Lekan Abiola, son of the late Moshood Abiola—the presumed winner of the annulled June 12, 1993, presidential election—has revealed that former military ruler General Ibrahim Babangida privately apologised to the Abiola family for invalidating the election results. The disclosure was made on Thursday during the MKO Abiola Memorial Symposium in Lagos, an event also focused on the forthcoming launch of a book titled “MKO Abiola: Symbol of Democracy.” Addressing journalists, Lekan said the family had recently returned from the United States and met with Babangida, who expressed remorse in a private setting. “We returned from the United States of America,…
Author: Oluwadara Akingbohungbe
In a major transfer coup, Liverpool has agreed to pay Bayer Leverkusen £116 million for the services of German midfielder Florian Wirtz. The deal comprises a £100 million guaranteed fee plus up to £16 million in performance bonuses, which could make it the highest transfer fee ever paid in British football. BBC Sport confirmed on Friday that these add-ons are conditional on Liverpool maintaining elite-level success, which would elevate the deal above Chelsea’s £107 million signing of Enzo Fernandez in 2023. Chelsea’s other major signing, Moises Caicedo, cost an initial £100 million with potential add-ons reaching £115 million. Wirtz’s career…
Dr. Kayode Fayemi, former Ekiti State governor, has declared that Nigeria, despite its return to civilian governance in 1999, has not yet attained authentic democracy. During a Channels Television event marking June 12, Fayemi stated that while the right to vote was restored, the broader democratic ideals remain unfulfilled. “Elections should not be mistaken for democracy. In 1999, we regained the right to elect our leaders, but true democracy is still out of reach,” Fayemi said. He stressed the importance of building on the progress made under previous administrations, including that of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Fayemi recounted the dangerous…
The Minister of Works, David Umahi, has defended the recent commissioning of the Eleme section of the East-West Road in Rivers State, asserting that the project is progressing as planned despite criticism from some Ogoni stakeholders. Speaking to journalists during a Thursday evening site visit, Umahi emphasized that the road’s development is structured in phases, with phase one—comprising a single carriageway—now complete. Umahi revealed that the contract for this section was awarded at N156 billion by the previous government but was never executed. It was only after President Bola Tinubu assumed office and authorized immediate work that the project gained…
In a significant move to strengthen his executive council, Ondo State Governor Dr. Lucky Aiyedatiwa has nominated 12 new commissioners, including Professor Igbekele Ajibefun, the former Vice Chancellor of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko, and ex-Rector of Rufus Giwa Polytechnic. The governor’s spokesperson, Ebenezer Adeniyan, released a statement on Thursday confirming that the list had been forwarded to the Ondo State House of Assembly for prompt approval. The governor appealed to the lawmakers for swift action, noting the importance of the appointments to the state’s development. “I shall be most obliged to the Honourable House for your expeditious action on…
FIFA president Gianni Infantino has declared the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup a transformative moment for club football worldwide. Launching this Saturday in the United States, the 32-team tournament is set to revolutionize the sport’s global reach. In an interview with AFP, Infantino compared the event to football’s first World Cup in 1930, stating, “Everyone today speaks about the very first World Cup. That’s why it’s also, this World Cup here is historic.” He emphasized the tournament’s role in expanding football’s footprint beyond its traditional European and South American powerhouses. Infantino said, “We want to be inclusive. We want to…
On Democracy Day, June 12, 2025, President Bola Tinubu honoured a select group of Nigerians who played pivotal roles in the country’s democratic journey, eliciting both applause and criticism. The President’s list celebrated the late Moshood Abiola, declared winner of the annulled 1993 presidential election, and included a historic pardon for the Ogoni Nine, executed for environmental activism. During his address to the National Assembly, Tinubu elevated Nobel Laureate Prof Wole Soyinka and Gen Alani Akinrinade (retd.) to Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger. Other honourees such as Femi Falana (SAN), Bishop Matthew Kukah, and Senator Shehu Sani…
The Nigerian Presidency has issued a formal apology after an error was discovered in the recently announced Democracy Day National Honours list. The mistake involved the inclusion of two living pro-democracy activists, Pa Reuben Fasoranti and Dr. Edwin Madunagu, in the posthumous award category. In an official statement released by the presidential spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, the Presidency clarified that both Fasoranti, a well-known Afenifere leader, and Dr. Madunagu are alive and should not have been listed among honourees recognized posthumously. The statement read: “During his Democracy Day address at the joint session of the National Assembly earlier today, President Bola…
On the occasion of Democracy Day, celebrated annually on June 12, renowned political economist Professor Pat Utomi has issued a strong appeal to President Bola Tinubu to undertake a complete restructuring of Nigeria ahead of the 2027 general elections. Speaking at the June 12: Annual Democracy Day National Dialogue held in Ikeja on Thursday, Utomi emphasized that the future stability and growth of Nigeria’s democracy depend heavily on this fundamental change. The event, organized by the June 12 Pro-Democracy Movement of Nigeria, carried the theme: “Democracy Without A Democratic Constitution: Which Way for Nigeria?” Utomi highlighted that the current democratic…
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Thursday delivered a national address to a joint session of the National Assembly to mark Democracy Day 2025. In the speech, the President reflected on Nigeria’s democratic journey and paid tribute to heroes of June 12. Read the full speech below: ADDRESS BY PRESIDENT BOLA AHMED TINUBU, GCFR AT THE JOINT SESSION OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY IN COMMEMORATION OF DEMOCRACY DAY, 2025 THURSDAY, 12TH JUNE 2025 Protocol: With profound honour, I stand before this joint session of our National Assembly; a parliament that embodies the will of the Nigerian people. Today, as I entered this…