Ondo Governor Rotimi Akeredolu has assured he is on the path to recovery and will return to office soon.

Akeredolu embarked on a 21-day medical leave outside the shores of Nigeria.

The leave commenced on June 7 and ends today.

The Governor transmitted power to his deputy Lucky Aiyedatiwa to act while away.

In a statement on Thursday, the Ondo Governor thanked residents for their unwavering support, noting that he will return once his doctors deem it expedient.

The statement reads: “I pen this message with a heart overflowing with immense gratitude & deep appreciation. Your dedication, understanding, ceaseless prayers & messages of goodwill during my journey to recovery have been nothing short of a soothing balm for my soul.

“Your unwavering support and genuine affection have sustained my determination to renewed vigor and, most importantly, to continue serving you, the good people of Ondo State.

“I am profoundly grateful to our esteemed President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, President @officialABAT, GCFR, and his team, as well as all political party leaders, my brother Governors, the State Executive Council, and the members of the State House of Assembly for their unwavering support.

“Your collective strength and solidarity have uplifted my spirit and reaffirmed my commitment to our shared vision for progress and development.

“While I remain on the path to recovery, I eagerly await the moment when I will stand among you once again. Rest assured, I am in high spirits and have full faith in the expertise of my doctors. I will return to you ALL as soon as they deem it expedient.

Read Also: Akeredolu thanks President, Govs, others for prayers, support
“My dear people, once again, your prayers, support, and the rejuvenating elixir of goodwill you have bestowed upon me have fortified my resolve. I am resolute in my dedication to serving you and working tirelessly for the betterment of our beloved Ondo State.

“Thank you from the depths of my heart.”

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep. Tajudeen Abbas on Thursday stepped down an amendment motion seeking to release Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

This followed a recommendation by Rep.Ginger Onwusibe (LP-Abia) following a motion by Rep. Eze Nwachukwu Eze (PDP-Ebonyi) in Abuja during plenary.

Eze had moved a motion titled “Need to Forestall Further Killings in Ebonyi Local Government Area, and the Rising Insecurityi in Ebonyi/Ohaukwu Federal Constituency, Ebonyi State.

But Onwusibe representing Isiala Ngwa North of Abia State had asked the House to amend the motion to ensure the release of Kanu so as to end the disturbing cases of killings in the south eastern part of the Country.

it would be recalled that Kanu had been in the custody of the Department of State Security (DSS) in spite ruling by the court to release the leader of the group

in his motion, Eze urged the President Bola Tinubu-led administration to consult with Political, Traditional and Religious Leaders in Ebonyi State and South East.

This according to him is to find a lasting solution to the Insecurity in the South East.

He also also urged the Acting Inspector General of Police to mobilise Armoured Personnel Carriers to strategic Points across Ebonyi State to forestall future attacks.

He further urged the Nigeria Police Force and other relevant security agencies to ensure effective policing of Ebonyi/ Ohaukwu Federal Constituency of Ebonyi, other States of the South-East and the entire country.

He also urged the Nigeria Police Force to engage in training of the vigilante group for intelligence gathering and effective community policing.

He asked that the House mandated the Committee on Police Affairs (lwhen constituted to make Budgetary provisions for the Nigeria Police force to acquire more combat Helicopters.

This according to him is to ensure proper surveillance of the South-East States and Nigeria in general.

However an amendment to the motion to include the release of Nnamdi Kanu was rejected and deferred by the Speaker who said the subject matter should not come under the motion on Ebonyi killings.

But Onwusibe said, the insecurity was as a result of the prolonged detention of Kanu, adding that the government should consider a way of releasing him so as to restore peace to the region.

However, Rep Ibrahim Halims, the Deputy leader of the House, rejected the amendment, saying, ” matters like that are always determined by court and not by parliamentary decision.”

In his contribution, Rep. Benjamin Kalu, the Deputy Speaker of the House of Reps. said the motion moved by Onwusibe was to find an amicable way of resolving the issue with regards to Kanu.

He added that what the prayer of the amendment should read was to urge Mr president to use any other diplomatic or political approach to find a lasting solution on this issue.

According to him, those of us from the region know where the shoe is pinching us.

In his ruling, Abbas said “this is a topical issue, my ruling on this is that I will defer ruling on this at this particular time and I will invite both the minority and majority leaders

This according to him is to consult and see what the point of the law says before I make my own position known.

