A series of Nigerian football icons including Jay Jay Okocha, Kanu Nwankwo, and John Mikel Obi were left out of the 25 greatest African athletes of the 21st century list.

In the 25 greatest African athletes of the 21st century list released by American publication, ESPN, Ethiopia’s long-distance runner, Kenenisa Bekele is said to be the greatest athlete the continent has ever seen from the year 2000 to date, followed by a Kenya distance runner, Eliud Kipchoge.

Cameroonian football icon, Samuel Eto’o is the first footballer to appear on the list as he occupies the third spot, followed by a swimmer from Zimbabwe, Kirsty Coventry, and Ethiopian female distance runner, Tirunesh Dibaba.

Surprisingly, only five Nigerian athletes made it into the 25 greatest African athletes of the 21st century list. They are: Asisat Oshoala who is ranked 9th on the list, Israel Adesanya ranked 15, and Perpetua Nkwocha ranked 20th.

Other Nigerians on the list are: Former UFC Welterweight Champion, Kamaru Usman ranked 23rd, and New York Giants legend Osi Umenyiora ranked 24th.

To the surprise of many, in the list in which Sadio Mane, Mohamed Salah, Yaya Toure, Didier Drogba, and even Perpetual found a spot, Kanu and Obi who won everything the aforementioned players won and more, weren’t included.

Kanu won league titles in Nigeria, Netherlands (multiple times), and of course at Arsenal (twice). He also won the Champions League once with Ajax and played in the final twice. To crown it all, he won Africa its first gold in football at the Olympics (1966). Yet, he wasn’t deemed fit for a place on the list.

The same argument can be applied to Mikel Obi who also won virtually everything in both club and international football. He even won a bronze medal at the Olympics, a title other footballers who made the list can’t boast of.

Based on the key factors that were used to compile the list which includes the performance of the athletes and the number of major titles won since 2000, it is understandable that the highly skilful Jay Jay Okocha didn’t make the list but can the same be said about the exclusion of Kanu Nwankwo and John Mikel Obi?

Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, has disclosed that the Federal Government did not give him any incentive to build his $20 billion refinery located at the Lekki Free Trade Zone.

He stated that he paid $100 million for the land the refinery was built on.

Dangote disclosed this on Saturday when he received the leadership of the House led by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas and his deputy Benjamin Kalu.

According to him, “In the refinery, we did not, and I repeat, we did not collect one single incentive from the Federal Government of Nigeria or even Lagos State. Yes, the Lagos State gave us a good deal but we paid $100m for the land. It wasn’t a free land; we paid for it.

“Majority of the population are with us. So, we are not discouraged, we will continue what we are doing.”

Speaking further, Dangote said the claim in some quarters that his group of companies enjoy monopoly is not true.

He said, “If you look at all our operations at Dangote (Group), we add value; we take local raw materials and turn them into products, and we sell.

“We have never consciously or unconsciously stop anybody from doing the same business that we are doing.

“When we first came into cement production, it was only Lafarge that was operating here in Nigeria…Nobody ever called Lafarge a monopoly,” he said, adding that labelling his group of companies as monopolistic is disheartening.

“Monopoly is when you stop people, you block them through legal means. No, it is a level playing field whereby whatever Dangote was given in cement, for example, other people were given because some of them even got more than us.”

Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, has issued a stern warning to those orchestrating the planned nationwide protest against economic hardship.

The protest, which has gained significant traction on social media, is scheduled to take place across all states of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, in August.

Onanuga accused supporters of the Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 elections, Peter Obi, of being behind the planned protest.

He emphasized that while it is the democratic right of citizens to protest, the organizers must be cautious to prevent the demonstration from being hijacked by elements that might cause chaos.

Explaining more on the post on his X (formerly Twitter) when he accused Peter Obi’s supporters of the planned protest, he told Sunday Vanguard on the phone, “My post is just to highlight that the people who are organizing this so-called nationwide protest are members of Labour party, they are Peter Obi supporters, so that’s my own take of it, it’s my own opinion so I am not going to say more than this.”

Reminded that Omoyele Sowore, an activist and presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, in the 2023 elections, has cautioned that nobody would stop an action in which its time has come, Onanuga insisted that he was not interested in whatever those behind the planned protest want to do.

