**It’s quite obvious that Peter Obi enjoyed being at public gatherings as much as it’s interactive and this is his way of educating Nigerian about the plan that he wants to execute if he is elected as Nigeria’s president in 2023. The same thing applies when Peter Obi visits Uyo to meet a Nigerian student for an interactive session and it’s obvious that he is open to answering questions from this student. One of the questions he answered was what will happen if he becomes the president and he allocated money or social amenities funds to Nigeria students and they don’t get it because of stakeholders working with him. Peter Obi replied saying that anyone working with him will be held responsible for everything he has to do and that he is ready to change how corruption has become porous in Nigeria’s government system. He referred to what happened when he started his journey as a Nigerian presidential candidate under the Labour party, he was told that he has to stop doing the rubbish he is doing because he can’t last a month but things have changed now. Those who didn’t believe in his dream of becoming Nigerian president are now conspiring to stop him from retiring from the government system because he has a different way of ruling. It’s a fact that a lot of people don’t believe that Peter Obi will be among the 3 frontrunners for the presidential election and his confidence is gradually increasing as the election is fast approaching too.
**Ahead of the 2023 presidential election, the contesting candidates have granted a good number of media interviews, and town hall meetings where they’ve made several claims regarding their candidacy, issues of the nation, and what they’ll do if elected. A good number of these claims were recorded and fact-checked by verifiable platforms and most of their claims turned out to be true with some reported as false. In a recent update by Fact Check Hub, a platform based on verifications, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi has been ranked as the candidate with the most verifiable claims. In a report shared by the platform, they revealed that after gathering claims from the candidates during their media outings and town hall meetings, it was discovered that Peter Obi tops the other candidates in the number of verifiable claims. It was reported by Fact Check Hub that ten of the claims made by Peter Obi have been reviewed and fact-checked to be true while Atiku and Sowore each recorded two correct claims. The report has however generated lots of mixed reactions after it was shared on the platform’s Twitter page as Nigerians air different opinions in the comment section.
**The Labour Party (LP) Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) has reacted to the ruling of the Federal High Court Abuja on Monday which sentenced its Director-General, Doyin Okupe, to jail. It was reported that Okupe, right-hand man to the LP presidential candidate, Peter Obi, was sentenced to a two-year jail term today after he was found guilty of money laundering but given the option of paying a fine. Okupe was earlier convicted by Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu who considered a money laundering case brought before the court by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on alleged money laundering and criminal breach of trust to the tune of N702 million valid. Reacting, however, to the court ruling, the party’s PCC said it has paid the sum of N13m fine following the court’s verdict.
**A federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Monday, found Doyin Okupe, the Director General Of the Obi-Datti campaign, guilty of receiving over N200 million cash from a former National Security Adviser (NSA) Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd). The court however, sentenced him to the 2 years imprisonment on count 34 with an option of a fine of N500,000. However, hours after his conviction for money laundering, Doyin Okupe released a statement via his twitter handle, where he stated that God is not man, and that the enemies have tried in so many ways but kept failing.
**Peter Ameh, the leader of Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), has stated that the presidential candidate of Labour Party, Peter Obi, is leading a new revolution in the political landscape and how politics is being played in the country. Speaking during an interview today, he stated that in the history of Nigerian politics since 1999, he has never seen a situation whereby Nigerians are contributing money to be used by a politician. He maintained that unlike others, Peter Obi’s supporters are the one sponsoring and organizing his campaigns because they trust that he’s the best man for the job. He said: “The person that Nigerians have seen, clamour and shout on the street for is Obi. His big rallies everywhere in Nigeria are conducted with people’s money. Where is such done in Nigerian politics since 1999? I was the national chairman of a party and have played politics to know that Nigerians don’t give their money to politicians. They don’t trust them, they don’t believe in them. You can tell them everything, but they won’t support you with a dime. Today, people are organising press conferences, printing billboards, printing banners, printing t-shirts or face caps, Obi has not printed anything. He has not given anybody money to mobilise this organic crowd.”
