strengthened when potential risks are openly addressed and managed.

“If possible, I would appreciate a response or a point of contact within your office for further engagement to reassure those of us that are Nigerian citizens in opposition,” the letter added.

For completeness, he said copies of the correspondence were sent to other relevant authorities.

“For completeness, I am copying this correspondence to NAFDAC and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), both of which play essential roles in chemical safety and public-health preparedness,” he said.

The development comes amid a recent attempt by security operatives to arrest him at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

Recall that El-Rufai, in an interview on Arise TV on Friday, claimed that he learnt of an alleged plan to arrest him upon his return to the country on Thursday through a leaked conversation from the NSA’s phone.

“Ribadu made the call because we listened to their calls. The government thinks that they’re the only ones that listen to calls. But we also have our ways. He made the call. He gave the order that they should arrest me”, he said in the interview.

This also comes amid heightened debate about election cycles, national security management and the role of oversight institutions, with opposition actors frequently demanding greater transparency from federal authorities on sensitive procurements.

As of the time of filing this report, the NSA’s office had not publicly responded to the letter.

The Kaduna State House of Assembly has described as false a report alleging that the member representing Kajuru Constituency, Hon. Usman Stingo, was abducted by suspected terrorists.

The Chairman, House Committee on Information, NGOs and Development Partners, Marah Henry, who made this known in a statement on Thursday, said the report published by an online medium was malicious and fictitious.

Henry said the lawmaker representing Kajuru was safe and currently discharging his official duties.

He added that the individual mentioned in the publication was wrongly identified as a member of the Kaduna State House of Assembly.

According to him, the photograph used in the report does not represent the leadership of the constituency, further indicating the lack of due diligence by the publisher.

 “The report is entirely false and a figment of the publisher’s imagination.

“It is a calculated attempt to incite fear, cause public unrest and undermine public trust in the government’s security capacity,” he said.

Henry warned media organisations against disseminating unverified information, stating that the assembly would not hesitate to seek legal redress against individuals or institutions found culpable of spreading defamatory information.

He emphasised that while freedom of the press was constitutionally guaranteed, it should not be used to promote reckless journalism capable of threatening public peace and security.

The committee chairman urged members of the public to disregard the report and remain calm, assuring that the state government remained committed to the safety of lives and property.

He advised the citizens to rely only on official sources for information and avoid sharing unverified reports capable of causing panic.

 “The government’s priority remains the peace and stability of Kaduna State,” Henry said.