Saudi Pro League side Al Hilal is reportedly negotiating a short-term loan deal to bring midfielder N’Golo Kanté from rivals Al Ittihad for the upcoming Club World Cup in the United States, according to transfer expert David Ornstein.

While no agreement has been finalised, there is growing optimism that a deal can be reached.

“Al Hilal are in talks to sign N’Golo Kanté on a short-term loan deal from fellow Saudi Pro League side Al Ittihad for the Club World Cup,” Ornstein reported. “An agreement has not yet been reached but there is optimism that a deal can be done.”

Both clubs are controlled by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), which acquired Al Hilal, Al Ittihad, Al Nassr, and Al Ahli ahead of the 2023 summer transfer window.

Al Hilal earned their spot in the expanded Club World Cup as the 2021 AFC Champions League winners, making them the only Saudi representative at the tournament.

Kanté, 34, joined Al Ittihad on a free transfer from Chelsea in July 2023 and played a key role in their Saudi Pro League title-winning campaign last season, finishing eight points ahead of Al Hilal.

The French midfielder, who has made 81 appearances for Al Ittihad, previously starred at Chelsea, where he won the Premier League, Champions League, Europa League, and FA Cup across seven years and 269 appearances.

Kanté joined Chelsea from Leicester City for £30 million in 2016 after helping the Foxes secure their historic Premier League title.

Al Hilal, now led by former Inter Milan head coach Simone Inzaghi, boasts a squad featuring former European stars such as Rúben Neves, Aleksandar Mitrović, and Kanté’s ex-Chelsea teammate Kalidou Koulibaly.

The club will kick off their Club World Cup campaign against Real Madrid on June 18, followed by matches against Red Bull Salzburg on June 22 and Pachuca on June 26.

[Punch]

Since losing power in 2015, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has shown little urgency in pursuing meaningful reform. Rebranding efforts have been scant, and there’s been no sincere attempt to convince Nigerians that its defeat was the result of 16 years of misrule and a widening disconnect from the people it once claimed to represent.

Only recently – following high-profile defections, including those of Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and his predecessor, Ifeanyi Okowa – did the PDP appear to grasp the gravity of its situation. As the party continues to lose more members, it has also begun trying to rebrand. While this signals a much-needed reawakening, it is far from enough.

In a previous article addressing this wave of defections, I argued that the PDP must rethink, regroup, and redefine its new role as Nigeria’s leading opposition. I outlined four reforms the party must pursue to rebuild trust and repair its damaged reputation among Nigerians.

First, the PDP must align its positions across national and grassroots levels. Second, it must end the imposition of candidates in favour of merit-based leadership. Third, the party should champion legal reforms to curb opportunistic defections. And fourth, it must invest in civic education campaigns that connect its values and governance vision with the aspirations of ordinary Nigerians. However, true reform must begin with sincere remorse.

Before embarking on these crucial reforms, the PDP must first acknowledge that it broke the trust of Nigerians, and failed the people during its 16 years in power. Without this, any reform would be seen as cosmetic, and driven by desperation, not accountability.

To navigate this critical moment, the party can take lessons from Africa’s various truth commissions such as South Africa’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission, Rwanda’s Gacaca courts, and Nigeria’s own Oputa Panel. One valuable insight they all share is this: real transformation begins with truth-telling and, where appropriate, an apology.

Apologies are not always spoken. Sometimes they are demonstrated through changed behaviour. Take the APC, for example. Ahead of the 2015 election, the party – aware that its candidate, Muhammadu Buhari, had the image of a former military dictator with a troubling human rights record – launched a rebranding campaign. It portrayed him as a “converted democrat.” This repositioning helped pave the way for the party’s eventual victory.

The PDP must understand that reform without remorse is simply branding. It should not assume that Nigerians, disillusioned by the APC’s many failures, will automatically return to the PDP by default. That would be a grave miscalculation by the party.

Indeed, the APC has proven to be far from the change it promised – and in many respects, arguably worse than the PDP. But this disappointment alone does not guarantee a PDP comeback. Not without reform. And certainly not without some form of atonement.

The PDP must be willing to engage in political truth-telling and demonstrate changed behaviour to Nigerians. This doesn’t require dramatic public confessions. What it does require is a clear, public acknowledgement that mistakes were made, that lessons have been learned, and that safeguards are now in place to ensure those mistakes are not repeated.

As I mentioned earlier, a reformed PDP must align its internal structures, end the imposition of candidates, champion anti-defection legislation, and invest in civic education that reflects a genuine commitment to Nigeria’s democratic aspirations.

Reputation, once lost, is difficult to regain – but not impossible. Truth commissions across Africa have shown us that forgiveness is possible when contrition is sincere. The PDP must embrace this lesson if it hopes to rebuild trust with Nigerians. Reform without contrition is just branding. What the PDP must offer is reform rooted in remorse, and not desperation.