**The leadership of Labour Party (LP) in Osun State has said former House of Representatives deputy speaker Lasun Yusuf, who was their 2022 governorship candidate, left the party and abandoned the party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, because of his hotel business. The Nation reported that the Labour Party through its chairman, Prince Bello Adebayo said the ex-deputy Speaker did not join the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the interest of the 2023 general election, but because of patronage of the business, as Osun is now a PDP state. Adebayo berated Yusuf for the poor performance of the party in the 2022 governorship election, saying: “We thought he was a big fish, but at the end of the day, you can see our performance. We came fifth during the Osun Governorship election. Meanwhile, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi has reportedly dismissed the projections that he would not win in the southwest. Obi, a former Anambra governor, is from the southeast. In the southern region, he has the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who is from the southwest to contend with. Nevertheless, Obi, according to Nigerian Tribune, expressed confidence he would win in the southwest. The Labour Party flagbearer spoke at the combined first and second convocation ceremonies of the Dominican University, Samonda, Ibadan. Speaking further, Obi said his number one political structure is God while his number two structure is the people. He said: “My number one structure is God, the number two is human beings,and you people are my structure because you believe in me and in what I am saying. “The structure we have today is that of criminality and underdevelopment. These structures have ruined the country. So, the pertinent question is do you want to continue with the existing structure or do you want a new structure?”
**The Apex Socio-cultural youth organization of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide Ohanaeze Youth Council national President, Comrd. Igboayaka O Igboayaka has expressed acrimony over the negligence of the Governor of Enugu State, His Excellency, Governor Ifeanyi Ugwunwanyi towards his advice on how to avert envisaged brutal killing of his citizens. Comrade Igboayaka alleged that he made the said revelation in the early period of March, 2021 when he had a dialogue with Governor Ugwuanyi on the incessant killings of innocent Igbo sons and daughters in Enugu, but regretted that the governor never heeded to his candid advice. The embittered Igbo youth leader revealed that Ehu-Amufu 3rd Missionary Jihadist massacre could have been averted if Gov Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi had listened to the council’s strategic counsel on how to save Enugu Land from the dreaded Fulani herdsmen bandits and Jihadist. The National President of the youth body made this revelation while addressing newsmen in Abuja, federal capital, in reaction to the on going killings of Ndigbo in some parts of Enugu State. It’s obvious that the State had, as at yesterday, recorded the loss of over 100 lives in the State, consequent upon the lethal attack on the people by dreaded Fulani herdsmen, as houses were also set ablaze in the course of the attack. Igboayaka, who accused Ugwunwanyi of being engrossed in what he termed “his selfish interest in retiring to in Senate in 2023” threatened that if no adequate proactive measures are deployed to put a lasting end to the gruesome massacring of the people, “Igbo youths shall rise against SouthEast leasers”, he said. Furthermore, Igboayaka recounted that “it was also the same thing Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi state did when I contacted him on the killings that were going on in Ebonyi. However, all Umahi could say was, I shouldn’t worry him that I should concentrate on Imo State that I am not from Ebonyi state, Igboayaka disclosed. “when I said that SouthEast Governors are conspirators in the killings of Ndigbo by Fulani herdsmen Bandits and Jihadist it’s not a mere allegation, but it’s a fact which they have demonstrated through their deliberate continuous silence. Continuing, Comrade Igboayaka outlined that; “One of the major responsibility of a responsible government in South-East is the protection of lives and property of Ndigbo, but if the (the Governors) cannot deny this fact that they collaborators in the maiming of Ndigbo for political gain and power, let them honorably resign and give way for those that can sign and uphold a social contract to protect Alaigbo from external invasion. “It’s now obvious that we don’t have leaders in Southeast, none of the Southeast Governors, Senators, Federal House of Representatives members, or State House of Assembly members have made any comments or reaction on the killings of over 200 Igbos at Eha-Amufu, Enugu State. “Our Senators and Federal Representatives in Abuja are looking for money and contracts and preparing to go back to National assembly. There’s no gainsaying that Governors, Senators, Reps members and Ministers from South-east extraction are Soulless human political elements that have more esteem for their political positions more than the millions of lives of Ndigbo. “These political Characters must be taught a lesson in a hard way, or they will intensify in their efforts to put the lives of Ndigbo into jeopardy. These wicked characters that attach titles of Excellency, Honorable