AFOLABI

AFOLABI

A chieftain of the Pan Niger Delta Elders Forum, PANDEF, Anabs Sara-Igbe, has told the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, that he could call the suspended Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara anything, adding that what the people of the state want is peace.

 

This is coming amid the recent remarks by Wike, referring to Fubara, as his boy. Wike’s remarks triggered reactions across the state, with many elders emphasizing that the priority for Rivers people is peace, regardless of political rhetoric.

 

DAILY POST reports that Wike, during a weekend interview, stated that he was not in conflict with Fubara but was instead targeting those who, according to him, were attempting to benefit undeservedly.

 

 

“That one is not a battle. He (Fubara) is my boy, he is my son. Why will I fight with him?” Wike remarked.

 

Reacting, Sara-Igbe stated they had a relationship that lasted over the years.

 

“He (Wike) may choose to address the Governor any way he likes. What Rivers people want is absolute peace. We are not interested in how he addresses the Governor. They are friends and have been working together for long,” the PANDEF chieftain said.

 

He further urged the people of Rivers State to unite in ensuring peace and facilitating Governor Fubara’s reinstatement.

 

Sara-Igbe said he was hopeful that Fubara would return to office before the expiration of the six-month emergency rule declared by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on March 18, 2025.

 

Speaking on the political tensions, the elder statesman explained that Wike’s criticism of Dr Abiye Sekibo, Rt. Hon Austin Opara, and Celestine Omehia, whom Wike accused of misleading Fubara, was not surprising since they are all from the same political family.

 

Wike had stated, “I’m only fighting against people who want to steal what they did not work for. When you don’t defeat them, they will think they are in charge.”

 

He added that those individuals were pushing Fubara in the wrong direction

Sporting Lisbon’s Viktor Gyokeres is currently leading the race for the European Golden Shoe this season.

 

Gyokeres leads with 39 goals and 58.5 points following the conclusion of the Portuguese top-flight league.

 

Behind Gyokeres is Real Madrid attacker Kylian Mbappe as the season will later this month.

 

 

Mbappe’s goal against Sevilla on Sunday, raised his La Liga tally to 29, moving into second place in the Golden Boot race with 58 points.

 

The France captain will have one final opportunity to find score and potentially overtake Gyokeres to win the Golden Boot this season when Real Madrid will host Real Sociedad next Saturday in their final La Liga fixture.

 

Here are the top 10 contenders for the Golden Boot race:

 

Viktor Gyokeres (Sporting Lisbon): 39 goals, 58.5 points.

 

Kylian Mbappe (Real Madrid): 29 goals, 58 points

 

Mohamed Salah (Liverpool): 28 goals, 56 points.

 

Harry Kane (Bayern Munich): 26 goals, 52 points.

 

Robert Lewandowski (FC Barcelona): 25 goals, 50 points.

 

Mateo Retegui (Atalanta): 25 goals, 50 points.

 

Alexander Isak (Newcastle United): 23 goals, 46 points.

 

Mika Biereth (Sturm Graz & AS Monaco): 24 goals, 42.5 points.

 

Ousmane Dembele (Paris Saint-Germain FC): 21 goals, 42 points.

 

Erling Haaland (Manchester City): 21 goals, 42 points.

 

Meanwhile, Gyokeres has outscored Mbappe by 10 goals, but the Portuguese league uses a coefficient of 1.5 per goal in the Golden Boot formula, while La Liga and the other four top European leagues (EPL, Serie A, Bundesliga and Ligue 1) use a coefficient of 2.0

Galatasaray striker, Victor Osimhen, on Sunday made history after scoring a goal in his side’s 3-0 win over Kayserispor at Rams Park.

 

The Nigerian international scored in the 26th minute to mark his 25th goal in 29 league appearances this season as he strengthens his lead in the race for the Turkish Super Lig Golden Boot.

