The 10th edition of the historic Okpekpe international 10km Road Race will hold on Saturday, May 25, 2024, according to World Athletics.
The race, the first road running event in West Africa to get World Athletics recognition is among the 30 gold level road races listed in World Athletics’ worldwide calendar of global races for 2024.
Overall, World Athletics has confirmed 167 road races for the year and Okpekpe race is the first gold level 10km road race that will hold in 2024.
Zack Amodu, Okpekpe Road Race director says organisers of the race are happy to have consistently received recognition from World Athletics since it was granted a bronze label status in 2015.
“Since the race made history as the first Nigerian nay West African road running event to be recognised by World Athletics and granted a bronze label status in 2015, it has continued to wax stronger and have grown to a gold level status.
“This is down to our ability to play by World Athletics rules,” said Amodu who reveals other reasons why the race has been a huge success.
“The support we have received from the Okpekpe town and its environs, the people and government of Edo state, the Athletics Federation of Nigeria, the Federal Ministry of Sports Development and of course our sponsors have been invaluable.
“Through our sponsors we have been able to make Edo State in particular and Nigeria in general a destination of sort for Sports.
“On May 25, the attention of the whole sporting world will be on Nigeria when the race is held. It is the only gold level road race that will be held in the whole world that day which means there will be no divided attention,” said Amodu who further revealed this edition will also serve as a qualifying event for the Paris 2024 Olympics.
Samsung has ushered in a “new era of AI” with the launch of its Galaxy S24 smartphone series, which leans heavily on the vendor’s big-name partners – Google Cloud and Qualcomm – for the capabilities and functionality that enable features such as live translation of calls and texts.
AI amplifies nearly every experience on the Galaxy S24 series, from enabling barrier-free communication with intelligent text and call translations, to maximizing creative freedom with Galaxy’s ProVisual Engine, to setting a new standard for search that will change how Galaxy users discover the world around them.
President and Head of Mobile experience Business at Samsung Electronics, TM Roh, said: “The Galaxy S24 series transforms our connection with the world and ignites the next decade of mobile innovation. “Galaxy AI is built on our innovation heritage and deep understanding of how people use their phones. We’re excited to see how our users around the world empower their everyday lives with Galaxy AI to open new possibilities.”
Galaxy AI introduces meaningful intelligence aimed at enhancing every part of life, especially the phone’s most fundamental role: communication. When users need to defy language barriers, Galaxy S24 makes it easier than ever.
The Galaxy S24 launch is seen as an effort by Samsung to use AI-driven features to “reignite consumers’ interest in smartphones at a time when incremental hardware updates have seen sales slow”.
The CEO, Samsung Electronics West Africa, Sung-won Jung, said that for messages and other apps, Chat Assist can help perfect conversational tones to ensure communication sounds as it was intended: like a polite message to a coworker or a short and catchy phrase for a social media caption.
“AI built into Samsung Keyboard can also translate messages in real-time in 13 languages. In the car, Android will automatically summarize incoming messages and suggest relevant replies and actions, like sending someone your ETA, so you can stay connected while staying focused on the road.
“Organisation also gets a big boost with Note Assist in Samsung Notes, featuring AI-generated summaries, template creation that streamlines notes with pre-made formats, and cover creation to make notes easy to spot with a brief preview. For voice recordings, even when there are multiple speakers, Transcript Assist uses AI and speech-to-text technology to transcribe, summarize and even translate recordings,” he said.
Afrobeat sensations Kizz Daniel and Davido have unveiled the remix of Kizz Daniel’s hit single, ‘Twe Twe’. Following their last collaboration since 2018 on ‘One Ticket’, This dynamic remix sees the two Nigerian superstars merging their unparalleled talents to deliver a musical experience that promises to captivate audiences worldwide.
Since its original release on the 12th of December, ‘Twe Twe’ has gone on to spend several weeks as the number-one song on the official Nigeria charts, the number-one song on the radio and the most streamed song on Youtube. The remix not only looks to reintroduce the beloved ‘Twe Twe’ but also infuses it with the dynamic energy and distinct styles of both artists. The result is a fresh and exciting musical experience that resonates with a diverse audience.
Source close to the artiste claim there is a music video set to drop soon directed by Visionary Nigerian Director, TG Omori. With the director’s pedigree, we are sure to expect an immersive visual journey that complements the pulsating richness of the track. As the “Twe Twe” remix looks to make waves, the video would definitely amplify the impact of the track, creating a multimedia experience that is bound to leave a lasting impression on audiences across the globe.
As Nigeria prepares to face hosts Côte d’Ivoire today in a crucial Group A match at the ongoing 34th Africa Cup of Nations in Abidjan, former Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode and former Captain of the senior national team, Austin Jay Jay Okocha have joined other supporters to wish Super Eagles victory.
Ambode and Okocha along with NFF President, Ibrahim Musa Gusau visited the three-time African champions at their camp Wednesday night to motivate them to victory.
They urged Eagles to be at their best to overcome the Ivorians who are expected to have massive support inside the 60,000-capacity Stade Alassane Ouattara in Ebimpe area of Abidjan.