“So while I rule on other motions and amendment that have been proposed, that particular one is suspended for ruling next week after due consultation.”

(NAN)

In Arogbo, Ese-Odo Local Government Area of Ondo State, a mentally ill man reportedly strangled a 17-year-old secondary school student to death.

The victim, identified as Timibra Meretighan, was taking his Junior Secondary WAEC examination at Ijaw National High School in Arogbo when he was attacked by the mentally ill man, who proceeded to strangle him.

According to an eyewitness, the mentally deranged man gained access to the school premises and the examination hall, causing the students to scatter in order to avoid harm.

Unfortunately, Meretighan, who couldn’t run fast enough, was caught by the suspect. The suspect held him by the neck and strangled him to death.

The mentally ill man claimed that he killed the victim because he had called him a madman. Seeking revenge, he traced the victim to his school and carried out the act.

The State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Funmi Odunlami, confirmed the incident and stated that the suspect had been apprehended by the state police.

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The principal of Ijaw National High School reported the incident to the police, explaining that a 27-year-old man forcibly entered the school premises and killed one of the students.

“The principal of Ijaw High School came to the station to report that one Oke Loya, 27 years old, who sought shelter at the security gate during the rain, strangled one of the students to death,” the PPRO said.

She continued, “He said the man killed one Timibra Meretighan, a 17-year-old boy from Arogbo-Ibe. The suspect claimed that the student called him a madman. The suspect has been arrested and detained in police custody.”

Your Royal Highness,

So soon after the Moslem season of spiritual purification, it is sad to see the ancient city of Ilorin, a confluence of faiths and ethnic varieties, reduced to this level of bigotry and intolerance, manifested in the role of a presiding monarch. The truncation of a people’s traditional festival is a crime against the cultural heritage of all humanity. Year after year, the Ramadan has been celebrated in this nation as an inclusive gathering of humanity, irrespective of divergences of belief. Not once, in my entire span of existence, have I encountered pronouncements by followers of any faith that the slaughtering of rams on the streets and market places is an offence to their concept of godhead. Vegetarians hold their peace. Buddhists walk a different path. Prior to Ramadan, non-Moslems routinely join in observing the preceding season of fasting as a spiritual exercise worthy of emulation.

Perhaps this is another occasion for self-introduction. I currently teach courses in Abu Dhabi in the Emirates. That is the region of Origin, all others are mere appendages. I was there just before Christmas. I passed through again in the countdown to Ramadan. On both occasions, the streets, businesses, hotel lobbies and other public spaces were lit up with the same festive spirit. Only the symbols within the designs were different. The mood of celebration was equally pervasive and inclusive. Painfully, my mind could not help but travel back home, and some years past, recalling for instance how a procession of Corpus Christ was once attacked, some killed, by a brood of Moslem fanatics, for daring to process along the streets of that same Ilorin. Needless to say, such abominations have become routine. Community is sacrificed to bigotry.

It may interest you to know that, in Abu Dhabi, numerous programmes are pursued, at government expense, for the evolution of a humanized community based on religious tolerance and mutual respect. By contrast here, several tiers removed from Origin, must we turn the turban of enlightenment into a crown of bigotry?  And in a society whose very constitution that supposedly governs us all guarantees freedom of belief, association and movement?

Your Royal Highness, it is conduct like this that has bred Boko Haram, ISIS, ISWAP and other religious malformations that currently plague this nation, spreading grief and outrage across a once peaceful landscape, degrading my and your existence with their virulent brand of Islam. It is conduct like this that has turned, before our very eyes, a once ecumenical city like Kaduna into a blood-stained mockery of cohabitation. It is conduct like this that makes it possible for a young student, Deborah, to be lynched in the very presence of armed police, on mere allegation of having belittled the image of a revered prophet. It is action of this nature, perpetrated in obscure as well as prominent outlets of the nation that turns a young generation into mindless monsters, ever ready to swarm out and kill, kill, kill. Simply kill for the thrill of it, but under presumption of religious immunity. It is conduct like this that then nerves one extremist to wake up one day in a Scandinavian country, publicly announce his intention, and proceed to make a bonfire of copies of the Qur’an. Reprisals follow, equally mindless, trapping humanity in an ever-ascending spiral of costly but gleeful violence.

