The Founder of Stanbic IBTC Bank Plc, Atedo Peterside, has described the controversial ‘All Eyes On The Judiciary’ slogan as a neutral slogan that should ordinarily not offend a right-thinking person.

DAILY POST reports that the All Eyes on the Election Tribunal Judges narrative began as a social media campaign by supporters of the Labour Party, LP, Presidential candidate in the 2023 general election, Peter Obi.

As the Court prepares to deliver its verdict on the petitions challenging President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s victory, Nigerians in the ‘Diaspora for Good Governance’ put out the campaign to push for purported justice.

Following the popularity of the slogan recently plastered on billboards across Nigeria, the Federal Government disbanded the Secretariat of the Advertising Standard Panel, ASP for approving it, claiming it was offensive to the judiciary.

The Director-General of the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria, ARCON, Dr. Olalekan Fadolapo ordered the removal of the billboards nationwide, insisting it was a blackmail on the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal.

Speaking of the development on X, formerly known as Twitter on Friday, Peterside wrote: “For the record, methinks #AllEyesOnTheJudiciary is a neutral slogan that should ordinarily not offend a right-thinking and sincere person in a civilised society.”

Inter Miami and Argentina forward, Lionel Messi has revealed that he’s not bothered about winning the Ballon d’Or award.

Messi has already won the Ballon d'or seven times in the past – more than any other player in history.

In a press conference on Friday, August 18 ahead of Saturday’s Leagues Cup final against Nashville SC, the 36-year-old pointed out that he has won everything in football.

“I think I have said it many times during my career: the Ballon d’Or is a very important award because of what it means,” Messi said. 

“I was lucky enough to win everything in my career, and the World Cup was what I was missing. That’s why now, after Qatar, I’m thinking much less about that award. 

“Now I’m enjoying my moment. I’m not thinking about the Ballon d’Or. If it comes, fine; and if not, I am satisfied that I have achieved my objectives and…. now I have others with this club. We came here for this, to help the club win titles and on a personal level I’m also thinking about that,” he added

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has said the task of keeping Nigeria one remains his priority, stressing that the current challenges bedeviling the nation are temporary. Speaking during the public presentation of a book, “Brutally Frank”, authored by a former Minister of Information, Edwin Clark, on Thursday in Abuja, Tinubu said Nigeria is complex, but not too difficult to manage.

The president who was represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, said, “To keep Nigeria one is a task that must be done.

“This country is complex, but can never be too difficult to manage. Our diverse cultures and religion constitute a source of our strength.”

The president said the current pain caused by the removal of fuel subsidy is temporary, stressing that the pain would soon go with the rolling out of the palliatives.

The Emir of Kano, Ado Bayero, said, “We have a lot of challenges; a lot of ups and downs. Our leaders should use their wisdom to keep the country united so that we can get relieved of the challenges we are facing.”

Former President Goodluck Jonathan, in his remarks, eulogised Clark, saying he has written his name in gold because of his contributions and struggles for the oneness and peaceful coexistence of the country.

Chairman of the occasion and former Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon (rtd) said, “I am hopeful that the younger generations will be better informed on our experience which has brought the country to what it is today, on which our president, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who is here with us, represents the centre of our common aspirations of peace, unity and progress.”

There are strong indications that members of the Niger junta have begun to evacuate their families to Bukina Faso and Dubai over the threat of invasion by the Economic Community of West African States.

The exercise was, reportedly, carried out at the country’s Agadez Airport, a few days ago, and it involved Gulfstream G550 jets.

A source familiar with the movement said, “In the night of Friday, 11th to Saturday 12th of August 2023, the Nigerien junta, under the command of General Tchiani, evacuated all the putschists’ families. Indeed, several Gulfstream G550 type aircraft (in particular flight No. BFY824R) took off from Agadez Airport to Burkina Faso and Dubai with their women and children on board.”

According to the source, “General Tchiani appears to have had intelligence of an imminent attack by ECOWAS. He protects his family and leaves Nigerien people behind to a certain death. While he shelters his family, Tchiani is ready to send soldiers into a fratricidal war.

