Oriontimes

In a landscape increasingly defined by silence and self-interest, Hon. Oluwole Oke’s defection from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) is not a betrayal, it is a declaration. A declaration that the politics of complicity will no longer be dignified with loyalty. For those who have followed his trajectory, Oke’s decision came not as a shock but as a culmination. After decades of tireless advocacy within the PDP, his defection is less about shifting allegiances and more about reclaiming a voice in a party that no longer listens. Particularly in Osun State, where the PDP's Senate caucus has opted for inertia while the party fractures beneath them, Oke’s move sounds an alarm the others were too timid to ring. The PDP in Osun has become a masterclass in political cowardice. Faced with crises that demand moral clarity and action, factionalism, impunity, the erosion of internal democracy, the Senate caucus has consistently defaulted to silence. While their constituents groan under the we...

In the hills and heart of Ijesa North, voices from the streets are rising, not in protest, but in praise. One young man, standing among his peers, made a bold declaration: "It will be very difficult for Wole Oke to fall." His statement isn't just a comment on the lawmaker's political strength, but a deeper testament to what many see as divine protection. According to him, Hon. Wole Oke is doing what pleases God. “There may be war waging by his opponents,” he says, “but Hon. Oke himself is not even aware. God is the one fighting his battles and clearing roads ahead of him.” In a region where politics often breeds distrust and leaders are seen as distant from the needs of the people, Wole Oke remains a glaring exception. From school leavers to university graduates, from market women to aspiring entrepreneurs, the people of Ijesa North rally around one name when it comes to opportunities—Hon. Wole Oke. “He's not just a politician to us,” another youth added. “He is o...

In a tense White House meeting, former President Donald Trump confronted South African President Cyril Ramaphosa with a video and a stack of printouts he claimed proved the racial persecution and even killings of white South Africans.  Repeating the word “death” as he flipped through pages, Trump largely ignored Ramaphosa’s efforts to clarify the situation in his country. As the video played, a visibly puzzled Ramaphosa questioned the authenticity of the footage, noting that he didn’t recognize the locations depicted as being from South Africa. “This meeting was a stark example of a foreign leader trying to offer a reality check to Trump, who instead leaned into fringe conspiracy theories,” noted Zolan Kanno-Youngs, a White House correspondent for The New York Times . While attacks on white South Africans have occurred, official police data does not support the claim that they face a greater risk of violent crime than other groups.

In a season of shifting allegiances, Osun State’s political terrain is undergoing a dramatic shake-up within the ranks of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). On one hand, the Osun PDP Senate caucus has publicly endorsed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). On the other, veteran lawmaker Hon. Oluwole Oke has taken a more decisive step by formally defecting to the APC. Though both developments underscore deepening fractures within the PDP, their nature and implications differ significantly. The Senate caucus’s endorsement of Tinubu appears to be a calculated, strategic gesture, perhaps an attempt to safeguard political capital or curry favor in an APC-dominated environment. While these senators remain nominally loyal to the PDP, their public alignment with a rival party leader signals a striking departure from party orthodoxy. It raises serious questions about internal cohesion, discipline, and the structural integrity of the opposition party. In co...

UN Women’s latest analysis estimates that more than 28,000 women and girls have been killed in Gaza since the onset of hostilities in October 2023. UN Women estimates that more than 28,000 women and girls have been killed in Gaza since the beginning of the war in October 2023 – that is one woman and one girl on average killed every hour in attacks by Israeli forces. Among those killed, thousands were mothers, leaving behind devastated children, families, and communities. These figures underscore the shattering human toll of the conflict, and of lives and futures lost too soon. Since the ceasefire collapsed in March 2025, conditions have deteriorated further in Gaza, compounded by nearly nine weeks of an ongoing blockade on humanitarian aid. The entire population in Gaza is rapidly running out of food and essential supplies with increasing risks of famine. This means every woman and girl, (more than 1 million) is facing catastrophic levels of hunger. Women and girls are trapped, facing ...

The All Progressives Congress (APC) Youths in Osun State have called on senators and political leaders in the state to align themselves with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu (PBAT). In a statement issued in Osogbo, the youths described recent defections to the APC as “bold moves rooted in courage, patriotism, and a genuine desire to align with the developmental vision currently driving Nigeria forward.” The group stated that political allegiance should no longer be tied to sentiment or stale loyalties, especially when the nation is witnessing “transformative reforms and renewed commitment to infrastructure, economy, and security under PBAT.” “We salute those who have shown true leadership by crossing over to the side of progress. Such decisions are a call to conscience for other leaders in Osun, particularly our senators, who claim to support PBAT but remain tethered to parties that are clearly out of sync with the national direction,” the statement read. They fur...

As the APC searches for its strongest contender, Benedict Olugboyega Alabi emerges as the frontrunner with unmatched experience and vision. As the political atmosphere in Osun State intensifies ahead of the 2026 gubernatorial election, the focus within the All Progressives Congress (APC) has shifted to the selection of a candidate capable of unseating the incumbent governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke. Among the array of qualified aspirants vying for the party’s ticket, one name continues to stand out: Benedict Olugboyega Alabi (BOA). Widely regarded as the “best among the rest,” Alabi’s growing popularity is rooted in his unique blend of public service experience, private sector success, and a strong record of leadership. Benedict Alabi, fondly known as BOA, previously served as the Deputy Governor of Osun State under the immediate past administration. His tenure in office gave him an in-depth understanding of the state’s needs and exposed him to the complexities of governance, making hi...