… we’ll rescue kidnapped lawyer, serve justice – Soludo
By Joseph Albert
A human rights activist, Barrister Anthony Kelechi Agbasiere, has expressed concern over attachment of police (public) officers paid from the public coffers to private individuals while the public space is left porous because of resultant shortage in manpower.
Barrister Agbasiere, who spoke in Awka during the peaceful protest organized by Anambra lawyers over recent kidnap and killing of their members, called on the Inspector General of Police to direct immediate withdrawal of the officers attached to private individuals to ensure that there are more hands protecting members of the public, adding that the individuals often use the officers for selfish purposes.
He described the recent kidnap of Barrister Chukwubuikem Azoro, Secretary of Idemili branch of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, who is still in custody of his captors, and the killing of Principal State Counsel and Vice Chairman of NBA Ihiala branch, Barrister Peter Awa, as special cases that require special and urgent measures to address.
He described the security situation in the state and Nigeria at large as alarming and condemnable, noting that right to life is inalienable, which in social contract; citizens relinquish such right to the government, and section 4 of the Nigeria constitution as amended mandated the Police as public officers to protect.
Barrister Agbasiere, who added his voice in calling on the government to ensure that their kidnapped member is rescued unhurt, as well as fish out and bring to justice perpetrators of the heinous crimes in order to prevent future occurrence, also called for compensation of the family of the slain colleague.
Earlier, the Chairman, Committee of Chairmen and Secretaries, NBA branches, Anambra State, Barrister Izuchukwu Nsofor, who narrated recent security breaches in the state, called for improve security in the state for the safety of lawyers and other residents.
Contributing, the Chairman of NBA Awka branch, Barrister Bona Oraekwe, who admitted that collapse in security architecture is not peculiar to Anambra, however called for stronger measures to address the challenge.
Acknowledging that cultism, kidnapping and related offenses go together, the former Anambra lawmaker commended the amendment of anti cultism law in the state that helps in addressing security challenges in the state.
On his part, an Awka-based lawyer, Mr Oluchukwu Udemezue, urged the government to rise to the occasion and restore security for residents of the state.
Governor Chukwuma Soludo, represented by his Deputy, Dr Onyekachukwu Ibezim, after listening to the lawyers, assured that his government will do everything possible to rescue the kidnapped lawyer, even as he vowed to bring killers of the slain lawyer to book.
Governor Soludo, who stated that security of lives and property of residents remains top priority of his administration, said his government in collaboration with the police and other security agencies in the state will continue to do the needful to win the war against all forms of security breaches in the state.
Anambra State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Professor Sylvia Ifemeje, who also addressed the protesting lawyers, said Professor Chukwuma Soludo, being a lawyer-friendly Governor, is deeply saddened by the recent kidnap and killing of lawyers in the state.
She noted that Barrister Azoro was her LLM student, while Barrister Awa was a staff of his ministry, reason she is also deeply touched by the unfortunate incident that befell them.
As Meta ( Facebook) projects Nigeria to be monetized by June 2024, be mindful of fake news which content creators leverage on for gain, popularity, and what have you.
Firstly, let’s look at what fake news entails!!! #Fake #news is false information intentionally presented as authentic with an intent to mislead, destroy individual personality and social structure.
Before the emergence of social media, the spread of information was controlled by television stations and newspaper companies. But today, anyone can create a headline or post a photo with no requirement that they represent accurate information and the gullible ones who believe in gluts of information on social media, lift the information from wherever and create content for followers gain which ends up in bullying and cyberbullying.
The most perilous thing is that #fake #news spreads faster than factual news.
Researchers recently revealed that fake news stories are 100% more likely to spread than real news. Several people blame this on bots and fake social media accounts.
To me, fake news spreads much faster among real people. when l mean real people, it entails envious people even without fake nor bot accounts. It preys on one’s desire for more followers, Pull Him Down syndrome (Ph.D), sensational and provocative tales.
Be aware, that “fake news” affects individuals and the society in varying ways, ranging from depression, confusion, disaffection, emotional trauma, hatred, disunity, and imbalance.”