“Like any selfish and totalitarian putschists, he already uses state finances for personal purposes. It is at the expense of the Nigerien state that he sends his family to live richly under the Dubai sun. The junta does not hesitate a moment to set ablaze Niger while preparing a golden exit in Dubai.”

This is as ECOWAS said it was ready to intervene militarily in Niger Republic if diplomatic efforts to persuade the ruling military junta, which ousted President Mohamed Bazoum in a July 26 coup, to restore democracy in the country failed. ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, Abdel-Fatau Musah, disclosed this Thursday in Ghana at a gathering of West African defence chiefs, who were meeting to deliberate on a standby force.

“Let no one be in doubt that if everything else fails, the valiant forces of West Africa…are ready to answer to the call of duty,” Reuters quoted Musah as saying. “By all means available, constitutional order will be restored in the country,” he added

Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Gwabin Musa, said at the start of the two-day meeting in Accra, “Democracy is what we stand for and it’s what we encourage…

“The focus of our gathering is not simply to react to events, but to proactively chart a course that results in peace and promotes stability.”

The meeting to discuss Niger’s crisis came after the August 6 deadline for the mutinous soldiers to release and reinstate Bazoum or face military intervention. Bazoum has remained under house arrest with his wife and son in Niger’s capital, Niamey.

ECOWAS had long deliberated on the use of force, which it described as a “last resort” due to several mediation teams it sent to Niamey and also for a lack of consensus within its ranks.

Burkina Faso and Mali, which have experienced multiple coups since 2020, warned that any military intervention in Niger would be declared as an act of war, revealing a fracture in the region between its coastal countries and those in the volatile Sahel.

Guinea, which is also under military rule and had condemned any external aggression, refrained from making any other comments.

The top security body of AU met on Monday to consider whether it would support military intervention, but had yet to make its decision public.

The AU’s Peace and Security Council could overrule a military intervention if it feels the wider stability on the continent will be threatened. If it rejects the use of force, there are few grounds under which ECOWAS can claim legal justification.

The recent coup d‘état in Niger has propelled the nation into one of the most intricate and challenging situations it has faced, not only within its own history but also across the entire West African region.

This coup, executed by a military faction lacking both organization and foresight, can only be aptly described as a chaotic and misguided endeavor. In the aftermath of the coup, these military leaders found themselves aligned with an unexpected partner, seeking assistance from the infamous Russian mercenary group known as Wagner.

Regrettably, the motives behind this coup were far from noble or aimed at national progress. The turmoil was fueled by internal disputes, specifically stemming from the discord between a bodyguard and the individual under their protection, with ethnic undertones further exacerbating the situation.

While I remain unconvinced of the merits of the military intervention by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in Niger, I strongly advocate for the bolstering of our own armed forces to combat domestic terrorism across various regions of Nigeria.

Nevertheless, what lies ahead for Niger, even without the prospect of ECOWAS intervention to reverse the coup? Will the outcome be favorable? Unfortunately, the answer is far from optimistic. The nation‘s predicament can be likened to the challenge of marrying off a handicapped woman to a distant destination like a ten-story building.

The soldiers who, through brute force, seized control of Niger, declared their intention to forge a close alliance with Russia—a move that coincides with Russia‘s ongoing conflict with the West, particularly in its engagement with Ukraine.

However, the pertinent question arises: will Western powers permit Niger to align itself with Russia? Given the existing global scenario, where the United States and its Western allies have united against Russia, does Niger possess the necessary economic and military prowess to engage in a confrontation and challenge the dominance of Western European influence on its soil?

The soldiers who have taken charge in Niger have inadvertently plunged the nation into disarray, wedged uncomfortably between two opposing forces. The situation presents a grim dichotomy: either ECOWAS intervenes militarily to reinstate the ousted government, potentially sparking an interminable conflict, or the pressure exerted by ECOWAS member parliaments dissuades the use of military action, leading to ECOWAS abandoning the impending war altogether.

