Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has said that the next generation of African countries will be bugged down by the huge debt profile of the continent.

Obasanjo made this disclosure during an engagement with 2023 awardees of the Future Africa Leaders Foundation, an initiative of Pastor Chris Oyakhilome.

In a statement yesterday by his Special Assistant on Media, Kehinde Akinyemi, Chief Obasanjo was quoted to have stated that with the level of mismanagement of the previous debts written off for some African countries including Nigeria, it will be almost impossible for any administration to get similar gesture in the continent.

Obasanjo declared that the debts were a trap that no individual or nation should fall into as it constitutes an albatross on any economy.

The former president who asserted that leadership was the number one problem facing the continent, said “The coming generations will have no choice but to pay the current debt being incurred by different countries in the continent.”

He commended Pastor Oyakhilome for the efforts putting into building leaders adding that the nation needs more people like him to address the leadership crisis facing the continent.

Highlighting the qualities of a leader during the questions and answers session, Obasanjo said, “A leader should be able to set good examples, be bold and courageous when making decisions, accept mistakes and learn from them as well as have a realistic dream.”

In a related development, Obasanjo has also assured that the country’s socio-economic situation could be better in another four years or thereabout with prayers and thanksgiving.

He made this disclosure at the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Ogun State 5th Thanksgiving service of his conferment as the Asiwaju Onigbagbo, Ogun State, held at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL), Abeokuta on Tuesday.

The former President said that it was a clear indication that the socio-economic situation of the country is not in good stead, “but, mercy has been with us and if that is so, why should we not thank God?

“Think about it. If you have breathed the free air of God, you should have cause to thank God. So, things are bad, they may be good in a space of four years. And who knows for Nigeria, things that are bad today, may be good tomorrow.”

[Vanguard]

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Ltd. assures the public that there is no imminent increase in the cost of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol.

NNPC Ltd. urges Nigerians to disregard unfounded rumours and assures them that there are no plans for an upward review of the PMS price.

Motorists nationwide are advised against engaging in panic buying, as there is presently ample availability of PMS across the country.

Olufemi O. Soneye

Chief Corporate Communications Officer

NNPC Ltd. Abuja

03 January 2024

Months after welcoming his second child with his ex-girlfriend, Bruna Biancardi, Brazilian winger, Neymar is reportedly expecting his third child from a third baby mama.

Neymar recently welcomed his second child, a daughter named Mavi, with Bruna, who confirmed her breakup with the 31-year-old Brazilian star in November 2023.

The Brazilian model had to break up with the former Paris Saint Germain winger after he was caught on camera partying with unidentified women amidst a cheating scandal.

Despite their breakup, Neymar celebrated the birth of Mavi while recovering from a recent surgery to treat his Cruciate ligament tear.

Since Neymar left PSG for Saudi Pro League club, Al-Hilal on August 12, 2023, for a transfer fee worth €90 million, he has managed to play just five times in all competitions in which he has scored a goal and provided three assists.

He is struggling with non-football matters as he is battling to stabilize his fitness issues and football career. Brazilian showbiz website LeoDias has alleged that a Brazilian model is three months pregnant for the footballer.

The Sun also confirmed the report on Tuesday, January 2, but Neymar has yet to make any public reaction over the report, and the model in question is unknown.

If the report is anything to go by, it means that the footballer was cheating on Bruna, as alleged. Recall that last year, the Brazilian footballer publicly apologized to her for cheating on her.

Also, if the pregnancy rumour is anything to go by, Neymar will be a father to three children from three different women. He had his first child, 12-year-old Luca, with ex-girlfriend Carolina, and months-old Mavi with Bruna.

Former Head Coach of Nigeria’s U-17 male national team, Sebastine Broderick, has passed on at the age of 85.

Broderick’s wife confirmed the development on Wednesday.

He has been battling with an unnamed illness for over a year.

Broderick led the Golden Eaglets to success at the first edition of the U-16 World Cup in China in 1985.

He also won a silver medal in the 1987 tournament in Canada, which FIFA eventually upgraded to the U-17 World Cup.

Broderick led a coaching crew that also had Bala Shamaki and Christian Chukwu when Nigeria won in China in 1985.

He enjoyed a distinguished career both as a player and coach, representing the country at the 1968 Mexico Olympics.

Multichoice, the parent company of DStv, on Wednesday, said the upcoming African Cup of Nations tournament would not be broadcasted on its platform.

