Author: Chief Editor

•Oshiomhole: Life goes on The leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) is mounting pressure on its candidate in last Saturday’s governorship election in Edo State, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, to accept his defeat by Governor Godwin Obaseki, who contested on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), THISDAY learnt last night. Ize-Iyamu was met yesterday in Abuja by APC Chairman of the Caretaker/Extra-Ordinary National Convention Planning Committee, Governor Mai Mala Buni of Yobe State, and his Kogi State counterpart, Alhaji Yahaya Bello. THISDAY gathered that the closed-door meeting with Ize-Iyamu took place at the Abuja residence of Buni. Following…

Jose Mourinho picks Lionel Messi, Diego Maradona, and Pele as the three greatest footballers of all time. Mourinho snubs Cristiano Ronaldo and Ronaldo Luis Nazario in his list. In an interview with SportBible, Tottenham manager Jose Mourinho picked the three greatest footballers of all time. When asked to make his pick, Mourinho said, “For me, the top three players in history are Messi, Pele and Maradona.” Jose Mourinho omitted the likes of Brazilian icon Ronaldo and Juventus superstar Cristiano Ronaldo from his top three picks. Jose Mourinho has managed some of the biggest teams in Europe during his 20-year career as a manager. Mourinho has managed Chelsea, Inter Milan, Porto, Real…

If Fifa do find an alternative way to reward the top players this year as promised, who will win the best men’s player award? Ranking the best players from across Europe this year. While France Football decided to cancel the Ballon d’Or Awards in the aftermath of the Covid pandemic, we are being told that the FIFA Best Player Awards could still take place. The latest suggestion in this direction was given by Bayern Munich CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge who told Kicker (via GivemeSport)  “According to a statement by the President of Fifa, this award should take place. “Gianni Infantino told me that…

By Muhammadu Buhari Let me on behalf of the Government and good people of Nigeria, congratulate you on your well-deserved election as President of the 75th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). I would like to assure you of Nigeria’s readiness to avail the United Nations all necessary cooperation needed for the fulfillment of your mandate. 2. I wish to also thank the General Assembly for the support accorded His Excellency, Tijjani Muhammad-Bande during his tenure as President of the 74th Session of the General Assembly. 3. We acknowledge the accomplishments of the Assembly under his able leadership,…

President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday night urged the international community to take strong action against illicit flows of small arms and light weapons. Addressing the virtual United Nations General Assembly through a pre-recorded video statement, Mr Buhari said Nigeria was deeply concerned over the menace. “Nigeria remains deeply concerned over the illicit trade, transfer, and circulation of small arms and light weapons, particularly on the continent of Africa. “We urge the international community to renew efforts to stem this traffic and promote the Arms Trade Treaty. “This is to codify accountability in the on-going battle against trans-border crimes, including terrorism…

TIME magazine has named one of Africa’s leading investors and philanthropists, Mr. Tony  Elumelu, in the 2020 TIME 100, the annual list of the 100 most influential people in the world. The list, now in its seventeenth year, recognises the activism, innovation, and achievement of the world’s most influential individuals.  Elumelu, Chair of United Bank of Africa (UBA) and Founder and Chairman of Heirs Holdings, is one of three Nigerians on the list, alongside Tomi Adeyemi and Tunji Funso. He made the TIME 100 List for his track record of business turnaround and value creation, and economic empowerment of young Africans. Heirs Holdings, his family owned…

Jide Ojo The Edo State governorship election held last Saturday, September 19, 2020 has been won and lost. Governor Godwin Obaseki of the Peoples Democratic Party won his reelection bid by polling 307,955 votes to defeat his arch-rival, Osagie Ize-Iyamu of the All Progressives Congress, who had 223,619 votes; a difference of 84,336 votes. Obaseki also won outright in 13 of the 18 local government areas and thus scored more than 25 per cent of votes cast in two-thirds of the local governments in the state. Fourteen candidates contested in the election but predictably it turned out to be a…

Lekan Sote Don’t allow anyone to fool you with the cock-and-bull tale that capitalism is only market-driven economy, and its citizens and corporates do not receive subsidy or any form of helping hand. If you believe that, you will believe anything. Tax experts will admit that tax breaks, given to companies by governments, are a form of subsidy. Tax holidays are usually granted for infant or pioneer companies, or entire industries, to thrive and overcome teething problems. Recently, the Nigerian government, led by the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), introduced a policy to exempt companies with annual turnover lower…

Azuka Onwuka The incumbent governor of Edo State and candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Mr Godwin Obaseki, was declared the winner of the Edo State election on Sunday by the Independent National Electoral Commission. From available reports, the election was adjudged well-conducted when compared to the standard of elections conducted in Nigeria in recent years. In addition to being free, fair and transparent, it was violence-free. INEC deserves commendation for that. The President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), should also be commended for not allowing INEC, security agents, and thugs to influence the election as had occurred in some…

Tayo Oke Way back in June of this year, as the plot to thwart the All Progressives Congress Governor Godwin Obaseki’s quest for a second term in office thickened, this column sounded a warning to his then party: “Let me say again, categorically, that (Adams) Oshiomhole is a spent force in the APC politics…” It went further: “Let me make a prediction for the Edo and Ondo primaries and subsequent elections later this year. Barring a major electoral malfeasance, the APC will lose both if they force the incumbents out at the primaries…” (See; “Obaseki: Albatross around APC’s neck”, The PUNCH,…