Author: Festus Adeloye

President Bola Tinubu has praised the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) for its achievements in regional integration, describing it as the most successful regional economic bloc on the continent. Speaking through the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Ojukwu, President Tinubu delivered his remarks on Tuesday in Accra, Ghana, at the launch of activities marking the 50th anniversary of ECOWAS. As Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, Tinubu said the organisation remains a beacon of hope for the more than 400 million citizens of the region, staying true to the bold…

The Senate has cautioned former presidential aspirant and presiding overseer of the Lagos-based Global Community Citadel Church, Pastor Tunde Bakare against taking out his frustrations on the 10th National Assembly. Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Yemi Adaramodu, said this in a written response to what he described as the Cleric’s recent public comments, which included “sweeping generalizations and disparaging commentary aimed at the institution of the National Assembly.” Adaramodu noted that while the Senate respects the right of every citizen — regardless of station — to express views on the state of the nation, it is constrained to respond…

The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has sacked the Solomon Agwanana-led State Working Committee (SWC) of the party in Bayelsa State and has appointed the zonal secretary, George Turnah, to oversee the party as caretaker Chairman for three months. Also affected in the shake-up announced by the party’s South-South Zonal Working Committee is Mr Tony Aziegbemi, the erstwhile caretaker Chairman of Edo State PDP, who has been replaced by Hon Nosa Ogieva. The party’s South-South Zonal Working Committee announced the appointment of the caretaker committees after its meeting on Tuesday, April 22nd, at the zonal secretariat in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.…

Burkina Faso’s military-led government has announced that it successfully thwarted what it described as a “major coup plot” targeting junta leader, Captain Ibrahim Traoré, according to a report by the BBC on Tuesday. Burkina Faso’s Security Minister, Mahamadou Sana, disclosed in a televised address on Monday that both active and retired soldiers, allegedly working in coordination with terrorist groups, had conspired to storm the presidential palace. The group, reportedly planned to execute the attack last week. Sana claimed that the objective was to plunge the country into chaos and install a regime under the control of an international organisation. He…

Music legend Ebenezer Obey-Fabiyi has quashed rumours of his death in a lively video performance. He emphasised reports of his passing were entirely fabricated, stating that he is well. Singing in a mix of Yoruba, English, and Pidgin, Obey-Fabiyi declared: “Hello, my name is Professor Ebenezer Obey-Fabiyi. Satan, you don lose o, Satan, you don lose o, you don pafuka. Na lie lie you dey talk, you don pafuka.” He added: “It is fake news that started a few hours ago claiming that I, Evangelist Obey, have passed on to glory. It is a lie. I am alive, and that…

The Vatican on Tuesday released the first official photographs of Pope Francis lying in repose in an open casket, marking the beginning of the mourning period following his passing. The poignant images, shared by the Holy See, depict the late pontiff dressed in red liturgical vestments and a bishop’s mitre, with a rosary delicately placed between his folded hands. The funeral is expected to be held between Friday and Sunday. In a departure from traditional burial practices, Pope Francis requested in his final testament to be interred at the Basilica of Saint Mary Major in Rome instead of the customary…

A former Deputy Governor of Ondo State, Alhaji Lasisi Oluboyo, has attributed friction between governors and their deputies to greed and lust for power on the party of the deputy. Oluboyo, who spoke in an interview in Akure, declared his interest to become the next Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State. Oluboyo said although the Nigeria Constitution spelt out roles of a deputy governor, it was greed that pushed some deputies to go against their boss, noting that the Nigerian Constitution already spelt out what deputy governors were to do. His words: “It depends on the…

President Bola Tinubu has returned to Abuja after a working visit and retreat in France and London lasting 18 days. The presidential 001 aircraft conveying the President landed at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja at 9:50 p.m on Monday, the State House media office disclosed. Tinubu was received by his Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila; the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike; the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, among others. Tinubu departed Nigeria on Wednesday, April 2, spending some time in Paris, the French capital, before…

Leeds United and Burnley are heading back to the Premier League after securing huge victories in the Championship on Easter Monday. Leeds’ two-year absence from the Premier League is set to end after thumping Stoke City 6-0 at Elland Road, with five of the goals coming in the first half. Meanwhile, Burnley secured an immediate return to the English top-flight with a 2-1 home win at Turf Moor over third-placed Sheffield United – a result that stretched their unbeaten run in the league to 31 games. Leeds reported a loss of £60.8 million ($81m) during the 2023-24 season, nearly double…

Pope Francis died of a stroke, causing a coma and “irreversible” heart failure, according to his death certificate released by the Vatican on Monday. The 88-year-old Catholic leader died on Monday morning, almost a month after having been discharged from five weeks in hospital where he nearly succumbed to double pneumonia. Francis died at 7.35 am (0535 GMT) in his apartment at the Santa Marta residence in the Vatican. He died of “cerebral stroke, coma, irreversible cardiocirculatory collapse”, the death certificate said. The Vatican’s certification of Pope Francis’ death: Vatican City, 21 April 2025 DEATH OF HIS HOLINESS FRANCIS I…