 

According to Opta, Osimhen is now the third foreign football player in Galatasaray’s history to score 25 goals in a Super Lig season, after the likes of Bafetimbi Gomis in the 2017-18 campaign and Mauro Icardi in the 2023-24 season. 

The Super Eagles striker is currently the top scorer in the Turkish Super Lig this season with 25 goals to his name.

 

The Napoli loanee has four goals ahead of Krzysztof Piątek, who sits second with 21 goals.

 

The 26-year-old has netted 36 goals and provided eight assists in 40 appearances for Galatasaray so far this season.

 

Meanwhile, the victory against Kayserispor secured the league title for Galatasaray in front of their home fans.

 

Galatasaray have eight points lead on top of the Turkish Super Lig table.

 

They are ahead of second position Fenerbahçe with just two games remaining to complete the season.

 

Galatasaray have 89 points, while Fenerbahçe have 81 points

One Best Orji, a resident of Lagos State, has been arrested by operatives of the state command for allegedly engaging in illicit sexual relationship with his biological daughters.

 

It was gathered that the arrest followed a complaint by Orji’s wife at the Surulere police station after she discovered the unfortunate act of her husband.

 

She told the police that the alleged abuse of their two daughters, aged 14 and 12 had been happening for almost a year before it was discovered this year.

 

According to her, she often leaves the female children in the custody of her husband, especially when she is going to the market.

 

The 28-year-old mother narrated to the police that she returned early from the market one day to find her husband engaging in a sexual encounter with their 14-year-old daughter in their bedroom.

 

She said after confronting the daughter to get the truth, she discovered that her husband had also been engaging their 12-year-old daughter in sexual abuse.

 

“I got pregnant at 17 and I went to live with him. I gave birth to my now 14-year-old daughter. My parents decided to let us live together,” the grieving mother told the police.

 

CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, confirmed the arrest of Best Orji.

 

He said that the man had been charged to court for defilement under Section 137 of Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

 

“The complainant alleged that her husband defiled their two daughters at the Surulere area, hence her report which led to the arrest of the suspect.

 

“Upon his arrest, a medical report was obtained from a Sexual Assault Referral Center (SARC). The suspect was subsequently arraigned on May 9, 2025 for defilement under Section 137 of Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015,” he added

Operatives of the Enugu State Police command, attached to the Special Anti-Cultism Squad, SPACS, have arrested a native doctor, for alleged possession of firearms and ammunition hidden in his shrine.

 

This is contained in a statement issued by the command’s Spokesman, SP Daniel Ndukwe, in Enugu on Sunday.

 

Ndukwe said that the police recovered one locally-made pistol, one revolver pistol, one expended and one live 38 special calibre ammunition and one live cartridge from his shrine.

 

The shrine, according to the police is located at Ugwuochie-Iwollo in Ezeagu Local Government Area of the state.

 

“The recovery followed the suspect’s confessional statements after his earlier arrest, as well as a subsequent raid on the shrine by the operatives.

 

“The suspect confessed to being a member of the Black Axe confraternity.

 

“He will be arraigned in court upon the conclusion of investigations,” he said.

 

The Commissioner of Police, Mr Mamman Giwa, commended the operatives for their efforts and urged them to sustain the momentum, ensuring that “Enugu State remains uninhabitable for unrepentant criminals.”

 

The commissioner also urged members of the public to remain supportive of the command’s efforts.

Yu Dunhai, the Chinese ambassador to Nigeria, says plans are underway to establish electric vehicle factories and other manufacturing ventures in Nigeria.

 

Dunhai spoke during a courtesy visit to Dele Alake, minister of solid minerals development, according to a statement on Sunday by Segun Tomori, special assistant on media to the minister.

 

The envoy emphasised the imperative of deeper collaboration between China and Nigeria to unlock the potential of Nigeria’s solid minerals sector through the establishment of electric vehicle factories in the country.

 

Dunhai said Nigeria is a great country blessed with tremendous natural resources, noting that China has always placed the country in a very pivotal position in its foreign policy.