The hosts won their opening game against Guinea-Bissau to lead Group A on three points while Eagles have one point from their 1-1 draw against Equatorial Guinea.
The Equatorial Guinea’s Nzalang Nacional will take on Guinea Bissau in the Group’s other game.
The last match of the evening is between Egypt and Ghana. Egypt drew their opening match with Mozambique while Ghana lost 2-1 to Cape Verde.
Hyundai Motor Company has been recognized yet again for its innovative design competitiveness by winning six top honors at the 2023 GOOD DESIGN Awards in the U.S., including four in the Transportation category and two in the Interactive Media category. Notably, Hyundai’s N Vision 74 ‘rolling lab’ achieved a global design awards ‘grand slam’.
“We feel a tremendous sense of honor to receive acknowledgment from the GOOD DESIGN Awards for these significant vehicles and innovations,” said SangYup Lee, Executive Vice President and Head of Hyundai & Genesis Global Design. “This recognition serves as a testament to the exceptional dedication exhibited by our team of visionary designers, who poured their unwavering passion and commitment into this project, alongside our collaborative engineers at the R&D center. It highlights the remarkable competitiveness of Hyundai’s design identity within the global market.”
The GOOD DESIGN Awards are selected through collaboration between The Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design in Chicago, Illinois, and The European Centre for Architecture, Art, Design and Urban Studies in Europe. They announce award-winning works in various categories for Fortune 500 and global leading companies every year.
Hyundai Motor achieved the honor of having four products, including N Vision 74, IONIQ 6, Azera and Kona, selected in the Transportation category.
In particular, the N Vision 74 high-performance hydrogen hybrid ‘rolling lab’ achieved a grand slam by winning all four major global design awards (iF, IDEA, Red Dot, GOOD DESIGN) with this award.
N Vision 74 is part of Hyundai Motor’s heritage communication efforts that seek to find the vision of the future through the bold spirit of the first independently developed Korean sports car prototype, the ‘Pony Coupe Concept,’ unveiled in 1974.
IONIQ 6 drew attention with its sleek exterior and stylish interior design. With a smooth streamlined design that minimizes wind resistance, the all-electric vehicle achieved the highest aerodynamic coefficient (Cd) of 0.21 among all Hyundai Motor vehicles, combining sensibility and efficiency.
Grandeur stood out with its advanced design that reinterprets the heritage designs of previous models. With a futuristic exterior styling and an interior that maximizes comfort and luxury, it embodies the image of Hyundai Motor’s flagship sedan.
Kona features a future-oriented image unique to electric vehicles while inheriting the existing iconic design elements. The seamless horizon lamp that spans the front, the prominent surfaces and the sharp lines harmonize to emphasize elegance.
Hyundai also won awards in the Interactive Media category with the ‘Seon,’ connected car Navigation Cockpit (ccNC) infotainment system, and the ‘Hyundai Sans UI,’ the mobility-exclusive font.
‘Seon’ is a new design theme applied to the next-generation integrated infotainment system, first introduced in the new Grandeur. It completes a differentiated graphic design that uses linear elements, such as straight lines and ovals, that can be seen in daily life to convey a familiar and comfortable feeling.
‘Hyundai Sans UI’ is Hyundai Motor’s first mobility-exclusive font, applied to the infotainment system of every ccNC-applied Hyundai model. It contributes to enhancing the completeness of the infotainment system by providing consistent legibility in any external environment through a harmony of smooth curves and refined straight lines.
“With this intuitive and attractive design, we’ve provided a familiar and comfortable interface for our customers to enhance their overall experience,” said Haeyoung Kwon, Vice President and Head of Infotainment Development Center. “We are proud to offer these award-winning features that truly prioritize the needs and satisfaction of our valued customers.”
inDrive’s Commitment to Driver Welfare, Safety Highlighted at Lagos Roundtable
Anambra State Governor, Prof. Charles Chukwuma Soludo, has restated his commitment to drive digital transformation in the state, though the Anambra’s Digital Revolution Agenda that is championed by the governor.
Soludo who restated his commitment during a virtual media briefing organised by the Anambra State ICT Agency, said his agenda for 2024 would focus on how to leverage emerging technology to drive government activities for the good of the people.
Soludo, who was represented at the media briefing by the CEO, Anambra State ICT Agency, Chukwuemeka Fred Agbata, stressed the importance of collaboration with industry stakeholders in the state to achieve his digital transformation drive in the state.
According to the governor, the Internet Exchange Point of Nigeria (IXPN) and Internet Service Providers (ISPs) in the State are currently in partnership with the ICT Agency towards the establishment of an Internet Exchange Point in the state. The initiative, he said, would focus on improving interconnectivity and reducing the cost of internet access and deepening penetration.
Listing the many achievements of the governor in transforming the state, Agbata said a pilot phase of the Public Wi-Fi (Solution Wi-Fi) was activated at key locations across the state such as Aroma Junction, Book foundation and Unizik Gate, Ifite Awka. This, according to Agbata, marks a significant stride and efforts to extend this public Wi-Fi to various public spaces across the state.