He said, “That is their problem; I am not interested in what they want to do. I am just trying to say, look, these are the people that are saying, we must do Kenya, so these are the people mobilizing; that is my own point.

“So, nobody is saying you must not protest; protest is legitimate in a democracy. The concern of people is that when you start a protest, and it is not well managed, the end cannot be predicted, just like people could not predict the end of EndSars.

“So, that’s just the concern of people. And again, when you are saying revolution now, revolution now, do they know the meaning of revolution now? Revolution means you are calling for a coup d’etat; that’s the meaning of it, and that’s the point that I am making, nothing more than that. So anybody can protest; it’s within their rights to protest; nobody says you should not protest.”

Further asked if he has any evidence to prove that it’s supporters of Peter Obi that are planning the protest, he said, “Check their handles and see what they are posting, just follow what they have been posting. What I did was to do content analysis of what these people are posting as a journalist.”

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Edo State chapter has reacted to the defection of the reinstated Deputy Governor of the state, Philip Shaibu.

Recall that Shaibu, alongside prominent members with their supporters dumped the PDP on Saturday.

The decamping took place in Benin at the inauguration of the National Campaign Council by the APC National chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje.

The deputy governor fell out with Governor Godwin Obaseki over his ambition to succeed his principal and was impeached after he lost to Asue Ighodalo in the PDP primary.

He was, however, reinstated by the court on Wednesday by the Abuja High Court and this has further caused division between Obaseki and him.

Speaking at the event, Shaibu said he was back to add value to the APC.

He said, “On behalf of the Legacy Group, I announce our movement to the APC. We have come to add value to the party.

“It is time to take back our state. We will not talk too much because action will speak for us. We are not afraid; we are ready to move forward.”

Reacting to Shaibu’s defection while speaking to Punch, the Chairman of the PDP in the state, Tony Aziegbemi wished the deputy governor well.

He claimed that those who were calling to join the party after Shaibu’s exit were more than those leaving.

He said, “I wish them good luck in their official endeavours. The PDP cannot be depleted because of this.

“Every vote counts but those who are now coming to us because of his exit are more than those who are leaving the party, so we are good. People have been calling me since he left to say they want to join our party.”

WhatsApp says its parent body, Meta, will be appealing the $220 million fine imposed by the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) regarding its violation of Nigeria’s data privacy laws.

The messaging app said this in a statement on Saturday in Lagos.

It said: “We disagree with the decision today as well as the fine and Meta will be appealing the decision.

“In 2021, we went to users globally to explain how talking to businesses among other things would work and while there was a lot of confusion then, it has actually proven quite popular,” the organisation said.

The reaction follows a statement released by the FCCPC and signed by its acting Executive Chairman, Adamu Abdullahi, saying that Meta had denied Nigerian users control over their data.

The FCCPC said that Meta had also shared the users’ data without consent, and abused its market dominance.

According to the statement released to the media, the FCCPC’s final order imposed a monetary penalty of two hundred and twenty million U.S. dollars only, on Meta.

The penalty is in accordance with the FCCPA 2018, and the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection (Administrative Penalties) Regulations 2020, the statement said.

The FCCPC announced that it initiated its investigation in May 2021, based on evidence suggesting that Meta, through its platforms, had breached the provisions of the FCCPA 2018 and the Nigeria Data Protection Regulation 2019.

It stated that these regulations were in effect prior to the enactment and implementation of the Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023.

The competition protection body noted that Meta responded to document requests and summons by providing some information.

It stated that Meta’s representatives and retained legal counsel had consistently engaged with and met investigators and analysts from the commission and the NDPC, including as recently as April 4, 2024.

The FCCPC highlighted that its investigation uncovered evidence of Meta engaging in practices that were abusive and invasive towards data consumers in Nigeria.

This included collecting personal data without consent and implementing discriminatory practices against Nigerians, among other issues.

Meta Platforms, Inc., doing business as Meta, is an American multinational technology conglomerate based in Menlo Park, California.
The company owns and operates Facebook, Instagram, Threads, and WhatsApp, among other products and services.

