Author: Olukayode Oke

The Speaker of the Ogun State House of Assembly, Olakunle Oluomo will today know his fate as a candidate in the 2023 election. Oluomo is contesting for the fourth time to represent Ifo Constituency 1 under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC). The election initially, which held on March 18, was keenly contested between Oluomo and the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Okikiola Ogundele, a son of the PDP Chairman in Ogun, Sikirulahi Ogundele. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared the Ifo Constituency 1 election inconclusive because the margin of lead is not up…

Operators of tricycles, known as Keke NAPEP in Umuahia and Aba are to undergo biometric capturing and obtain rider’s permit in Abia State. The exercise, according to the State ministry of transport, is to be coordinated by leaders of various tricycle unions in the State in accordance with the directive of Governor Okezie Ikpeazu. The permanent secretary, ministry of transport, Ijeoma Okere made this known in Umuahia, adding that rider’s permit would be issued after the biometric capturing exercise. The ministry said the venues for the planned biometric capture are offices of tricycle unions and accredited cyber cafes. The riders,…

Nigerian singer, Tiwa Savage, has confirmed she recently escaped an attempted kidnap. The incident happened on Thursday in Lagos State. Her management disclosed this in a statement issued via her verified Instagram page on Friday. According to the statement, some suspects have been arrested and are “currently being held under investigation at Alagbon Police Station, Ikoyi.” It added that Savage and her family are safe. Meanwhile, self-acclaimed investigative journalist, Kemi Olunloyo, alleged that the singer’s new driver masterminded the kidnap attempt alongside his cohorts. In a post shared via her Instagram page, Olunloyo claimed that the kidnappers trailed the singer…

The former Auditor General for Local Governments in Kogi State, Ahmed Usman Ododo, has won the All Progressives Congress (APC) gubernatorial primary election held in the State on Friday. Ododo, who scored a total of 78,704 votes, won the direct primary election with a wide margin to defeat six other contestants in the governorship race. About seven other aspirants including the state’s deputy governor, Edward Onoja, Governor Yahaya Bello’s Chief of Staff, Pharm. Mohammed Asuku, had earlier withdrawn from the gubernatorial race on the eve of the primary election. Ododo, defeated a fellow Egbira man the Barr. Mohammed Ozigi Salami,…

Bayern Munich coach, Thomas Tuchel has defended Sadio Mane after the Senegalese was suspended by the club for punching his teammate Leroy Sane. The Africa Cup of Nations winner had an altercation with Sane and Tuchel revealed that the former Liverpool forward has duly apologized for his behaviour. Mane and Sane were said to have had a bust-up in the dressing room following Bayern Munich’s 3-0 loss to Manchester City in the Champions League quarter-final first leg at the Etihad. Bayern Munich has since suspended Mane for violating the code of conduct. Addressing a press conference on Friday, the former…

The World Bank has said the growth rate of Sub-Saharan Africa would slow by 3.6 per cent in 2023 as funding tied up to aid and private finance shrink. In a press briefing, the IMF’s African Department Director, Abebe Aemro Selassie, disclosed this on Friday. According to Selassie, if no measure is taken, funding shortage may force counties to reduce fiscal resources earmarked for education, health, infrastructure and other critical development affecting the Sub-Saharan region. The IMF leader called on Countries in the region to gear up reforms needed to strengthen their economies’ resilience. He said the acceleration of domestic…

The 2023 Labour Party, LP, presidential candidate, Peter Obi has said nobody can force him out of Nigeria. Obi spoke at Onitsha Holiday Resort in Anambra State while responding to calls for him to leave Nigeria. A former Aviation Minister, Femi Fani-Kayode had challenged Obi to leave Nigeria and never come back. Fani-Kayode made the call in response to Obi’s outcry that he was under pressure to leave the country. On Wednesday, the LP flag bearer in the last election accused the All Progressives Congress, APC, and some government agencies of trying to divert the country’s attention from the infractions…

The United Nations Children’s Fund says over 6,800 children living in the North-East have been subjected to grave violations of their rights. In a press release on Friday, UNICEF representative in Nigeria, Cristian Munduate, lamented the brutal consequences of conflict on children nine years after 276 schoolgirls were abducted in Chibok and 96 girls still in captivity. She noted the impact of the conflict on education is alarming with repercussions likely to affect generations, stressing its “devastating reality” She added that the recent abduction of 80 children in Zamfara State reinforces the urgent need for action to protect children in…

Islamic State’s West Africa Province (ISWAP) is preparing to use drones for attacks in the Lake Chad Basin, according to the Institute for Security Studies (ISS). In an attempt to strike undetected, the unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) will fly improvised explosive devices (IEDs) to targeted locations in Nigeria and neighbouring countries. The ISS noted that the Nigerian military had inflicted losses on Boko Haram factions, Jama’atu Ahlis-Sunna Lidda’Awati Wal-Jihad (JAS) and ISWAP, forcing the latter to re-strategize. The research, comprising analysis of propaganda materials and interviews with former combatants and associates, shows an elaborate use of communication technology. This includes…

Mike Igini, the former Akwa Ibom State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has claimed that the United Kingdom, UK, introduced Nigeria to election rigging. Igini stated this while fielding questions about the conduct of the just concluded 2023 general elections on Arise Television’s Morning Show program on Friday. He lamented how politicians manipulated the electoral process, urging the judiciary to stop the political rascalities. He said, ”What I want Nigerians to know is that whatever we make of this country, that is what it will become. It is clearly in our hands because, in…

Bayern Munich have left Sadio Mane out of their squad for Saturday’s league match against Hoffenheim amid reports he punched team-mate Leroy Sane. Reports in Germany alleged Mane hit Sane in the face following Tuesday’s 3-0 Champions League defeat by Manchester City at Etihad Stadium. The pair reportedly had to be separated by team-mates after the altercation. Bayern said Senegal forward Mane has been dropped because of “misconduct” and confirmed he will also be fined. Sadio Mane, 31, will not be included in the FC Bayern squad for this Saturday’s home match against 1899 Hoffenheim,” said Bayern in a statement on Thursday.…

Mr Femi Adesina, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity has commenced counting down to the end of President Muhammadu Buhari’s tenure. President Buhari, who was elected in 2015, is expected to handover to the president-elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu on May 29 2023, a few weeks from now. Excited by the development, Adesina in an article titled, “THE FINAL GALLOP HOME”, anticipated returning home to rest after serving the country for eight years. According to him, some of his colleagues in the presidency, including himself, had never served in any government before and had no plans to…