Author: David Great

Ibrahim Masari who was Bola Tinubu’s running mate in place holder capacity has withdrawn from the race as the APC presidential candidate, names Kashim Shettima as his substantive running mate. In a statement on Sunday, Masari said, “This is to inform our esteemed party leaders under our able President Muhammadu Buhari, teeming party members and the great people of Nigeria, of the outcome of a crucial discussion I just had with the flag-bearer of our great party, All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. “Recall that I had the singular honour and privilege of being nominated as the running-mate…

The presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Bola Tinubu, has picked Senator Kashim Shettima as his running mate. There have been reports that Tinubu and the APC were going to present a Muslim-Muslim ticket and the announcement of Shettima has confirmed it. Tinubu made this known in an interactive session with reporters during a visit to President Muhammadu Buhari in Daura, Katsina State on Sunday. A News Agency of Nigeria source had earlier hinted that Tinubu had chosen Shettima and the Vice-Presidential candidate would be announced this week. “The vice-presidential nominee may most likely be a former governor and…

Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has announced he will step down after protesters stormed his official residence and set the prime minister’s house on fire. Neither the PM nor the president were in the buildings at the time. Hundreds of thousands descended on the capital Colombo, calling for Mr Rajapaksa to resign after months of protests over economic mismanagement. Mr Rajapaksa will step down on 13 July. PM Wickremesinghe has agreed to resign. The speaker of parliament said the president decided to step down “to ensure a peaceful handover of power” and called on the public to “respect the law”.…

Gunmen armed with rifles and pistols opened fire at people sitting in a tavern in the South African township of Soweto in the early hours of Sunday, killing 15 and wounding nine, police said. The carnage took place shortly after midnight, according to police who said the group of men entered the Orlando East tavern before “shooting randomly at the patrons”. The unknown gunmen fled the scene and are now on the run, said police, adding that wasn’t not clear how many were involved in the attack. South Africa is one of the world’s most violent countries with 20,000 people…

African Centre for Media and Information Literacy (AFRICMIL) has launched a report on the root cause of the farmers and herders in the North Central area of Nigeria. Dr Chido Onumah, Coordinator, AFRICMIL made this known at a roundtable on report of research on the farmers-herders crisis in North Central Nigeria organised by the centre. According to Onumah, the report is the outcome of a research conducted by Dr Plangshak Musa Suchi and Dr Sallek Yaks Musa, both of the Department of Sociology, University of Jos, Nigeria. “For us in AFRICMIL, we have in the last five years been working…

Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has filed a lawsuit against the 36 state governors “over their failure to redirect public funds budgeted to pay ex-governors undeserved life pensions, to pay the counterpart funds that would allow poor children to enjoy access to quality basic education in their states.” Over N40 billion has been reportedly paid to 47 former governors from 21 of the 36 states in pensions and provision of houses, staff and motor vehicles replaceable between three and four years. However, several states have reportedly failed to pay the counterpart funds to access over N51bn matching grants earmarked…

Arsenal could make a surprise approach for Chelsea and France midfielder N’Golo Kante, 31. (Star) England forward Phil Foden, 22, is set to sign a new six-year deal at Manchester City worth £200,000-a-week. (Star) Manchester United remain convinced that Denmark midfielder Christian Eriksen, 30, will move to Old Trafford despite suggestions from Brentford that he could remain with them. (ESPN) Ajax have told Manchester United to improve their offer of 43m euros if they want to sign Argentina centre-back Lisandro Martinez, 24. (90 Min) Erik ten Hag also wants to step up his interest in Ajax’s Brazilian winger Antony, 22, with a new bid. (Times – subscription required) United have been approached to sign Paulo Dybala…

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it stands by the reports received from its state offices in relation to the party primaries for the Akwa Ibom North West and Yobe North Senatorial Districts. The commission stated this in a statement issued by Festus Okoye, National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, in Abuja on Saturday. Okoye said that the attention of the commission had been drawn to speculations circulating online on the outcome of some of the recent primaries conducted by political parties and related issues. He said that in particular, the allegations intended to impugn the…

Armed robbers number over 30 invaded a building with about 15 flats located at Agadez Crescent, Wuse 2, Abuja, at the early hours of Friday and successfully robbed about 10 flats. The attack on the sets of flats comes three nights after 400 inmates mainly Boko Haram terrorists were freed from Kuje Medium Security Prison. According to an eyewitness, the armed robbers arrived the compound at about 2:30am and operated for several hours uninterrupted. “They disposed residents of phones, cash and lots of household items and they also injured those who refused to give in easily to their demands. For…

Southampton have completed the signing of Rangers midfielder Joe Aribo on a four-year contract. The 25-year-old Nigeria international joins for a fee reported to be about £6m, rising to £10m with add-ons. Aribo spent three seasons at Ibrox after moving from Charlton in 2019, helping Rangers win the Scottish Premiership in 2021 and scoring in last season’s Europa League final defeat. “It’s an amazing club with a lot of history here,” Joe Aribo said. How does it feel to reach the #PL, @J_Aribo19? ???? Watch our first interview with #SaintsFC’s fifth summer signing ???? — Southampton FC (@SouthamptonFC) July 9,…