The All Progressives Congress (APC) in the South-South region has urged President Bola Tinubu to recontest in the 2027 presidential election.

The party praised Tinubu for his policies, projects and programs, maintaining that his policies were targeted at repositioning the country.

This was contained in a communiqué jointly signed by the APC South-South Zonal Executives after a meeting in Calabar, Cross Rivers, on Sunday.

The party reaffirmed its unwavering support for the policies and programs of the Tinubu administration in areas of good governance, economic reforms, national security and infrastructural development.

They also praised the president for his commitment to the coastal road project, and the commencement of the construction from both ends of the project.

The committee said it has resolved to set up a reconciliation committee in the South-South region, to be headed by the Coordinator of the South-South geo-political zone, Sen Bassey Otu.

They said that the move is meant to bridge any existing gap, foster collaboration and work towards a common goal of strengthening the party’s presence and influence in the region.

It also resolved to mobilise available party assets towards winning more states; particularly using the forthcoming elections in Edo State as a test case.

Nigerian-born British heavyweight boxer, Anthony Joshua, has overtaken Tyson Fury in the latest WBC heavyweight rankings.

Anthony Joshua has now moved to number one in the WBC heavyweight rankings, while Tyson Fury has dropped from the first spot to the second spot.

The current undisputed heavyweight title holder, Oleksandr Usyk, is ranked the winner of the rankings.

Fury dropped one spot after losing his WBC heavyweight title to Usyk in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia in May 2024.

While Fury suffered a massive defeat to the Ukrainian boxer, Anthony Joshua recorded successive victories against Francis Ngannou and Otto Wallin.

These two victories have qualified Joshua to contest for the vacant IBF title against Daniel Dubois in September.

Agit Kabayel who recently beat Frank Sanchez during one of the under-cards on the Fury vs Usyk bill in May, takes the third spot in the WBC rankings.

Zhilei Zhang who stunned Deontay Wilder with a knockout win earlier this year is the fourth-highest-ranked boxer in the world according to the WBC.

Nigerian heavyweight boxer, Efe Ajagba completes the top five list thanks to the WBC ‘silver’ trinket belt he is currently holding.

Jared Anderson is ranked 6th, Martin Bakole is ranked 7th, Sanchez 8th, Joe Joyce 9th, and Bakhodir Jalolov is ranked 10th in the WBC rankings.

The Otun Olubadan of Ibadanland, Senator Rashidi Ladoja, yesterday, insisted that Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State lacks the power to crown the new Olubadan of Ibadan land.

He also dismissed insinuations that Governor Makinde deliberately delayed the coronation of a new Olubadan to target him.

Recall that Makinde had announced that he would crown the new Olubadan, Oba Owolabi Olakulehin when he is medically fit.

Ladoja said this while speaking with journalists at his Ibadan residence during the Eid-el-Kabir celebration.

The former governor maintained that there is a cordial relationship between him and Governor Makinde.

His words: “I am not the target of Governor Seyi Makinde. He is not delaying the coronation because of me. The governor sent a huge cow and many bags of rice to me for the Sallah. He had called to greet me for the festival.

“It is the people of Ibadan land who will crown the new Olubadan, and the governor’s role is only to present the staff and instrument of office to the new monarch.

“It is the Oluwo of Ibadan land who crowns a new Olubadan and not the governor. 

“The Olubadan will be crowned at lle Ose-Meji, from where he will  go to Mapo for the governor to present him the staff and instrument of office.”

On the health condition of the Olubadan-designate, Ladoja said: “To me, the new Olubadan is fit. He had been on the journey of becoming the Olubadan since 1983. The new Olubadan is fit, but only old.”

Abia State government has warned citizens against unhealthy hygiene following an alert from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) on the increasing incidence of cholera cases nationwide.

The government through the State Ministry of Health in a statement said a total of 109 suspected cases of cholera have been reported in the state from January to June 2024, across six local government areas.

According to the ministry Ohafia recorded one case, Ikwuano: 9 cases, Osisioma 1 case, Bende 17 cases, Umunneochi 39 cases and Arochukwu 42 cases.

The ministry further stated that only two of the samples collected tested positive using rapid diagnostic testing (RDT), adding that both samples were sent to the National Reference Lab in Abuja, and were confirmed negative for cholera.

“The Abia State Ministry of Health emphasizes that Abia State has not recorded any confirmed positive case of cholera within the period under review.

“Nevertheless, in light of the ongoing outbreak reported in some states, the Ministry has instituted response measures towards prevention and identification of any suspected cases, and appropriate treatment.