The alleged financial impropriety levelled against the suspended Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr Betta Edu.
Let us today reflect on the ongoing saga that is amusing most and upsetting few Nigerans in the second week of January, 2024.
No prize for guessing, it is of course the story around the now investigated and suspended Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr Betta Edu.
On a personal note, I first got the news, before it went public, from someone connected to the embattled suspended minister and the call started with the line “there is fire on the mountain”, yes, my instinct too was to say “run run”, but I did not do so due to the sombre tone of the voice of the caller.
Rather I silently and attentively listened to the caller and digested all that had happened, together we analysed what had been done and went on to project what might happen next.
The conversation with my Betta Edu-connected caller brought back to mind a wish and prayer introduced to me by my late grandma, Abigail Kila. Mama taught me that we should always hope and pray that “anyone whose circumstances will affect our own circumstances should be affected by good only”.
Ignore my caller for now, and just think of all those that were planning to work with Betta Edu as contractors, consultants, vendors, etc. Think of those Chief Executive Officers and Managing Directors of Zenith Bank, Providus Bank, and Jaiz Bank whose lives are taking a new turn due to what is happening in the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation. Think of the Minister for Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, who on the day he was meant to parade his achievement as “Mr Automated Passport Process” had to explain how he did not influence the money earned by a company he founded and wherein he is a shareholder and how such earning does not benefit him.
Whilst Bettagate is the story of the richest and most powerful members of the society stealing money earmarked for the poorest and weakest amongst us with Betta Edu as the leading character, who comes across as a starlet, the scandal is in reality a mirror of the Nigerian system and it goes beyond Betta Edu.
The money at stake is a lot by all standards, the sector involved and the process are shocking by any measure but what has left me jolted is how many (too many) people in the country are not surprised by Bettagate. For many, it is just business as usual and they in fact saw it coming.
Ibadan based flowery pen and docile member of the League of Nigerian Columnists, Lasisi Olagunji, lead the way of reflection by showing us that corruption in the country is as old as the country itself and it has always been a case of the kettle calling the pot black.
On Tuesday (9th January 2024), I sent out a very informal questionnaire to some contacts online to find out if people thought Dr Betta Edu, as a minister, was unlucky, incompetent, fraudulent or a combination of more of these options. Of all the answers I received, this one from an attentive and very active reader speaks for most: “In my humble opinion, the list of options provided presupposes that Betta Edus behaviour is an anomaly in the Nigerian society. Nigeria is a kakistocracy and a dystopian society where incompetence, fraud and luck are sociocultural values and norms that are highly valued. Betta Edu is the quintessential Nigerian who went to Daddy Oyedepo to prophesy becoming a Minister into her life. Shout out to Peter Obi. Societal norms and values are the standards of conduct and the levels of behaviour to which people aspire. Nigerian leaders, families, communities, religions, public and private corporate organisations have internalised incompetence, fraud and luck as the way to success. This is who we are.
This is Nigeria. Don’t catch Betta Edu slippin’ now/ Betta just wanna party/ Party just for Betta/ Money just for Betta/ Party just for free/ Dance and shake the frame/ Betta just wanna party (yeah). Apologies to Childish Gambinos “This is America”. The Hidden Meanings Behind Childish Gambinos “This Is America” speaks to Betta Edo and Nigerias value system.
In all these and lest we become guilty of what we accuse others of doing, we need to commend President Tinubu for acting swiftly in his decision to suspend Betta Edu and allowing her to be investigated.
To get things right, we need to understand that we have a historical and even systemic problem of corruption, value and incompetence to deal with but unlike others I argue that if we want a society that works, we all need to look at the Bettagate mirror and opt for deciding to consciously change things, for we cannot continue to sin and expect for grace to abound.
Let us be very clear, the change must start from leadership not followership. There needs to be a new elite consensus that agrees that for our system to work for most, diversification and separation are needed in our values, recognition and reward system.
We must pragmatically agree that those that go into business should be the ones to be known as rich, this as their reward for creating wealth and jobs, those who dedicate themselves and their talents to ideas, arts and science should be the ones to get respect as reward for the solutions, knowledge, and joy they give to society, those that go into politics should gain fame and power for keeping the society safe and making sure everyone can learn, trade, love and pray without fear or need to beg, bribe or prostitute their body or mind.
It is important we understand and agree that a system wherein public power, fame, respect and money are or can be concentrated in the hands of any group, be it political, ethnical, professional or religious is a system prone to abuse and oppression.
Yes, we must investigate Betta Edu and similar characters as much as possible, yes, we need to recover as much looted funds as possible but to build a sustainable society we need to look at ourselves in the mirror called Bettagate, such look should make us realise that merchants and thieves will continue to rule if politics gives access to money.
We need to understand that for merchants and thieves to get their way into power, they will buy votes and bribe regulators for what matters to them is money not fairness.
The rally in Nigeria’s stock market continued yesterday as the Nigerian Exchange Limited All-Share Index hits 101,571.11 basis points, surpassing the 100,000 basis points mark.