and Distinguished are walking freely on the street, blowing siren here and there without a tinge of feelings about the woes that have befallen on Ndigbo “What we have in Southeast as Governors, Senators, House of Representatives members, House of Assembly members and Ministers are bunch of political looters and leech that feed on the blood of Ndigbo. Speaking further, Comrade Igboayaka O Igboayaka explained that “the ethnic cleansing is real in Igbo land, it has started from Enugu Axis, just yesterday Sunday, 18 December, 2022, another massacre of Ndigbo took place at various communities in Eha-Amufu, Ebor, Umujiovu, Mgbuji, Agu-Amede, a causality that recorded the killing of over 100 people. This inhuman operation started in the early hours of Sunday’s morning and lasted up until night”. Moreso, he recalled that on November 22 and 23, 2022, a similar attack took place in Ebonyi State which claimed the lives of over 100 Igbos with 50 people missing, adding, he said; “and again, on December 7, 2022 the same took place with over 30 Igbos killed. “Ndigbo must pick up arm for self-defense as we’re now living in a failed country. “I therefore warned Igbo leaders to sit up now, convoke a compulsory SouthEast Geo-political Zonal meeting and cease from betraying Ndigbo for money or political positions, otherwise, there will be a ” Political Mob Action” in Igbo land that will sweep off every political oppressor”, he warned.
**Yobe State Governor Mai Mala Buni has reportedly arrested a teenager in the state over an alleged social media post. The State Command of the Nigeria Police Force confirmed this on Monday, stating that the boy is in their custody and would be charged to court soon. It was gathered that the 16-year-old boy insulted the All Progressives Congress (APC) governor via his social media page. It was gathered that the boy was arrested on December 11, 2022, but reports of his arrest was made public on Monday, December 19, after the minor’s father, Garba Isa, called on police authorities to release his son. According to Channels Television, the minor was arrested in Nguru and later transferred to the State Investigation Division of the police force in Damaturu, the Yobe State capital. Expressing regret over his child’s attitude against the governor, Isa said he is a mere laundry man and can only beg Governor Buni to show the child mercy and release him. Isa appealed to Governor Buni and the State Commissioner of Police (CP), Garba Haruna, to release his son on passionate grounds.
“I regret what my son did. I am nobody, an ordinary laundry man, what my son (Umar) did was totally wrong, I appeal to Governor Mai Mala Buni and the police on passionate grounds to forgive my son and release him,” the child’s father said. CP Haruna reiterated that the boy is cooling off in detention and would be charged to the court. Haruna said: “When we conclude our investigation, he will definitely be charged to court. People are using social media to insult and tarnish people’s character, the society needs to be sanitised. “You cannot use social media and begin to post all sorts of things. There is law and order in Nigeria, whoever infringes on someone’s right will be punished.” It was reported that this is coming a few days after Nigeria’s First Lady, Aisha Muhammadu Buhari, arrested one Aminu Mohammed, a student of the Federal University, Dutse, Jigawa, who criticised her on Twitter. The boy was, however, released days later following appeals.
**The details of the meeting between the All Progressives Congress presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, and Labour leaders have emerged. It was reported that Tinubu, on Monday, met with the leaders of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) at a town hall meeting held at Chida Hotel Conference Centre in Abuja. The President of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Ayuba Wabba, and his Trade Union Congress (TUC), Comrade Festus Osifo led the two labour groups in the country to the interactive session. Speaking at the meeting, Tinubu said his achievements in Lagos make him the best person to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari in 2023, urging Nigerian workers to vote for him because he is the most qualified of the presidential candidates. The APC flagbearer stated that he transformed Lagos infrastructurally and powered it to the 5th largest economy in Africa and can repeat the same feat at the national level. Tinubu promised to tackle unemployment, poverty, challenges in the housing and educational sector, and weak industrial base of the economy if elected as the President, noting that his track record speaks volumes of his commitment to good governance. He said: “Today, the questions you all must ask yourselves are these: who can be trusted to accomplish all of this? “The man who has done it before, or the man whose most lasting achievement as Vice President is the corrupt sale of national assets to his friends and cronies? “Who has the better plan? The man whose blueprint guided the emergence of Lagos State as the fifth largest economy in Africa or the man whose greatest pride is the amount of money he managed to bury in the sand while his state’s infrastructure decayed and its workers suffered endless hardship? “The choice is yours. But permit me to now talk a little about myself and my vision. I have always been and will continue to be a progressive Democrat.
