Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Monday, described Chief Bode George’s comment on the demolition of property belonging to Ndigbo in Lagos as ‘misdirected’.
Chief George, while reacting to the comments of Ohanaeze’s President General, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, on the demolition, had asked Ndigbo to develop their region instead of Lagos.
Iwuanyanwu had said that when Lagos was elevated as the capital of Nigeria, it attracted persons, groups and governments from all parts of Nigeria and across the world. He added that Lagos was a federal capital and gave rise to multi-ethnic inflow, population explosion and diverse economic activities.
Dr Alex Chiedozie Ogbonnia, the National Publicity Secretary of Ohanaeze, said the position of Ohanaeze’s president general was correct because the Igbo “did not acquire property in Lagos by brute force; instead were lawfully purchased and evidenced with certificates of occupancy’.
He stated that, “Any person who knows Lagos will agree with the Igbo leader that some of the Igbo property are standing on what used to be swamps”, adding that Iwuanyanwu “used the press conference to condemn the demolition of property by the authorities of Lagos State, most of which are owned by the Igbo.”
The statement continued, “Ohanaeze Ndigbo would have ignored such malicious comments by Chief Bode George, but we, however, believe that since silence may lend credence to the unsuspecting minds or may give validity to a whimsical figment of a transactional imagination, this press release becomes very imperative.
“In the first place, the unsolicited support to the policies and programmes of the Lagos State government led by Babajide Sanwo-Olu by Chief Bode George is both curious and misdirected. Otherwise, how will an elder statesman in the mould of Bode George query an ethnic group for their loyalty, allegiance, commitment, and development of the former capital of Nigeria.
“The George theory will also query why other Nigerians are obligated to the development of Abuja to give it the required international status. For Bode George to suggest that the Igbo erred by contributing to the development of Lagos is not only unstatesmanly, bigoted, narrow-thinking and self-serving but stands at variance with the ethics and decorum of a man who has benefited immensely from the corporate existence of Nigeria.
“Bode George alluded to the prevailing pervasive poverty in the country and in his judgment, believes that destruction of peoples’ property in Lagos is an antidote to poverty.
“Ohaneaeze Ndigbo has watched with dismay, the selective vocality of Chief Bode George; when many parts of the Alaba International Market were destroyed, George was mute. When there was intimidation of voters in Lagos state, George was mute.”
Ogbonnia concluded that “the Igbo will remain broad-minded, hardworking, law-abiding, forward-looking, dynamic and courageous even in the face of daunting challenges.”
A man identified as Sadiq Idrissu, has allegedly killed his mother over witchcraft in Adamawa State.
The suspect, Idrissu, aged 30years of Boga in Gombi local government area, admitted killing his mother and did not show remorse.
He, however, sympathised with his father for marrying and staying with the deceased as his wife.
The suspect said, „I killed my mother because she appeared to me as a witch. People have been accusing her of witchcraft for about two years. It is true because something keeps getting more frightening, especially in the night.“
The suspect was alleged to have been taking the dry gin drink „Suck and Die“ and said that his mother had been appearing to him in a dream as a witch and kept sending terrible fears and causing him sleepless nights.
He narrated that on that fateful day, he stormed their family house in the midnight and could not find his mother in the room, only his sister who was sleeping, explaining that he immediately remembered that his mother had gone out to perpetrate witchcraft.
According to him, he also entered his father‘s room but couldn‘t find her, and that while going out he sighted her and shot her 2 times which confirmed to him that she is a witch.
Suleiman Yahaya Nguroje, police image maker, explained that the suspect murdered his mother over allegation of witchcraft.
Kano State Road and Traffic Agency (KAROTA) has intercepted a truck loaded with more than 4,600 bottles of alcoholic drinks in the state.
The spokesperson of the agency, Nabilusi Kofar-Naisa, in a statement noted that upon interception, the driver parked the car and ran away.
He said, “ The truck with registration number FGE 407 XB was apprehended along Ibrahim Taiwo Road around 4:00am by personnel of the agency.”
