Author: Festus Adeloye

Former Nigerian Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon on Wednesday dwelt on the historical considerations that led to his support for state creation in Nigeria, saying that it was to ease the fear of the northern region’s dominance given its size and population. In a speech delivered during a courtesy visit by the League of Northern Democrats (LND) in Abuja, he reflected on his leadership era and discussed the group’s vision for northern Nigeria. Gowon, who governed Nigeria during a tumultuous period that included the Civil War, emphasised that the decision to advocate for state creation was rooted in the…

FBN Holdings Plc (FBNH), a leading financial institution in Nigeria, has announced the launch of a rights issue offering of 5,982,548,799m ordinary shares at N25.00 per share. The initiative, which aims to raise a total of N149.56 billion, reflects the bank’s strategic response to regulatory requirements while bolstering its financial health and positioning it for sustained growth in an increasingly competitive banking landscape. The rights issue offers existing shareholders the entitlement to one new share for every six shares held as of October 18, 2024. The initiative has already gained traction in the market, with FBNH’s share price closing at…

*…Says you can’t aid, reward thuggery, cultism, yet claim to fight same* Media Adviser to immediate past Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State, Crusoe Osagie, has said no amount of lies, blackmail, and propaganda by the newly sworn-in governor-select, Monday Okpebholo and his media hirelings can blemish the legacies of the former governor who in eight years successfully transformed the fortunes of the people and placed the State on the path of accelerated growth and prosperity. Osagie, in a statement, on Wednesday, lambasted the Okpebholo-led administration for its continuous resort to baseless allegations, falsehoods, and lies to discredit and tarnish…

Popular Nollywood Yoruba actress, Dayo Amusa has addressed ongoing speculations surrounding the identity of her recently welcomed child’s father. The actress has kept the identity of her child, Oluwafirewamiri’s father, away from the public eye since welcoming the baby in the United States on 18 November. While Amusa has chosen to keep the father’s identity private, the mystery has sparked widespread discussions among social media users. Speaking during a TikTok live session recently, the actress, who began her career in 2002 and transitioned into film production in 2006, asserted her right to privacy. She emphasised her decision to shield her…

Manchester United goalkeeper Andre Onana has won the FIFPRO Impact Award for humanitarian work, for the medical care his foundation provides to underprivileged communities in Cameroon and other countries in Sub-Saharan Africa. Doctors have performed more than 1,200 surgical operations over the past three years in collaboration with the 28-year-old’s Andre Onana Foundation, which works with medical professionals to provide surgery and care for people, particularly children. The honour is part of FIFPRO’s Annual Merit Awards that recognise players giving back to their communities. The global soccer players’ union will donate $10,000 to Onana’s foundation. “When I passed through Barcelona, Amsterdam and…

The Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) on Sunday praised the federal government, led by President Bola Tinubu, for ensuring that Rivers State received its statutory allocation despite the ongoing conflict between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and FCT Minister Nyesom Wike. The group acknowledged that President Tinubu’s intervention prevented widespread hardship among the people of Rivers State. In a statement issued by its Spokesperson, Dr. Obiuwevbi Ominimini, the newly appointed National Chairman, Ambassador Godknows Igali, lauded the President for making a statesmanlike decision that brought relief not only to the people of Rivers State but also to Nigerians as a whole. “He stated…

Grammy-winning singer, Wizkid has released his highly anticipated album “Morayo”, today, November 22, 2024. Dedicated to his late mother, the album features 16 remarkable tracks, including collaborations with Brent Faiyaz, Asake, Jasmine Sullivan, Anaïs Cardot, and Tiakola. The album was preceded by two singles, “Piece of My Heart” featuring Brent Faiyaz and “Kese (Dance)”, both of which shattered Spotify Nigeria’s streaming records for highest opening day streams. “Kese” accumulated an impressive 1.5 million streams, surpassing the previous record of 1.016M held by “Piece of My Heart”. He now occupies the top four spots on the list of top 10 songs…

The Nigerian Navy, under the banner of Operation DELTA SANITY, intensified its fight against oil theft in October, dismantling over 23 illegal refinery sites across the Niger Delta region. The operation, which also led to significant recoveries of stolen crude oil and illegally refined products, was revealed in a statement by the Navy’s spokesperson, Commodore Aiwuyor Adams-Ali, in Abuja on Tuesday. It explained during the month under review, “23 Illegal Refinery Sites, 30 ovens, 26 reservoirs, 77 sacks, 19 dug out pits, 21 wooden boats, 4 jerry cans, 2 pumping machines, large quantities of crude oil and AGO were successfully…

The chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede has announced the dismissal of two officials involved in corruption as part of the ongoing reforms aimed at strengthening the commission. In a statement on Tuesday at the annual Criminal Law Review Conference organised by the Rule of Law Development Foundation in Abuja, Olukoyede revealed that the officials were dismissed two weeks ago after being found guilty of misconduct. He made it clear that such actions were part of the EFCC’s comprehensive efforts to eradicate corruption within the organization itself. Olukoyede, who has been vocal in his fight…

Arise TV anchor, Rufai Oseni on Monday blasted Jesutega Onokpasa, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) who criticised President Bola Tinubu for appointing a critic, Barrister Daniel Bwala as his Special Adviser on Public Communication and Media, describing the appointment as bizarre and macabre. An obviously angry Onokpasa, in a video on WhatsApp, took exception to how Tinubu discarded those who stuck out their necks and took the bullet for him when the opposition, including Bwala, was running rings round him in a bid to de-market and render him unelectable at the poll. He said that the president…