 

He recalled the meeting between presidents Bola Tinubu and Xi Jinping during Tinubu’s visit to China, where both leaders agreed to elevate bilateral relations to a “comprehensive strategic partnership”.

 

“Chinese companies are already deeply involved in Nigeria’s mining sector, from exploration to processing,” he said.

 

“We aim to deepen this collaboration, especially in line with President Tinubu’s eight priority areas, notably economic diversification through solid minerals.”

 

Dunhai said the embassy has admonished Chinese firms operating in Nigeria to abide by rules and regulations, carry out corporate social responsibility and adhere to environmental and safety standards.

 

He added that the Chinese authorities have zero tolerance for illegal mining, expressing their readiness to work with the Nigerian government to bring suspected culprits to justice.

 

In his response, Alake said Nigeria appreciates its long-standing relations with China, acknowledging that most Chinese firms operate within legal and regulatory frameworks.

 

However, he expressed concern over the actions of a few operators tarnishing China’s image, referencing a recent viral video involving a Chinese national allegedly bribing local security agents.

 

“We’ve taken action against illegal operators, including some Chinese nationals,” the minister said.

 

“While isolated, such incidents undermine the good work of many compliant Chinese firms. We need your cooperation in ensuring that such culprits are brought to justice,” the minister said.

 

Alake underscored the effect of the mining marshals set up to tackle illegal mining, saying the unit has sent the right signal across the sector, heightened awareness of the menace and, in turn, improved regulatory compliance among both local and foreign operators.

 

‘NIGERIA NOW PRIORITISES LOCAL PROCESSING TO BOOST DEVELOPMENT’

 

Alake reiterated that Nigeria welcomes serious investors, stressing that investments in the nation’s mining industry are now focused on local value addition.

 

“For years, our minerals have been exported raw to fuel foreign industrialisation. That must change,” he said.

 

“We now prioritise local processing to drive Nigeria’s development. For instance, with the abundance of lithium, we want to see local manufacturing of electric vehicles and batteries,” he said.

 

The minister urged Dunhai to encourage Chinese investors to commit to full-cycle investments — from extraction to processing — within Nigeria.

 

He pointed out Nigeria’s large market and the potential to reduce reliance on fossil fuels through electric vehicle production.

 

The envoy expressed support for Nigeria’s local value-addition policy, stating that one of Jinping’s key priorities is promoting African industrialisation

Suspected gunmen have reportedly killed 15 farmers in an attack on the Waje community, Danko Wasagu LGA of Kebbi state.

 

The attackers also injured three people during the assault, which took place on Saturday.

 

Hussaini Bena, the LGA’s chairman, said some other residents were injured in the attack.

 

“Fifteen farmers lost their lives, and three others were injured during the attack,” he said.

 

He said a stronger security presence in the area is needed to protect residents and prevent future violence.

 

Umar Tafida, the deputy governor of the state, representing Nasir Idris, the governor, visited the residence of Bala Danbaba, Waje’s district head, to offer condolences to the affected families.

 

During the visit, Tafida announced a donation from the state government to support the victims’ families.

 

He described the contribution as a modest but necessary effort to assist the bereaved families and those injured during the attack.

 

Danbaba commended the state government for the visit and the “timely and impactful” financial support.

 

He noted that Danko Wasagu shares boundaries with Niger, Zamfara, and Sokoto states, exposing the area to frequent attacks.

Sunday Umeha, a member of the house of representatives, has dumped the Labour Party (LP) for the All Progressives Congress (APC).

 

Umeha, who represents Udi/Ezeagu federal constituency in Enugu state, announced his defection on Saturday during a rally at Ibagwa-Aka in Igboeze South LGA.

 

The lawmaker said he had already registered with the APC in his ward, citing unresolved crises within the Labour Party at the state and national levels.

 

“I have resigned from the Labour Party and registered with APC. There’s a lot of division in LP both at the national and state levels, and that’s one of the reasons I left,” Umeha said.

