Author: Chief Editor

A coalition of Nigerian Muslim professionals has condemned attacks trailing Bishop Matthew Kukah following his Christmas Day Message, where he allegedly berated the state of the nation, warning that unless leaders sit up, Nigeria was heading towards a failed state. The revered Bishop of Sokoto Catholic Archdiocese was also quoted as accusing President Muhammadu Buhari of piloting Nigeria into darkness in the message titled: “A Nation in Search of Vindication.” He took swipe at the worsening state of insecurity in the country just as he berated the current federal administration of glaringly abandoning the nation’s extant federal character principles and…

Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State has promised to provide the Civilian JTF with petrol vehicles and other needs to secure communities in the state. The governor cut short his visits to Abuja and Katsina, due to last weekend’s killings in six communities of the state. According to him, the terrorists killed five people and torched several houses, police stations, and churches. He said thousands of bags of farm produce recently harvested by farmers were also looted by the terrorists. “Several shops and market stalls were looted, before torching them,” he added. While addressing Yamirshika and Shaffa residents on Sunday,…

 Northern Islamic coalition threatens bishop with a lawsuit • SMBLF hails cleric • Catholic secretariat declares support for him • Muric dismisses cleric’s allegation against Buhari as reckless, inflammatory • Says it’s a call for a coup against President • Those against Kukah are sectional zealots, northern Christians declare • ‘Akintola’s attack on bishop laughable, misleading’ • Islamic cleric, Gumi, supports the call for Buhari’s resignation Three days after the Bishop of Sokoto Catholic Diocese, Mathew Kukah, preached a sermon against nepotism to commemorate this year’s Christmas, the North has been divided by the homily, which also accused President Muhammadu…

The Nigerian Medical Association has urged the Federal Government to provide comprehensive life insurance for doctors and other health personnel that risk their lives in the line of duty. In a statement, yesterday in Abuja, Chairman of NMA in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Dr. Enema Amodu, who demanded adequate protection for its members, noted that there is no enough personal protective equipment for the doctors and other health workers in the frontline. “Over the last few days, I have received calls and messages on the 20 doctors that died across the country from the deadly coronavirus within a week.…

As the year comes to a close, the IBF, IBO, WBA, WBO heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua is looking forward to a potential full division unification with WBC champion Tyson Fury in 2021, reports boxingscene.com.Joshua was in action earlier this month when he knocked out mandatory challenger Kubrat Pulev. Now his sights are set on finalising a two-fight deal with Fury. The only thing in Joshua’s way – is a clash with WBO mandatory challenger Oleksandr Usyk. If Usyk refuses to accept a step-aside deal, then Joshua could be forced to vacate the WBO title in order to move forward with…

BY REUBEN ABATI My favourite end-of-the-year quote, which I have shared with many others, is the following passage from Chapter 3 of the inimitable Chinua Achebe’s Things Falls Apart, a novel of monumental, evergreen relevance, translated into over 50 languages, a product of pure genius, a milestone in world literature. Achebe wrote: “…The year that Okonkwo took eight hundred seed yams from Nwakibie was the worst year in living memory. Nothing happened at its proper time; it was either too early or too late. It seemed as if the world had gone mad. The first rains were late and when…

Six-time champion Roger Federer will miss the Australian Open for the first time in his career as he continues his recovery from knee surgery. The 39-year-old Swiss, a 20-time Grand Slam winner, has not played since January because of two operations. He hoped to return at the delayed Australian Open, which starts on 8 February in Melbourne. “Roger ran out of time to get himself ready for the rigours of a Grand Slam,” said tournament director Craig Tiley. Federer has played in the Australian Open 21 years in a row, but his agent said missing the tournament was “the best…

The Japanese Government has announced that foreign travellers will not be permitted to enter the country until at least the end of January due to a rise in COVID-19 cases in the nation due to host the next Olympics and Paralympics. The new measure is set to start today and will continue throughout January. It follows a record daily increase in new coronavirus cases – including at least two of a new, faster-spreading strain of the virus. Japan reported in excess of 3,500 new cases yesterday. A further 50 deaths were reported as well. As Japan tightens its border, citizens…

•Party frets over impact of feud on 2023 outing The National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has waded into the power tussle in the South-west chapter of the party that has pitted former Ekiti State, Mr. Ayodele Fayose against Oyo State Governor, Mr. Seyi Makinde. The NWC has, therefore, mandated its Peace, Reconciliation and Strategy Committee to resolve the feud between the two zonal party chieftains, as part of efforts at repositioning the PDP in the South-west. The committee is headed by a former Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, with former Gombe State Governor, Hassan Dankwambo;…

Presidential aide, Northern group, SMBLF, CAN, Catholic Church take sides The controversy generated by the Christmas message of the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah, in which he criticised President Muhammadu Buhari, generated more reactions yesterday as groups and a presidential aide weighed in. While the president’s Special Assistant, Social Media, Lauretta Onochie, the Arewa Youth Consultative Forum (AYCF) and Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) knocked Kukah, the Catholic Church in Nigeria, the Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum (SMBLF) and the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) defended him. Kukah, in the Christmas message last Friday, had accused…