This continent has endured centuries of disdain and despoilation at the hands of alien religions – Christianity and Islam at the forefront. Both religions have been sanctimoniously deployed as justification for unspeakable atrocities, for the dehumanization of the black race. Do I need to teach you your own history, or is it that you prefer to forget? To encounter, in this century, a convert to alien spiritual dogma, appropriating the cloak of piety to impede the observation of our antecedent spirituality is not just racial treachery but an assault on civilized conduct as a universal aspiration of humanity, where every discovery, every new encounter usher in new propositions of enlightenment. Humanity builds on the past, preserving alternatives of world views, not destroying that past which, in any case, is indestructible. Your conduct is an affront to my sense of racial being, and that holds true for millions beyond these national and continental borders, stretching into the Americas and the Caribbean. There you will still encounter ISESE and allied spiritualities. There, ISESE still exerts its hold on the human spirit. Visit Brazil, go to Columbia, explore Cuba, and be humbled by the tenacity of this spirituality among the descendants of black humanity.

Even the sturdiest of thrones crumble. Long after you and I are gone, generations will continue to endure the effects of present anomalies, pretensions, hypocrisies, will continue to harvest the bitter fruits of the seeds of discord being sown by their forebears. I therefore urge you to rein in those agents of division, of triumphalist intolerance, such as the Majlisu Shabab Ulamahu Society. There is a thin line between Power and Piety. Call Yeye Ajasikemi OIokun Omolara to your side, make peace with her and make restitution whichever way you can for this grievous insult to our race. We know the history of Ilorin and the trajectory of your dynasty – but these are not the issues. The issue is peaceful cohabitation, respect for other worldviews, their celebrations, their values and humanity. The issue is the acceptance of the multiple facets of human enlightenment.

The greatest avatars that the world has known were not without human frailties, flaws, and errors of understanding.  You are NOT Omniscient. And you are not Omnipotent.

Wole SOYINKA

Akintalun of Egba

Giiwa of Ijebu-Remo

Akogun of Isara

The First Lady of Lagos, Dr. (Mrs) Claudiana Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu on Thursday called on Christians from all denominations to embrace peace and unity for the progress and development of Nigeria.

The governor's wife gave the charge at the 2023 Lagos Praise 3.0, an annual event organized by the Office of the First Lady, Lagos to create a viable platform for the state's first family, graceful ladies, and members of the Committee of Wives of Lagos State Officials (COWLSO) to come together in collaboration with the five blocs of the Christian Association of Nigeria (C.A.N), Lagos State Chapter.

In her address, Mrs. Sanwo-Olu said this years theme: “Casting Crowns,” taken from Rev 4: 10-11. was chosen specifically to signify the act of laying down one’s crown and submitting to worship which is the essence of the gathering.

Dr. Sanwo-Olu urged all Christians, particularly in the five blocs of CAN to use the platform to worship God in holiness, saying the body of Christ is one.

She said,, "I therefore, heartily welcome you all to this intense praise session and urge you to enjoy the presence of God and be alive in the spirit to get the best from this worship service”

“Beyond this service, I admonish us in the light of Hebrews 12: 14 that we should follow peace with all men and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord. Let’s embrace peace and be pure in our relationship with people”

She further explained that," The initiative started as a platform for the First Family, Graceful Ladies, and members of the Committee of Wives of Lagos State Officials (COWLSO), which is also chaired by me to come together in collaboration with the five blocs of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Lagos State Chapter.

“This is with the view to worshipping and appreciating God on a consistent basis for His faithfulness and loving-kindness and also to serve as an avenue to pray for good governance, peace, and development of Lagos State."

As it is tradition participants invited for the programme cut across the five administrative divisions of Lagos State namely Ikeja, Badagry, Ikorodu, Lagos Island, and Epe (IBILE). 

Those invited to give the intense praise session the needed zest include; the eminent leadership of CAN and members of the Body of Christ, top government functionaries, security agencies, community leaders, grassroots groups, representatives of voluntary organizations, and the Organised Private sector.

There were also ministrations by the choirs from the Chapel of Christ The Light (CCTL), Evangelical Church Winning All/Fellowship of Churches of Christ in Nigeria (ECKWA/TEKAN), Organization of African Instituted Churches (OAIC), Christian Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (CPFN/PFN,) Christian Council of Nigeria (CCN),Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria (CSN), Lagos State CAN Mass Choir and Student Choir Groups. Also featured were two popular gospel musicians, Efe Nathan and Tosin Bee. 

