Author: Chief Editor

The Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II,  yesterday said  the credentials of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo  are making  other contestants to shiver. The Oba said this when Osinbajo visited him in his palace in Benin, the Edo State capital,  to meet with delegates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the party’s presidential primary election where he hoped to get the presidential ticket of the party. According to the monarch, he has always been an admirer of the vice president’s eloquence and commended him for his respect for culture and tradition. Ewuare II thanked Osinbajo for the visit to his palace stating that he…

When former Governor of New York, Mario Cuomo, said that campaign is done in poetry but governance in prose, he must have been thinking of the hazy days of slogans on steroids which fills supporters with false notion of an easy Eldorado; sweeping majestic visions of all people rising victorious and transforming the state with theories into a new earth. But anybody who knows anything knows that things are not this simple: campaign manifestos are theories, and governance proper is real life work, and only the inordinately idealistic would be so rash as to confuse the two. I was on…

Niran Adedokun A cherished friend of mine posted about his conviction that former President Goodluck Jonathan was too smart to succumb to current agitations for him to contest in the 2023 elections during the week. I had similar thoughts until reports that agitators stormed his Abuja office to prevail on him to contest in the elections hit the waves last week. That was an aurora moment! Anyone who understands Nigerian politics and its players would immediately know that protests like the one staged last Thursday are almost always inspired by the very people they are meant to persuade or…

Lekan Sote Section 22 of Nigeria’s Constitution provides that “The press, radio, television and other agencies of the mass media shall, at all times, be free to uphold the Fundamental Objectives contained in (Chapter II of Nigeria’s Constitution) and uphold the responsibility and accountability of the Government to the people.” This suggests that the Constitution recognises the media as an agency of government in Nigeria. Yet the media is not being financed or supported from the Consolidated Revenue Fund of Nigeria like the Ministries, Departments and Agencies of the executive, legislative and judiciary branches of the Nigerian government that…

Jide Ojo SINCE the ruling All Progressives Congress announced the fees for the Expression of Interest and Nomination Form last Wednesday, a lot of people have been criticising the party for charging high nomination fees. Some said it will promote corruption in government. Others said it is illegal. However, many have failed to understand the motive behind these charges, especially by the dominant political parties, the APC and the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party. Since the APC saga broke out, I have granted three media interviews on the issue. The first was to TV 360, Premium Times and the…

Oyo State Governor, ‘Seyi Makinde,  yesterday was  joined by his Edo State counterpart, Governor Godwin Obaseki, to inaugurate  the Ojoo and Challenge Bus Terminals in Ibadan. Governor Obaseki, who was the special guest of honour, commended Makinde for delivering the two massive bus terminals among many others, despite the economic challenges in the country. He congratulated Makinde for standing firm by his people, saying that the people of the state will appreciate the governor when it is time. The Edo State helmsman equally hailed the people of the state for supporting Makinde, noting that Governor Makinde is very passionate about the development of…

Jose Mourinho returns to England on Thursday on a wave of enthusiasm as upbeat Roma prepares for their third European semi-final in five seasons with fans firmly behind their charismatic manager. Mourinho’s spell at Tottenham, the first since 2002 where he left a club without winning a trophy, left the man formerly known as The Special One’s stock at an all-time low. A crop of attack-minded coaches had left Mourinho behind as he crept towards his 60s, but he is rebuilding his reputation in the country where his star has never waned thanks to the historic treble he won for…

The Chelsea takeover saga appears to be finally entering its closing stages with three bidders still in contention to buy the club from Roman Abramovich. The Russian put the club up for sale at the start of March before being sanctioned, and while he will not receive any money from the bids, he still has a say in who he sells to, reports football.london.com. Three consortiums make up the final candidates, led by billionaires Todd Boehly, Stephen Pagliuca and Sir Martin Broughton. The Ricketts family made it past the initial bidding stage but pulled out of the process amid protests…

Pep Guardiola rued Manchester City’s missed chances as they beat Real Madrid 4-3, but squandered the opportunity to kill off the Spanish side in a “fantastic” Champions League semi-final on Tuesday. Guardiola’s team should have left Real dead and buried in the first leg at the Etihad Stadium as they held a two-goal lead three times, only to allow the La Liga leaders back into the tie on each occasion. City were two up after just 11 minutes and also led 3-1 and 4-2, but Real refused to surrender in one of the Champions League’s greatest games. Karim Benzema’s second…

President Muhammadu Buhari has urged all political parties in the country to keep elections and election-related differences aside and join the administration’s drive to defeat insecurity in the country. Mr Femi Adesina, Buhari’s spokesman in a statement late Tuesday night, said the president made the call at an Iftar dinner with members of the business community and the leadership of political parties in Abuja. The presidential aide quoted the president as describing insecurity as a ‘‘common enemy’’ bedevilling the country. The president said: ‘‘Without mass, popular support to our hard working Armed Forces, it will take us much longer to…