Author: Olóyè Gbenga

Former Netherlands midfielder Wesley Sneijder has sharply criticised the quality of the UEFA Champions League semi-final second leg between Arsenal and Atletico Madrid, claiming the match should have been cancelled. The encounter, played on Tuesday, was decided by a first-half goal from Bukayo Saka, which proved enough to secure victory for Arsenal in a tightly contested but largely uneventful game. Speaking on Ziggo Sport, Sneijder expressed frustration with what he described as a lack of quality and entertainment in the high-stakes fixture. He argued that the standard of football fell well below expectations for a competition as prestigious as the…

U.S. President Donald Trump has stated that the proposed new ballroom at the White House will cost less than $400 million, attributing the higher figure to a significant expansion of the original design. In a statement shared on his X handle on Wednesday, Trump explained that the project underwent extensive revisions following detailed assessments, resulting in a facility that is both larger and of higher quality than initially planned. “The only reason the cost has changed is that, after deep-rooted studies, it is approximately twice the size, and a far higher quality, than the original proposal,” he said. According to…

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has criticised former presidential candidate Peter Obi over his recent political defection, while also denying reports that he has endorsed any candidate for the 2027 Rivers State governorship election. Speaking during his monthly media parley in Abuja on Wednesday, Wike took a swipe at Obi, accusing him of failing to build political structures within parties he had previously joined. He alleged that Obi’s pattern of movement between parties suggested a search for convenience rather than long-term political commitment. “Obi was in APGA, he couldn’t build APGA. He went to Labour, he…

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has challenged a faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) led by Tanimu Turaki to demonstrate its claim to leadership by opening an official party bank account and secretariat. Speaking with journalists in Abuja on Wednesday, Wike accused members of the rival faction of misleading Nigerians and disregarding court rulings in the ongoing leadership crisis within the opposition party. He insisted that the group lacked the legal authority to manage party affairs or represent its structure. “You cannot continue to deceive Nigerians. If they are sure they are the authentic leadership…

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has dismissed claims that Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, enjoys widespread public support to contest for re-election in 2027. Speaking during his monthly media parley on Wednesday in Abuja, he challenged the narrative that the governor has unanimous backing from the people, describing such assertions as misleading and unfounded. READ RELATED STORY Rivers politics: Wike seen positioning ally for 2027 Wike-backed PDP faction dismisses Anyanwu suspension reports as misleading The minister revisited the recent political crisis in Rivers State, which saw tensions escalate to the point of impeachment proceedings initiated by…

The Dangote Refinery has reversed its earlier decision to increase the ex-depot price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), maintaining the cost at N1,275 per litre instead of the previously announced N1,350. The initial price adjustment, announced on Wednesday, would have marked the third upward review of petrol prices within a single week, raising concerns among consumers and industry stakeholders already grappling with rising fuel costs. However, in a swift turnaround later the same day, the refinery opted to suspend the increase, offering temporary relief to marketers and motorists across the country. READ RELATED STORY: Global oil crisis: Dangote shields Nigeria…

The Governor of Anambra State, Chukwuma Soludo, has presented the first batch of commissioner-nominees to the Anambra State House of Assembly for confirmation, signalling the next phase in the formation of his administration. The list was formally received during Tuesday’s plenary by the Speaker of the House, Somtochukwu Udeze, who subsequently referred it to the Committee on Screening and Election Matters. The committee is expected to conduct the necessary vetting process and report back to the House for possible confirmation, in line with legislative procedures. The submitted list comprises 18 nominees, each assigned specific portfolios spanning key sectors of governance.…

The Federal Capital Territory High Court sitting in Maitama, Abuja, has ordered the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) to pay N100 million in damages to two officials of the Department of State Services (DSS) over a defamatory publication. Delivering judgment on Tuesday, Justice Yusuf Halilu ruled that the claimants, DSS officials Sarah John and Gabriel Ogundele, had successfully proven that statements published by SERAP on its official X (formerly Twitter) account were libellous. The suit, marked FCT/HC/CV/4547/24, stemmed from a series of posts made by SERAP on 9 September 2024, alleging that DSS operatives unlawfully occupied its Abuja office…

Zenith Bank has announced the retirement of its founder and Group Chairman, Jim Ovia, following the completion of his tenure in line with regulatory requirements. The announcement was made on Tuesday during the bank’s 35th Annual General Meeting and subsequently confirmed in an official statement. According to the bank, Ovia stepped down after serving the maximum 12 years permitted for a non-executive director and chairman, in compliance with corporate governance guidelines set by the Central Bank of Nigeria. Ovia first assumed the role of chairman on 16 July 2014, marking his return to the bank’s leadership after previously serving as…

The lawmaker representing Awe/Doma/Keana Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Abubakar Nalaraba, has withdrawn his ambition to contest the 2027 governorship election in Nasarawa State, declaring his full support for Governor Abdullahi Sule’s preferred candidate, Ahmed Aliyu Wadada. Nalaraba, who had earlier signalled interest in contesting for the governorship on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), announced his decision on Monday while addressing journalists in Lafia, the Nasarawa State capital. He revealed that he had instead purchased nomination and expression of interest forms to contest for the Nasarawa South Senatorial District seat. Explaining the rationale behind his…