Author: Chronicle Editor

Afrobeats singer, Teni The Entertainer, has dismissed rumours there was an attempt to kidnap her in Rivers state, after a video emerged over the weekend which showed a commotion during her performance there during which she left the stage. Some people were running and loud bangs could be heard in the background. Police later confirmed that shots were fired by security operatives to restore order and not kidnappers. On her Instagram account, the musician expressed gratitude about escaping the incident safely. “Myself and entire team are safe and back home now,” she wrote. “It all happened so fast there was…

As pupils return to classrooms, the head of one UK education trust has told the BBC he’s concerned about staffing shortages as Covid cases surge. Tom Quinn, chief executive of the Frank Field Education Trust, says it used up its yearly fund for supply teachers last term. “The call-to-arms to have extra funding could help us but… we can’t find supply teachers to come in,” he told BBC Breakfast at an academy in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire. “We need high quality professional teachers to come in to help children learn and they’re not there.” Omicron: Germany tightens restrictions on UK travellers Before…

World number one Novak Djokovic says he will defend his Australian Open title later this month after receiving a medical exemption from having a Covid-19 vaccination. All players and staff at the tournament must be vaccinated or have an exemption granted by an expert independent panel. Djokovic, a nine-time Australian Open winner, has not spoken publicly about his vaccination status. The tournament begins in Melbourne on 17 January. “I’ve spent fantastic quality time with my loved ones over the break and today I’m heading down under with an exemption permission,” the 34-year-old said on Instagram on Tuesday. “Let’s go 2022.…

By Owei Lakemfa Two bills in the last two weeks, defined for me the President Muhammadu Buhari government including its state of mind, wellbeing, position on democracy and its so-called war on corruption. On Monday, December 20, 2021, it declined assent to the 2021 Electoral Act Amendment Bill on the basis – rather, excuse – that it contained a provision for direct primaries in political parties. Direct primaries empower registered members of a party to vote for their candidates in main elections, while indirect primaries empowers assumed delegates to decide on candidates. Citing this lone provision, President Buhari threw back…

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress and former Member, House of Representatives, Hon. Patrick Obahiagbon, has advised President Muhammadu Buhari and the party’s Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee, to propound a pathway to the party ahead of the 2023 general election. Hon Obahiagbon, gave the charge on Monday in Abuja, in a letter of commendation to the Chairman Caretaker committee and Yobe state Governor, Hon. Mai Mala Buni. The former legislator further advised that personal and selfish interests must not override the interest of the party. “The party interest is more paramount than parochial and self centered agitations from…

The Kaduna State Government has earmarked N4.7 billion for the provision of water, sanitation, and hygiene services in its 2022 budget. This is contained in the 2022 budget size of N278.6 billion, signed by Governor Nasir El-Rufai on December 22 and made available to reporters in Kaduna yesterday. The budget document showed that a total of N4.7 billion was allocated to the state’s Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency, representing 1.7 per cent of the total budget. Of the amount, N4.6 billion was allocated for capital expenditure, while N16.7 million was for recurrent expenditure. The budget showed that N1.5 billion…

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kaduna State has slammed Senator Shehu Sani who represented Kaduna Central, over demeaning comments. Sani who recently declared to run for governor on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), said he, “will clean all the dirt they brought in the state in the name of development” -a comment allegedly targeted at the APC administration. In a statement yesterday, Salisu Tanko Wusono, spokesperson of Kaduna APC, said governance is “a serious activity, meant for those with a track record of serious endeavours.” The former senator is known for using his social media accounts…

Real Madrid, Paris St-Germain, Bayern Munich and Juventus have all opened talks with Antonio Rudiger’s representatives over a pre-contract agreement this month for the 28-year-old German defender, whose Chelsea deal expires in the summer. (Sky Sports) Lille have told Newcastle that Dutch centre-back Sven Botman, 21, is not for sale after the clubs discussed a fee of about £30m. (Telegraph – subscription required) But Newcastle have made a breakthrough in talks with Atletico Madrid over signing England defender Kieran Trippier, 31, as they are on the verge of agreeing a fee of about £25m. (Express) Chelsea’s contract extension talks with…

A House of Representatives member representing Tarauni Federal Constituency in Kano State, Hafizu Kawu, has described Vice President Yemi Osibanjo as the natural successor of President Muhammadu Buhari in the 2023 election. Speaking during a press conference in Kano on Monday, Mr Kawu, a former aide to Mr Osibanjo, said the Vice President has what it takes to succeed Mr Buhari for his “experience and versatility”. The lawmaker said that even though the vice president had not yet declared his intention to contest for the presidency, he is the most suitable candidate to succeed Mr Buhari. According to him, Mr…

Airport staff in Mauritius have found a newborn baby boy abandoned in the rubbish bin of a plane’s toilet. A 20-year-old woman from Madagascar, suspected of having given birth on the flight, was arrested. The Air Mauritius plane, which arrived from Madagascar, landed at Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport on 1 January. Airport officers made the discovery when they screened the plane for a routine customs check. They rushed the baby to a public hospital for treatment. The woman suspected of being the child’s mother, who initially denied the boy was hers, was made to undergo a medical examination which…