” As part of the intervention, citizens are advised to continue to observe preventive measures to stay safe.

“Preventive measures include ensuring access to safe drinking water, practicing sanitation including proper hand washing and maintaining personal hygiene, handling food safely and washing fruits and vegetables properly before consumption.

“The Ministry of Health urges citizens to remain vigilant and take necessary precautions to prevent the spread of cholera. Further updates will be provided as necessary” the release said.

Former Super Eagles head coach, Finidi George has opened up on why he resigned from the position.

Finidi submitted his resignation letter to the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, on Saturday.

The 53-year-old took the decision after the NFF announced it would hire a foreign technical adviser to tinker the team.

In a video posted on social media hours later, a former media officer of the Eagles, Colin Udoh, confirmed he had spoken to Finidi after his decision.

“Finidi confirmed to me that he resigned his position indeed,” Udoh said.

“The reason being that he met with the NFF on Thursday, and they had a very good conversation.

“They spoke about the things they need to do going forward and he (Finidi) asked if he will be back.

“At no point during that meeting did anyone tell him they were going to appoint a foreign technical adviser.

“The NFF board had met on Wednesday and made that decision. But it was when Findi landed in Port Harcourt after that meeting that someone called him and informed him. He (Finidi) had to park his car and read the link to see that it actually was true.

“So he waited for two days to see if anyone would contact him but nobody spoke to him. So he (Finidi) felt they didn’t want him anymore and so he decided to turn in his resignation.”

The Minister of Works, David Umahi, has reiterated that President Bola Tinubu means well for Nigeria and is passionate about making the country better.

Umahi made the submission on Sunday when he inspected some ongoing federal government projects in Enugu and neighbouring states.

According to him, the President is committed to revolutionizing the economy through road infrastructure development.

A statement by the minister’s Special Adviser on Media, Uchenna Orji, reads in part: “The administration of Mr President thought it expedient, in keeping with his agenda of robust economic revolution for a sustainable future of our country, to construct for Enugu State a mega twin flyover that will beat the elegance and utility of all flyovers ever built in the South East.

“This flyover, when completed, will change the face of Enugu State, attract trade and investment to the State, reduce accident and insecurity, improve safety and increase patronage to the economic facilities, including Airports in Enugu and Ebonyi States and that of other neighbouring states.

“Mr President means well for Nigeria and is determined to revolutionize the economy through road infrastructure development.

“The Honourable Minister has this as a task that must be accomplished. He knows the job. His passion to deliver is unequalled.”

During the visit, Umahi visited the ongoing reconstruction of the collapsed New Artisan Bridge at Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway and also the ongoing construction of a 23-span mega twin flyover bridge at Emene in Enugu State.

Former President Muhammadu Buhari has advised Nigerians to keep growing their own foods and control population growth.

The former President expressed satisfaction that a considerable number of Nigerians have embraced farming once again.

Buhari, however, expressed deep concern over the unchecked rise in population within the nation, saying the situation now calls for immediate attention. 

He spoke to journalists after participating in the Kofor Arewa Eid prayer in Katsina on Sunday, in light of the current conditions in the nation.

“The need for greater discussion and awareness about this problem, (uncontrolled population growth) as well as a need to invest more in education and health.

“Let us grow our own food. We have shown that we can do it. This is not the time to relent when we see prices going up. Let us buy what is produced in the country.

“The foundation of a prosperous and stable country has been laid by successive governments, and I encourage our youth, in particular, to continue to play an active role in various nation-building efforts,” he said.

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has voiced disappointment regarding the composition of the newly constituted governing councils for federal universities across Nigeria.

ASUU’s national president, Prof Emmanuel Osodeke, expressed these concerns in a recent interview with the Nigerian Tribune, highlighting a worrying trend in the appointment process.

According to Prof Osodeke, the new list of council members is dominated by retired politicians rather than experts in academia or relevant fields.

“Most of them are retired politicians. They are honourable this and honourable that,” Osodeke remarked, questioning the suitability of such appointments for the strategic development of higher education institutions in the country.

Prof Osodeke further criticized the new list as being worse than its predecessor, indicating a regression rather than progress in the appointment policies.

“Go and look at the list again, you will see that most of them are retired politicians. That is how terrible the thing has become,” he lamented.

ASUU also raised issues beyond the qualifications of the appointed individuals. The union pointed out that the formation of new councils was procedurally flawed and possibly illegal.

The Federal Government had dissolved the previous councils over ten months ago before their tenures had expired, contrary to the stipulations of the University Act.

ASUU argued that these members should have been allowed to complete their terms instead of assembling a new council, which seems to overlook legal frameworks.

