Author: Festus Adeloye

The 2025 Ojude Oba festival has kicked off in Ijebu Ode, Ogun State, bringing together people from all walks of life.  This annual celebration, which dates back to the 19th century, is a revered tradition where the people of Ijebu pay homage to their monarch, the Awujale of Ijebuland. The festival’s origins are rooted in the Muslim community’s gratitude to the Awujale for allowing them to practice their faith freely. During the festival, various age groups, known as ‘regberegbe’, showcase vibrant displays of traditional attire, while horse-riding competitions and rich cultural performances add to the excitement. The event showcases the community’s heritage…

The Federal Government has announced Thursday, June 12, as a public holiday to mark the 2025 Democracy Day celebrations. Mrs Magdalene Ajani, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Interior, stated on Sunday in Abuja. According to Ajani, the Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, declared the holiday on behalf of the Federal Government and congratulated Nigerians on 26 years of unbroken civil government. “June 12 represents our historic journey to building a nation where truth and justice reign and peace is sustained and our future assured. “The last 26 years tells the story of our resilience, strength and courage and…

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is to address a joint session of the National Assembly on Thursday, June 12 as part of activities marking the 2025 Democracy Day.  In an internal memo to members, Clerk to the House of Representatives, Yahaya Danzaria said the President is expected to arrive the National Assembly around12.00 noon. A statement by the spokesman of the House, Akintunde Rotimi on the President’s engagement reads: “The leadership and Honourable Members of the House of Representatives will participate in a special joint sitting of the National Assembly on Thursday, June 12, 2025, to commemorate this year’s Democracy Day celebration. “This…

Coco Gauff won the first French Open title of her career by fighting back to beat the world number one, Aryna Sabalenka, in a rollercoaster final played in testing conditions. American second seed Gauff claimed a 6-7 (5-7) 6-2 6-4 victory after a tense battle between the WTA Tour’s two leading players. It is the second Grand Slam victory of the 21-year-old’s career, adding to the US Open title she won in 2023, also by beating Belarus’ Sabalenka. Gauff recovered from a difficult start where she trailed by a double break, eventually finding her rhythm and benefiting from a huge…

Singer Darey Art Alade and wife, Deola have shared their car caught fire on the Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos. According to Deola on Instagram, the driver escaped safely and no life was lost. The couple expressed gratitude for the protection and perspective they gained from the incident. The couple in a joint post on Instagram said they chose to share their experience not to seek sympathy but to remind others that material possessions can be replaced, but lives cannot. They encouraged those navigating sudden loss to find strength in the ability to rebuild and begin again. Deola wrote: “Yesterday, around…

Governor of Enugu State, Dr. Peter Mbah, has expressed deep grief over the death of music icon, ‘Gentleman’ Mike Ejeagha, saying the legend had created a void that would be too difficult to fill. Mbah described Ejeagha as an unassuming and easygoing personality, whose fanbase spread across international boundaries. Recall that the news of the passing on of the ‘Gwo gwo gwo ngwo’ crooner at age 95 filtered into public space Saturday morning. Reacting to the sad development, the governor, who had celebrated the folklorist during his lifetime by reconstructing the popular Obinagu Road and the adjoining Chief Mike Ejeagha…

Akwa Ibom state governor, Umo Eno, has announced his defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC). Speaking on Friday in Uyo, the state capital, Eno said the decision followed “three months of wide consultation” with critical stakeholders across the state. “For some time now, the political space, particularly in this state and the nation in general, has been awash with the news of my likely movement from the PDP, the platform that has provided the levers and ladder of my political ascendancy to the position of governor of this state,” Eno said. “This discussion…

Despite Nigeria’s difficult macroeconomic environment in 2024, pharmaceutical company, May & Baker Nigeria Plc, has posted a 47 per cent growth in its group revenue, increasing from ₦19.7 billion in 2023 to ₦28.9 billion in 2024, according to its annual report and financial statements for the year ended 31st December 2024. Chairman of board of directors, May & Baker Nigeria Plc, Senator Daisy Danjuma, at the company’s 74th Annual General Meeting (AGM) held in Lagos on Thursday, acknowledged the turbulent business climate in the country, marked by surging inflation, exchange rate volatility, and higher operating costs. While the Nigerian economy…

US President Donald Trump says he was “very surprised” and “disappointed” with former ally Elon Musk’s criticisms of his centrepiece budget bill. “Elon and I had a great relationship. I don’t know if we will anymore,” Trump told reporters in the White House on Thursday. It was the president’s most direct criticism yet of Musk’s lobbying efforts against the proposals to cut taxes and slash government spending – a plan that has drawn criticism from the tycoon and some Republicans. In response, Musk doubled down on X and accused the president of “ingratitude”, adding: “Without me, Trump would have lost…

Zia Yusuf has resigned as the chair of Reform UK after suggesting it was “dumb” of the party’s newest MP to ask the prime minister if he would ban the burqa. Yusuf, a donor and businessman, said he was resigning after less than a year in the job because he did not believe working to get a Reform government elected was a good use of his time. His departure is a blow to Nigel Farage as he tries to professionalise his rapidly growing party, with political rivals saying it shows the Reform leader cannot work with other senior figures without…