Should ECOWAS withdraw its involvement, the Western powers are likely to devise their own strategies within the nation, potentially exacerbating the crisis by instigating a civil war and thwarting any prospect of lasting peace. In such a scenario, Niger would inevitably turn to its neighboring countries for support, with Nigeria playing a pivotal role. Alternatively, a group of ambitious soldiers might once again alter the governmental landscape in a bid to quell the turmoil before it escalates further. Yet another option is for the coup-instigators to recognize the futility of their current path—a path that offers no escape, akin to a mouse trapped in a hole, not a rabbit hole with multiple exits. Engaging in reconciliation talks and relinquishing power could potentially secure immunity from prosecution.

In every conceivable manner, a faction of soldiers has propelled Niger into a precarious abyss, the repercussions of which are felt not only within West Africa but across the entire global stage.

Former Black Stars of Ghana captain Asamoah Gyan has backed Victor Osimhen to win the 2023 African Player of the Year award.

Osimhen played a crucial role in Napoli’s Scudetto success last season.

The 24-year-old scored 26 goals in 32 league appearances for the Partenopei.

The forward was the first African and Nigerian to win the top scorer award in the Italian top-flight.

Osimhen also recorded five more goals for the Naples club in the UEFA Champions League.

Gyan claimed the striker is the right candidate to win the best player award.

“For me, he (Osimhen) deserves it. As a striker and seeing what he is doing, for the first time in over 30 years, winning the league with Napoli. He deserves it,” Gyan told Brilla FM.

The Confederation of African Football will the winner of the award later this year.

Former Arsenal forward Kanu Nwankwo was the last Nigerian to win the award in 1999.

The Internally Displaced Persons from farming communities in Wushishi LGA of Niger State have reportedly resorted to street begging to get food to eat.

The Council Chairman, Mohammed Kpoti Yelwa made this known while distributing food items as emergency intervention to the IDPs who fled their homes, following last Friday’s invasion of some villages in the local government by bandits.

He lamented that unending attacks have subjected farmers who had food in abundance in their homes to the undignified condition of street begging for food.

Some of the IDPs, Umar Danladi Musa, Hajiya Habiba Mohammed Tashan-Jirgi, and Hamza Mai-Anguwan Kutunku, said during the three-day invasion of their homes, bandits carted away their foodstuffs and other valuables.

A political analyst and public commentator, Mahdi Shehu has slammed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over the distribution of portfolios to Ministers-Designate.

In an interview on Arise TV, Shehu accused the president of repeating the same insensi­tivity displayed by his predecessor, Muhammadu Buhari.

He stated that Tinubu highly favoured the Southwest and South-South, while refusing to give same favour to the South-East because they refused to support him in the 2023 presidential election.

According to Shehu, Tinubu may have favoured the South-South to compensate former Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike and ex militant warlord, Asari Dokubo.

He said, “At Tinubu’s coming there were serious objections, seri­ous exasperations. 14 million people said they didn’t like him. There were so many questions surrounding him, around his education, his personality, etcetera. He should have factored all these into consideration. He would have acted differently but he decided to act in the same way, in the same man­ner, style and in the same spirit as Buhari. Between Buhari and Tinubu there is no difference.

“Look at what goes to the South-West from the list, the acting Central Bank of Nige­ria (CBN) is from the South- West, all commercial banks, all financial institutions, 90 percent of microfinance banks, shippers’ council, and communications. Under communications, you have the Nigeria Communication Commission (NCC), NIPOST. The coordinating Minister of the Economy, Accountant General, Auditor General, all MDAs, Marine, Agro-econ­omy, Power, Solid Minerals, Petroleum, and Justice, in addition to being the senior Minister of Petroleum, also the President and calling the last shot.

“He also took Health, En­vironmental, and Ecology, a total of 12 senior Ministers and eight junior Ministers. If you have a mental picture of what he gave to the South- West, it is like you have the Oduduwa Republic in the making.