The NGX All-Share appreciated by nearly three per cent from 98,616.97 basis points to close at 101,571.11basiis points, bringing the Year-to-date gain to 35.84 per cent.
The 35.8 per cent investors return has surpassed inflationary levels in the country and outperforming other indices in the African, European and Middle Eastern markets as tracked by Bloomberg.
Consequently, the overall market N55.58trilliionn, after gaining N1.62trillion or nearly three per cent from N53.967 trillion the stock market opened for trading
Bluechip stocks including Dangote Cement that gained 6.49per cent, BUA Cement that appreciated by 9.98per cent alongside BUA Foods that increased by 5.59per cent kept the market in the green, outweighing selloffs in Tier-1 banks namely, United Bank for Africa that dropped by 0.33per cent, Access Corporation that declined by 1.22per cent and FBN Holdings Plc that tumbled by 0.78per cent.
Investor sentiment, as measured by market breadth closed positive as 35 stocks gained, while 32 lost. Wapic Insurance recorded the highest price gain of 10 per cent to close at 88 kobo, per share. BUA Cement followed with a gain of 9.98 per cent to close at N179.65, while Japaul Gold & Ventures rose by 9.91 per cent to close at N2.55, per share.
University Press appreciated by 9.82 per cent to close at N3.69, while Tripple Gee & Company rose by 9.69 per cent to close at N2.83, per share. On the other hand, NEM Insurance led the losers’ chart by 10 per cent to close at N7.20, per share.
Cadbury Nigeria followed with a decline of 9.96 per cent to close at N23.50, while The Initiates Plc (TIP) declined by 9.92 per cent to close at N2.27, per share. May & Baker Nigeria shed 9.89 per cent to close at N6.65, while McNichols lost 9.88 per cent to close at N1.46, per share.
A total value of stocks traded by investors was N8.04trillion, a 51 per cent drop from the value traded in the previous day.
Leading conglomerate, Transnational Corporation Plc was the most liquid stock on NGX as investors exchanged N1.6trillion worth of its stock in 1,207 deals on Wednesday. BUA Cement, Dangote Cement, United Bank for Africa and Zenith Bank also formed part of the top 5 traded stocks by volume.
According to analysts and industry watchers, all eyes are now on the Central Bank of Nigeria as it plans to hold its first Monetary Policy Committee meeting where it is expected that the apex bank may raise the benchmark interest rate by as much as five per cent
This also comes as the CBN Governor, Dr Olayemi Cardoso says the naira is undervalued in the foreign currency markets, according to Bloomberg. Some market participants are of the view that this could be one of the reasons for the surge in the equity markets as investors chase higher returns than the yields offered in fixed income and also, protect their investments from inflation and currency devaluation.
Other performing stocks on NGX are Coronation insurance (10per cent), Japaul Gold & Ventures (9.98 per cent), UPL, (9.82 per cent) and Tripple Gee (9.69 per cent).
The stock market performance also coincides with the change in management at the Nigerian Exchange Group, with the appointment of Temi Popoola as Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, and Jude Chiemeka as Acting CEO of NGX, its operating exchange subsidiary.
Air Peace has launched flight operations to Abidjan, the capital of Cote d’Ivoire.
The airline’s inaugural flight P47770 on B737-500 aircraft piloted by Capt. Gerald Nmorka, touched down at Félix-Houphouët-Boigny International Airport in Abidjan and was welcomed with a ceremonial water salute.
The Management of the airline led by the Director of Flight Operations, Capt. Augustin Kamano, was received by Ivory Coast’s airport authorities, the Nigerian Embassy officials in Abidjan and the Nigerian community.
Captain Kamano reiterated the commitment of the airline under the Chairmanship of Dr. Allen Onyema to bridge connectivity gap among West African countries and reduce the air travel burden for Africans.
He also hinted that the airline’s 10th regional route, which is Cotonou in Benin Republic, would be launched on January 27, 2024, adding that passengers can also fly from Abidjan to Dakar, Senegal.
He said: “Nigeria has a long-standing relationship with Ivory Coast and the launch of flights by Air Peace into Abidjan today will deepen commercial cooperation as well as solidify bilateral ties between both countries.
“Since we commenced operations in 2014, we have been on an aggressive but strategic route expansion mission, becoming famed for our no-city-left-behind initiative which goes beyond the West Coast to include international destinations.
“The airline is committed to providing increased connectivity across key cities in the West African sub-region and promoting economic prosperity for Africans. We want to make air travel easier for the collective development of all West African countries.”
President of the Nigerian Community in Ivory Coast, Chief Michael Onwuchelu, commended the Chairman of Air Peace for his initiative to connect the African continent with air transportation.
“This is our own and we must specially support Air Peace. Côte d’Ivoire has been a hospitable country, we are all happy here. We will support our own,” Onwuchelu added.