 

“My decision to join APC is also because of the need to connect to the centre and bring our people closer because there are a lot of advantages in plugging into the centre.”

 

He added that another rally to formally welcome him into the APC in Ezeagu, his local government area, would be held in the coming days.

 

Umeha, who claimed to be the first elected official of the APC in Enugu since its formation in 2014, said the ruling party had delivered better dividends to the south-east zone than the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

 

“Look at the Enugu-Onitsha Expressway, Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway, 2nd Niger Bridge, and other landmark projects. It is the APC that has brought those developments to Igboland,” he said.

 

At the rally, Joshua Ogbonna, a businessman and prominent LP member in Igboeze South, also defected to the APC alongside over 1,000 LP members, including the local government and ward executives.

 

Ugochukwu Agballah, Enugu APC chairman, said the influx of defectors signals a new chapter for the ruling party ahead of the 2027 general election.

 

Agballah said the APC is determined to unseat the PDP administration in the state, accusing the ruling party of inflicting “tears, anguish and sorrow” on Enugu residents for 26 years.

 

He claimed that the PDP governments had imposed high taxes, demolished citizens’ means of livelihood, and grabbed lands, all in the name of building motor parks.

 

“This is a total collapse of LP’s structure in Igboeze South. Today, I hand over to you the symbol of our party — our flag — and the broom, which is an insignia of our party,” he said.

 

“With this broom, we are going to sweep in good governance in Enugu state.

 

“With this broom, we are going to sweep away the reactionary forces that have held our people hostage for 26 years. With this broom, we are going to bring back democracy in Enugu state.

 

“I want to say it here, and I want to say it loud and clear to all doubting Thomases, that APC Enugu state is poised to take over the government of Enugu come 2027.”

Victor Osimhen scored as Galatasaray defeated Kayserispor 3-0 at the RAMS Park to clinch the Turkish Super Lig title on Sunday.

 

The crowd favourite scored the opener that led Galatasaray to a 25th league title. It was also the Istanbul club’s third title in a row.

 

Osimhen set the party in motion with his goal in the 26th minute, rising highest to finish off Gabriel Sera’s cross with a header.

 

Baris Yilmaz doubled the lead three minutes later as the champions went into the interval with a healthy two-goal lead.

 

Fernando Muslera, the veteran goalkeeper who will be leaving the club this season after 14 years following the end of his contract, was given the chance to score from the spot, and the Uruguayan netted the penalty goal with a minute left of regular time.

 

Victory handed Galatasaray an unassailable 89 points on the Super Lig table, eight points ahead of Jose Mourinho’s Fenerbahce.

 

The Super Lig title completed a domestic double for Galatasaray who had won the Turkish Cup, thanks to Osimhen’s brace earlier in the week.

The Flying Eagles of Nigeria defeated Egypt 4-1 on penalties to claim bronze at the U20 African Cup of Nations tournament.

 

In the match played at the 30 June stadium, the Flying Eagles came from behind to hold Egypt to a 1-1 draw in regulation time before forcing penalties, where they triumphed.

 

The Flying Eagles stomped on the tournament hosts in the penalty shootout to finish the tournament as the third-best nation, consigning the Junior Pharaohs to defeat in the losers’ final.

 

Still downcast from their semi-final loss to South Africa, the Nigerian side conceded in the third minute when Osama Omar found the back of the net to give the hosts the lead.

 

Aliyu Zubairu boys restored parity minutes into the second half, with Bidemi Amole finishing with aplomb when put through on goal by Divine Oliseh.

 

A frantic end to the match ensued as a defensive mistake allowed Egypt a glorious opportunity, but the Junior Pharaohs could not make it count as Mohamed El Sayed struck the bar while Mohamed Haitham hit the post.

 

The match went straight into penalties, where Mohamed Atef and Ahmed Kabaka’s efforts were saved while all four of Nigeria’s penalty takers were converted

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