Ecuador ground out a nerve-jangling 0-0 draw with Mexico to book their place in the quarter-finals of the Copa America on Sunday as Venezuela sealed top spot in Group B with a 3-0 win over Jamaica.

Ecuador, needing only a point against Mexico in Glendale, Arizona to advance on goal difference, withstood a furious late onslaught from ‘El Tri’ to reach the last eight.

Mexico launched wave after wave of attacks in the final quarter, with Johan Vasquez forcing a save from Ecuador goalkeeper Alexander Dominguez in the 71st minute, six minutes after Santiago Gimenez struck the post with a shot from close range.

There was almost a dramatic twist deep into eight minutes of time added on, when Guatemalan referee Mario Escobar awarded what would have been a winning penalty to Mexico after Ecuador’s Felix Torres appeared to foul Guillermo Martinez in the area.

The Mexican-dominated crowd erupted in delight only for the celebrations to be cut short when VAR instructed Escobar to review the decision.

Replays showed Torres clearly got a touch on the ball in his challenge on Martinez and the penalty was overturned.

Ecuador will now face Group A winners Argentina in the quarter-finals in Houston on Thursday.

Venezuela, meanwhile, will take on Group A runners-up Canada in Arlington on Friday as they chase a place in the semi-finals.

The Venezuelans, who were already assured of a quarter-final place after wins over Ecuador and Mexico, preserved their 100% record against winless Jamaica.

Eduard Bello headed Venezuela into the lead after 49 minutes, nodding home at the far post after a perfectly weighted cross from Jon Aramburu.

Veteran striker Salomon Rondon then doubled the Venezuela lead on 56 minutes, latching on to a through ball from Yangel Herrera and then smuggling a low finish into the net past advancing Jamaica goalkeeper Jahmali Waite.

Copa America: 'I won't watch any game or celebrate', Ronaldinho blasts Brazil's squad
A decisive victory was sealed in the 85th minute when Eric Ramirez was sent through on goal by Kervin Andrade before coolly finishing past Waite.

An helicopter belonging to the Nigerian Air Force in the early hours of Monday crashed in Tami village, located in the Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

It was gathered that the incident happened around 5:00 am causing panic among the local residents of the area.

The helicopter, said to be on a routine operational flight, experienced technical difficulties that led to the crash.

Fortunately, the pilot managed to execute emergency protocols effectively, ensuring his own survival, said eyewitnesses while adding that the pilot emerged from the wreckage largely unscathed.

Residents of Tami village quickly gathered at the crash site, offering assistance where possible and expressing relief that no lives were lost.

“We heard a loud noise and rushed to the scene. We were surprised and relieved to see the pilot alive,” said a local villager who witnessed the crash.

It was gathered that a team of military officers from the Nigerian Air Force swiftly arrived at the scene to secure the area and conduct an initial investigation.

They cordoned off the crash site to prevent unauthorised access and to ensure the safety of the villagers. The officers also began preliminary assessments to determine the cause of the crash, which remains unknown at this time.

As of the time of filling the report the Nigerian Air Force has not released an official statement regarding the incident, but an investigation is expected to be launched to ascertain the factors leading to the crash.

A former Kaduna lawmaker, Shehu Sani, has warned the President Bola Tinubu not to make the mistake of his immediate predecessor, Muhammadu Buhari on appointments. 

Sani issued this warning while speaking in interview on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics.

The former lawmaker asked President Tinubu to prioritise competence in his appointments if he is interested in results.

Sani said during Buhari’s eight-year administration between May 2015 and May 2023, nepotism was at its peak yet results were not produced in all areas of governance, majorly security, economy, education and healthcare.

He said, “I will advise President Tinubu to be careful not to make the mistakes of President Buhari, and I believe he is experienced to understand this.

“Under Presdient Buhari, you have ministers that were appointed into office for the whole of eight years; they were with him for the first tenure and the second tenure, and there was no cabinet reshuffle, no removal.

“Even if there was a removal, it takes three to four months to replace a minister. That was the way the country was governed.