**The former Nigerian High Commissioner to South Africa, Shehu Malami, is dead, aged 85. Malami died in Cairo, Egypt, after a brief illness, Daily Trust learnt. Malami, who marked his 80th birthday in 2017 with a presentation of a book entitled: “Shehu Malami: A Prince of the Caliphate. Selected speeches and commentaries,” was highly respected among the elite.
President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday described the death of Sokoto Prince, businessman and former Sarkin Sudan of Wurno, (a senior title in the Sultanate) was “sad and shocking.” The president in a statement by his, Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, said, “This is such shocking and sad news. I am absolutely stunned to hear this. It is another reminder of how fragile life is.
**The governor, who expressed optimism that Senator Uba Sani will succeed him, said that he will not make any input “in the running of the next All Progressives Congress(APC) government. El-Rufai, who spoke at a town hall meeting organized by the Central Senatorial Zone on Monday, said he had known the senator for over 20 years and Sani had proven his mettle politically. He advised the people of Kaduna State not to inundate him with requests to Uba Sani to be given appointments or contracts when he becomes governor. El Rufai described Senator Uba Sani as a worthy successor who will take Kaduna state to greater heights when voted as governor. In his remarks, Sani said he had been a student of “Malam Nasir El-Rufai’s School of Government and Policy” in the last 20 years and he had acquired several ‘’degrees’’ as a result. The senator who promised to continue with the policies and programmes of the El Rufai administration, praised the governor for re-engineering governance in Kaduna state. Uba Sani who said that government can not shoulder the funding of education alone, called on wealthy individuals to sponsors promising but indigent to tertiary schools. According to him, he recently gave scholarships to 280 students in Kaduna state tertiary schools to enable them continue with their studies.
**Recall that the governor of Osun state, Senator Ademola Adeleke on Thursday had a meeting with the paramount rulers in the state to notify them that his foreganger, Gboyega Oyetola left a debt of N407.32 billion for the state. According to a recent report by Vanguard News, the Oluwo of Iwoland, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Abdulrosheed Adewale Akanbi has stated that the governor of Osun State, senator Ademola Adeleke, has started his administration on a good note by meeting with the traditional rulers in the state, adding that the such wisdom could only come from God. Reacting to the statement made by Senator Ademola Adeleke, Oba Akanbi stated that the governor recognised the significance of the traditional institution by gathering the monarchs and informing them on the debt profile of the state. Oba Akanbi went on to commend Adeleke for vowing to grant sovereignty to the local government administration in Osun. According to Oba Akanbi, he said; “I don’t know where he got the wisdom of having a meeting with the traditional institution to commence his administration but I know such must be divine wisdom from God. He is starting on a good note for recognising the traditional institution”.
**The Minister of Women Affairs, Dame Pauline Tallen, on Monday betrayed emotions and wept on live television over the continuous captivity of Leah Sharibu and other Chibok schoolgirls. Recalls that in April 2014, Boko Haram insurgents stormed the Government Girls Secondary School in Chibok, Borno State and kidnapped dozens of young ladies. The mass kidnapping sparked international outrage. The insurgents packed 276 pupils, aged 12-17, at the time into trucks in the outlawed group’s mass school abduction. Fifty-seven of the girls managed to escape by jumping from the trucks shortly after their abduction while over 80 were released in exchange for some detained Boko Haram commanders following negotiations with the Nigerian government. On Monday, after presenting the achievements of her ministry at the 13th edition of the President Muhammadu Buhari (PMB)’ Administration Scorecard Series (2015-2023) put together by the Ministry of Information and Culture, Tallen broke down in tears while speaking about the Chibok schoolgirls. The event was transmitted live by the Nigeria Television Authority (NTA), Radio Nigeria and Voice of Nigeria (VON). Responding to a question on the government’s efforts towards ensuring the release of the remaining girls from captivity, Tallen said President Buhari, the military and her ministry had never rested on their oars to ensure their freedom. “If you come to my office, you will see photographs of where I have visited Leah Sharibu’s parents and I have reached out to support them. “Anything I put forward to Mr President’s desk, concerning them, he approves. “You can also see in one of the photographs the helicopter and the security personnel Mr President approved for me to go to Chibok and I have gone there three times. “Leah Sharibu’s parents are not in Chibok but the military made arrangements for me to see them at the Airforce Base in Yola due to security concerns,” she said. Furthermore, the minister counseled that all hands must be on deck because security issue is not just government affairs but for everyone. “Security issue is everybody’s issue therefore when you see something you say something. “I pray that Nigerians will be sincere enough to support our security with the right information for us to get these girls,” she said. At this point, the minister who could not hold her tears wept as she continued, “I am touched as a mother and I know that this is a season that we should show love at [sic] everyone including those in captivity.