Nwonah Olubukonla,

DD, Public Affairs,

Office of The First Lady, Lagos

6th July, 2023

DD, PUBLIC AFFAIRS,

World number four Casper Ruud crashed out in the second round of Wimbledon on Thursday at the hands of British wildcard Liam Broady. Broady held his nerve when trailing two sets to one against the French Open finalist, rallying to win the Centre Court clash 6-4, 3-6, 4-6, 6-3, 6-0. Norway's Ruud, who has been runner-up at Roland Garros in the past two years, was also the beaten finalist at the US Open last year.

The 24-year-old has never gone beyond the second round at the All England Club. Broady, 142 in the world rankings, took a medical time out at the end of the fourth set to change some bandaging on his wrist.

But the 29-year-old came out fit and firing in the evening sunshine, demolishing Ruud 6-0 in the decider before soaking up the applause from the partisan crowd.

"I would have liked to have played him back home, but Centre Court of Wimbledon will do," said Broady. "When I went to bed last night, I was having a think of what I'd say if I won the match, but now I'm here I don't know what to say.

"I said to my mum this morning, she doesn't like watching, but I said I've already won £80,000 ($102,000) this week so she can chill out a bit."

The British player will play Canadian 26th seed Denis Shapovalov in the third round. "Denis is a mercurial talent, he's one of the best players in the world as is Casper," he said. "He's won junior Wimbledon. He's an amazing player. With a crowd like this then why not have a go again."

Teen power

Meanwhile, Russian 16-year-old Mirra Andreeva reached the third round of a Grand Slam for a second successive time at Wimbledon on Thursday. Andreeva was leading Czech 10th seed Barbora Krejcikova 6-3, 4-0 when the former French Open champion retired with an injury.

Just as she had done at the French Open, the teenager came through qualifying for Wimbledon and next faces either compatriot Anastasia Potapova or Kaja Juvan of Slovenia. Making her main draw debut, Andreeva, ranked at 102 in the world, saw off China's Wang Xiyu in the first round in a match that finished late Wednesday.

In Paris last month, it took world number seven Coco Gauff to stop her in three sets in the last 32.

[sports]

British journeyman Liam Broady has sent Centre Court into raptures with a stunning defeat of world No.4 Casper Ruud at Wimbledon.

Ruud, who was in the French Open final three weeks ago, lost 6-4 3-6 4-6 6-3 6-0 to the world No.142 in three hours, 27 minutes.

Norwegian Ruud has never looked comfortable at Wimbledon, winning once in three previous appearances in SW19. He has, however, reached three grand slam finals in 14 months and this was by a distance the biggest win of Broady's career.

"When I went to bed last night, I had a think about what I would say if I won and now I don't know what to say!" the 29-year-old said.

"It was a pretty terrifying, exhilarating experience coming out at Centre Court on Wimbledon, but it's been my dream since I was five years old."

"I said to my mum this morning, she doesn't like watching, I've already won PS80,000 ($A152,000) this week so she can chill out."

Three-time grand slam winner Stan Wawrinka turned back the clock, defeating seeded Argentine Tomas Etcheverry to set up a first grass-court meeting with Novak Djokovic.

The 38-year-old defeated the No.29 seed, 15 years his junior, in four sets as Wimbledon finally enjoyed a sunny day.

It is the first time Wawrinka has reached a grand slam third round for three years. "It's a long time that I didn't win too much at grand slams," the Swiss said. "I've been working hard to get back to a better level and I'm happy with the way I'm coming up."

Wawrinka, who won every major except Wimbledon, has beaten Djokovic six times in 26 meetings, including the 2015 French Open final and 2016 US Open final.

He said of facing the defending champion on Centre Court on Friday, "I'll enjoy it if I don't get killed. It's a big challenge but hopefully I can come to a higher level and be competitive."

A trio of Italians won, though one knocked out a compatriot. Eighth seed Jannik Sinner coasted into the third round with a 7-5 6-1 6-2 victory over Diego Schwartzman, while Lorenzo Musetti, seeded 14, outclassed Spain's Jaume Munar 6-4 6-3 6-1 to set up a third-round clash against Poland's Hubert Hurkacz.

Matteo Berrettini, the 2021 runner-up, recovered from a slow start to beat Lorenzo Sonego 6-7 (5-7) 6-3 7-6 (9-7) 6-3 in a match which had begun on Tuesday.

Berrettini, who arrived at Wimbledon undercooked having not played much due to injury, now meets Australian No.1 Alex de Minaur.

