Pyongyang’s Kim praises Putin, says Russia will win Ukraine war..  North Korean leader Kim Jong Un predicted a Russian victory in Moscow’s war against Ukraine, during his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. “I am deeply convinced that the heroic Russian army and people will brilliantly adopt the tradition of victory and demonstrate their honour and glory on the special military operation fronts,’’ Kim said. This is according to the Interfax news agency on Wednesday. Moscow calls its full-scale invasion against Ukraine a special military operation. Details about possible arms deliveries from North Korea to Russia were not disclosed. Kim also said this would enable Russia to build a strong state. Russia is facing growing problems in its war, grappling with a Ukrainian counteroffensive. While Moscow still controls around 20 per cent of its neighbour including Crimea, illegally annexed in 2014, it has increasing problems supplying troops with weapons and ammuniti...

‘Imole finally at peace’, Mohbad’s management speaks on his death.  The management of late singer Ilerioluwa Aloba, popularly known as MohBad has released an official statement confirming his death. The management of late singer Ilerioluwa Aloba, popularly known as MohBad on Tuesday released an official statement confirming the death of the talented singer. Recall Vanguard reported that the singer died today at the age of 27 years. In the statement posted on both his Instagram and X handles said ” It is with great sadness that we confirm the passing of Promise Oladimeji Aloba PK/A Mohbad (Imole) today, the 12th of September, 2023. “Mohbad was light until the very end, and as we mourn the loss of the brightness he carried, the family thanks you for your love and prayers, and asks that you continue to respect their privacy during this difficult time. #Aina Stephen 

ICPC, EFCC urged to investigate ‘controversial verdicts’ of election petition tribunals.  ABUJA – Citizens United for Democracy in Nigeria, a pro-good governance organization, has called upon the National Judicial Council (NJC) and other anti-corruption bodies to take immediate action and investigate what they allege to be corrupt verdicts by various election petition tribunals in the country. The group made the call in response to the recent judgment of the Election Petition Tribunal regarding the keenly contested National Assembly election in Plateau State. The legislative election, which took place on the 25th of February, 2023, has been the subject of significant controversy. The Tribunal’s verdict, which the group described as unjust and tainted by grave levels of corruption, is seen as a major setback for transparency, justice, and democracy in Nigeria. During a press briefing in Abuja on Wednesday, Felix Ngutswen, National Coordinator of Citizens United for Democ...

$600m trapped funds: Tinubu directs CBN to meet foreign airlines.  President Bola Tinubu yesterday, directed the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, to create a platform for quarterly reconciliatory meetings with foreign airlines to address the backlog of trapped funds in excess of $600 million. This came as leading aircraft manufacturer, Airbus Industrie, on the sidelines of the summit, predicted that Nigeria’s domestic air traffic was set to increase by five per cent annually for the next two decades. This is even as the International Air Transport Association, IATA, criticized Nigeria over multiple charges imposed on airlines operating in the country. Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, who disclosed news of the reconciliatory meeting yesterday at the ongoing African Aviation Summit in Abuja, noted that the development was one of the reasons President Tinubu travelled to the United Arab Emirates, UAE. He also unveiled three roadmap projects, whic...

One hundred days after Buhari.  Throughout these eight years, no bribery allegations against Muhammadu Buhari were ever made. One of the greatest achievements of the Buhari government has been that it has diversified the economy. The administration achieved self-sufficiency in rice and financed millions of small farmers in 23 different commodities, an effort that helped boost the export of agricultural commodities.  THIS week, President Muhammadu Buhari clocked 100 days away from office after completing two terms of four years each as President of Nigeria. He chose to stay in Daura to be far away from Abuja in order not to distract the new APC administration and in the hope that the distance would also make it possible for him to have a good rest and to care for his farm, which had not received as much attention as it needed while he was away. He goes to the farm four days a week and is upbeat about how well the crops and his animals are now doing. He gets a good m...