Affirmatively, actions are being put in place to curb the menace of fake news. I also urge the same action to be taken by owners of multifarious social media, TV stations, news companies, and social media account owners to address the viral spread of fake news. It rests on the above-mentioned to make a huge difference in stopping fake news from going viral.
ADVICE:
Any time you intercept a headline or article on social media, please take the extra time to decipher if the information is fake or real . Commence by investigating the source or by searching registered well-known sources of information to see if they posted the news and, at the same time, their submission on the news.
2. I advise that you read beyond the headline and search where the story emanated from to know its truism.
3. Make frantic effort to learn about the author of the story and know if they have published credible work before🤷♀️🤷♀️🤷♀️🤷♀️.
4. The ability of you, as an individual to understand fake news and distinguish between it and real news, is essential to maintaining a well-informed society and preventing the perilous viral spread of fake news. Be sure to question your own bias to consider if you are more prone to respond to the story in a favorable way.
Finally, without equivocation, the spread of fake news, bullying and cyberbullying is made worse by the social media companies who have designed their platforms to favour content creators that their contents have more engagement and interaction by the cankerworm of #monetization thereby making our youths going haywire and becoming victims of cyber crimes.
There is often a sense of respect when a man sleeps with another man’s wife and makes every spirited effort to keep the knowledge away from him. But when a man sleeps with another man’s wife and not only boldly make it known to him but expect the same man to applaud him for sleeping with his wife, it not only portrays the depth of mental slavery and subjugation but also the height of arrogance in power.
This is just the case between Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and those gullible Igbo politicians who still belief that it is only by falling victims to devious Fulani political manipulations that the Igbo can be elected Presidents of Nigeria.
P. G. Unamka, one of the celebrated political pundits and columnists of the Second Republic, writing for the Enugu-based Daily Star issue of Friday January 14, 1983, at page 6, under the title “NTA and Pernicious Propaganda” frankly stated with unequalled passion:
“Igbos have a short memory. That Igbos love money and flattery is an undeniable fact. Moreover, when an Igbo is given a political position he immediately opines that his opinion at once and instantly represents the mind of all Igbos. Working on some of these assumptions, many Igbo people had been lured with money.”
The above melancholy historical exposition clearly underscores the current rudderless political gallivantism of the former Presidential Candidate of Labour Party and presumed winner of the 2023 Presidential election, Mr. Peter Obi, horribly climaxed by his recent political get-together with Alhaji Atiku Abubakar; during which Alhaji Atiku Abubakar extended his characteristic Greek political carrot of “If” and not simply “I will.” To put it in Atiku Abubakar’s own words:
“I have said repeatedly and I even said it before the 2023 general elections that if the PDP decides to zone the presidential ticket to the South or South-East specifically, I won’t contest it. As long as it’s the decision of the party, I will abide by it. But I contested the 2023 presidential ticket because it was thrown open to all members of the party. If the party decides that it’s the turn of the South-East and Peter Obi is chosen, I won’t hesitate to support him.”
The question is, are the above words which sound much like the type of promise a man makes to a woman on the bed different from the previous promises made to Igbo by the same Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and his inordinate Fulani political adventurers? The same Atiku Abubakar, in a recent Voice of America (VOA) Hausa Service few days ago was quoted as saying:
“Of course, I will keep contesting again and again as long as I am alive and healthy. Even the former US President Abraham Lincoln contested seven times before finally winning. However, given the current state of the PDP, it is clear that a single-handed effort will not suffice to win the election, Strong support and collaboration with other parties are required.”
Was it not the same Atiku Abubakar that addressed the Igbo members of PDP in the rundown to 2023 Presidential election that the Igbo should wait for their turn of the Presidency after he has completed his proposed eight years?
In what looks like adding salt to injury, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar went further to inform his Igbo PDP hosts that because Igbo women gave him three children they should sell their birth-rights like Esau and vote for him; the kind of story he tells the people of Osun State. We have had M. K. O. Abiola who even outclassed all politicians in Nigeria in the business of multi-ethnic marriages and children for political selfish ends and it came to naught.
We have had Mazi Nwachukwu of Isuikwuato who married the daughter of Alhaji Usman Dagogo the Emir of Katsina that produced the now retired Major General Ike Nwachukwu. Yet when the chips were down, that did not stop the pogrom against the Igbo ]in Katsina Emirate in 1966. All they did was to protect the product of that union.
