Author: Opalim Lifted

Wives of the 36 State Governors of the federation have called for greater visibility and communication capacity to support their social intervention work, saying their efforts often go unnoticed despite complementing state-led development programmes. Speaking at a media and leadership retreat in Abuja on Wednesday, Ogun State First Lady Bamidele Abiodun, who spoke on behalf of her colleagues, said that as wives of elected governors, they are often the intersection of compassion and influence. The retreat, tagged “Leading With Impact,” brought together wives of governors from across the 36 states to explore strategic communication, media engagement, and narrative building. It…

Cardinals have failed to reach the required two-thirds majority in their first vote to choose a new pope in the Vatican. Black smoke emerged from the Sistine Chapel chimney at 8pm, indicating they had been unable to agree. Crowds in St Peter’s Square had been kept waiting longer than expected and most were hoping for the white smoke that signals the arrival of a new pontiff. There was only one vote today, but from Thursday the 133 cardinals will hold two votes in the morning and two in the afternoon until at least 89 pick the same name. The conclave…

Arsenal’s bid to reach the Champions League final ended in failure as they were beaten by Paris St-Germain (PSG), Ozon a night of drama at Parc des Princes. The Gunners’ attempt to overturn a 1-0 first-leg deficit ran aground on another magnificent display by the Parisians’ Gianluigi Donnarumma. The Italian, outstanding in the first leg at Emirates Stadium, delivered a repeat performance with a series of stunning saves to keep Arsenal at bay early on. He made an outstanding stop from Gabriel Martinelli, then an even better save from Martin Odegaard’s low long-range drive as PSG were rocked back. The…

A legal representative to detained social critic, Martins Otse, known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), Deji Adeyanju, has raised alarm over the alleged delay by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in releasing a formal bail document on his client. Adeyanju labelled the administrative bail granted to his client, VeryDarkMan by the commission as social media bail. “EFCC has not given us anything. It’s only social media bail, no formal bail document given to us,” Adeyanju said. The commission on Tuesday noted that it has granted Martins Otse, VeryDarkMan administrative bail and would be released after fulfilling all the bail conditions.…

Catholic cardinals who will choose the next pope were locked behind the heavy wood doors of the Sistine Chapel on Wednesday, sequestered from the world to elect the man they hope can unite a diverse but divided global Church. In a ritual dating back to medieval times, 133 cardinal electors walked slowly into the chapel before taking an oath of perpetual secrecy under the gaze of the stern Christ depicted in Michelangelo’s Last Judgement fresco, which adorns the chapel. Archbishop Diego Ravelli, the Vatican’s master of ceremonies, then pronounced the Latin command “Extra omnes!” (Everyone out!), telling all those not…

Davido, the Afrobeats sensation, has revealed that football legend Cristiano Ronaldo once invited him to watch a match at Manchester United’s iconic Old Trafford Stadium. Ronaldo, who first joined Manchester United in 2003 before leaving for Real Madrid in 2009, made a celebrated return to the club in 2021. However, his second stint was short-lived, as he moved to Saudi Arabian club Al Nassr in 2023. Davido reminisced about their encounter in an X post on Tuesday night while reacting to Inter Milan and Barcelona’s thrilling Champions League match. The ‘5ive’ hitmaker highlighted football’s emotional highs and lows, recalling how…

Skating on public roads in Osun State could soon land offenders behind bars for six months or cost them a hefty N250,000 fine, as lawmakers move to outlaw the activity. During a heated Tuesday session in Abeokuta, the Osun House of Assembly deliberated on the Osun State Skating Restriction Bill 2025, with Speaker Adewale Egbedun announcing that skating on roads or sidewalks will be a criminal offence once the bill is passed. Egbedun, who chaired the committee of the whole, described roller skating as strictly an indoor sport. “This bill is aimed at protecting both skaters and the public from…

The UK Foreign Office has issued a stark travel advisory warning British nationals to avoid non-essential travel to India and Pakistan, following a deadly military exchange between the two nuclear-armed neighbours. The advisory comes in the wake of escalating hostilities along the disputed border, with both sides launching retaliatory strikes that have left dozens dead and hundreds injured. Explosions and gunfire were reported near key military outposts, prompting fears of a wider regional conflict. “Given the rapidly deteriorating security situation, British citizens are strongly advised to exercise extreme caution, avoid affected areas, and follow local authorities’ instructions,” a Foreign Office…

A Federal High Court in Abuja heard on Tuesday how the proscribed Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, admitted operating an illegal radio station and inciting members of the public to attack police officers. An official of the Department of State Services (DSS) said this while testifying as the second prosecution witness (PW2) in Nnamdi Kanu’s ongoing terrorism trial before Justice James Omotosho. The witness, identified with the acronym BBB, testified behind a screen provided by the court. He said Nnamdi Kanu confirmed his activities while giving his statement. Led in evidence by prosecuting lawyer, Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN),…

An official of the Department of State Services (DSS) has stated that the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, seeks the secession of the five South-East states, as well as parts of Kogi and Benue states, from the rest of Nigeria. The official, who identified as BBB, said this while testifying as the second prosecution witness (PW2) in Kanu’s ongoing terrorism trial before Justice James Omotosho. Testifying behind a screen provided by the court, he said Kanu confirmed his activities while giving his statement, adding that the defendant’s statement-taking session was recorded on video. BBB was…