“Under Buhari, we have seen nepotism at its peak where people were appointed into office and left there even if they did nothing.

“Service chiefs were retained in office despite their failures, and by retaining them, you destroyed the careers of those behind them. For many years, many officers were retired to appoint one person.”

“If this country has to move forward, we must treat the issue of competency as the qualification for appointment,” he said.

Sani further said the situation in northern Nigeria is a reflection of the failure of political leaders, especially those from the region who failed to use political power to reduce the level of underdevelopment in the 19 states of the region.

“What has all these powers been used for? It has not been used for the benefit of our people for a very long time,” he stated.

Spain came from a goal down to overcome Georgia 4-1 in the second round of the 2024 European Championship. 

Goals from Rodri, Fabian Ruiz, Nico Williams and Dani Olmo turned the game against a spirited Georgia side that went ahead in the first half via an own goal at the Cologne stadium on Sunday.

Coming off a historic 2-0 win over Portugal in the group stage, Georgia were on the back foot but took the lead fortuitously in the 18th minute when Robin Le Normand diverted a dangerous cross into his team’s goal.

Spain, the only team with immaculate performance in the competition, restored parity 20 minutes later through a Rodri’s curler into the bottom corner, ensuring both nations went into the interval level.

La Furia Roja took the lead six minutes after the interval through Ruiz’s header from Lamine Yamal’s cross, before the electric Williams left a player for dead before slamming a shot into the top corner for 3-1 on 75 minutes.

Olmo added more gloss to the victory seven minutes from time with an identical goal to Spain’s first.

Spain will face hosts Germany in the last-eight round on Friday, July 5.

On the other hand, England required a last-gasp Jude Bellingham acrobatic-kick equaliser to force extra time before Harry Kane’s header won it for the Three Lions in their 2-1 win over Slovakia.

Saved from embarrassment, Gareth Southgate’s side will face Switzerland in the quarter-final.

A rice farmer identified as Taiwo Paul has been murdered by some suspected herders in the Kata Area of Ewekoro Local Government of Ogun State.

PUNCH Metro further gathered that while Paul was allegedly hacked to death by the suspects at his rice plantation in the community, another farmer identified as Peter Danjuma died of electrocution in the Isoyin area of Atan-Ijebu.

The state Police Command confirmed the two deaths in separate telephone conversations with PUNCH Metro on Saturday.

Our correspondent gathered that 26-year-old Paul was found battling for his life in a pool of blood on Thursday after he was allegedly attacked by the suspects.

The spokesperson for the command, Omolola Odutola, told our correspondent that the rice farmer had left his house at Yobo Village to check the crops owing to suspicions of some herders who they suspected had been roaming the area in the past.

When Paul did not return home on time, our correspondent learnt that his twin brother, Kehinde, went to the rice farm to look for him.

PUNCH Metro learnt that Kehinde heard a faint groan from a distance and discovered his twin brother dying in a pool of his blood, bleeding uncontrollably from severe cuts on his hands and right leg.

PUNCH Metro further gathered that all efforts by the deceased’s brother and other villagers to rush Paul to the General Hospital in Ifo failed, as the victim reportedly died on the way.

Odutola further stated that a doctor on duty at the hospital confirmed Paul’s death on arrival.

She noted that a preliminary investigation had begun to apprehend the perpetrators of the heinous crime.

She said, “Detectives from Ewekoro Police Division have visited the crime scene and the hospital for assessment, and photographs have been taken. The deceased’s body was later released to the family for burial.

“Preliminary investigations are ongoing to apprehend the perpetrators, and the case will be transferred to the State Crime Investigation Department at Eleweran for further discreet investigation.”

Meanwhile, another farmer in the Isoyin area, identified simply as Danjuma, was electrocuted to death on Friday morning while feeding birds at a poultry farm.

PUNCH Metro also learnt that he was rushed to the General Hospital in Ijebu-Ode, where a doctor on duty confirmed him dead.

“The detectives of the Atan-Ijebu Police Division have visited the scene of the incident, and photographs were taken.”