Former Kogi deputy gov, Awoniyi, dumps PDP for APC.  Front row, from left: Governor Bello, Ganduje and Awoniyi. A former Deputy Governor of Kogi State, Yomi Awoniyi, has officially joined the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, ahead of the November 11 governorship election in the state. Awoniyi, who expressed his admiration for Governor Yahaya Bello’s exemplary leadership, commitment to inclusivity, unity of purpose, and governance, was officially received into the APC at the party’s National Headquarters, on Tuesday, in Abuja. He served as Deputy Governor of Kogi State from 2011 to 2015 during Idris Wada’s administration. The former PDP chieftain acknowledged the complexities and challenges of Kogi State politics and commended Governor Bello for exceeding expectations. He said, “I served as the Deputy Governor of Kogi State between 2011 and 2015. I know the state very well, and I can tell you that the current governor has done exceptionally well in terms of leaders...

We’ve invested $2bn in Nigeria, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.  The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation said it has invested over $2 billion in the last 10 years of its operation in the Nigeria. The Country Director of Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Jeremie Zoungrana disclosed this on Tuesday, when he led a team of the Foundation on a courtesy visit to the Minister of Budget and National Planning, Sen. Atiku Bagudu in Abuja. He said the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation considered Nigeria as one of its important partners in Africa and has been in the country for more than 10 years, doing several programs on polio vaccine and other health issues like malaria. He also said that the Foundation has plans to improve upon the health of Nigerians because it believed that healthy populace will contribute immensely to economic growth of the country. “This visit is to connect, work with the minister and to draw from his wisdom. “We want to make sure part of Nigerians’ p...

Mohbad: ‘This life no balance’, Omawunmi, others mourn late singer.  Singer Omawunmi, Olamide, MI and other celebrities have reacted to the death of Nigeria’s rapper, singer and songwriter, Ilerioluwa Aloba, popularly known as Mohbad, who died on Tuesday at the age of 27. The celebrities confirmed Mohbad’s death through their various social media handles. Mohbad was formerly signed to Naira Marley’s “Marlian Records” but departed from the label in 2022. He had gained widespread recognition for his hit singles such as “Ponmo”, “Feel Good” and “KPK (Ko Por Ke)” in collaboration with Rexxie. Multiple award-winning rapper, Olamide, took to his social media platform, X, formerly known as Twitter, to react to the news of Mohbad’s death. The singer expressed his devastation in a short post that read, “Damn ! Mohbad ”. Popular afro-pop artiste, Small Doctor, on his Instagram page, wrote, “that future you are planning so hard, you fit no see am. Imole Baba Imole. Till we meet a...

Subsidy removal: Edo begins free transport scheme.  BENIN City—Edo State government, yesterday, flagged off its free transport scheme to cushion the effects of the removal of fuel subsidy. Governor Godwin Obaseki recently approved free transport service for passengers on all routes operated by the state-owned Edo City Transport Ltd. The service, which spans an initial two-month period covers commuting within the Benin metropolis and from Benin City to the major cities in the three senatorial districts and will run between 6.30a.m., and 7p.m., daily. Speaking at the flag-off ceremony at the ECTS Park, Ring Road, Governor Obaseki, represented by the Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Chris Nehikhare, urged Edo people to use the free buses regularly as it was designed by the Edo State government to help them get over the hardship caused by the fuel subsidy removal. He said: “The Edo State Government takes the welfare of Edo people seriously and this is just on...

Why new states and LGs can’t be created (4), By Eric Teniola.  From last week continues the speech by Justice Udo Udoma, Chairman of the Constituent Assembly, averring during his ruling on June 1, 1978 that it would be meaningless to consider proposals for the creation of over 40 new states THIS is a difficult matter of considerable historical importance which cannot be dismissed summarily. Realising the sensitive nature of the matter and the depth of feelings of some honourable members on the issue of the creation of new states, I felt impelled to allow the debate on the matter to be opened. In the ordinary course of events I should have refused the Amendments to be listed, and, if listed, to have them struck off as not only out of order but disorderly.  “The debate has been interesting but somewhat noisy. Members have conducted them with decorum and restraint. Honourable Members without dubiety appreciate that the creation of state is a matter of high governmenta...