AHEAD the February 25 presidential election, all political metrics are indicating more acceptances of the Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Kassim Shettima’s presidential candidacy across the length and width of Nigeria. According to latest findings, this is especially so in the voters enclaves in the 19 northern States of the country. In the past few days, the APC presidential campaign train has been delivering the message of hope to the households of voters. Interestingly, the love and acceptances that have greeted the campaign train, specifically during night campaigns in Abuja, Kano, Katsina, Sokoto, and Kaduna have been overwhelming. This is therefore,…
Author: Editor
Read More
FIRST Lady Aisha Buhari is currently trending on social media, but for a controversial reason. Earlier on Tuesday, the president’s wife shared a statement allegedly issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) extending the validity of old N200, N500 and N1,000 notes to May 1, 2023. The alleged release allegedly issued by the Director of Communications, Osita Nwanisobi, stated that the CBN gave the directive on Tuesday, February 21 after a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari. “Due to the current and unpleasant situation in Nigeria, in line with Mr. President, after having a closed meeting with him on the…
THE New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) candidate in Wudil/Garko Constituency of the House of Representatives, Alhaji Kamilu Ado Isa, is dead. Isa, a former Assistant Comptroller General of Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), died after a brief illness on Monday. His death occurred four days to the presidential, senatorial and House of Representatives elections. In a condolence message to his family, Presidential candidate of the NNPP, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, described his demise as a huge vacuum that cannot be replaced. He said the candidate dedicated his time, wealth and energy to the success of the party and…
AN elderly woman was burnt to ashes when gunmen razed houses on Tuesday at Amagu Ihube community in Okigwe Local Government Area of Imo state on Tuesday. Among houses burnt were the country homes of the Imo State commissioner for youths and sports, Emeka Okoronkwo. Also burnt is the country home of a former Dean of the Law Faculty of the Imo State University, Owerri, Nnamdi Obiaraeri, who served as Commissioner for information, youth and sports and land and urban planning, respectively during the administrations of former governors of the state, Ikedi Ohakim and Rochas Okorocha. Also torched was the…
SOME yet-to-be-identified gunmen on Monday night reportedly blew off the administrative offices of the Okehi local government area of Kogi State. Our source learnt that the administrative offices are close to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) office in the local government area. The Nigerian police, Kogi State command, has yet to react to the incident, although it was learnt that detectives had been deployed to the scene. Our source had reported that the Islamic State-backed faction of Boko Haram, the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), formerly known as Jamā’at Ahl as-Sunnah lid-Da’wah wa’l-Jihād, claimed responsibility for a car…
THE trial of Moroccan singer Saad Lamjarred, who’s accused of aggravated rape and assault, has begun in France’s capital, Paris. Famous on the Arab pop music scene, Mr Lamjarred allegedly raped a French woman at a luxury hotel on the Champs-Elysees in 2016. He denies the allegations. One of Mr Lamjarred’s music videos has more than a billion views on his YouTube channel. Morocco’s King Mohammed VI awarded him the country’s highest national honour in 2015. If convicted, Mr Lamjarred could face up to 20 years in prison. A verdict is expected on Friday.
AT least 51 soldiers were killed in an ambush by suspected terrorists in northern Burkina Faso, the army said on Monday, adding that 160 of the assailants died during counter-attacks. The ambush took place on Friday in Oudalan province near the restive frontier with Mali and Burkina Faso. By the end of Monday, “43 new bodies had been found, bringing the provisional death toll to 51 soldiers”, the army said in a statement. Those fatalities were added to an earlier toll of eight soldiers, given by the army on Monday morning. “Operations are continuing with an intensification of air actions…
TENS of thousands of Israelis are protesting against the government’s plan to pass a judicial reform bill that they say threatens democracy. Demonstrators from across Israel descended on Jerusalem on Monday to rally near the Knesset for a second straight week ahead of the first reading of the legislation to change the way judges are picked. Many critics say it will upend the country’s system of checks and balances and concentrate power in the hands of the prime minister. They also say that Benjamin Netanyahu, the prime minister who is on trial on corruption charges, has a conflict of interest.…
A BABY born under the rubble of a collapsed building in Syria, and the only member of her immediate family to survive a massive earthquake, has been adopted by her aunt and uncle. Thousands of people had offered to adopt the newborn, who was still connected to her mother by her umbilical cord when she was rescued. She was discharged from hospital after a DNA test confirmed her aunt was a blood relative. Doctors said she was in good health. “She is one of my children now,” her uncle by marriage Khalil al-Sawadi told the Associated Press news agency.” I…
CHELSEA manager Graham Potter still has the support of chairman Todd Boehly and the club’s board despite their poor run of form. The Blues have won just two of their past 14 games in all competitions and were beaten 1-0 by Premier League strugglers Southampton on Saturday. Potter was appointed in September following the sacking of Thomas Tuchel. However, Chelsea’s owners have made it clear that hiring Potter was part of a long-term project. It is felt the team needs an opportunity to gel after a rebuild that has seen £583m spent on new players in the past two transfer…