A former Director-General of the Labour Party (LP) Presidential Campaign Council, Dr Doyin Okupe, says he is not a member of the ruling APC but appreciates the bold reforms being implemented by President Bola Tinubu.

Okupe, a former presidential spokesperson, disclosed this on his X handle (formerly Twitter) while reacting to criticisms over his appreciation of Tinubu’s initiatives.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Okupe has been criticised for always supporting, advising, and praising every government in power since 1999.

Okupe had served as an aide to former President Olusegun Obasanjo and then Goodluck Jonathan as a PDP member.

He later joined Labour Party to support the presidential bid of Peter Obi for the 2023 elections.

Okupe said, “I am neither a member of the APC nor an adviser of the administration.

“I appreciate the bold initiatives President Bola Tinubu took to remove fuel subsidy, which was assented to by all candidates during the campaign.

“I also fully support the sectoral equalisation of our forex market.

“Both reforms are responsible for the hardship our people are currently experiencing, but which I believe will be temporary judging by the strenuous efforts the government is making towards ameliorating them.

“This is not praise singing. I do not count myself as a member of the opposition; hence, I am able to be objective and understandingly supportive.

“I may not have had a hand in installing this govt but it is my country, and I am a stakeholder in it. I do not pray for it to crash or go down. This cannot be an offence.”

He urged his critics, especially a PDP chieftain, Mr Dele Momodu, to stop being  personal in their criticisms.

“We are all practitioners, players, and known actors in this amphitheater, no need to go personal. Let’s keep criticism rational, mature, and professional,” he added.

Okupe said that it was not true that he had been praising every government since 1999.

He said that he only acted as adviser in Obasanjo’s administration, which he described as one of the most successful since the advent of the fourth republic.

Okupe said that he did not play any significant role in the succeeding administration of late President Umaru Yar Adua.

The former presidential spokesman said that he, however, became an adviser for the second time in the Jonathan administration, which was defeated by the former President Muhammadu Buhari-led APC.

According to Okupe, his association with former Senate President Bukola Saraki and Peter Obi is in no way different from Momodu’s current association with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar. (NAN) 

rejects new Senate position

The ousted Senate Chief Whip, Mohammed Ali Ndume, has rejected the chairmanship of the Committee on Tourism offered him, saying he is not a tourist.

Ndume also said only his constituents, who elected him, can ask him to leave the All Progressives Congress, APC, for another party.

Furthermore, he lauded President Bola Tinubu on the N70,000 new minimum wage but said it was little compared to a 50kg bag of rice.

Recall that the National Working Committee, NWC, of APC had removed Senator Ndume (APC, Borno South) as Chip Whip over his comments on President Buhari.

However, reacting on Friday, the politician said he stood by his comments but had accepted his removal.

Tourism Committee chair

Ndume spoke to journalists at his residence in Maiduguri, Borno State capital, on Friday. He was home for the third day prayers for his late sister-in-law.

He said: “As for the Chairman Senate Committee on Tourism offered to me, I want to say that I am not a tourist and not good in tourism.

“As it is, I have spent over 10 years without going to any foreign countries. I have never been to the United Kingdom, UK. Even the United States of America which I went was when I was schooling there.

“I am happy; yesterday the President approved the minimum wage to N70,000 only. It is a good move. But the minimum wage is still minimal compared to a 50kg bag of rice which costs over N70,000.”

On his removal, he said: “I had wanted to react. But I was mourning. I now deem it feet to do so.
“I am a democrat and a realist, and someone who always says the truth no matter whose ox is gored.

“According to former US President, Mr. Theodore Roosevelt, and I quote ‘Patriotism means to stand by the country. It does not mean to stand by the president or any other public official, save exactly to the degree in which he himself stands by the country. It is patriotic to support him insofar as he efficiently serves the country. It is unpatriotic not to oppose him to the exact extent that by inefficiency or otherwise he fails in his duty to stand by the country. In either event, it is unpatriotic not to tell the truth, whether about the president or anyone else’.

‘I stand by my words’

Ndume continued: “Therefore, I have not regretted what I said during my interview with Arise TV. I thank all Nigerians who took to their social media platforms and groups who issued a press statement aligning with my statement regarding excruciating hunger and insecurity under President Bola Tinubu.