Following the Friday’s judgment of the Supreme Court reaffirming that Election Petitions Tribunals and Court of Appeal have no jurisdiction to entertain pre-election matters, Seriki Adinoyi writes on the need for the judgments that sacked federal and state lawmakers in Plateau State over pre-election issues to be reviewed in the interest of justice
It is no longer news that the Supreme Court on Friday overturned the decision of the Court of Appeal which sacked Governor Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau State.
Mutfwang of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was declared the winner of the governorship election that was held on March 18, 2023, after he polled a total of 525,299 votes to defeat his closest opponent, Dr. Nentawe Yilwadta of the All Progressives Congress (APC) who got 481,370 votes.
The Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Plateau State had also affirmed the election of the governor. But in a curious twist, a panel of the Court of Appeal, led by Justice Elfrieda Williams-Dawodu, in a unanimous decision in November 2023 ruled that Muftwang was not validly sponsored by the PDP because the party has no structure. The court therefore nullified his election and declared the candidate of the APC, Yilwatda as the governor of the state.
In what seemed like a grand plot by the Court of Appeal to return the state to the APC, the appellate court also nullified the victories of nearly all the candidates of the PDP that were elected into the state and National Assembly on the same ground of alleged invalid nomination, which was obviously a pre-election matter.
Expectedly, the PDP and legal experts had cried foul and described the judgment as a miscarriage of justice, not only on the grounds that the matter was a pre-election matter, which falls outside the jurisdiction of the Election Petition Tribunal but also because the party truly has a valid and solid structure. The PDP went further to argue that by its constitution, candidates are nominated by the National Working Committee (NWC), and not the State Working Committee (SWC), insisting that on that ground, its candidates were validly nominated. It also said that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) monitored its congresses and affirmed that they were duly conducted.
The PDP alleged that the Court of Appeal might have been compromised, and warned that such was dangerous for Nigeria’s nascent democracy.
The decision of the Court of Appeal prompted Muftwang to approach the Supreme Court. The apex court did not surprise legal experts when Justice Emmanuel Agim who read the lead judgment, noted that the APC’s contention that the appellant was not qualified to contest the election because of non-compliance with the electoral law was faulty.
Justice Agim said: “We have held in a plethora of cases that the sponsorship of a candidate for election is an internal affair of a political party. The Court of Appeal lacks the jurisdiction to determine the validity of the candidacy of the PDP. Yilwatda of the APC has no right to challenge the emergence of Governor Mutfwang as a ticket-holder of the PDP.”
He said that the Court of Appeal had anchored its decision sacking the governor on the alleged failure of the PDP to comply with an order of the Plateau State High Court to conduct fresh congresses before holding primary elections for nomination of its candidates for the 2023 general election. The apex court held that the order of the High Court had nothing to do with the party’s power to conduct primaries for the Plateau PDP as it did to nominate Mutfwang as its candidate for the governorship election.
Justice Agim ruled that despite that, there is evidence showing that the order of the Plateau State High Court was complied with by the party.
“Can the tribunal and the Court of Appeal determine the validity of the nomination of a candidate?” he queried.
Justice Agim declared that, “The order of the High Court of Plateau State had nothing to do with the power of NEC of the PDP; it is a jurisdictional matter.”
He said that for these reasons, “this appeal is allowed. The judgment of the Court of Appeal is set aside, inclusive of the orders made therein. The judgment of the tribunal is restored. The election of the governor is further restored.”
In his consenting decision, Justice Inyang Okoro who headed the five-member panel, said: “My only worry is that a lot of people have suffered as a result of the Court of Appeal’s decision. It was absolutely wrong. The appeal is allowed.”
Justice Okoro was apparently referring to the state and federal legislators sacked by the Court of Appeal in a similar miscarriage of justice.
Also consenting, Justice Helen Ogunwunmiju, said: “It was very wrong for the Court of Appeal to go into the issue of party congresses. To make matters worse, the party challenging the issue is another political party.”
She added that the Court of Appeal made a fundamental error by shifting the burden of proof on Governor Mutfwang.
Justice Adamu Jauro also agreed with the judgment.
The apex court’s judgment caused a sporadic excitement in Jos, the state capital, as the entire state marched on the streets of Jos to celebrate the victory of the governor. The people literally shut down Jos, the state capital as commercial vehicles and motorcycles abandoned their duty posts to join the convoys of PDP supporters in driving around the city in jubilation.
But the big question is: What now happens to other candidates of the PDP who had suffered a miscarriage of justice in the hands of the Court of Appeal, but who do not have the opportunity to take their appeals to the Supreme Court?
The PDP national and state assembly members in the state fall into this category. For instance, Senator Napoleon Bali’s victory was nullified and handed freely to Senator Simon Lalong on a platter of gold; the former Senate Minority Leader, Simon Mwadkon’s victory was annulled and the senatorial zone ordered to go back for another election.
Hon Beni Lar, Musa Bagos, Musa Agah, and many others were also affected by the miscarriage of justice of the Court of Appeal on the ground of invalid nomination
Reacting to the victory of the PDP and discussing the way forward, a former governor of the state, Senator Jonah Jang, in a statement signed by his media consultant, Mr. Clinton Garuba, said: “As sad as it is, the damage that has been done to Plateau by the miscarriage of justice at the Court of Appeal is of great proportion because the kind of judgments that were delivered by the court have robbed the people of their rightful representation both at the state and the National Assembly. But all hope is not lost.