● Maduekwe is the founder of Discussing Africa. He can be reached at mrmaduekwe@gmail.com

President Bola Tinubu has departed Lagos for Abuja, the nation’s capital, after a two-week stay.

The president was accompanied to the Lagos airport by Babajide Sanwo-Olu, governor of the state, on Tuesday afternoon.

More to follow…

[TheCable]

When Nyesom Wike, the often blunt and garrulous FCT Minister, warned that embassies in Abuja failing to pay ground rent could face sealing, one cannot but predict that his action could land Nigeria into a legal, and diplomatic quagmire. While at first glance this might seem a straightforward enforcement of property laws, the diplomatic fallout could be profound. From international law and bilateral relations to domestic politics and Nigeria’s long-term global image, the move sets several worrying precedents.

The reason for the foregoing anxiety cannot be farfetched as Nigeria, like many countries, offers embassies hallowed status as diplomatic missions are typically exempt from standard local regulation under the Vienna Convention. Yet, exceptions may exist when it comes to state‑negotiated lease terms. If Nigeria’s revenue service deems that embassies are obliged to pay ground rent negotiated in formal agreements, and those agreements clearly stipulate enforceable obligations, Wike’s move may be legally defensible.

But enforcing that rent, threatening embassy closure or asset seizure, is not just a commercial decision. It touches on diplomatic immunity and the sanctity of missions themselves. Under the Vienna Convention, diplomatic premises are inviolable. Nigeria could risk breaching that inviolability if enforcement appears coercive or forceful.

While listening to human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Femi Falan during an interview on Politics Today on Channels Television, his position on the issue was not just cautionary and weighty, but it was timely as it is a clear-eyed reminder that governance must operate within the bounds of legality and diplomacy, not impulsive theatrics.

Falana, on the programme, cautioned Wike, stressing that such actions risk triggering serious diplomatic backlash. He pointed to Article 22 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, which explicitly states that embassy premises are inviolable. That means, no matter the level of provocation or debt, Nigeria has no legal right to forcibly enter, seal, or tamper with diplomatic premises. Any move to do so, Falana argued, would be unlawful and could embarrass Nigeria on the global stage.

Falana did not stop at the international implications; he also questioned the legality of Wike’s broader sealing-off tactics. According to him, the minister cannot unilaterally order such actions without first giving affected parties the right to fair hearing, as guaranteed by Section 36 of Nigeria’s Constitution and Article 7 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights Act. In short, bypassing legal processes to enforce rent payment amounts to executive rascality.

He urged the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, to immediately intervene, emphasizing that matters involving foreign missions require tact, protocol, and strict adherence to international law, not the strong-arm tactics Wike seems to prefer.

Be that as it may, it is expedient to opine that Wike’s threat is not without modern parallels. Around the world, similar disputes have escalated into flashpoints of diplomatic tension. For instance, in 2019, there was a standoff between India and Pakistan. As gathered from historical literatures, Pakistan locked down a building the Indian embassy had purchased earlier due to a payment dispute, prompting formal diplomatic protests and media coverage.

In a similar vein, there was diplomatic imbroglio between Russia and Georgia in London in 2006. As gathered, a rent dispute over a property adjacent to the Georgian embassy sparked a court battle and serious public disagreement, though both sides ultimately avoided drastic action.

Also in a similar vein, history has it that UK Embassy in Tehran in 1979 was embroiled In a crisis far more intense than transactional rent disputes as embassy powers were overridden, buildings occupied, leading to one of the gravest diplomatic crises of the modern era.

In even these tensions over property among friendly states, the fallout was real: formal complaints, tit-for-tat trade irritants, sometimes minor sanctions, or downgrading of diplomatic ties. Escalations like this do not stay confined to Assemblies, they bleed into broader relations, public image, security cooperation, and more.

On paper, cracking down on unpaid rent could portray Nigeria to be fiscally responsible, and a nation that is guided by rule-of-law. This is as the revenue climate is already austere, and every naira counts. Wike’s track record shows he does not shy from enforcing payments: earlier this year, he sealed off properties over tax arrears.

But embassies operate on a different diplomatic plane. If Abuja proceeds to seal or padlock foreign diplomatic missions, even temporarily, expect, retaliatory action. Other governments might retaliate by slowing or withholding visas, import licenses, or participation in agreements.

In fact, the diplomatic row may metamorphose to chilling foreign investment. Therefore, business leaders should take note, if Nigeria cannot manage to enforce dues for embassies, what might that imply for investors?

Not only that, future administrations may weaponize embassy vulnerability more overtly as rent could morph into leverage, particularly as there is a foundational precedent to stand on.