“He is carving the way for the Republic of Biafra and forcing the north to consider being annexed by the Niger Republic or Cameroun. It is a matter of Buhari’s insensitivity being repeated.

“If you go to the South- East, what you have in the South-East is similar to what you have in Matthew Chap­ter 16 verses 26 and 28. The South-East was given the crumbs. Ministry of Works, senior, Women Affairs, senior, Labour, junior, Trade, senior, Ecological, senior. Put togeth­er these, and they’re not up to the Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA). In other words, they are telling the South-East to think twice about Obi, next time around. That is your crime.

“The story is different from the South-South. If you go to South-South, Avi­ation, senior, youth, senior, FCT, senior, Humanitarian Affairs, senior, Sports and Petroleum, junior. What are they saying? It is as if they are saying, Mark chapter 1 verse 11, which says, “You are my sons I love, in whom I am well pleased”.

In a stark twist of events over the past 24 hours, digital asset speculators have incurred losses totalling $1 billion as the digital asset market undergoes one of its most significant selloffs this year, causing the price of bitcoin to plummet to its lowest level in three months.

Within this short span, as many as 176,374 traders have been liquidated, resulting in a loss of approximately $1.04 billion.

CoinGlass analytics reflect that roughly $821 million in long positions, indicative of traders wagering on upward market movement, have been wiped out due to the sudden and precipitous exit.

Of this, bitcoin traders are grappling with the most substantial losses, with long-term liquidations amounting to $472 million, followed by ether with $302 million.

Liquidation is a mechanism wherein exchanges close leveraged trading positions due to either partial or complete depletion of a trader’s initial or “margin” funds.

This action is typically taken when traders fail to meet margin prerequisites or lack sufficient funds to maintain the trade.

Simultaneously, the cryptocurrency market’s decline aligns with the retreat of riskier global assets, as investors seek extended periods of higher yields.

The backdrop of these market movements has been further complicated by reports suggesting Elon Musk’s SpaceX may have been selling its Bitcoin holdings, fostering additional unease.

Speculation around SpaceX’s purported Bitcoin sales – an assertion yet to be substantiated – has arisen. In tandem, there are conjectures linking the market downturn to China Evergreen’s bankruptcy.

Notably, a report by The Wall Street Journal clarifies that SpaceX is merely updating the valuation of its Bitcoin assets.

Bitcoin, experiencing a 10% loss, appears to be on track for its most substantial weekly decline in three months, having bottomed out at $25,314.

This depreciation stems from the previous day’s valuation of $28,947, with the ascent of global bond yields curbing the appeal of alternate investments like digital tokens.

Marking a notable milestone, Bitcoin’s market valuation has descended below $500 billion for the first time since June 16, reaching its lowest point since June 20.

The cryptocurrency market has been caught in a downward spiral since mid-July, coinciding with the surge of the US Dollar Index over the same period.

Historically, the anticipation of higher interest rates has prompted downturns in the cryptocurrency market, possibly explaining the decline on August 17.

Factors influencing the market’s retreat include the persistent escalation of global interest rates, notably in the United States, where the 30-year Treasury note soared to 4.42%, marking its highest level since 2011.

Meanwhile, the 10-year yield of 4.32% has risen by a single basis point from its 15-year peak.

Implying future actions, the forward rate of the federal funds rate predicts the first rate cut somewhere between May and June 2024, while the Fed rate is anticipated to remain within the prevailing range of 5.25% to 5.50% until that juncture.

Despite these challenges, market indicators suggest that the valuation of the crypto market is nearly oversold, with the daily Relative Strength Index (RSI) hovering around 34, slightly above the customary threshold.

This implies that the market stands a fair chance of stabilizing or recuperating in the impending days.

Prominent investment research firm Fundstrat has ventured that the price of Bitcoin could potentially exceed $150,000 by the culmination of 2024, subject to the approval of the ongoing batch of Bitcoin spot exchange-traded funds (ETFs) in the United States.