The union emphasized that university education should not be subject to partisan politics if Nigeria aspires to achieve real educational quality that can lead to economic prosperity.

“We can’t run our universities like this if we truly want genuine development to take place,” Prof Osodeke stated, urging a reevaluation of how university councils are constituted.

The lawmaker representing Ekiti Central senatorial district and Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, on Sunday, pleaded with the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), to accept whatever the federal government offered them above ₦60,000 as the new minimum wage.

Bamidele urged organised labour to toe the path of dialogue and peace in the negotiation for a new minimum wage, for which President Bola Tinubu had promised to send a bill to the National Assembly.

He reiterated the need for Nigerians to demonstrate more patriotic spirit and oneness in their daily activities as the nation journeys through its socio-political trajectory towards the promised land.

Bamidele, who made the call in his Eid-el-Kabir message yesterday, said: “The federal government has conceded to N60,000, which translates to a 100 per cent increase. But both NLC and TUC turned down this offer, leading to a two-day industrial action.

“The federal government has promised to make more concessions in this respect. As the federal government reveals its new offer, I plead with organised labour to accept it in the national interest.

“The economy will remain in this condition. Collectively, we are taking multi-pronged measures to reverse disturbing economic indicators.”

Naija News reports that labour had vowed to reject the ₦62,000 offered by President Tinubu-led government.

President Bola Tinubu has been appealed to by the leader of the Ijaw nation, Edwin Clark, to direct the Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, to file a nolle prosequi for the release of the leader of the Independent People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.

Clark urged Tinubu to ask the Attorney General of the Federation to file a nolle prosequi to release the detained IPOB leader, noting that his (Kanu’s) freedom on political grounds was long overdue.

This was contained in a second letter to the President on Sunday, following a first in which the elder statesman urged the President not to tow the path of his predecessor, President Muhammadu Buhari, who marginalised and subjugated the Igbos, by exempting them from certain appointments.

He said, “The release of Nnamdi Kanu by Mr President on political grounds is overdue as earlier explained. Mr President should direct the Attorney General to enter a nolle prosequi to free Nnamdi Kanu who has shown his intention to work with the Federal Government, to bring peace and stability in the South-East and to Nigerians as a whole, as it has been recently done in similar cases of treasonable felony as in the case of Miyetti Allah president, Abdullahi Bello Bodejo of Nasarawa state.”

In his letter, Clark said the move would complete the reconciliation of Nigeria and end the sit-at-home order in the Southeast.

He said the IPOB had “fashioned a place for itself” in the hearts and minds of young people, because of the short-changing of Igbos from the South East over the years while urging the use of the “carrot and stick approach”, rather than military force, in addressing the agitations in the region.

“Apart from demanding the restructuring of Nigeria, the political freedom of Nnamdi Kanu will no doubt complete the reconciliation of Nigeria and bring an end to the needless Monday sit-at-home order, which has disturbed businesses and civil activities in the South-East.

“The short-changing of the Igbos of the South East over the years is the reason why IPOB has fashioned a place for itself in the hearts and minds of the young people in the Southeast with its demand for self-determination. I have physically seen these IPOB boys in action, at the Ekwueme Square in Awka, Anambra State, when I attended a meeting of the Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum there.

“None of these youths witnessed the civil war and are, definitely, not abreast with the history of the war and its full ramifications. I advise, therefore, that rather than the use of military force which has already proved counter-productive, they should be carefully treated with the “carrot and stick approach”, in the interest of the peace, stability, and progress of Nigeria as a whole and the Southeast zone in particular.”

Clark further emphasised the importance of reintegrating the Igbos into the mainstream of Nigeria, in which their region would be equal with other regions in the country, noting that anything short of that would not be in the interest of the country.

“Let me re-emphasize the importance and urgency of reintegrating the Igbos into the mainstream of Nigeria where their region will be equal with other regions in all ramifications, meaning that they should be fully and unconditionally united or be admitted into the Union of Nigeria as it was before the civil war.

“Anything short of that is not in the interest of a united Nigeria and there may be no end to the insecurity in Nigeria.”

He also called for the restructuring of Nigeria, of which he said the President had also been a principal advocate before becoming Senator and the Governor of Lagos state, adding that restructuring the country “will be one of your most enduring legacies when you leave office”.

“Mr President you have always been the principal advocate of restructuring even before you became Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Governor of Lagos State.

“During your time, you passionately advocated for a Sovereign National Conference, which was even more inclusive than the current restructuring we are demanding, in Nigeria. Undoubtedly, this pursuit of restructuring will be one of your most enduring legacies when you leave office,” he added.