As the nation awaits the new minimum wage promised to be sent to the National Assembly by President Bola Tinubu, the burden of implementing the minimum wage may make many states bankrupt.

The Federal Executive Council, at its meeting last Tuesday, stepped down a memorandum on the report of the tripartite committee on the new minimum wage, to allow for more consultations among the federal and state governments on one part, the private sector and the labour unions on the other part.

Last Thursday, Tinubu met with the governors at the National Economic Council meeting chaired by Vice President Kashim Shettima. The meeting, which was expected to deliberate on the national minimum wage, was, however, silent on whether or not it considered the issue.

Also last Thursday, the Southern Governors’ Forum released the communiqué of its meeting held in Abeokuta, Ogun State, with the governors asking that each state should negotiate minimum wage with its workforce.

So This Happened (EP 254) Reviews Tinubu's Order To Civil Servants Abroad To Refund Salary, Others0:12 / 1:01
The labour unions have, however, reacted to the stance of the Ni¬geria Governors’ Forum over their overbearing influence on the minimum wage negotia¬tions.

In a document, titled, “Analysis of State FAAC inflows and state expenditure profile,” of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum Secretariat, the NGF report warned that implementing the new minimum wage could push states into bankruptcy due to increased recurrent expenditure.

According to the report, the burden of recurrent expenditure already left Abia, Ekiti, Gombe, Imo, Katsina, Kogi, Oyo, Plateau, Sokoto, Yobe, and Zamfara in deficit in 2022.

The report predicted that if the recurrent expenditure increased by 50 per cent, 13 states would fall into deficit, with only 10 remaining financially stable.

The tripartite committee’s recommendation of a N62,000 minimum wage would necessitate over a 100 per cent increase from the current N30,000, potentially leaving only a few states like Anambra, Bayelsa, Borno, Ebonyi, Gombe, Imo, Jigawa, Kaduna, Lagos, and Rivers with positive net revenues, based on the 2022 fiscal data.

A net revenue is the deduction of recurrent expenditure from the total revenue of the state. When it is positive, it means a surplus, but when negative, there is a deficit.

Also, the total revenue of states is calculated from the monthly revenue from the Federal Account Allocation Committee, internally generated revenue, aids and grants and constituency development funds.

According to the documents, sighted by The PUNCH, Abia, with an employment size of about 58,631 workers, pays N5,837,899,980.40 as wage monthly. Anambra has a 20,541 employment size and pays N1,824,851,308.96 monthly as wages, apart from N894,480,399.62 as pension obligation and N579,694,680.33 for debt servicing.

Bayelsa boasts of 48,213 workforce, paying N5,802,435,178.58 monthly, with N1,194,528,784.40 as pension obligation and N3,535,787,992.48 as debt servicing, totalling N10,532,751,955.46 as total recurrent expenditure monthly.

Benue has about 13,366 workers in its workforce and pays N2,040,184,471.85 as monthly wage, N76,838,634.62 for pension, and N64,685,126,826.08 for debt servicing, totalling N66,802,149,932.56 monthly.

Delta has about 50,871 workers, offering N8,973,081,853.50 as wages, N1,499,886,303.39 as pension, and N72,417,433,139.00 as debt servicing, accumulating to N82,890,401,295.89 in a month.

Jigawa has about 44,831 workers in its employ and pays N2,795,662,113.02 as wages, and N345,987,843.12 as a pension, totalling N3,141,649,956.14 monthly on recurrent expenditure.

Katsina, Kwara and Niger have 19,062, 36,048 and 22,225 workers, with accumulated N139,294,944,565.27, N4,457,268,675.54 and N2,653,614,213.35 monthly recurrent expenditure respectively.

According to the document, Abia has a total recurrent expenditure of N111,983,979,958.62, against a total revenue of N147,637,730,867.73.

For Adamawa, the recurrent expenditure stands at N70,369,399,885.57, against a total revenue of N109,722,949,684.65, while Akwa Ibom boasts of a high revenue of N444,288,683,000, with recurrent expenditure of N235,144,539,000.