“The good people of Plateau State through the government of Plateau State and the PDP have already petitioned the National Judicial Council (NJC) to review all the judgments involving Plateau State that were delivered by the Court of Appeal which effectively stopped those that have been elected into the national and the state of assemblies from representing their constituencies.
“We thank Plateau people for their vigilance; for trooping out in their hundreds and thousands in condemnation and resistance after the miscarriage of justice by the Court of Appeal. They all came out to lend their voice against the injustice. We salute your resilience.
“With the Supreme Court’s judgment, it has become an abnormality for them to remain as legislators when they could not win elections at the poll; this should not be allowed to stand. The authorities must give back to the people their true representatives and restore their mandate.”
He, however, thanked the justices of the Supreme Court “for upholding the Rule of Law, thereby affirming the long-held belief that the judiciary is the last hope of the common man.
“We thank them for not allowing themselves to be manipulated because we are aware that the same forces of darkness, in their usual manner, had wanted to thwart the mandate of the people, plunge the state into disarray, and set us years backwards.”
Also speaking on the nullified elections of member of the national and state assemblies elected on the platform of the PDP over same issues that were thrown out by the Supreme Court, Governor Mutfwang said: “We have just crossed the bridge and when we settle down to savour this victory, we will know what to do.”
He, however thanked their lordships at the Supreme Court for restoring confidence in the judiciary, and President Bola Tinubu for showing himself as a true democrat and not allowing the political space to become intoxicated.
Benin City, the Edo State capital stood still as Asue Ighodalo officially declared his governorship ambition with a promise to run an inclusive government that will create economic rejuvenation of the state, Adibe Emenyonu reports
For a greater part of Wednesday, January 17, commuters and residents around the Airport Road axis of Benin City, the capital of Edo State, had a hectic time trying to access the area as Asue Ighodalo, former Chairman on the boards of Nigerian Breweries, Sterling Bank, the Nigeria Economic Summit Group, declared for the governorship of the state on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Leaders of the PDP in attendance include: Edo State PDP chieftain and past senator representing Edo Central Senatorial District, Senator Clifford Ordia; Secretary, Edo PDP Senatorial Caucus, Central, Mr. Luckson Ogendengbe; National Leader of the PDP, Chief Tom Ikimi; Edo PDP Senatorial Vice Chairman, Central and Senatorial Caucus Chairman, Archbishop Anthony Okosun, and Deputy Speaker, Edo State House of Assembly, Mrs. Marie Edeko.
Others are former House of Representatives member representing Esan West, Esan Central and Igueben Federal Constituency, Joe Edionwere; past deputy speaker of the state House of Assembly, Mr. Omo Ezomo; serving House of Representatives member, Hon. Marcus Onobun; former Speaker, Edo State House of Assembly and former member of the House of Representative, Friday Itulah, among others.
Ighodalo in the last seven years has been the Chairman of Alaghodaro Summit Limited, a private sector think-tank which means in Bini parlance, ‘moving forward.’
He was accompanied to the PDP state secretariat along the Airport Road, Benin City, by thousands of party loyalists and leaders, where he assured the people that if given the ticket, and eventually elected governor, he would run an inclusive government that would guarantee economic rejuvenation and equal development the three senatorial zones of the state.
The PDP governorship aspirant, who hails from Okaigben, Ewohimi, in Esan South East Local Government Area of the state, which is under Edo Central Senatorial District, was presented to the crowd by the former Foreign affairs Minister, Ikimi, as the consensus candidate of the zone, and was endorsed by the former deputy governor of the state, Chief Mike Oghiadomhe, who noted that the Edo North Senatorial District leadership and members of the party also endorsed the aspirant’s ambition as the candidate that had the capacity to retain the state for the PDP in the September governorship election.
Declaring his intention to occupy the Dennis Osadebey Government House, Ighodalo said as the Chairman of Alaghodaro Summit, he had in the past seven years advised the state government on how to resolve some of the economic problems confronting the state. According to him, he had decided to go beyond giving advice, and deliver the real solution that would unleash a new future for the state and its citizens.
Also, during the eight years of Adams Oshiomhole as governor, Ighodalo also featured prominently as a member of the state Economic Team headed then by the incumbent governor, Godwin Obaseki, thus making him a “home boy” right from time.
Speaking, Asuelinme, which is Asue’s full name, noted that contrary to the insinuation that he was new to the state’s core governance, he had in the last 16 years been part of the team that chattered a new economic course for the state right from the government of the former governor, Oshiomhole, where “I served on the Economic Team, providing insights and inputs on the development of key government policies, programmes and initiatives, leading to reforms implemented by the then government.”
Ighodalo assured that his policies, if elected the governor of the state, would be tailored towards leading “a government that eliminates deprivation in all its forms, and makes Edo the best place to live and work in Nigeria”, adding that his government would initiate economic policies that “will uplift the poor, support the hard-working men and women of this state, and encourage entrepreneurship and innovation.”
