Author: Opalim Lifted

Sunderland moved up to second in the Premier League after Chemsdine Talbi’s dramatic stoppage-time winner stunned Chelsea 2-1 at Stamford Bridge. The Black Cats, managed by Regis Le Bris, looked set for a hard-fought draw until Talbi struck in the 94th minute, firing home from the edge of the box after a lightning counter-attack. Chelsea had taken an early lead when Alejandro Garnacho marked his first goal for the club with a brilliant solo run and finish. But Sunderland levelled before the break as Wilson Isidor pounced from close range following a defensive mix-up from a long throw. Despite the…

Two of Yoruba land’s most influential monarchs, the Ooni of Ife, Adeyeye Ogunwusi, and the Alaafin of Oyo, Abimbola Owoade, have reconciled after a two-month rift, marking what observers described as a turning point in Yoruba history. The peace meeting took place on Friday at Eko Hotel, Lagos, during the 90th birthday celebration of billionaire businessman, Kessington Adebutu, popularly known as Baba Ijebu. Convened by Adebutu, the dialogue ended with the signing of a joint communiqué announcing the creation of the Joint Council for Yoruba Unity, a body dedicated to promoting peace, cultural preservation, and socioeconomic progress across Yoruba communities.…

Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Olisa Agbakoba has defended President Bola Tinubu’s decision to replace the nation’s Service Chiefs, describing it as a bold and necessary move. Appearing on Politics Today, a Channels TV programme, Agbakoba said Tinubu acted decisively to strengthen Nigeria’s security architecture. He commended the president for taking action that his predecessor, Muhammadu Buhari, had avoided. “You have a president who is prepared to take tough decisions,” Agbakoba said. “Buhari allowed his military team to stay far longer than they should have, but Tinubu has shown readiness to make hard calls.” The senior lawyer added that the…

The wealth of Aliko Dangote, the president of the Dangote Industries Limited (DIL), has reached a new milestone, as the billionaire’s net worth hit the $30 billion mark on Friday. According to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, Dangote’s net worth increased by $2.25 billion to $30.3 billion as at October 24. The billionaire businessman moved up to the 75th position, making him the only African on the top 100 billionaires’ list. The feat comes two weeks after Dangote Cement, a subsidiary of the Dangote Group, officially launched its operations in Attingué, an industrial area in Côte d’Ivoire. According to a statement…

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has disclosed that he rejected a proposal to endorse former Kaduna State governor, Nasir el-Rufai, as his successor in 2007. Speaking at the second annual symposium of the Ajibosin Platform in Abeokuta, Ogun State, themed “Importance of Leadership in Governance”, Obasanjo revealed that Osita Chidoka, then a young reformist and later aviation minister, had recommended el-Rufai for the presidency. El-Rufai, who served as the Director-General of the Bureau of Public Enterprises and later as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory under Obasanjo’s administration, was considered one of the president’s trusted technocrats. However, Obasanjo said he turned…

The National Economic Council (NEC) has appointed the Governor of Enugu State, Dr Peter Mbah, as chairman of a new committee tasked with reforming training institutions for Nigeria’s security agencies. The decision was reached during the Council’s 152nd meeting held on Thursday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, where members endorsed President Bola Tinubu’s plan for a complete overhaul of the nation’s security training facilities. To deliver the initiative, the NEC unanimously selected Mbah to head the committee. Governors Uba Sani (Kaduna), Dapo Abiodun (Ogun), Kefas Agbu (Taraba), Umo Eno (Akwa Ibom), Dauda Lawal (Zamfara) and Abdullahi Sule (Nasarawa) were named…

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has maintained that the crime rate in Abuja has dropped considerably. Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja, Wike addressed public anxiety over recent violent incidents, including the killing of Somtochukwu Maduagwu, an Arise Television journalist, in Katampe late September. Somtochukwu, affectionately known as Sommie, was laid to rest on 18 October in Agulu, Anaocha Local Government Area of Anambra State. Responding to claims that the city is facing a surge in crime, Wike challenged reporters to provide data backing such assertions. “So when you talk about spikes, what are the…

There was mild drama at the Magistrate Court in Kuje, Abuja, on Friday when police officers whisked away Omoyele Sowore, the human rights activist and publisher of Sahara Reporters, moments after he was granted bail. Sowore, along with 12 others including Aloy Ejimakor, a former counsel to Nnamdi Kanu, was granted bail by Magistrate Abubakar Umar Sai’id. Each defendant was asked to produce two sureties and pay a sum of ₦500,000. They were also required to submit a verified National Identification Number, a three-year tax clearance certificate, and their passports. However, shortly after the court ruling, policemen reportedly manhandled Sowore…

A magistrate court in Abuja has granted bail to Omoyele Sowore, human rights activist. Also granted bail were Aloy Ejimakor, one of Nnamdi Kanu’s disengaged counsel, and 11 others. Sowore was arrested by police on Thursday shortly after leaving the premises of the federal high court in Abuja. The Sahara Reporters publisher was arrested for leading the #FreeNnamdiKanu protest to “restricted areas” in the city centre. On Tuesday, the court remanded Ejimakor and 11 others for “inciting public disturbance” during the protest. Police arrest Sowore in Abuja Others granted bail are Emmanuel Kanu, Joshua Emmanuel, Wilson Anyalewechi, Okere Kingdom Nnamdi,…

President Bola Tinubu has made changes in the hierarchy of the Service Chiefs, replacing General Christopher Musa with General Olufemi Oluyede as the Chief of Defence Staff. Tinubu also appointed Major-General W. Shaibu as the new Chief of Army Staff, Air Vice Marshall S.K. Aneke as the Chief of Air Staff and Rear Admiral I. Abbas is the new Chief of Naval Staff. Chief of Defence Intelligence Major-General E.A.P Undiendeye retains his position. The change was announced in a statement signed by the Special Adviser to the President, Media & Public Communication, Sunday Dare, on Friday. He said that the…