Of the states, Lagos has the highest total revenue, amassing N1,243,778,878,170 in 2022, with a recurrent expenditure of N621,043,036,000, followed by Delta, with N702,020,717,460.08 and a recurrent expenditure of N377,905,100,451.83.

Rivers amassed N525,588,159,714.88 in 2022, with recurrent expenditure of N186,974,715,774.87; Kaduna had a total revenue of N222,349,875,000 and expenditure of N95,987,999,472.10; Ogun, N297,249,009,626.83, recurrent expenditure of N178,519,010,628.42 and Oyo, with total revenue of N247,156,776,739.70 and recurrent expenditure of N152,077,804,384.65.

Kebbi State had the lowest total revenue in 2022, raking in N92,132,444,588.16 and spent N57,601,464,374.96 on recurrent expenditure, followed by Taraba, with a total revenue of N101,177,283,069.87 and recurrent expenditure of N75,055,201,412.62.

Aside from FAAC allocation, some states recorded poor IGR in the 2022 data compiled by the NGF Secretariat.

Zamfara State generated N6,513,960,477.20; followed by Kebbi, with N8,630,767,122.96; Taraba, N9,744,331,840.01 and Yobe State, with N9,940,554,642.00.

The IGR of Katsina (N12,821,119,042.64), Adamawa (N13,175,774,969.53), Niger (N14,427,373,136.00), Benue (N15,021,223,729.38), Plateau (N15,927,001,739.90) and Imo (N16,711,346,111.18) also showed a poor revenue standing.

The PUNCH reported on October 19, 2023, that 15 states have yet to implement the N30,000 minimum wage for their workers since it was signed into law in 2019.

According to BudgiT, though the 15 states were yet to implement the minimum wage of N30,000, the 36 states of the federation grew their cumulative personnel cost by 13.44 per cent to N1.75tn in 2022 from N1.54tn in 2021.

The civil society organization, in a release, ‘The States of States Report 2023,’ highlighted that the 36 states of the federation grew their revenue by 28.95 per cent from N5.12tn in 2021 to N6.6tn in 2022.

“Put together, the IGR of the 36 states appreciated by 12.98 per cent from N1.61tn in 2021 to N1.82tn in 2022, denoting a strengthened domestic revenue mobilisation capability.

“Nonetheless, the IGR to GDP ratio remained very low at 1.01 per cent. The increase in IGR did not reflect across the board as 17 states experienced a decline in their IGR from the previous year, while 19 states recorded positive growth,” BudgIT said.

The Assistant General Secretary of the NLC, Chris Onyeka, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on minimum wage and its implementation, claimed that many state governors were flouting the Minimum Wage Act and listed the states of Abia, Enugu, Bayelsa, Delta, Nasarawa, Gombe, Adamawa, Niger, Sokoto, Imo, Anambra, Taraba, Benue, and Zamfara as defaulting.

Reacting, the Enugu State chairman of TUC, Ben Asogwa, said the state commenced payment of N30,000 minimum wage and its consequential adjustment in February 2020 for state government workers, while local government workers and primary school teachers were paid 25 per cent consequential adjustment.

He, however, said Governor Peter Mbah, on assumption of office, approved the full implementation of the N30,000 minimum wage for both the LG workers and primary school teachers in the state.

The PUNCH reports that the Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, announced during a meeting with the leadership of the labour unions that the state would begin payment of N30,000 minimum wage effective June 2024.

Tems is the only Nigerian winner of a conferred category at the 2024 Black Entertainment Television (BET) Awards.

The results from two viewer’s choice categories, which are fan-voted, are yet to be announced as of this reporting.

The 2024 BET Awards aired live from Los Angeles at 8 pm ET/PT on Sunday (01:00 WAT on Monday).

Tems snagged the ‘Best Gospel/Inspirational Song’ category with her 2024 release ‘Me & U‘.

The singer defeated Halle Bailey and Kirk Franklin, both of whom were nominated for their respective works ‘Angel‘ and ‘All Things‘.

Burna Boy, Asake, Ayra Starr, Tems, and Seyi Vibez were all earlier nominated for the 2024 BET Awards.