“While, in the past, I have advised our leaders on how to resolve some of these problems, today, I am here to ask you for the opportunity to act – beyond giving advice – to deliver real solutions that can unleash the promise of a new future for all of us. As governor, by the grace of God, my mission will be to create an Edo where quality education is accessible to all, where hard work is rewarded and where our talented youth can turn their dreams and aspirations into reality. I believe in the promise of an Edo where every person, regardless of their start in life, can write their own story of success -if we take the right steps, together.
“No part of Edo will be left behind. From the high plains of Kukuruku to the lush vegetation of Ilushi; from the rich, red sands of Sakponba, to Esanland’s incredible biodiversity, we have all that is needed to make our state a mesmerising destination for progress and wealth. Across each administrative zone, in Edo North, Edo Central and Edo South, we will create practical and focused economic development teams that will harness each area’s unique potential to create wealth for all our people.
“I believe strongly that education is the gateway to opportunity; so, we will continue to invest in education as a priority from primary schools to secondary and tertiary institutions — throughout the state. We will ensure that our educational system becomes a beacon of hope, and ladder to opportunity. We will make Edo State’s educational system our key to ending generational poverty, for good, in our great state.
“If, by the grace of God and the will of the people of Edo state, I am given the opportunity to serve, I intend to be the Chief Welfare Officer of the state, providing good and affordable healthcare, decent living conditions and basic food security for all our people. We will also tackle insecurity in all of its forms. While an improved economy will reduce some types of insecurity, we will work doggedly to stamp out the more stubborn forms of insecurity, that continue to deprive our people of their lives and property.”
Ighodalo did not end there he also promised to build on the achievements of the current administration of Governor Obaseki on independent power generation, the Ossiomo Independent Power project, by replicating the same “across the three senatorial zones and exploring affordable ways of providing electricity in rural areas, declaring, “We will create an enabling environment for businesses and people to thrive across the state, and activate economic corridors that will connect our value-added goods and services to domestic and global markets.”
“These are not simply ambitious dreams; they are carefully thought out and financially achievable plans. With innovative financing and cross-sector partnerships, we will access the financial resources to fund these projects, and more. My personal experience, local and international networks, and decades of negotiating, fundraising and project finance experience are part of what I will bring to bear to achieve our goals.”
Explaning how the Edo Central Senatorial District arrived at Ighodalo’s candidacy, Ikimi said that he led the committee that midwifed the consensus that led to five other aspirants from the district such as two former speakers of the State House of Assembly, Friday Itula, who was a two-term member of the House of Representatives, and Marcus Onabu, the immediate past speaker, stepping down, followed by the former Chairman of Esan North-East Local Government Area, Mr. John Yakubu, and a two-term senator, Clifford Odia.
Ikimi, while thanking the leaders of the PDP in Edo North and Edo South Senatorial Districts for conceding the governorship to Edo Central, assured that the carefully-selected candidate, Ighodalo, would fulfill their aspirations for a greater Edo State.
Similarly, Ogiadomhe reiterated that the leadership of the party in Edo North endorsed Ighodalo as the consensus candidate because of his antecedents and the belief that he “has all it takes not only to win the coming election, but to also improve on all the gains of the current PDP administration in the state”.
From all indications, Ighdalo will contest the PDP ticket with the incumbent deputy governor, Philip Shaibu; the former state chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), now in PDP, Mr. Anslem Ojezua; former council Chairman, Felix Akhabue and Ambassador Martins Uhumoibhi if they insist on going ahead to slug it out at the party primary election coming up in February.
The growing Motorsports industry in Nigeria got a kick over the weekend when Nigeria’s international Kart racer, Phillip Gana, announced his readiness to feature and also sponsor the few drivers at X-Kart Series in Ogun State to be hosted at the Work and Play Arena on Sagamu-Abeokuta Express Way.
President of the Work and Play group, Ade Ojuoko, announced the celebrated racer’s inclusion when fleshing out plans for the earlier announced X-Kart Series later in February.
“I guess it is a good thing that the Motorsports community is generating traction to have attracted the interest of Phillip Gana. As one of the front runners in the promotion of the sports, we believe this will further our developmental plans in several ways.”
Work and Play partnered Metallic Horses to host an inaugural event at the purpose-built race track along Shagamu Express road last December 16, 2023. It paved the way for the series lined up for February and March of 2024.
Ojuoko also announced that Phillip has hinted that his team will be drawn from made up of teenage drivers between the ages of 14 to 19.
“The X-Kart series is essentially a youth-driven sport and Gana will be featuring a largely teenage team and that also leaves the other competitors in the coming series challenged.”
He confirmed that the off-road series that will also have its Ondo version in March is being checked on all sides for safety.
“From our gears to the building of the karts, safety is our first consideration. There are also other safety protocols, that include the Federal Road Safety Commission’s checks on the facilities and all Karts, and the inclusion of first aid officials at all event venues.”