It said the satellite failed to secure the broadcasting rights to broadcast the continent’s biggest footballing event on its SuperSport channels.

“SuperSport Channel will not broadcast the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2023 scheduled for January 13th – February 11th, 2-24, because the channel has not secured the rights to broadcast the tournament.

“However, AFCON 2023 games will be available through our partner broadcast stations on Free to Air (FTA) channels.

“Multichoice Africa remains committed to ensuring football fans across Africa continue to enjoy unrivaled access to entertainment and football games available on DStv and GOtv platforms including, the Premier League, LaLiga, Serie A, Zambian Super League, and many more of football’s most prestigious competitions,” the firm said in a statement on Wednesday.

The 34th edition of AFCON will begin on 13 January in Ivory Coast.

The PUNCH reports that three-time winners Nigeria will face the hosts, Ivory Coast, Guinea-Bissau and Equatorial Guinea in Group A.

The Eagles, in their quest for a fourth continental title, will take on Equatorial Guinea on January 14 in their first match of Group A, before further clashes with host nation Ivory Coast January 18 and Guinea Bissau January 22.

The Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has suspended the local government caretaker committees in the state.

The directive was contained in a letter dated January 2, 2024, from the State Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs.

The letter, which was signed by Alonge Adewale on behalf of the Permanent Secretary, directed the Heads of Local Government Administrations (HOLGAs) in all the LGAs/LCDAs to immediately assume responsibility in acting capacity pending the resolution of legal matters relating to the issue.

The letter expressed displeasure that despite the suspension of all recently appointed caretaker committee members by a court of competent jurisdiction, some individuals in these former positions are still parading themselves in the posts.

The directive therefore instructed the HOLGAs to retrieve all assets and properties of the LGAs/LCDAs with the former caretaker chairmen, vice chairmen and other members for safekeeping.

The purported Resignation of Rt Hon. Ehie Edison as Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, on December 29 2023, is a Nullity and unknown to 1999 Nigerian Constitution, as amended, because he was never at any time in this current session of the Rivers State House of Assembly, elected by majority of the 32 or 31 members of the Assembly as their Speaker. Instead, he was only validly nominated by them as their Majority Leader and that was the Position he held until December 29, 2023, that he decided to resign as member of the Rivers State House of Assembly.

His claim to the position of Speaker of Rivers State House of Assembly and his deliberate use of it in writing that letter addressed to INEC Chairman, is sadly a Joke and Mockery of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution, as amended, and Democracy, taken too far. HE WAS NEVER AND MUST NEVER BE ADDRESSED AND OR TREATED AS FORMER SPEAKER OF RIVERS STATE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY.

It is however important for me to state unambiguously, that his resignation as member of the Rivers State House of Assembly is valid and within his Constitutional Right to exercise which he has done. He can therefore be rightly addressed and treated as former member of Rivers State House of Assembly who I would proudly say, rose patriotically and rightly to prevent the unconstitutional attempt by 27 of his Colleagues to commence a process of impeaching Gov. Fubara for no iota of justified "Gross Misconduct" as Governor. I commend him!

I must also appreciate the fact that this decision that he resigns from the House of Assembly is part of implementation of the peaceful resolution of the Political Misunderstanding between Gov. Fubara and former Gov. Wike, which was made possible by the fatherly Intervention of President Tinubu.

I wish my beloved Bro, Rt Hon. Edison Ehie, well and success in his new Appointment as Chief of Staff to Gov. Fubara.

Let me restate my earlier position in the Press Statement I issued on December 20, 2023 on this unfortunate misunderstanding between Gov. Fubara and his Political Oga, fmr Gov. Wike, that:

1) there has not been any constitutionally convened Sitting of the Rivers State House of Assembly since October 29, 2023 after the attack on the Hallowed Chamber of the Rivers State House of Assembly and till date. The implication of this is that all actions, pronouncements, Defections, Budget Presentation by Gov. Fubara and others, by the 31 Legislators, either together or as 27 or 4 Factions, are unknown to the 1999 Nigerian Constitution, as amended, and by express provision of section 1(3) of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution, as amended, are all null and void and of no moment, whatsoever. The Status and Actions of the House of Assembly remain only as they were before October 29, 2023.

2) Rt Hon. Martin Chike Amaewhule and Rt Hon. Dumle Maol remain the constitutionally elected Speaker and Deputy Speaker, respectively, of Rivers State House of Assembly, under the platform of PDP and they so remain members of PDP until anytime the House of Assembly is constitutionally convened and any decision to defect, is announced in strict accordance with the Standing Rules of the House.

