Author: Akintayo Adams

Turkey’s opposition claimed a mind-blowing victory across several major cities in the country’s local elections Sunday, dealing a crushing blow to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s ruling party and handing it its heaviest defeat in more than two decades. Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu told thousands of supporters “Those who do not understand the nation’s message will eventually lose,” after vote counts revealed that his center-left Republican People’s Party (CHP) had swept the polls in Istanbul by more than a million votes. “Tonight, 16 million Istanbul citizens sent a message to both our rivals and the president,” he said. Large crowds filled…

Initially published in 1972, ‘The Man Died’, a collection of Nobel Laureate Winner, Professor Akinwande Oluwole “Wole” Babatunde Soyinka’s prison experience is set to be released as a movie in July 2024, 42 years later. The release will coincide with Soyinka’s 90th birthday. Produced by Prof. Awam Amkpa mostly in the historical city of Ibadan, Oyo State from the stable of Zik Zulu Film, the principal cast of the movie includes British-Nigerian actor, Wale Ojo, Sam Dede, Nobert Young, amongst others. ‘The Man Died’ is Professor Wole Soyinka’s recount of his arrest and 22-month imprisonment during the Nigerian Civil War,…

President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, has come up with an idea that Nigeria should be renamed the “United States of Nigeria.” This was contained in a statement issued on Saturday by his Special Adviser on Industrialisation, Prof. Banji Oyelaran-Oyeyinka where he made the suggestion in his speech titled ‘Making a New Nigeria: Welfarist policies and people-centred development’. “We must be audacious! Instead of the Federal Government of Nigeria, we could think of the United States of Nigeria. The old would give way to the new,” he said. “We would change the relational mindset between the…

Former Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has called on fellow opposition political parties in Nigeria to learn from the elefyon in Senegal and form a coalition ahead of the 2027 general election. He made this known while congratulating the Senegalese president-elect, Bassirou Diomaye Faye. Atiku said one of the ways to remove the ruling party from office is for opposition political parties to unite into a strong coalition. He made reference to the 2015 general elections in Nigeria, when the opposition rallied together to unseat the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and hand over the…

One person has been killed by a soldier called in to stop looting of government and private shops and warehouses in Kebbi. The victim was declared dead by authorities at the Federal Medical Centre in the state capital, according to a resident. “Some of the soldiers drafted to protect the centre where residents looted foodstuffs on Saturday night went to a nearby shop to confront the shop owners. “The soldiers, numbering three, engaged the shop owners in a fight, and one of them suddenly attacked the owner of the shop, mistaking him for being involved in the looting. “He engaged…

The Transmission Company of Nigeria, TCN, has reiterated its commitment to managing the national grid and ensuring its stability amidst ongoing challenges. This was contained in a statement signed by Ndidi Mbah, General Manager, Public Affairs, in Abuja on Sunday, identifying the challenges to include the persistent low gas supply affecting power generation into the nation’s grid. She said that the company’s grid controllers work tirelessly day and night to balance the grid and prevent any kind of disturbance amidst challenges. ”We acknowledge the collaborative efforts of the Federal Government, particularly the minister of power, who has been working hard…

A suspected fake soldier, who had been declared wanted by the military has been arrested by the Lagos State Police Command. This was made known by the command’s spokesperson, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, who confirmed the arrest to the News Agency of Nigeria on Sunday. He said the suspect was arrested on Saturday at about 3.00 p.m. during a routine visibility patrol by the Ijegun Police Division along Fagbile Estate, Ijegun, in Sherin Oshun. He was apprehended with the name of a Sergeant Major (other names withheld), full military uniform, allegedly used for impersonation. “We immediately sent for the military Guard…

The Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah, yesterday asked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to take additional steps to reduce the cost of governance which according to him is “overbearing” and put in place well-defined plans towards achieving food and physical security across the federation. This was contained in his Easter where Kukah said: “Merely distributing money through already corruption-riddled structures is not enough and diminishes the dignity of our citizens. “No one needs to line up to receive aid when we are not in a war. Give our people back their farms and develop a comprehensive agricultural plan…

A government warehouse at Bayan Kara area of Birnin Kebbi, the state capital, was on Saturday night attacked by residents of Kebbi State. They carted away food items. Private shops, warehouses and a broken-down truck loaded with assorted grains meant for distribution in Birnin Kebbi weren’t spared either as they defied the security officials stationed at the business area. This is amidst the high cost of living crisis largely believed to have been caused by the unfavourable economic situation of the country over the past one year. Confirming the incident, Chairman of the food vendors association at Bayan Kara Market…

Martins Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan has been freed by the Abuja Police Command. His release was confirmed by lawyer and critic, Deji Adeyanju, on Sunday. “After five days of back and forth, we have secured VDM’s release. Thank you to everyone that made this happen especially Sowore, Kefiano & VDM’s wonderful lawyers,” Adeyanju posted on his social media (Facebook & X) handles. A former presidential candidate from Ondo, Omoyele Sowore also broke the news via his verified Facebook page. “Good news on Easter Sunday! Verydarkblackman is now free! Thanks for all your efforts to ensure oppression will not always…