He maintained that the X-Kart Series will deepen interest in the sport and further corporate support as well. He also mentioned that, more information on how different X-Kart groups can register for the event would be rmade public soonest.
The event, has been endorsed by the Racing Autos Development Association (RADA), the umbrella body for Motorsports racing in Nigeria.
West Ham United are pushing to break their transfer record to sign Victor Boniface.
According to the British tabloid The Sun, West Ham technical director Tim Steidten is pushing for massive transfer coup to sign Victor Boniface from his former club before the transfer window closes at the end of the month.
Victor Boniface has been a huge hit in his first season with Bayer Leverkusen in the Bundesliga.
He has netted 16 goals and provided eight assists in 23 games thus far.
West Ham have the cash on a major transfer and manager David Moyes supports going big for a proven goal scorer.
It was reported the German club are prepared to sell the 23-year-old striker, who is currently on the mend after groin surgery.
He missed the AFCON due to the injury.
Other Premier League who have been linked with him are Chelsea and Newcastle.
Hardly anyone can boast of such “instability” like the Italian championship, in the good sense of the word. With a high degree of probability, Napoli will not be able to repeat last year’s success. There are several reasons.
The main one is the loss of a coach! 21 points in 12 tours and fourth place is a suitable reason for dismissal. He was replaced by Walter Mazzarri, a stranger to Naples. But, as you know, you cannot step into the same river twice. Under the leadership of the new “old” coach, the Neapolitans dropped another four positions. An important factor is the much lower performance of last year’s leaders. The team’s odds to win the tournament on Melbet is getting lower.
What happened to Milan
Milan has a serious fever. The Rossoneri are still in the Champions League zone, but Fiorentina and Bologna are breathing in their backs. The situation with injuries in the team is difficult, rather even stalemate. During the first part of the season, health problems plagued Milan players 31 times. For comparison, Pioli’s team scored 32 goals in the last 18 matches.
At the same time, if we evaluate the entire period of the head coach’s work, a trend can be traced. Milan suffered from similar problems even during the championship season. The team’s main star, Rafael Leau, lacks stability; he only scored three times during the first round. There is a short pause ahead, which should help. Milan will also have to enter the transfer market, otherwise it will be difficult to get into the main European Cup zone.
Main contenders
The leaders of the standings: Inter and Juventus look the most complete. The Milan club is only two points far, but it is Simone Inzaghi’s team that is considered the main contender for the trophy. Despite the loss of Milan Skriniar, Inter have the most balanced squad. We managed to replace the departed veteran Dzeko. Newcomer Marcus Thuram (7+6) copes well with the functions of the main goal scorer. Juventus traditionally spends more than others on the purchase of new players, which is why the demand from Allegri is serious. There are still many matches ahead, but there is a feeling that these teams will play for the gold.
Surprising team
The main troublemaker of Italian football is Bologna. Thiago Motta is doing a phenomenal job. The team beat three top rivals at once in one week: Inter, Atalanta and Roma. The end of the first round was blurred by the defeat from Udinese – 0:3, but even that did not spoil the overall impression. Among the others, striker Joshua Zirkzee stands out, who scored seven goals. There is already serious demand for it.
Whether they will be able to keep the leaders or not is the main question ahead of the opening of the transfer window. The future prospects of the team will depend on this. We should not forget about the Roman teams, which are not critically behind the top four. Without a doubt, Atalanta will fight for the Champions League. As always, the “boot” pleases us with intrigues, which will tighten even more as the denouement approaches. We continue to follow the main events of Serie A.
The Premier League is set to come to Showmax from February 12, 2024, as the streaming service introduces the world’s first standalone Premier League plan for mobile, showcasing all 380 games live, including analysis and highlights at a pocket-friendly price of N2,900.
This was explained at a media briefing, held recently, for the new Showmax, including the unveiling of its new app.
At the conference, the Chief Executive of the Premier League, Richard Masters, in a recorded video, lauded the innovative partnership between the Premier League and MultiChoice, which is set to allow fans to enjoy every Premier League match on their smartphones at a mobile-friendly price point.
Highlighting the important role of Africa in the Premier League’s global influence, Masters said: “Africa is incredibly important to the Premier League and our clubs. On the pitch we have more than 50 registered players from Africa in our first team squads this season and our research tells us that three quarters of all adults in Africa identify as fans of the Premier League, with nearly 20% of the live TV audience on any given match day tuning in from Africa.
“These are the foundations that make the launch of the new Showmax so important and exciting for all of us. We’re delighted with this new initiative from MultiChoice to put the Premier League in your pocket, with a new price point to watch all Premier League matches on mobile phones so that millions more can enjoy our fantastic competition”, he continued.
The Premier League’s integration into the Showmax platform is a boon for football enthusiasts and aligns with the ever-growing smartphone usage in Africa, where over 450 million smartphones are currently in use. This ambitious venture is poised to make Showmax the go-to destination for football lovers, marking a new era of accessibility to sports entertainment.
The new Showmax app will become available in app stores from 23 January 2024 onward, as part of a staggered migration process across 44 markets