Ayra Starr had led with three nominations for ‘Best New Artiste’, ‘Best African Act’, and ‘Best HER’.

Burna Boy secured two nominations in the ‘Best Male Hip Hop Artiste’ and ‘Best Male R&B/POP Artiste’ categories.

Tems also bagged two nominations for ‘Best Video Director’ and ‘Best Gospel/Inspirational Song’.

Davido and Lojay were nominated in the ‘Viewers Choice Award’ category for their roles in Chris Brown’s ‘Sensational’.

Asake and Seyi Vibez got one nomination each in the ‘Best International Act’ and ‘Best New International Act’ respectively.

Apart from Tems, none of these Nigerians has been named a winner in their respective categories.

Noteworthy is that Usher was recognised with the honourary ‘Lifetime Achievement Award’.

The BET Awards celebrate black entertainers and other minorities in music, film, sports, and philanthropy.

See the full list of winners below.

Album of the Year

• 11:11 – Chris Brown
• A Gift & a Curse – Gunna
• American Dream – 21 Savage
• Coming Home – Usher
• For All The Dogs (Scary Hours Edition) – Drake
• Jaguar II – Victoria Monét
• WINNER: Michael – Killer Mike
• Pink Friday 2 – Nicki Minaj

Best Female R&B/Pop Artist

• Beyoncé
• Coco Jones
• Doja Cat
• H.E.R.
• Muni Long
• WINNER: SHA
• Silence
• Victoria Monet

Best Male R&B/Pop Artist

• Brent Fayaz
• Bryson Tiller
• Burna Boy
• Chris Brown
• Drake
• Fridayy
• October London
• WINNER: Usher

Best Group

• WINNER: ¥$, Ye, Ty Dolla $ign
• 2 Chainz & Lil Wayne
• 41
• Blxst & Bino Rideaux
• City Girls
• Flo
• Maverick City Music
• WanMor

Best Collaboration

• WINNER: “All My Life” – Lil Durk Feat. J. Cole
• “America Has a Problem (Remix)” – Beyoncé feat. Kendrick Lamar
• “Barbie World” – Nicki Minaj & Ice Spice (with Aqua)
• “Bongos” – Cardi B feat. Megan Thee Stallion
• “Carnival” – ¥$, Ye, Ty Dolla $ign feat. Rich The Kid & Playboi Carti
• ‘Don’t Play With It (Remix)’ – Lola Brooke feat. Latto & Yung Miami
• “Everybody” – Nicki Minaj feat. Lil Uzi Vert
• “Good Good” – Usher, Summer Walker & 21 Savage
• “Rich Baby Daddy” – Drake feat. Sexyy Red & SZA

Best Female Hip Hop Artist

• Cardi B
• Doja Cat
• Glorilla
• Ice Spice
• Milk
• Megan Thee Stallion
• WINNER: Nicki Minaj
• Sexyy Red

Best Male Hip Hop Artist

• 21 Savage
• Burna Boy
• Drake
• Future
• Gunna
• Cole
• WINNER: Kendrick Lamar
• Lil Wayne

Video of the Year

• “Agora Hills” – Doja Cat
• “All My Life” – Lil Durk feat. J. Cole
• “Barbie World” – Nicki Minaj & Ice Spice (with Aqua)
• “Bongos” – Cardi B feat. Megan Thee Stallion
• “First Person Shooter” – Drake feat. J. Cole
• “Good Good” – Usher, Summer Walker & 21 Savage
• WINNER: “On My Mama” – Victoria Monét
• “Rich Baby Daddy” – Drake Feat. Sexyy Red & SZA

Video Director of the Year

• Benny Boom
• Child
• WINNER: Cole Bennett
• Dave Meyers
• Janelle Monáe & Alan Ferguson
• Offset
• Tems
• Tyler, the Creator

Best New Artist

• 41
• 4Batz
• Ayra Starr
• Bossman Dlow
• Fridayy
• October London
• Sexyy Red
• WINNER: Tyla

