Author: Chief Editor

One of the major tragedies of Nigeria’s chequered political history is a legislature that is marked by stunted development when compared to other democracies world over. For those long years of military incursion in national politics, the legislature suffered the most because each time there was a forceful take-over of government, the legislature was disbanded. Although the elected as well as appointed headships of the executive and judiciary were equally sacked, their bureaucratic structures were left to operate. And of course until this republic, there was no functional and distinct legislative bureaucracy, meaning that the legislature was practically grounded throughout…

Controversies have continued to trail the proposed induction of the Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, as the Grand Patron of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in the South West. Six state council chairmen of the NUJ disagree about the justification for the award. The union at its zonal meeting on 12th March 2021, agreed to halt the induction over the leadership crisis in the zone which has been referred to the National Executive Council of the Union and opposition of all the six state council chairmen of the union. During the zonal meeting, the South West Vice President of…

South Africa’s top court on Thursday heard an urgent application seeking to have ex-president Jacob Zuma jailed for two years for defying an order to testify before corruption investigators. Zuma, who was forced to step down in 2018 over graft scandals, has snubbed a government-appointed panel investigating the plunder of state coffers during his time in office, claiming bias on the part of its chair, Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo. The former leader testified only once, in July 2019, before staging a walkout days later. On January 28, the Constitutional Court ordered him to appear before the commission, but he…

A bill to end “hijab discrimination” has reportedly passed second reading in the House of Representatives. Sponsored by Rep. Saidu Musa Abdullahi of Niger State, the bill, “Religious Discrimination (Prohibition, Prevention) Bill, 2021,” is supposed to protect hijab wearers from various forms of discrimination. Abdullahi was, of course, reacting to the ongoing hijab war in Kwara State that had degenerated into skirmishes. Just as it happened in Osun, Oyo, and Lagos states too, schools considered “Christian” are putting their feet down against their Muslim female students wearing hijab within their premises. Abdullahi managed to dredge up a few other instances…

Antoine Griezmann scored a superb goal but holders France were held to a 1-1 draw at home by Ukraine on Wednesday as their qualifying campaign for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar got off to a stumbling start. Barcelona star Griezmann curled in the opener in the 19th minute before Andriy Shevchenko’s Ukraine drew level courtesy of an own-goal by the unfortunate Presnel Kimpembe just before the hour mark at an empty Stade de France. It is a result that immediately puts the defending world champions on the back foot, with only the group winners automatically qualifying for next year’s…

European champions Portugal got their 2022 World Cup qualifying campaign off to a winning start thanks to an Azerbaijan own-goal in a tight 1-0 Group A victory in Turin on Wednesday. Azeri captain Maksim Medvedev turned the ball into his own net on 36 minutes, but that was all Portugal could muster against their 108th-ranked opponents. Cristiano Ronaldo failed to score at his club side’s Juventus Stadium — with the game on neutral ground due to coronavirus travel restrictions — remaining seven goals short of Iranian Ali Daei’s all-time international scoring record of 109 goals. Fernando Santos’s side struggled due…

Investigate accounting ‘infractions’ of govt, others House of Representatives, yesterday, ordered immediate probe of over $25 billion allegedly spent by the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) on turnaround maintenance of refineries. The decision was sequel to adoption of a motion initiated by Mr. Onofiok Akpan Luke during plenary presided over by Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila. In effect, the House mandated its Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream) to carry out an investigative hearing and conduct a comprehensive audit of funds previously spent on rehabilitation/repairs and maintenance of the Port-Harcourt Refinery and others in the country. The House further mandated the committee to…

The leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, has said that the group will support the one million man march proposed by Yoruba self-determination groups in the South-West. Kanu, in a tweet on Wednesday, said IPOB will also stand with all oppressed ethnic groups in Nigeria. “As the brave men & women of #Oduduwa plan this historic “one million man march across Southwest”, I want to assure all & sundry that #IPOB stand with you & all oppressed ethnic groups in #Nigeria in this brave step & I implore all that desire freedom to support it. #WeMove,” he…

Mike Tyson has backed Tyson Fury to defeat Anthony Joshua in the hotly anticipated heavyweight Battle of Britain later this year. Tyson believes the speed the Gypsy King possesses means he will be able to outwit Joshua and avoid his powerful punches in a similar tactic that saw him emerge victorious in his rematch with Deontay Wilder in early 2020. Tyson has spoken glowingly of Joshua’s attributes but reckons that unless he can learn to punch faster than the explosive Bronze Bomber, Fury will claim the WBA, WBO, IBF and IBO from his rival later this year to become the…

The House of Representatives Committee on Public Accounts, yesterday quizzed the new interim administration of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) led by Col. M. Dixon Dikio (rtd) over the N3.7 billion that was allegedly paid to ex-agitators and contractors. The Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee, Hon. Wole Oke, was peeved that the management of the PAP could not account for the monies due to gross mismanagement. The committee’s meeting with the officials of the PAP arose from the audit query from the Auditor General of the Federation. Oke said that over N3.9 billion was reportedly expended by the agency…