In light of the potential diplomatic fallout from Wike’s threat to seal embassies over unpaid ground rent, it is imperative that the Federal Government urgently calls the FCT Minister to order. Matters that border on diplomacy are not within the jurisdiction of state or regional officials, no matter their title or influence, they remain the exclusive preserve of the Federal Government, particularly the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Wike, by all observations, is not known for his diplomatic finesse. His combative and often theatrical style of governance may have served him well in the political trenches of Rivers State, but in Abuja, Nigeria’s seat of power and international diplomacy, such recklessness could spell disaster. Allowing him to trample on long-established diplomatic norms and the inviolability of foreign missions, as enshrined in international conventions, could result in diplomatic reprisals, strained bilateral ties, and reputational damage for Nigeria on the global stage.

Before this needless drama escalates into an international embarrassment, the Federal Government must rein in Wike’s overreach and ensure that Nigeria’s foreign relations are handled with the caution, protocol, and maturity they deserve. There are lawful, civilized means of recovering debts, even from embassies. What is not acceptable is for one man to jeopardize decades of diplomatic goodwill in a bid to score populist points or flex political muscle.

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has stepped up efforts to rally support for a proposed opposition coalition ahead of the 2027 general elections, seeking the backing of key northern political leaders to strengthen the alliance.

In a recent private meeting, Atiku reportedly visited former National Security Adviser General Aliyu Gusau (rtd) and appealed to him to help persuade prominent northern politicians who have expressed scepticism about the coalition’s direction and motives.

“Atiku begged Aliyu Gusau to specifically speak to former Senate President David Mark, former Jigawa State governor Sule Lamido and ex-presidential aspirant and former governor of Kaduna State, Ahmed Makarfi,” a source familiar with the meeting disclosed. “These are northern leaders who have expressed scepticism about the Atiku/El-Rufai coalition and have distanced themselves from it,” the source added.

General Gusau, a retired military intelligence chief and one of Nigeria’s most influential political figures, has previously served as national security adviser to both Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan. He remains a powerful force in the background of Nigerian politics.

Though initially unconvinced about the intent of the coalition, Gusau agreed to initiate contact with the three senior northern figures to understand their perspectives and possibly facilitate a path forward. A meeting has reportedly been scheduled for this weekend at his Abuja residence.

“The meeting is for them to discuss the motives and modalities for the coalition and see if it’s worth supporting,” a source close to the talks confirmed.

David Mark, Sule Lamido, and Ahmed Makarfi have all been courted, it is understood.

Mark is said to be particularly cautious due to what some describe as a lack of clarity in the coalition’s formation. Makarfi has remained silent on the matter, while Lamido has taken a more vocal stance.

Lamido recently declared that he would not participate in any PDP meeting unless the party sanctioned key members who had openly endorsed President Bola Tinubu for a second term. He specifically named the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and former Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, as examples.

The proposed coalition is a joint effort by several prominent opposition figures, including Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, and former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai.

[Politics Nigeria]

Former Minister of Youths and Sports Development, Solomon Dalung, has described politicians moving from opposition parties into the ruling All Progressives Party (APC) as sinners seeking forgiveness.

Dalung who spoke in Abuja disagreed with the postulation that politicians were trooping into the APC because the ruling party has performed well, “rather they are sinners, who are seeking forgiveness for their numerous sins.”

Dalung said the defectors were only fulfilling what a former Governor of Edo State, Adams Oshiomhole said regarding corrupt politicians, that no matter the gravity of their sins, they will be forgiven as soon as he join APC.

Oshiomhole has severally denied this quote attributed to him but politicians have been using it.

He said, “These are people who have committed heinous crimes against the Nigerian people and they are jumping into the APC ship for the forgiveness of their sins. Not that they believe in Tinubu, no; they do not. They are only assembling so that their sins will be forgiven.

“So it is a conclave of political cardinals who have committed grave sins against the Nigerian people and a political party has offered them the opportunity of forgiveness on entrance,” he said.

The former minister also warned that if care is not taken, the defectors would create problems in the ruling party in the future.

He said: You know there is an adage in Hausa that if animals celebrate the death of a butcher, has the knife also died? If beneficiaries of the mandate of the people are defecting, have the people also defected?

“So there is no value added to Tinubu except that he has compounded the situation in his party and there will be an implosion.”

He also dismissed concern in certain quarters that the entrance of politicians like the former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai into the Social Democratic Party (SDP) could be a potential threat to the presidential ambition of Prince Adewole Adebayo, the party’s 2023 presidential candidate, adding that “Adebayo’s political charisma, image and personality within the Nigerian political environment has presented him as an obvious force to deal with in 2027.”

He emphasized that Adebayo is the only presidential candidate who has consistently maintained a media campaign against the failed and unpopular policies of the current government.

“So, Nigerians are very conversant with Adebayo’s voice, charisma and leadership qualities. So, whether you mobilize the whole politicians into the SDP, you must resolve the question of Adebayo in the SDP as a presidential candidate before any other person.