Dr. Bobby Jones Best Gospel/Inspirational Award

• “Award All of the Glory” – Shirley Caesar
• “All Things” – Kirk Franklin
• “Angel” – Halle Bailey
• “Come Jesus Come” – Cece Winans
• “Do You Believe in Love?” – Erica Campbell
• “God Problems” Maverick City Music, Naomi Raine & Chandler Moore
• WINNER: “Me & U” – Tems
• “Try Love” – Kirk Franklin

Viewer’s Choice Award

• “Agora Hills” – Doja Cat
• “All My Life” – Lil Durk feat. J. Cole
• “Fukumean” – Gunna
• “Lovin on Me” – Jack Harlow
• “Made for Me” – Muni Long
• “On My Mama” – Victoria Monét
• “Rich Baby Daddy” – Drake feat. Sexyy Red & SZA
• “Sensational” – Chris Brown feat. Davido & Lojay
• “Texas Hold ‘Em” – Beyoncé
• “Water” – Tyla

Best International Act

• Asake (Africa)
• Aya Nakamura (France)
• Ayra Starr (Africa)
• BK’ (Brazil)
• Cleo Sol (U.K.)
• Focalistic (Africa)
• Karol Conka (Brazil)
• Raye (U.K.)
• Tiakola (France)
• WINNER: Tyla (Africa)

Viewer’s Choice: Best New International Act

• Bellah (U.K.)
• Crystals (UK)
• Duchess (Brazil)
• Holly G (France)
• Jungle (France)
• Makhadzi (Africa)
• Oruam (Brazil)
• Seyi Vibez (Africa)
• Tyler Icu (Africa)

BET Her

• “16 Carriages” – Beyoncé
• “Blessings” – Nicki Minaj feat. Tasha Cobbs Leonard
• “Commas” – Ayra Starr
• “Fly Girl” – Flo feat. Missy Elliott
• “Hiss” – Megan Thee Stallion
• WINNER: “On My Mama” – Victoria Monét
• “Saturn” – Sza
• “Yeah Glo!” – Glorilla

Best Movie

• American Fiction
• WINNER: Bob Marley: One Love
• Renaissance: A Film by Beyoncé
• Spider-Man: Across the Spider-verse
• The Book Of Clarence
• The Color Purple
• The Equalizer 3
• The Little Mermaid

Best Actor

• Anthony Mackie
• Colman Domingo
• Damson Idris
• WINNER: Denzel Washington
• Donald Glover
• Idris Elba
• Jeffrey Wright
• LaKeith Stanfield

Best Actress

• Angela Bassett
• Ayo Edebiri
• Coco Jones
• Danielle Brooks
• Fantasy
• Halle Bailey
• Issa Rae
• WINNER: Regina King

YoungStars Award

• Akira Akbar
• WINNER: Blue Ivy Carter
• Demi Singleton
• Heiress Diana Harris
• Jabria McCullum
• Jalyn Hall
• Leah Jeffries
• From Van

Sportswoman of the Year Award

• Ah, Wilson
• WINNER: Angel Reese
• Coco Gauff
• Flau’jae Johnson
• Juju Watkins
• Naomi Osaka
• Sha’Carri Richardson
• Simone Biles

Sportsman of the Year Award

• Anthony Edwards
• Gervonta Davis
• WINNER: Jalen Brunson
• Jalen Hurts
• Kyrie Irving
• LeBron James
• Patrick Mahomes
• Stephen Curry

Akin Abayomi, Lagos state commissioner for health, says 25 cases of cholera have been recorded at the Kirikiri medium security prison.

Tunbosun Ogunbanwo, spokesperson of the Lagos state ministry of health, quoted the commissioner in a statement on Sunday as saying that urgent interventions have been taken at the prison.

Abayomi noted that while no new cholera-related deaths have been reported in the last 72 hours, the state government is intensifying measures to contain the outbreak.

“However, he reported that a small outbreak of 25 cases of severe gastroenteritis occurred at Kirikiri medium security prison, confirmed to be caused by cholera, adding that urgent medical and environmental intervention measures have been implemented with success,” the statement reads.