While thanking officials of the agency for their hard work, KAROTA managing director, Faisal Mahmud Kabir, promised to handover the sized beer to Hisbah Board upon completion of investigation for necessary action.
Anabs Sara-Igbe, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (APC) in Rivers State, has said that defection by the 27 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly is a plot to further the impeachment process of Governor Siminialayi Fubara.
Anabs Sara-Igbe stated this during an interview on Channels TV’s Politics Today.
On Monday, 27 out 32 members of the Rivers State Assembly defected from the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
But during the interview Sara-Igbe said, “Wike is not conveying President Tinubu’s order of peace in Rivers State. The governor is trying as much as possible to make peace by avoiding comments that will inflame the situation. But it is very obvious that the minister has been coming up with comments that are detrimental to peace.
“The movement of these 27 members of the house to APC is a plot to ensure that they go ahead with the impeachment process. But they need to understand that they are the members of the House, but the state itself is more concerned with the development that is going on in the state. And we don’t want any action that will cause more problems for the state.”
However, a member of the state House of Assembly, George Alabo, said that the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyeson Wike, is still a member of the PDP.
He said that the lawmakers’ defection has nothing to do with Wike.
Alabo said, “We had a strong division in the PDP. Our action is in response to these divisions which the party leadership in the state has failed to address. We have the backing of our constituents. We have their votes. It’s about their future. Let us treat things in isolation. Wike is still a member of the PDP.”
- Asisat Oshoala extends a record sixth CAF African Women’s Player of the Year Award
- Osimhen wins first CAF African Player of the Year award in the men’s category
- Morocco and Nigeria win National Team of the Year awards
Nigeria’s Victor Osimhen and Asisat Oshoala won the biggest individual awards at the CAF Awards 2023 in the Moroccan city of Marrakech on Monday night, 11 December 2023.
Osimhen, the Nigerian striker who made headlines in Italy and also for his contribution in the Super Eagles jersey, won the CAF African Player of the Year for the first time while his compatriot, Oshoala won her record sixth CAF African Women’s Player of the Year.
Osimhen's remarkable journey saw him fend off stiff competition from Moroccan full-back Achraf Hakimi and Egyptian striker Mohammed Salah.
Nigerian icon Oshoala secured the CAF Women's Player of the Year for a record sixth time. The attacker’s dominance continued as she inspired Barcelona to Champions League glory, finishing as the club's top scorer with 27 goals across all competitions.
Morocco's Walid Regragui was crowned CAF's Best Coach of the Year in the Men's category – recognised for guiding the Atlas Lions to a historic World Cup semi-final run in Qatar.
South Africa's Desiree Ellis secured the Best Coach award in the women's category for her outstanding work with Banyana Banyana. This was Ellis’ record fourth award in this category, which she has won consistently since 2018.
In CAF InterClub, South Africa and Al Ahly’s Percy Tau won the CAF InterClub Player of the Year.
Senegal's Lamine Camara, the 19-year-old FC Metz forward, clinched the CAF Young Player of the Year award, marking his meteoric rise in African football.
Moroccan prodigy Nesryne El Chad won the inaugural CAF Women's Young Player of the Year award.
Morocco won the Men’s National Team award following their performance at the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, while Nigeria won the Women’s National Team of the Year award.
Egyptian giants Al Ahly clinched the Male Club of the Year award, with the women’s award going to South African side Mamelodi Sundowns.
South Africa dominated the continent’s Best XI players in the Women Category while two members of Morocco’s World Cup semi-final team were included in the male version.
The ultimate winners in each category were decided through a voting process involving a panel comprising CAF Technical Committee, Head Coaches, National Team captains and media professionals.