**Imo State, christened land of Hope, has been described as the most backward State in Nigeria. The Labour Party Governorship aspirant in Imo State, Sir Basil Maduka made this assertion in a chat with newsmen in Port Harcourt yesterday. Maduka who is the Managing Director of Virgin Group, a big player in the Oil and Gas sector regretted that Imo State has been lagging behind in the area of economic and redee was infrastructural development in the country despite its potentials. Sir Maduka noted that Imo State had a big opportunity to be great during the time of President Goodluck Jonathan’s government when so many Imo sons and daughters were part of the government. “Unfortunately, they did not utilise the opportunity for the growth and development of the State. They could not attract any form of federal government presence here, not even to upgrade the Sam Mbakwe Cargo Airport in Owerri which could have improved the economy of the State “We had ministers, defacto Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the House, Permanent Secretary, FCT, Chairman of the Christian Pilgrim’s Welfare Board, Chairman Senate Committee on Aviation, Chairman House Committee on Aviation and Senate Committee on Army and Navy and Chairman of Road Safety etc, yet we could not attract any development to the State. Instead, played to the gallery. There were infighting and enviousness among themselves. And lack of focus. They were interested in personal aggrandizement rather than work for the interest of the State. The fall out is that Imo State has remained underdeveloped even under the government that took over from the Jonathan administration. Was Sir Maduka, who is also a knight of the Anglican Church decried the lack of employment opportunities for Imo State youths occasioned by lack industries in the State.
“Unemployment is very high in Imo State, that is why criminality is on the high side. I keep telling people that there is no insecurity in the State. The crux of the matter is poverty. People are hungry. If you cure hunger in the land, you will see how criminality will disappear. Criminality is man-made because of hunger”, he noted.
On his plans to revamp the economy of Imo State if elected governor, Sir Maduka explained that Imo has a lot of potential which he would harness for the betterment of the people,. stressing that he would bring back Imolites in the diaspora and create an enabling environment that will make business to thrive. He also said that his government won’t be depending on federal allocation from Abuja to run his State as he is aware that the Federal Government is bankrupt already. “‘I will generate my own money from the State. The Internal Generated Revenue of the State, IGR is not too poor.. Imo State debt profile as at today is about 200 billion naira, which might rise up to 300 billion naira before the current administration in the State winds up. Further,. Sir Maduka bemoaned the high bank interest rate which has made him to think outside the box on ways to to make Imolites happy when he resumes as governor. How then will Maduka run the State without sweat? we asked. According to the likeable oil and gas magnet, “I will allow foreign investors to come in and invest their money. I have the goodwill from my international partners. They will come once they know that Basil is on the saddle. “I will also bring Imo traders together. And since banks are not given friendly facilities anymore, I will set up a facility scheme where traders can access seed funds to run their business.