The commissioner said there is evidence of ongoing low-grade community transmission, despite the reduction in new daily cases and deaths in the state.

He advised the public on safety measures and the need for early presentation to health facilities when symptoms develop.

“We were able to supply Kirikiri medium prison with intravenous fluids, infection prevention, and other health consumables,” Abayomi said.

“Additionally, the World Health Organisation has donated 10,000 doses of pharmaceuticals which have been delivered to the prison to support prison health facilities with prevention strategies for about 3,200 inmates if required.

“Immediate water and sanitation issues have been corrected, and there are ongoing inspections of other correctional facilities in the state.”

Abayomi said the outbreak has been traced to unregulated street beverages and contaminated water supplies.

He added that many of the samples taken from popular street beverages purchased by undercover environmental officers showed the presence of Vibrio cholera bacteria, which is the cause of cholera.

“All of the containers had no NAFDAC accreditation numbers, indicating they are small cottage backyard informal production units,” he said.

“Identifying the precise location of manufacture has proven difficult, and the directorate of environmental health is planning to seal any such unregulated manufacture and make arrests of anybody involved with the manufacture or distribution of beverages without NAFDAC numbers.”

A members of the House of Representatives, representing Ikwuano, Umuahia North, and Umuahia South Federal Constituency, Hon. Obi Aguocha, has sought the intervention and support of former President Muhammadu Buhari over the release of Nnamdi Kanu from detention.

Aguocha’s who visited Buhari at his country home in Daura, Katsina State sought for his intervention and elicit his support for a political dialogue and constructive engagement that could engender a resolution of the salient issues surrounding the continued detention and trial of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and that could lead to his release on pragmatic national reconciliation considerations.

“For the missteps, utterances, and ill gestures of the past, especially on the part of my constituent and brother, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, I am deeply sorry.”

Aguocha further expressed his belief that a political resolution would not only address the grievances of parties on all sides but promote greater understanding and unity within the country.

In response, former President Buhari welcomed Hon. Obi Aguocha and commended his humility and dedication to serving his people.

He assured him that his approach was welcomed and that he would not be opposed to any political solution for Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s release.

Recall that Hon. Aguocha recently led a group of fifty (50) House of Representatives legislators across the political and ethnic divides to sign a letter appealing to President Bola Tinubu to direct the Honourable Attorney General and Minister of Justice of the Federation, Alhaji Lateef Fegbemi, SAN, to invoke section 174(1)(c) of the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic as amended and section 107 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015, in setting the pathway to reaching the desired outcome.

This meeting is part of a broad-based initiative aimed at securing a speedy political resolution of the issues surrounding Nnamdi Kanu’s detention and trial, and securing his subsequent release in the spirit of engendering dialogue and non-contentious approaches to resolving thorny national issues, in the understanding that Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is willing, ready and able to embrace the new dynamic in joining hands across the country in building a new Nigeria where peace, equity, justice and prosperity shall reign.

Shehu Sani, a former senator representing Kaduna central, says politicians from the northern part of the country have not used political power for the benefit of their people.

Speaking in an interview with Channels Television on Sunday, Sani said the current situation in the north is a “product of the failure of governance and leadership” in the region.

The former senator said the northern region is battling the problems of insecurity, poverty, and out-of-school children despite the political power that the region has enjoyed in the country.

“The situation in the northern part of Nigeria today is a product of the failure of governance and leadership that has happened in the country for over four to four decades,” Sani said.

“Political power that ought to have been used by people who come from our own part of the country to improve the economy, better the lives of people, and address the problems of poverty, destitution, and underdevelopment has actually not been utilised for such purposes.

“We have some of the richest businessmen and politicians in the country, but the level of poverty you have seen is a reflection of what leadership and opportunity were used for.

“In all indices, the north lacks behind. Sometimes you ask what all these powers are being used for.

“If any person will compare what is happening in the north and the southern part of Nigeria will wonder what power is being used for.

“Power has been toxic to our people. It has not been used for the benefit of our people for a very long time.”