Full List of Award Winners:
Player of the Year (Men): Victor Osimhen (Nigeria, Napoli)
Player of the Year (Women): Asisat Oshoala (Nigeria, Barcelona)
Interclub Player of the Year (Men): Percy Tau (South Africa, Al Ahly)
Interclub Player of the Year (Women): Fatima Tagnaout (Morocco, AS FAR)
Coach of the Year (Men): Walid Regragui (Morocco)
Coach of the Year (Women): Desiree Ellis (South Africa)
Goalkeeper of the Year (Men): Yassine Bounou (Morocco, Al Hilal)
Goalkeeper of the Year (Women): Chiamaka Nnadozie (Nigeria, Paris FC)
Young Player of the Year (Men): Lamine Camara (Senegal, Metz)
Young Player of the Year (Women): Nesryne El Chad (Morocco, Lille)
National Team of the Year (Men): Morocco
National Team of the Year (Women): Nigeria
Club of the Year (Men): Al Ahly (Egypt)
Club of the Year (Women): Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa)
A former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Bode George yesterday said that a northerner cannot be the presidential candidate of the party in 2027.
Speaking during a press briefing to address issues in the party, he also warned that the party risks losing the 2027 election and becoming extinct if the forces in the party are not united.
He stated that party unity and inclusiveness of all members “Are ingredients to a viable strategy for our future electoral victories.”
But he noted that some people are already driving the idea of a northerner as the saviour in 2027, saying the outcome would be calamitous for the party.
“A Northerner cannot be the presidential candidate of our party in 2027, pure and simple.
“The earlier some members pushing this agenda know this truth, the better for our collective sanity. PDP members must understand this reality before it is too late that a PDP member from the Southern part of the country must be our candidate and we must all support him to defeat the APC candidate in the 2027 elections.
“Until 2031, nobody should think of contesting for the presidential ticket of our party from the North. The real elders in our party should stand up and say the truth.”
Security operatives have secured the release of seven students of the Federal University of Lafia (FULAFIA) in Nasarawa State.
The students were abducted four days ago. Their release was secured on Sunday evening, December 10, 2023, through efforts by a collaborative team of the military and other security forces.
The President of the Student Representative Council, Ibrahim Ogabo, confirmed the development in a phone conversation with Channels Television on Monday.
The students, consisting of three females and four males, are currently receiving medical treatment at the school’s clinic.
The victims were kidnapped from their off-campus accommodation in Gandu community on Wednesday night, December 6.
The incident led to protests by students of the institution, who demanded the release of their peers and called for enhanced security measures in the area.
Veteran Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) newscaster, Aisha Bello Mustapha, is dead
The sad news of her demise was announced in a statement released by her family.
Aisha, renowned for her role as one of the prominent casters on NTA Network News at 9 PM during the ’90s and early 20s, had a distinguished career spanning 35 years. She retired from active service in May 2022.
The statement from her family read: “Innalilahi wa inna Alaihin Rajiun. May Allah forgive our Mother Hajia Aishat Bello Mustapha.
“Mama indeed you are a very kind-hearted person. We will miss you and hope you are enjoying Rahma. Funeral Prayer to hold in central mosque Abuja 1 pm on Monday, 11th December 2023.”
Aisha, until her demise, was a prominent media personality, leaving an indelible footprint on the landscape of Nigerian broadcasting.
Former AC Milan striker, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, has rejoined the club as an advisor, RedBird Capital Partners, owners of the Serie A outfit announced on Monday.
In a statement published through GlobeNewsWire, RedBird confirmed that Ibrahimovic is back for a third spell at the club – even if he is their employee officially – and also that he will also serve as a Senior Advisor to AC Milan Ownership and Senior Management.
Zlatan is one of the most iconic football players to have ever played the game having won 34 trophies across his spells with Malmo, Ajax, Juventus, Inter, Barcelona, Milan, Paris Saint-Germain, Manchester United and the Los Angeles Galaxy, with over 500 club goals to his name.
It was back on June 4 of this year that the 41-year-old announced his retirement from football following Milan’s final game of the Serie A season, and there had been speculation about what would be next.
The answer is a return to Milan as an Operating Partner at RedBird. As per the statement, Ibra will ‘collaborate with RedBird’s global investment team in supporting the firm’s existing investment portfolio across sports, media and entertainment’.