Long Live Peace and Progressive Rivers State.

Comrade (Engr) Igbini Odafe Emmanuel

Nigeria has ceased the evaluation and accreditation of university degrees from over 45 universities in Benin Republic and Togo, following revelations of widespread certificate racketeering.

An undercover investigation exposed a syndicate selling university degrees to Nigerians.

The report detailed how a reporter obtained a university degree from Cotonou within six weeks, complete with a legitimate scan code and transcript.

The reporter successfully used the acquired fake degree to participate in Nigeria’s National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme, undetected.

The investigation revealed collaboration between Nigerian racketeering agents and senior staff at a university campus in Cotonou, including Nigerians serving as registrar and English section coordinators.

In response to these findings, the federal government suspended the accreditation of Togolese and Beninese degree certificates.

This move impacts graduates from these countries intending to join the NYSC scheme, a requirement for corporate employment in Nigeria.

The suspension is part of an ongoing investigation by the education ministries of both countries and the NYSC. The Nigerian ministry acknowledged that tackling certificate rackets and degree mills has been a longstanding challenge.

Below are some of the Beninese and Togolese universities affected by the suspension.

BENIN REPUBLIC UNIVERSITIES

1. Institut Supérieur de Formation Professionnelle (ISFOP)

2. Lakeside University College (LUC) Benin

3. African University of Bénin

4. Afriford University, Cotonou, Benin Republic

5. Canadian International Education Institute, Benin Republic

6. Centre International Universitaire Des Meilleurs (CIUM-Bestower International University) Seme-Podji, Cotonou

7. Ecole Superieure de Gestion et de Technologie (ESGT-Benin University)

8. Ecole Superieure de Technologie et de Gestion (ESTG-Benin University)

9. Ecole Superieure des Cadres et Techniciens, (ESCT-Benin), Benin Cotonou

10. Ecole Superieure des sciences, de commerce et administration des enterprise du Benin (ESCAE-BENIN)
11. Ecole Superieure Panafricaine de Management Applique (ESPAM-FORMATION)

12. Ecotes University

13. Edexcel University

14. Esep le berger Université

15. ESTAM University Seme Campus

16. Heim Weldios University

17. Houdegbe North American University, Benin

18. Institut Universitaire du Bénin (IUB)

19. Institut Supérieur de Communication et de Gestion(ISCG-Benin University)

20. Institut Supérieur De Management Et De Technologie (ISMT St Salomon University)

21. Institute Regional Superieure des beaux arts, de la culture et de la communication (IRSBACCOM UNIVERSITY)

22. International university of management and administration, Benin Republic (IUMA)

23. Pinnacle African University Porto Novo

24. Poma University, Ayetedjou, Ifangni

25. Protestant University of West Africa

26. Université Africaine de Développement Coopératif

27. Université des Sciences Appliquées et Management USAM

28. Université la Hegj, Benin (Semepodji campus)

29. Universitie Polytechnique Internationale du Benin

30. West African University Benin (WAUB), Cotonou

31. University of Abomey-Calavi

32. University of Kétou

33. University of Parakou

TOGO UNIVERSITIES

34. Atlantic African Oriental Multicultural (ATAFOM) University International

35. African Union University, Togo

36. African University of Science Administration and Commercial Studies, IAEC

37. University Togo

38.Maryam Abacha American University Niger, Togo Campus

39. Centre de perfectionnement aux Technique Economique et Commerciales Université (CPTEC University) Avepozo Lome

40. IHERIS University, Togo

41. Catholic University of West Africa

42. American Institute of African

43. Ecole supérieure de formation professionnelle (FIMAC)

44. Université Bilingue Libre du Togo

45. University of Kara

46. University of Richard of Togo

47. University of Lomé

48. University of Science and Technology of Togo

49. DEFOP University of Technology

50. IRFODEL-Centre (University)

Egyptian forward Mohamed Salah says his desire is to win the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations for his country.

Salah, who netted a brace in Liverpool’s 4-2 win over Newcastle in Monday night’s Premier League game at Anfield, told Sky Sports after the game that Egypt has the quality to win the trophy.

Recall that the Pharaoh’s of will battle Ghana, Cape Verde and Mozambique in Group B of the tournament.

“We believe too much. We have top talents. They just need to work hard.

“Going to AFCON? I want to win it! I love playing for my country. Without me they will be fine. We have fantastic players.”

[Leadership]