“This is because nobody has promoted the SDP in Nigeria like Adebayo. After Chief MKO Abiola, you rank Adebayo in the contemporary SDP as the highest. So, the concern as some people are expressing is normal. Human beings entertain such fears but the reality is that the name SDP since 2023 has been sustained unilaterally by the doggedness, commitment, dedication and selflessness of Prince Adebayo.

“So, he is a force to beat in whatever political arrangement that the SDP will put on ground to produce a presidential candidate. He is a patriot who did not join politics for himself; he has surrendered the rest of his life to the service of humanity and he did that at his 50th birthday.”

[DailyTrust]

The Nigerian government has said it has commenced payment of five-month wage award arrears of N35,000 to civil servants since the end of May 2025.

This comes as the federal government clarified that it has implemented a N70,000 minimum wage payment to all its employees.

The Director of Media, Office of the Accountant General of the Federation, Bawa Mokwa, made these clarifications known in an exclusive interview with DAILY POST on Monday ahead of the resumption of work after the Eid-Al-Adha holidays.

Recall that the Nigeria Labour Congress, through its spokesperson, Benson Upah, in an Arise Television interview on Sallah day (last Friday), berated President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration over the delay in payment of wage awards and allowances.

Upah had lamented that the Tinubu’s government had neglected workers’ welfare, as economic hardship took a toll on civil servants.

He described the delay as a “betrayal of trust” and “shameful”.

“This is a betrayal of trust and an abuse of our patience,” Upah declared, adding: “It’s completely unacceptable.”

However, reacting, Mokwa explained that the government has kicked off the payment of the arrears of the wage award.

He stated that the payment would be made in installments in the next four months.

“We have commenced the payment of N35,000 wage arrears.

“Except for some agencies that are independently paying for the wage award, for example, the Independent National Electoral Commission.

“The N35,000 wage award was an interim solution by the federal government before the N70,000 minimum wage approval.

“This was done in five months, but Labour argued that the payment didn’t commence immediately, having a five-month arrears.

“Of the five months, we have paid the first month. Four months are remaining, which would be paid in installments,” he told DAILY POST.

Similarly, Mokwa clarified that the federal government has commenced the minimum wage payment across its ministries, agencies, and parastatals.

“On the minimum wage pay, it has been implemented across the board,” he added.

Efforts to speak with Upah over the matter were unsuccessful as of the timf of filing this report.

Recall that in July Tinubu signed the minimum wage bill into law.

However, despite the minimum wage approval, there are still complaints of its full implementation at both federal and the state government levels nearly a year later.

[DailyPost]

Filmmaker Funke Akindele, often hailed as the box office queen, has announced the return of ‘Aiyetoro Town’ with Season 2, five years after the debut.

In a X post, she revealed that the highly anticipated second season of the hit movie will premiere on FAANtv’s YouTube channel on June 22, 2025.

Funke teased that the new season will deliver a mix of laughter, drama, and meaningful life lessons, continuing the legacy of the first season, which debuted five years ago.

Expressing gratitude, Funke praised the cast and crew for their dedication and talent, crediting them for bringing the story to life.

She described them as the “real MVPs” behind the project. 

She wrote: “5 years ago, we brought you Aiyetoro Town season 1, and now we’re back with season 2!!

“Get ready for laughter, drama and of course, life lessons.
Aiyetoro Town Season 2 premieres on FAANtv’s YouTube channel on Sunday, June 22nd!

“A big thank you to my amazing cast and crew – your dedication and talent made this story come alive! You all are the real MVPs!”

[TheNation]

A two-term Presidential aspirant and a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, Dele Momodu, on Tuesday, submitted that only a coalition of political parties can wrest power from President Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress in 2027.

He made this submission while featuring on a Broadcasting Corporation of Oyo State monthly programme: “Guest of the Month,” in Ibadan, the state capital.

Momodu said his soul has already left the PDP, while only his body remained in the party.

“If PDP is united, it has all that it takes to wrest power from the All Progressives Congress in 2027, but forces against it would not allow this to be.

“The APC is jittery of the PDP, noting that it is the only opposition party that can challenge its dominance in 2027. This is one of the reasons why the leadership of the APC at all levels is ensuring that the party is factionalided.

“There is no way that a disunited PDP can wrest power from APC in 2027. The ideology of the ruling party is to weaken the main opposition party

“Another challenge is the problem within the party. Some of its members are being used to work against its stability and progress. But PDP is a law-abiding party. It always follows due process before making any decision on its members.

“It is the law that will stimulate the process of suspending or sacking erring members,” he stressed.

Momodu explained further that it’s almost impossible to remove President Tinubu in 2027 unless there is a formidable team and coalition.

“Also, whoever would contest favourably against the current president must come from the opposite direction in terms of regions in Nigeria,” he added.

[Punch]