Similarly, Okogwu of Asaba married a woman from Bauchi Emirate, the product of which was the late First Lady Mariam (Rosemary) Ibrahim Babangida. The invading Federal troops did not spare Mr. Okogwu because he was their in-law during the brutal Asaba Massacre. At the end of the day, the fatherless Rosemary and his brother Sunday were taken away with their mother to the safe zone of Northern Nigeria and subsequently married out to one of her mother’s members.
While one cannot stop Mr. Peter Obi from meeting whoever he wishes to meet for one political reason or the other, one expect such meetings to be guided by his judicious sense of history founded cross-cuttingly on both preceding events and current political trends in the country as well as in surrounding countries. In other words, in dealing with such a Fulani political monster as Alhaji Atiku Abubakar Peter Obi must be guided by profound historical consciousness and close-knitted understanding of the political heart-beat of those he considers as his supporters and followers.
Assuming that his primary personal political ambition is the standard political compass of the Obedient Movement will only spell doom to what political popularity he thinks he commands among the masses of Nigeria and consequently his political doom.
One does not however understand the character and cerebral level of those surrounding Peter Obi as both his strategic political advisers and image-makers. Otherwise if they indeed advise him well and manage his image better, then they will understand that going to a private primary school and posing in a photograph with a pupil adds nothing to both his popularity and political credibility. Such infantile Western political copy-cat public relations showmanship will not add a dime to his kitty of political popularity among Nigerians.
If Peter Obi is confidently sure that he won the last Presidential election and that he was unjustly rigged out by INEC and the judiciary, then what one expects from him is to sit back and discreetly devise proactive strategies on how those forces that accounted for the rigging could be removed before the next general election, if indeed God will be so unmerciful against our prayers to allow the present government of Bola Ahmed Tinubu survive till 2027.
Otherwise, so long as the same INEC with its devious Electoral Act, and its criminal election guidelines and regulations remains in place; as long as the same Appeal Court Judges remain in their positions; as long as the same Supreme Court Judges remain; and as long as Nigerians continue to reel in abject poverty and blood-cuddling insecurity, the 2027 Presidential election has already been declared with Alhaji Bola Ahmed Tinubu as President; unless God again is so merciful as in the case of the children of Israel to visit him with the judgment of King Saul before 2027. If Nigerians prayed for the death of Gen Sani Abacha and it came to pass, then nothing stops any prayer from the same Nigerians against Bola Ahmed Tinubu from coming to pass.
If Peter Obi in his slightest imagination thinks because multitude of Nigerians voted for him in the last Presidential election under the aegis of Obedient Movement he now sees himself as a political tin-god and slave-driver ready to be recruited by Fulani political slave-masters against the will of the people, he is just stepping on the precipice of his calamitous descent from his assumed political height to unimaginable abyss. Neither Peter Obi nor Labour Party made the Obedient Movement, instead it was the Obedient Movement defined by the involuntary resistance of the masses to the existing oppressive political order that made Peter Obi and the Labour Party.
Every mass movement is fundamentally factored by defined circumstances around majority of the people which impinge on their very existence; and not by the centrality of the ambition of the driving personality like the case of Peter Obi, which is easily detachable from the mass movement if he deviates from the core values and crucial rason d’état of the movement.
Peter Obi might have won elections as Governor of Anambra State and ruled for eight years; but political pundits fully understand the circumstances under which he won the elections. He did not win the elections because he was Peter Obi by his personality. He won the election because he was favorably disposed to the prevailing historical and political circumstances on ground. This has been aptly proved by his dwindled popularity in Anambra State immediately he left office.
These are the same circumstances that propelled such political pervert as Chief Willy Obiano to rule the State the succeeding eight years, in spite of Peter Obi’s rigorous opposition and propping up a supposed better candidate under PDP during his re-election for second term. The same circumstances are instrumental to Prof Chukwuma Soludo’s emergence as the Governor of Anambra State today. These circumstances are not about the candidates’ personality or popularity among the people. They are anchored on the people’s ingrained sentimental attachment to a conceived act of political deprivation constructed on indelible sense of history.