He will also ‘help source and evaluate new investment opportunities for the firm, and will advise RedBird portfolio companies on commercial projects, digital content strategies and strategic brand building initiatives to extend their presence on a global basis’.
At AC Milan, Ibra will serve as a Senior Advisor to Ownership, which is led by RedBird and includes the New York Yankees.
Gerry Cardinale commented on the return: “We have all been fortunate to witness Zlatan’s greatness as a player and his contributions in leading AC Milan to the top of Serie A. What makes a winner of Zlatan’s caliber is not just physical talent, but also high intellect and an entrepreneurial spirit.
“At RedBird, we have developed partnerships with a very select group of high-performing world class athletes and artists who are able to thrive in the RedBird ecosystem across our sports, media and entertainment portfolio.
The Northern caucus of the House of Representatives on Monday pledged N350m to assist the Federal Government in rebuilding Tudun Biri, a community in Kaduna State accidentally bombed by the Nigerian Army last week.
A bomb intended to flush out bandits from Tudun Biri, Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State, hit the wrong target, killing an estimated 120 innocent people and injuring scores of others.
On Monday, the Northern House caucus, led by Alhassan Doguwa, announced its intention to visit the area to commiserate with families and survivors.
In a statement personally signed by the Kano lawmaker, the group condemned the incident and pledged their readiness to assist the government in bringing life to normalcy in the area.
“The Northern caucus is to provide for various developmental projects ranging from the provision of health care facilities, blocks of classrooms, water boreholes and a community town hall worth N350m to support the Federal Government efforts in rebuilding the community.
“The caucus has announced a monetary donation of Mr Speaker and that of the Northern regional caucus of the Federal House of Representatives amounting to the sum of N45m cash,” the statement read in part.
The lawmakers commended “The charitable commitment of the Nigerian military and other security agencies for their patriotic commitments to combat the upsurge of insurgency, banditry and other criminal activities that plagued some parts of the country”, even as they lamented the continuous violent campaigns by bandits and other criminal elements across the country.
“Against the backdrop of such unshakable recurrent mishaps, the caucus has resolved to pay a condolence visit to commiserate with the government, and the leaders of the Tudun Biri community on Monday, 11th November, 2023 to commiserate with survivors of the unfortunate incident.
“The visit is aimed at securing first-hand insights of what transpired and enabling it to garner useful information to forestall future occurrence.
“The caucus commends the Tinubu-led Federal Government for promptly reaching out to victims and for taking charge of the victims’ welfare.
“The caucus has pledged to follow up with the Federal Government to ensure appropriate compensations for the victims and the community as promised by the Federal Government. The caucus is poised to provide the legal framework for the compensation, and also ensure that the families of those who were killed are adequately captured in the compensation scheme.
“The caucus appeals to the affected community and the leaders to remain calm and law-abiding while thanking the Government and Governor of Kaduna State for keeping to their responsibility of protecting law and order in the state,” the statement further read.
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Renowned American rapper, Belcalis Almánzar, widely known as Cardi B, has officially acknowledged the end of her marriage with her husband, Offset.
Speculations regarding the couple’s divorce had been circulating on the internet following a series of cryptic posts that appeared on Cardi’s Instagram page last week.
In one of these posts, the rapper mentioned shedding “dead weight” in the upcoming year, specifying mentalities, procrastination, laziness, and people as elements she aimed to eliminate. She expressed her focus on prioritizing herself in the coming year.
Another post from Cardi read, “You know when you just outgrow relationships. I’m tired of protecting people’s feelings… I GOTTA PUT MYSELF FIRST.”
Notably, the couple unfollowed each other on their Instagram pages last week, fueling the speculation.
In an Instagram Live session on Monday, the “WAP” rapper officially confirmed the separation from her husband Offset.
“I don’t know if y’all have been getting clues from me from my Live, I mean… or from my Instagram Stories, where I put certain music. When it comes to events and stuff, I don’t think it’s true, I don’t care to find out because I have been single for a minute now.