LIVERPOOL owner John Henry says he is not selling the Premier League club, but does expect some investment. Henry’s Fenway Sports Group (FSG), which bought Liverpool in 2010, said in November it “would consider new shareholders” in the Reds. FSG chairman Tom Werner later said the club’s owners were “exploring a sale” but could continue their “stewardship for quite a while”. “Are we selling LFC? No,” Henry told the Boston Sports Journal. “Are talking with investors about LFC? Yes. Will something happen there? I believe so, but it won’t be a sale.” The American was speaking in a question-and-answer session…
THREE people are now said to have died after a 6.4 magnitude earthquake struck southern Turkey, weeks after a deadly quake devastated the region. Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu also said 213 people had been injured in Hatay. Turkey’s disaster and emergency agency Afad said the tremor occurred at 20.04 local time (17.04 GMT). A 7.8-magnitude quake struck the same area on 6 February, killing more than 44,000 people in Turkey and Syria. Those killed by Monday’s tremor were found in Antakya, Defne, and Samandagi, Mr Soylu said, urging people not to enter potentially dangerous buildings. Witnesses told the Reuters news…
IT was an audacious trip almost unheard of for a US president. Appearing in a war zone under regular attack, White House officials describe Joe Biden’s unexpected visit to Ukraine’s capital Kyiv as “unprecedented in modern times”. They say previous presidential trips to wartime Iraq and Afghanistan had the back up of a heavy US military presence. And despite widespread speculation among the press corps that Mr Biden might be planning a trip to Ukraine while he was in Poland, the visit still took everyone completely by surprise. The sight of him appearing beside President Volodymyr Zelensky in the heart…
A 6.4 MAGNITUDE earthquake has struck southern Turkey, weeks after a deadly quake devastated the region. Turkey’s disaster and emergency agency Afad said the tremor occurred at 20.04 local time (17.04 GMT). Witnesses told the Reuters news agency there had been further damage to buildings in Antakya. A 7.8-magnitude struck the region on 6 February, killing more than 44,000 people in Turkey and Syria. The mayor of Hatay, in southern Turkey, has said people are trapped under the rubble. The Turkish vice president said at least eight people were injured in the earthquake. Turkish authorities have recorded more than 6,000…
THE Honourable Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva will on Tuesday perform the groundbreaking of the Oloibiri Museum and Research Center (OMRC), in Ogbia Local Government of Bayelsa State on behalf of President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR. The Minister would also perform the groundbreaking of the NCDMB Conference Hotel Project (CHP), a three-star hotel being developed by the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) at Swali, adjacent to the 17-storey Nigerian Content Tower. The Oloibiri Museum and Research Center will be erected at the location where commercial quantities of oil were first discovered in 1957 by Royal…
TOTTENHAM have called for social media companies to take action after Son Heung-min was subjected to “utterly reprehensible” racist abuse online. The abuse occurred during Sunday’s 2-0 Premier League victory over West Ham, during which substitute Son scored Spurs’ second goal. Tottenham posted on Twitter saying they had reported the abuse towards Son. “We stand with Sonny and once again call on the social media companies and authorities to take action,” they said. Tottenham added: “We have been made aware of the utterly reprehensible online racist abuse directed at Heung-Min Son during today’s match, which has been reported by the…
BARCELONA re-established their eight-point lead at the top of La Liga thanks to a routine win over struggling Cadiz. Sergi Roberto gave Barca the lead late in the first half from a rebound after Robert Lewandowski had a header cleared off the line. Three minutes later Lewandowski drilled in a fine drive from the edge of the box after being picked out by Roberto. It was both players’ first league goal at the Nou Camp since 23 October’s 4-0 win over Athletic Bilbao. Xavi’s side had chances to increase their lead further with Lewandowski hitting the crossbar. The Poland striker…
CHINA is considering giving Russia weapons and ammunition for the Ukraine war, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has said. Mr Blinken told CBS News that Chinese companies were already providing “non-lethal support” to Russia – and new information suggested Beijing could provide “lethal support”. This escalation would mean “serious consequences” for China, he warned. China has denied reports that Moscow has requested military equipment. Chinese President Xi Jinping is an ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin and is yet to condemn Russia’s invasion – but he has sought to remain neutral in the conflict and has called for peace.…
AUTHORITIES in the Brazilian state of São Paulo say at least 36 people have been killed in heavy flooding and landslides, forcing some cities to cancel annual Carnival celebrations. Video showed neighbourhoods under water, flooded motorways and debris left after houses were swept away. Rescue teams have been struggling to reach survivors and unblock roads. More than 600mm (23.6 inches) of rain fell in some areas on Sunday, twice the expected amount for the month. “Search and rescue teams are not managing to get to several places; it is a chaotic situation,” said Felipe Augusto, the mayor of the hard-hit…
THE deputy head of Sudan’s ruling council, Mohamed Daglo, has called the 2021 military coup a “mistake”. In a televised address, Mr Daglo said it had become a “gateway” for the remnants of the former regime of Omar al-Bashir, who was deposed two years earlier. He said he had made mistakes and that lending support to the latest coup was one of them. Hailing December’s deal to transition Sudan to civilian rule, Mr Daglo promised to pursue security reforms, including integrating his RSF paramilitary group into the national army. Sudan has been in an economic and political turmoil since 2021…