Author: Tunde Akingbondere
Siminalayi Fubara, the suspended governor of Rivers, has applauded President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his informed and wise intervention in Rivers protracted situation. He also made known his resolve to set aside pride and personal interests and restore peace in the state. A statement issued by Nelson Chukwudi, his chief press secretary (CPS), reveals how Fubara spoke on Thursday at a meeting with leaders of the Simplified Movement in Port Harcourt, the capital of Rivers. Fubara said a reconciliation process is advancing towards restoring democratic order in the state. “I want to assure you that the issues will soon be…
Sidi Ould Tah of Mauritania has been elected the ninth President of the African Development Bank (AfDB) Group. The announcement was made on Thursday in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, during the institution’s Annual Meetings, currently underway from May 26 to 30. His election followed a vote by the Bank Group’s Board of Governors, which comprises Finance and Economy Ministers and Central Bank Governors from the Bank’s 81 member countries, including both regional and non-regional members. The results were formally announced by Niale Kaba, Côte d’Ivoire’s Minister of Planning and Development and Chair of the Board of Governors. According to the Bank’s…
Controversial South African opposition leader and politician, CIC Julius Malema, has joined many others to pay a glowing tribute to veteran Kenyan author Ngũgĩ Wa Thiong’o, who gave up the ghost on Wednesday, saying he explored the power of his literary works to agitate for the expansion of the democratic space. Malema, the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) party leader, stated that Prof Ngũgĩ represented and promoted what he termed as hard truth, through his literary work, which African leaders must adopt if the continent is to experience true liberation. In a statement through the party, Malema highlighted Ngungi’s unwavering commitment…
INTRODUCTION The theme of this writing couldn’t be more apt given the cocktail of challenges which continue to bedevil our dear country almost 65 years after political independence from Britain. The list is so familiar that it has almost become as fixed and constant as the Northern Star. The usual factors are implicated: insecurity (especially the physical kind, the most serious of all), high cost of living, unemployment, corruption, crumbling infrastructure, non-functional education and widespread disenchantment with the Nigeria project, leading to mass migration (so-called ‘japa’) of our best and brightest for the proverbial greener pastures. DEFINITION OF TERMS In…
Honourable Abiola Makinde, the Honourable Representing Ondo East and West Federal Constituency in the Federal House of Representatives, has in a statement addressed through his Special Adviser, Alli Moshood Abiodun, applauded the defection of Honourable Festus Olanrewaju Akingbaso (Fessywest) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) fold in Ondo State, describing it as a capacity added to the ruling party. The message is coming some hours after the official defection of Hon. Festus Akingbaso to the fold of the progressives on the floor of the House of Representatives during plenary via a letter read on the floor by the Speaker. By…
Professor Ngungi Wa Thiong’o, a renowned Kenyan writer and human rights activist has reportedly given up the ghost on the morning of Wednesday 28th May, 2025. As at the time of his death, Ngungi was 87 years of age. He was confirmed dead in a terse social media remark by the daughter, Wanjiku Wa Ngungi, some 38 minutes ago. She said: “It is with a heavy heart that we announce the passing of our dad, Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o this Wednesday morning, 28th May 2025. He lived a full life, fought a good fight. As was his last wish, let’s celebrate…
A Magistrate’s Court sitting in Akure, Ondo State, has on wednesday, granted bail to three detained Ikale indigenes who were earlier arraigned and remanded in connection with a longstanding land dispute involving the Okitipupa Oil Palm Company (OOPC). The trio; 48-year old Orimisan Adelokiki, spokesperson of the Ikale Supreme Civil Rights Council (ISCRC), Bose Ogunnowo, 45; and Rachel Akinrinu, 35, were granted bail after the Ondo State Government requested the court to withdraw the two criminal charges against them. Magistrate Damilola Sekoni granted the defendants to bail in the sum of N500,000 with one surety in like sums. You will…
The member representing Idanre/Ifedore constituency in the house of Representatives and former Deputy Gubernatorial Candidate in the last governorship election in Ondo State, Hon. Festus Akingbaso, has formally defected from the opposition Peoples Democratic Party to the ruling All Progressives Congress. His decision to join the APC was made known on the floor of the National Assembly. His defection as disclosed on the floor of the house by the Speaker, House of Representatives, Dr Abbas Tajudeen, is unconnected to the irresolvable crisis in the PDP. Raising Point of Order, the House Minority leader, Kingsley Chinda called on the Green Chamber…
A bloody clash between rival cult groups has left no fewer than four persons dead in Ondo town, Ondo Local Government area of Ondo State on Tuesday evening. The deceased targets were reportedly shot around Ife Garage, Sabo, and Christ Land in the Oka area of the city by masked men suspected to be members of a rival cult group. Eyewitnesses said three members of the Ẹiyẹ confraternity were shot dead in a bloody clash that occurred at Ife Garage, while one was killed at Sabo, in front of a local shop popularly known as “Mama Shop.” Spokesperson of the…
The controversial Afenifere Youth Leader, Eniola Ojajuni, has again been slammed by the Afenifere National Youth Organisation over his viral claim to be President of the league. This development is coming amidst his recent face off with the Akure Police Command over facts having to do with his kidnap on his way to Abuja, eventual release. While the Nigerian Police has indirectly dismissed the narrative of his kidnap as fake in the light of its inconsistency with known modes of operation of similar kidnapping syndicates, Ojajuni has come to the public to counter the narrative being weaved by the Nigeria…