“Secondly, the NWC of our great party, APC recommended to the Senate that I should be removed, which they did, I took that as an act of God. Because it is God that gave me that mandate as Chief Whip.
“So I bear no grudges about what transpired. After all, I did not contest to be the Chief Whip or to be the Vice Chairman of the Appropriation Committee. Rather, I contested to be a senator representing southern Borno and the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“So it is not that am desperate. I am over 64 years old now, and I thank God.

… on joining PDP

“On the advice(s) that I am free to join the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, or any political party of my choice, I want to reiterate that, I am one of the Founding members of the APC.
“It is my people, my constituency and teaming supporters, that will decide for me whether to stay in APC, join another party or quit politics. Whatever their advice, is what I will work with.

“On whether I will take the matter to court, I want to say that, I will not go to court. I surrendered my case to Almighty Allah (God),” Ndume stated.

However, Ndume called on his supporters and teaming Nigerians to continue to pray for God to have mercy on the masses, restore peace in the land, and to remain calm and law-abiding always as things unfold.

The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has imposed a fine of $220 million on Meta, parent company of WhatsApp, Facebook, and Instagram, for multiple data privacy violations.

According to a statement on Friday signed by Adamu Abdullahi, FCCPC’s acting chief executive officer, the penalty is in accordance with the FCCPA 2018, and the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection (administrative penalties) Regulations 2020 (APR).

More to follow…

Philip Shaibu, reinstated deputy governor of Edo, says he is now “an unofficial member” of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Shaibu spoke in a chat with Arise TV’s Good Morning Show on Friday.

On Wednesday, a federal high court in Abuja ordered Shaibu’s reinstatement as deputy governor of Edo following his impeachment in April.

In his first public appearance after the judgment, Shaibu’s convoy was attacked in Benin City by suspected gunmen, with one police officer killed.

Shaibu, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), was with Monday Okpebholo, the APC candidate for the September 21 governorship election in Edo, when the incident occurred.

Asked about his relationship with the APC governorship candidate, Shaibu said his “spirit” has left the PDP.

He added that he is “as good as being a member of APC” and “the only thing is that I have not officially left PDP”.

“For now, I am PDP. But going forward, if I declare for APC, it means that I have declared full support for Okpebholo,” Shaibu said.

“I am as good as being a member of APC, I can tell you that. I have two legs in APC. The only thing is that I have not officially left PDP. I am an unofficial member of APC. My spirit has left PDP.”

Shaibu was impeached after falling out with Godwin Obaseki, governor of Edo state.

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) says President Bola Tinubu agreed to a N250,000 minimum wage proposal on the condition that the pump price of petrol would be increased.

Speaking in an interview with Channels Television on Thursday, Joe Ajaero, NLC president, said labour leaders rejected the president’s condition because it would exacerbate the current hardship.

On Thursday, Tinubu approved N70,000 as the new minimum wage for workers.

The approval was announced after Tinubu met with Ajaero and Festus Osifo, president of the TUC, at the presidential villa in Abuja.

The federal government will send a minimum wage bill to the national assembly next week.

Speaking on the development, Ajaero said labour leaders accepted the N70,000 offer because of the other benefits attached, and the three-year review period.

“Accepting N70,000 was the best way to make sure that we save Nigerians from further hardship,” Ajaero said.

“At the last meeting, the president brought a proposal that ‘I will give you guys N250,000, if you allow me to equally increase the pump price of petroleum products’ and we said no that we need to go and consult.

“Today, we went there to tell him ‘no’ and that the labour movement can make sacrifices without allowing Nigerians to suffer further on the increase of pump price of petroleum products.”

The NLC president said the current minimum wage regime became invalid on April 18, 2024, and that government will pay the arrears when a new wage regime kicks in.

BACKGROUND

Over the past few months, federal and state governments, organised labour, and the private sector have been negotiating a new minimum wage.

Initially, organised labour proposed N615,500 and N494,000 as the new national minimum wage, citing inflation and the prevailing economic hardship.

The federal government proposed N62,000, which was rejected.

The labour unions had insisted on N250,000 as the living wage.

The federal government asked the labour unions to demand a more realistic and sustainable minimum wage.

On Thursday, the tripartite committee agreed on N70,000 as the new minimum wage.