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By Oriontimes News Desk The Osun State chapter of the Action People's Party (APP) has written an open letter to Matthew Hassan Kukah, Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Sokoto, urging him to intervene in the ongoing controversy surrounding the withholding of local government funds in Osun State. In the letter dated March 2, 2026, and signed by the Osun State APP Chairman, Odesola T. Oluseye, the party appealed to Bishop Kukah to use his moral authority to engage President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on the matter. The party described the dispute over statutory allocations to local governments in Osun as an “unending political impasse” between the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC). According to the APP, court rulings — including judgments from the Federal High Court in Osogbo and the Court of Appeal — had affirmed the position of the PDP-led administration regarding control of local government structures. However, the party alleged that APC chairmen c...

  Hundreds of traders in Osun state have requested for the closure of the accounts domiciled with the United Bank for Africa (UBA) as concerns grows over the safety of the funds with the financial institution. Traders from different parts of Osun could be seen in UBA branches demanding for the termination of their banking relationship over fears that the unwholesome practices widely reported in the media on the bank’s management of local governments allocations presents a grave challenge to private fund in its possession. Some of the traders who spoke with this medium said they turned down overt appeal by officials of the bank to rescind their decisions because they are no longer assured of the safety of their funds given the Osun local government funds experience. ware “Safety is the ultimate consideration in keeping money with bank and when that is now strongly in question, the only option left is to withdraw one’s hard earned money,” one of the traders who choose not to be nam...

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  By Orion Times News Desk Several United States military aircraft crashed in Kuwait earlier today, the country’s Ministry of Defence has confirmed. Details regarding the cause of the crash remain unclear. However, a ministry spokesperson reassured the public that all crew members aboard the aircraft are safe. Officials have not provided further information on the number of aircraft involved or the circumstances surrounding the incident. Updates are expected as investigations continue.

  By Abioye Tosin Lawrence Orion Times — March 2, 2026 Tehran / Global: The President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Masoud Pezeshkian, has formally declared that pursuing retaliation after the killing of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is not only a legitimate right but a moral duty of the nation. In a statement carried by Iranian state media on Sunday, President Pezeshkian described the assassination, attributed to joint military strikes by the United States and Israel as a “historic crime” that demands a firm and decisive response. He said the government and all patriotic Iranians will work to ensure justice and accountability. “The Islamic Republic of Iran considers avenging the perpetrators and those who ordered this crime, both a duty and a legitimate right, and will devote all its strength to fulfilling this great responsibility,” Pezeshkian said. An Escalation of Regional Tensions The death of Ayatollah Khamenei, a central figure in Iran’s political and religious le...

 By Orion Times Analysis Unit Regime change in Iran has lingered in the strategic imagination of successive United States administrations for more than seven decades. The roots of this complex and often volatile relationship trace back to 1953, when the Central Intelligence Agency played a decisive role in orchestrating a coup that overthrew Iran’s democratically elected Prime Minister, Mohammad Mossadegh . The operation reinstated Mohammad Reza Pahlavi , the pro-Western monarch whose rule increasingly relied on authoritarian control and close ties with Washington. For many Iranians, the coup became a symbol of foreign interference, a wound that would later fuel revolutionary fervor. That reckoning came in 1979. The Iranian Revolution toppled the shah and ushered in a new political order under Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini . The revolution replaced monarchy with an Islamic theocracy fundamentally opposed to American influence. The storming of the U.S. Embassy in Tehran and the sub...

  The Nigerian gospel music community has been thrown into mourning following the reported death of Taiwo Adegbodu , one half of the popular gospel duo, Adegbodu Twins . The heartbreaking news surfaced on Sunday, March 1, after his twin brother and longtime music partner, Kehinde Adegbodu , shared an emotional announcement on social media. In a grief-stricken message, Kehinde expressed deep pain over the loss of not just a biological twin, but a spiritual partner in ministry: “TAIWO, why will you leave me and your kids without notification? My heart is bleeding. Lord, how do you want me to cope without him? God why? This is too much for me to bear.” A reputable magazine also reported that the development was confirmed by the duo’s management, further sending shockwaves across the gospel music scene. Taiwo Adegbodu, alongside his twin brother, built a strong reputation for vibrant ministrations, high-energy worship sessions, and spirit-filled performances that endeared them to chur...

  The Osun Online Publishers Association (OOPA) has elected Comrade Abioye Tosin Lawrence as its new Chairman following the successful conduct of its general election. Other elected executives include Mr. Idowu Abass of Idealgist as Vice Chairman, Mr. Adekale Babatunde of Spyloaded as General Secretary, and Mr. Fatai Akanji of Adulawo as Financial Secretary. Comrade Lawrence of Oriontimes News emerged winner after polling 57.9 per cent of the total votes cast to defeat Mr. Bright Olorungbotemi of Voice Air Media and Mr. Hammed Tajudeen of Blaze News Nigeria in a keenly contested race. The just concluded election has produced a new executive team to pilot the affairs of the Association for the next two years. According to the committee, a maiden manifesto session was introduced to deepen engagement and promote accountability among contestants. "Voting commenced promptly at 8:00 a.m. with accreditation of eligible members, followed by orderly balloting in strict compliance wit...