Alexander Zverev, who finally got a chance to play his first-round match on the fourth day of the tournament, moved into the second round with a 6-4 7-6 (7-4) 7-6 (7-5) victory over Dutchman Gijs Brouwer.

The 19th seed Zverev, a former world No.2, suffered a bad ankle injury at the 2022 French Open.

"I missed it last year so just to be on this court I'm happy to be here with 10,000 people," he said.

"I play again tomorrow and the day after, well if I win of course. It's going to be a tough few days with back-to-back matches and it is never easy physically - I'm just happy to be playing tennis now," Zverev said.

Russian seventh seed Andrey Rublev advanced to the third round at Wimbledon for the second time defeating compatriot Aslan Karatsev.

[thewest]

Cesar Azpilicueta is headed back to Spain.

The 33-year-old defender joined Atletico on Thursday after 11 years at Chelsea.

"I’d like to say so many things, but I’m going to keep it short," Azpilicueta said in a farewell message. "I want to say every time you are part of this club, you give your best. That’s how I learned to be part of Chelsea. The demands are really high, the commitment to the club, to the fans, every single day, even in tough moments when maybe it’s easier to go down a different path. That’s the moment to show the personality, the soul of the club, all together, pushing in the same direction. I know Chelsea will be back where it should be."

Azpilicueta joined the Blues in 2012 from Marseille. He went on to make 508 appearances across all competitions for the club, seventh-most all-time in club history, winning two Premier League titles, two Europa League titles, a League Cup, an FA Cup and the 2021 Champions League title.

Internationally, Azpilicueta has been capped 44 times by La Roja and was a member of Spain's squad at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

[tsn]

Not for the first time, Kylian Mbappe has been linked with a transfer to Liverpool.

On the face of it, this is not a link that makes a great deal of sense from the Reds' perspective. While not short of money, their transfer kitty is not limitless and Jurgen Klopp must prioritise other areas of his squad ahead of strengthening his attack.

Darwin Nunez, Mohamed Salah, Luis Diaz, Diogo Jota and Cody Gakpo ensure there are no shortage of options and variety to play in Liverpool’s front three. Furthermore, the Reds have signed attack-minded midfielders Dominik Szoboszlai from RB Leipzig and Brighton’s Alexis MacAllister.

However, Sport Witness cites reports from Spain that Liverpool have made a £170million move for French superstar Mbappe. The veracity of this may be doubtful, but there is clearly a strong mutual respect between the club and the Paris Saint-Germain frontman.

Mbappe's PSG exit stance

 

 

Kylian Mbappe has the option to renew his contract at PSG until 2025 ( 

Image: 

Getty Images)

Mbappe will not sign the one-year contract extension in his PSG contract meaning that his deal will expire in 12 months. Mirror Football understands that the French club’s priority is to ensure he does not leave without a transfer fee, meaning they are prepared to cash in on the superstar this summer.

The French superstar has confirmed that he intends to remain at the Ligue 1 champions beyond this summer but it is understood that PSG will push for his exit as they are aware that the alternative is missing out on a landmark transfer fee entirely.

On Wednesday, PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi set an ultimatum of two weeks for Mbappe to either decide to leave the club this summer or sign a new contract. However, the striker is well within his contractual rights to do neither and wait it out until next summer. Real Madrid's interest in signing Mbappe is long-standing and well-documented.

What Mbappe and Klopp have said

 

 

Kylian Mbappe's future at PSG is unclear

Mbappe and Klopp have a history of publicly complimenting each other – which has, predictably, played into suggestions that the two may work alongside each other one day.

Speaking in 2020, the Frenchman claimed: 2020: "This season, Liverpool have been a machine in the Premier League. They have made winning look easy but the truth is that it is never easy. Performances like they have been having don't just happen.

Mbappe didn't stop there and had some compliments for Klopp as well, adding: "To be as ruthless as they have been would come from lots of hard work in training and from having a very good manager."

Speaking before Liverpool faced PSG back in 2018, Klopp told RMC Sport: "I love him, to be honest. What a player he is and a nice lad as well, so he's a really good kid. What a player, what a player.

"Everyone knows him since he was 16, 17 when he impressed in Monaco's youth teams, and I saw videos of him when he was 17 and he destroyed defensive lines as he is doing now.

"He's at an unbelievable level of consistency at that age. He's an outstanding player, that's clear, but he can deliver, deliver and deliver, which shows he's really good educated boy and he knows what he is doing.”

[mirror.co.uk]