The arrangement is that through the scheme I would create at least 1000 millionaires each month. By the time the multiplier effects of the seed money begin to yield results, we shall start to generate little taxes for government.a as sex
**Katsina State Governor, Aminu Bello Masari, on Monday made a U-turn on his earlier decision that the Presidential Candidate of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, and the party could not use Muhammadu Dikko Stadium in Katsina for presidential campaign rally on Tuesday, December 20, 2022. Curiously, the letter given Atiku the go ahead to use the facility instead of the old stadium or polo ground in the state capital surfaced online on Monday after the PDP condemned in strong terms the refusal of the incumbent All Progressive Congress (APC) to grant its request. But Masari approved the use of the ultramodern stadium for rally in a letter ostensibly dated December 16, 2022, by the Permanent Secretary, Political and Common Services in the Secretary to the Government of the State office, Sulaiman Kankia, for the SGS. The terse letter reads in part: “Further to our letter No. S/SGKT/43/POL/ VOL1/298 dated 13th December, 2022, and having achieved substantial progress in the repair works at Muhammadu Dikko Stadium, His Excellency, the Governor, Rt. Hon. Aminu Bello Masari, has approved the use of the facility by the Peoples Democratic party for its presidential campaign rally. “The above approval has been conveyed to the Hon. Commissioner, Ministry of Sports and Social Development, for necessary action.” Recall that former National Secretary of the PDP and chairman of the party’s presidential and gubernatorial campaign council in Katsina, Sen. Ibrahim Umar Tsauri, expressed very strong reservations at a press conference in Katsina on Sunday, over the government’s decision to thwart the party’s plan to use the Dikko Stadium as venue of its presidential campaign rally. Meanwhile, teachers at primary and secondary schools across the state on Monday held Teachers Support Rally at the Dikko Stadium to endorse the Presidential candidate of the APC, Bola Tinubu, and the gubernatorial candidate of the ruling party, Dr. Dikko Radda. The event had in attendance the state commissioner for education, Dr. Badamasi Lawal Charanchi; Special Adviser to the Government on Higher Education, Dr. Bashir Ruwangodiya; the Chairman of Katsina SUBEB, lawal Buhari, and APCAPC governorship candidate, Dr. Radda, among other dignitaries.
**The presidential ambition of the APC flag bearer has just received a major boost, a few months to the 2023 general election. This is as some candidates of the New Nigeria Peoples Party vying for positions in the Osun State House of Assembly have decided to hold a rally to support Bola Tinubu. Meanwhile, this development will boost the APC’s chances of taking over the state in the forthcoming elections and will mar the chances of Rabiu Kwankwaso, NNPP flagbearer
**A 30-year-old man, Auwal Hassan, was allegedly shot by personnel of the Department of State Services (DSS) at a campaign rally of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Sunday in Bojude town of Kwami LGA of Gombe State. The victim had joined other villagers, who trooped out to receive the campaign train of Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya. Eyewitnesses told Daily Trust that the DSS personnel’s gun went off and hit Hassan in his leg during a commotion after the governor’s motorcade arrived at the venue of the campaign rally. The victim reportedly fell down, writhing in pain after he was shot, a development that angered other youths who started chanting “Ba mayi” (we don’t support you) at the campaign gathering. It took the effort of other security personnel in the governor’s entourage before the rampaging youths were calmed down. Addressing the crowd shortly after the incident, Governor Yahaya ordered the immediate arrest of the DSS personnel for investigation. The victim was also offered an appointment as the Governor’s Personal assistant, a move made to assuage the angry youths after the ugly incident which almost cost the victim his legs.
**A man on Monday gave chilling details of how some soldiers who were members of a joint task force that came to demolish a mall in Abuja allegedly beat him up and also cut his dreadlocks after accusing him of recording them with his phone. He has therefore alerted the Nigerian Army on his Twitter handle about the brutality while also displaying photographs of the dreadlocks that were cut and his damaged phone. The man, whose Twitter handle is @liljay_iam, wrote a series of tweets where he gave details of the brutality which occurred on Monday afternoon. The man allegedly brutalized and his phone damaged by the soldiers, as posted by him on his Twitter handle on Monday. According to his narratives, he left his office to buy lunch at a mall on the Bala Mohammed Way, Guzape, Abuja, when he saw members of the joint task force comprising the army, police and other security agencies demolishing the mall and its surroundings. He said that he had to return to the office and later decided to look for another place to buy food. He added that he took a commercial motorcycle and was chatting with a friend about where he could get food in another area in Guzape. However, while doing this, as the motorcycle passed through the front of the mall that was being demolished, some soldiers saw him on the bike and accused him of recording them while the demolition was on. He alleged that they dragged him down from the bike, took him to a corner and started beating him up. He said they went ahead to cut his dreadlocks with a pair of scissors while also hitting him on the head. He added that the soldiers refused to listen to his explanations and one of them eventually used a big piece of stone from the demolished mall to smash the screen of his phone, destroying it in the process. He has therefore alerted the Nigerian Army about the incident.