“But I’ve been afraid…not afraid, I just don’t know how to tell the world. The last time I went on Live, I kinda wanted to tell you guys, but I didn’t know how to tell you so I changed my mind. But it has been like this for a minute now,” she said.
The separation occurred amid allegations made by American rapper Blueface, asserting that Offset had a connection with his child’s mother, Christian Rock.
Award-winning Afrobeats star, Ayodeji ‘Wizkid’ Balogun, has announced a N100 million donation to children across the country for Christmas celebration.
Wizkid, who announced the plan via his Instagram on Monday, said the donation would be made in honour of his late mother, Jane Dolapo Morayo.
The musician also announced that the donation will kick off on Monday in Surulere, a Local Government Area in Lagos State where he grew up.
Wizkid’s mother passed away in August 2023.
Wizkid often spoke glowingly about her support for his craft and his deep affection for her.
The singer had dedicated a song to her titled ‘Mummy Mi’. He also paid tribute to his mum in songs like ‘Joy’ and ‘Jaiye Jaiye’. He once revealed a tattoo on his hand, bearing the name ‘Morayo’, as a tribute to her.
On her birthday in July 2019, Wizkid broke from his usual practice of not felicitating people on social media and took to Instagram to honour her.
He posted a picture of her and wrote, “My backbone, prayer warrior, my life! I love you. I’ll do anything for you. I will do everything for you. (I wish you) long life.”
Wizkid’s late mother had also expressed her deep affection for the ‘Essence’ singer.
In a 2014 interview, she shared, “I am so glad that he is my son and I’m his mother. I give God all the glory. God has kept him for us and He will continue to do so.”
Nigerian singer David Adeleke (Davido) made a similar donation to orphans to commemorate his birthday in 2021.
The richest businessmen in Africa’s biggest economy lost an excess of $7.7bn from their net worth after the Central Bank of Nigeria floated the currency in June.
The wealth of the billionaires analyzed from the real-time Forbes Billionaires Index as of December 11, 2023, showed that their combined wealth has plunged to $20.4bn which is 27.65 per cent down from the $28.2bn recorded in December 2022.
The affected billionaires are the Chairman of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, the Chairman of BUA Group, Abdul Samad Rabiu and the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of Globacom Ltd, Mike Adenuga.
Dangote who is Africa’s richest man lost $3.5bn from his net worth between December 2022 and December 2023.
In December, Dangote boasted of wealth valued at $14bn from his cement company, sugar and other sources.
However, after the floating of the naira on June 14, 2023 by the CBN which saw the currency depreciate from N465 per dollar to N756 per dollar, Dangote’s wealth fell to $10.5bn by December 11 this year.
The naira closed at N1,099 per dollar at the Nigerian Autonomous Foreign Exchange Market (NAFEM) on Friday.
Dangote is projected to enjoy further dominance as his refinery, the Dangote Refinery and Petrochemicals, has received one million barrels of crude oil ahead of product release early 2024.
Adenuga who is famous for his telecommunication company, Globacom, enjoyed a whopping $7.3bn, according to Forbes chart as of December 2022.
After naira depreciation, Adenuga’s wealth lost $3.9bn or 53.4 per cent of its value to settle at $3.4bn as of December 11.
Rabiu whose wealth comes majorly from his BUA Cement Plc and BUA Foods Plc had $6.9bn net worth in December 2022 but year on year, his wealth has shed 5.8 per cent which is an equivalent of $400m as of December 11, 2023.
A teacher in Osun State, Akanni Sunday, has been arrested by men of the Department of State Services (DSS) for allegedly raping and impregnating his 16-year-old JSS 2 student, Anifat Ahmed.
Sunday, a teacher with Tourchlife Premier School, Aga, Ido Osun, was also accused of a failed attempt to abort the pregnancy.
A human rights activist, Citizen Lola Wey, reported to the DSS to get justice for the girl.
Anifat told newsmen that, “Our teacher, Akanni Sunday, said I should come to his house to collect my French notebook.
When I got there, he took me to his room and I later realised that he was alone at home. I shouted for help but nobody was there to help me. That was how he removed my clothes and raped me.”