Author: Opalim Lifted

Unfolding events in Africa continue to intrigue the world, and the fact that no less than seven military coups have been successfully effected in no less than seven African countries in the last three years gives cause for concern. What is the cause of these violent acts of mutiny and rebellion, and can there be any justification for such behaviour? How legitimate were the mandates of those that have been toppled, and are the soldiers that have carried out these ostensibly illegal acts of insurrection, revolution, and treason and taken power by the barrel of a gun criminals and rebels…

Novak Djokovic refused to allow Daniil Medvedev to ruin his second rendezvous with history, defeating the Russian 6-3, 7-6(5), 6-3 to win the U.S. Open and tie Margaret Court’s record tally of 24 Grand Slams. Djokovic’s win, his fourth in ten Flushing Meadows finals, ended an incredible season that included victories at the Australian Open and Roland Garros, and he will reclaim the top spot in the global rankings when they are updated later on Monday. No man has won a calendar Grand Slam in 54 years, though Djokovic came close again in the Wimbledon final, losing in five sets…

Following criticism for kissing Spain player Jenni Hermoso during the Women’s World Cup final presentation ceremony, Luis Rubiales resigned as head of the Spanish Football Federation. Hermoso, 33, said the kiss after Spain defeated England was consensual and filed a judicial complaint last Tuesday. In a statement, Rubiales stated that he had offered his resignation to federation acting president Pedro Rocha. “I cannot continue my work,” he said on Piers Morgan’s television show. The 46-year-old has also stepped down as vice president of Uefa’s executive committee. The aftermath of the kiss has gripped Spanish football in recent weeks, overshadowing Spain’s…

Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz has pulled out of this month’s Davis Cup to recover following his U.S. Open semi-final loss, the world number one said on Saturday. Alcaraz, the defending champion at New York, exited this year’s final major after suffering a defeat to third seed Daniil Medvedev of Russia on Friday. Albert Ramos-Vinolas, who is 20 years old, will take Alcaraz’s place in the Spain team. “I was really looking forward to playing for Spain at the Davis Cup in Valencia, but I have to listen to my body after a very long tour,” Alcaraz said on messaging platform X,…

The Super Eagles of Nigeria turned up the heat, thumping Sao Tome and Principe 6-0 in front of a packed Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo. Victor Osimhen scored a hat-trick. Super Eagles had put 10 goals past their opponent in their previous meeting, and this was expected to be a walk in the park for the Super Eagles, which is exactly what happened on the night. Osimhen opened the scoring in the 14th minute, and Ademola Lookman’s shot made it two at the break. Taiwo Awoniyi, the in-form Nottingham Forest forward, got in on the act immediately after the restart…

A boat mishap has claimed the lives of more than 30 farmers and left others missing in Mokwa Local Government Area of Niger State. The chairman of Mokwa LGA, Jibrin Abdullahi Muregi, confirmed the incident, saying 21 corpses had so far been recovered by local divers. He added that efforts were ongoing to rescue the remaining victims. Chronicle NG gathered that the incident happened on Sunday morning and that rescue officials were still at the scene. Also, the cause of the boat mishap is still unknown, although sources around the area said the passengers were not wearing any life jackets…

The Court of Appeal (CoA) released on Sunday the Certified True Copy (CTC) of the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal judgement (PEPT). The PEPT delivered a 12-hour judgement on the appeals arising from the presidential election, upholding the election of President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday. A copy of the Judgement went viral on social media on Friday. The PEPC Secretary had dated and signed the 798-page document as of September 8, 2023. The CoA made their certified true copy of  judgement available, contrary to Tinubu’s presidential legal team’s watermarked viral copy. Obi heads to Supreme Court, rejects PEPT judgement Chronicle NG…

Niger’s junta accused France on Sunday of deploying troops in various West African nations in preparation for a future military intervention alongside the regional body ECOWAS. The junta also reiterated its call for French troops to leave its country in a communiqué read on state television overnight, a key source of friction between the former allies since the July 26 ousting of President Mohamed Bazoum. The statement urged “national and international opinion to witness the consequences of France’s aggressive, underhanded, and contemptuous attitude.” Since Paris pronounced the junta illegitimate, relations between Niger and its former colonizer, France, have deteriorated. The…

The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCS) has restrained men and officers over the circulation of memos and other documents with official permission on social media. Reports gathered that the service’s memo might not be unconnected with the recent grumbling by the NCS officers in a WhatsApp group, where they accused their superiors of hijacking their welfare packages. Insiders said the service decided to go the whole hog by ordering the officers to shut down all their WhatsApp groups. The service warned the prison officers against “indiscriminate” use of social media or sharing the service logo, name, buildings, word, phrase, or trademark…

Siminalayi Fubara, Rivers State Governor, announced on Saturday a N100 million bounty on Gift David Okpara Okpolowu, a.k.a. 2-Baba, and members of his gang over the gruesome murder of a Divisional Police Officer, Bako Angbashim. The DPO was killed on Friday night while in an operation with his men in the Odiemudie Community, Ahoada East local government area of the state, reports said. Governor Fubara, who announced the bounty in a statement he personally signed, said anyone who gives useful information that would lead to the arrest and prosecution of the suspect would be rewarded with the N100 million. Fubara…