**The Muslim Media Practitioners of Nigeria (MMPN) has cautioned journalists against being used to destroy the country during or after the 2023 general elections. MMPN Oyo State chapter gave this warning via a communique issued at the end of its monthly meeting held in Ibadan, the State capital. MMPN in the communique made available to Journalists through its chairman, Alhaji Adebayo Abdur-Rofih, urged media houses and journalists to be objective in their reportage of events before, during and after the election. The association cautioned that journalists and the media in general should avoid being used to disrupt social order through misinformation and disinformation. The association said, “MMPN appeals to all stakeholders such as INEC, security agencies, political parties and Nigerians at large to eschew violence, thuggery and hooliganism before, during and after the forthcoming 2023 general election. “The election must be free, fair and peaceful. “The Association also urges media houses and journalists to be objective in their reportage of events before, during and after the general election. “The media should avoid being used to disrupt social order through misinformation and disinformation”.
**Fr Kelvin Ugwu, a Nigeria-born catholic priest who is based in Gambia has reacted following a statement made by Adamu Garba concerning the world cup won by Argentina yesterday. Recall that after the match, Messi was worn a special cloth by Qatari leaders while on his way to get the world cup trophy. Adamu Garba who posted the photo of Messi on his twitter handle said Messi proudly wore the Islamic Garba as he prepares to receive the world cup. In a recent reaction, Fr Kelvin Ugwu took to his Facebook page to share his opinion on the significance of the cloth worn by Messi. He said what Messi wore before carrying the world cup is called a bisht. He said the Bisht was never restricted to a religion because it is a cultural garment with lots of significance. Fr Kelvin also disclosed that the garment is simply a status garment associated with royalty, wealth or religious position, especially if the person is a cleric or occupies special position.
**FIFA went against its rules by allowing Qatar to dress Argentina’s Lionel Messi in a black Arab robe before the World Cup trophy presentation, as pointed out by former Tottenham Hotspur defender, Ramon Vega, on Twitter.
Following Argentina’s 4-2 penalty win over France in the World Cup final on Sunday, Messi took the centre stage as he prepared to lift the trophy. Before the crowning moment, the Paris Saint-Germain forward was greeted by FIFA president, Gianni Infantino and the Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, who dressed him in a traditional Arab attire known as bisht. The traditional garment signifies honour and prestige and is particularly worn at major occasions such as weddings and other events. In a tweet via his Twitter handle on Monday, Vega drew attention to a section of FIFA’s rulebook, which stated that ‘celebratory attire’ may only be worn after some formalities had been carried out. Rule 27.2 stated: “In FIFA final competitions, celebratory attire may only be worn on the field of play after the following official FIFA activities have taken place (during which the team must wear the shirts they wore during the match in question).
the trophy presentation, official FIFA photographs and official media appearances.” Vega then accompanied his image of the rulebook with a series of questioning emojis, clearly confused as to why the World football governing body had allowed Qatar to carry out the ritual. Meanwhile, a Qatar official, Hassan Al Thawadi, had already explained why Messi was made to wear a bisht.
**Argentina will not become the number one team in the FIFA rankings this month, despite winning the 2022 World Cup. Instead, the world football governing body will rate Brazil ahead of their South American rivals. Brazil have held the top position since February, when they overtook Belgium. And even though they failed to make it past the quarter-finals in Qatar, Argentina’s results haven’t been enough to overtake them. Brazil won three matches at the tournament, lost to Cameroon and were eliminated following a penalty shootout defeat at the hands of Croatia. Apart from winning the World Cup, Argentina also lifted the Copa America in 2021. Shootout successes are worth far fewer ranking points than regulation-time wins. If either Argentina or France had won the final within 120 minutes, they would have gone to No. 1, but a penalty shootout guaranteed that Brazil could not be overtaken. Argentina and France will be second and third, respectively, while Belgium will slide down two places to fourth after failing to make it beyond the group stage. England stay in fifth, while the Netherlands are up two places into sixth.
May we divinely cross paths with our destiny helper today