Many people will agree that before Peter Obi’s emergence as Governor of Anambra State, Dr. Chris Ngige outwitted him in terms of popularity among the people of Anambra State. This was soundly tested during Dr. Ngige’s Senatorial election contest with Prof Dora Akunyili under Peter Obi’s Governorship. These circumstances further explain why Peter Obi’s popularity among the people of Anambra State during Willy Obiano’s regime was at the lowest ebb.
Thus it will amount to catastrophic political delusion for Peter Obi to assume that his personality or popularity created the Obedient Movement which dramatically launched him into unimaginable national political stardom. Contrarily, it was the Obedient Movement that created his theatrical political relevance at the national stage today.
Thus as in the case of Anambra State, the propelling force behind the Obedient Movement was not about Peter Obi’s impeccable personality or assumed popularity; the force behind the Obedient Movement was sentimentally driven by the common experience of sufferings founded on the gloomy historical experience of generic Fulani conquer-mentality and putrid-style political domination and leadership. No Nigerian ethnic group, from their host-Hausaland to Ijaw in Southern Nigeria is willing to tolerate any further Fulani President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, be such a person an Atiku Abubakar or a Rabiu Kwankwaso.
The Fulani are today loathed by every other ethnic group in Nigeria, from the Hausa in the North to the Ijaw in the South, and from Senegal to Central African Republic. The Fulani are the only ethnic group in Nigeria without the suffix “Land” after their name, as in the cases of Hausaland, Kanuriland, Biromland, Katafland, Idomaland, Tivland, Igboland, Yorubaland, Edoland, Nupeland, Ijawland, and Ibibioland, among others. Thus by demographic and geo-political definition, outside the Futa Djalon Provinces of Senegal and Guinea Republics, the Fulani are stranger-settler elements who only subsist by acts violent adventurism and clandestine political manipulation through deceitful Islamic brotherhood.
The question therefore is, is Peter Obi saying that he is not properly aware of the on-going massacre of defenseless Christians of this country that started under President Muhammadu Buhari—an unrepentant Fulani jihadist, and has continued till date under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu—a Yoruba Muslim reincarnate of Aare Afonja? Therefore for another Fulani man, be that person Rabiu Kwankwaso or Atiku Abubakar to aspire to become Nigeria’s President again means that the Fulani as a group defines the rest Nigerians to be fools and their political slaves.
Has it not occurred to Nigerians that since the beginning of Boko Haram insurgency and the succeeding armed Fulani herdsmen and bandits killing and displacing our people with reckless abandon, kidnapping and extorting unimaginable ransoms from their victims without restriction, that no Fulani leader—traditional, religious or political, from the Sultan of Sokoto through Atiku Abubakar to Rabiu Kwankwaso has risen up to condemn their heinous crimes against humanity.
Did Abubakar Atiku not sack his Christian spokesman for condemning on his behalf the gruesome killing by stoning of Miss Deborah Samuel by irate Muslim mobs in Sokoto? It will therefore amount to the height of moral declivity, political insensitivity, and religious defeatism for any Christian both North and South to pray, much more work for Atiku Abubakar’s Presidential ambition under the present or future political dispensation.
But the question again is, for how long shall the Nigerian child be beaten with the same stick by the same person before he learns his bitter lessons? Among the Yoruba, from Aare Afonja through Aare Samuel Akintola and Moshood Abiola to Bola Ahmed Tinubu; these men elected to be Fulani political slaves just to fulfill their inordinate political ambitions.
Among the Igbo, from Nnamdi Azikiwe in the First Republic, through Kenneth Mbadiwe, Michael Okpara, Dennis Osadebe, Alex Ekwueme, Chuba Okadigbo to Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu during the Second Republic; to Orji Uzor Kalu, Rochas Okorocha, Dave Umahi, Hope Uzodinma, Arthur Eze, Charles Soludo, Uche Ekwunife, Nnia Nwodo, George Obiozor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, Ifeanyi Okowa, Godewin Emefiele, Ned Nwoko, Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, and now Peter Obi in the current political dispensation; the experiences have been tales of the children of Israel choosing to either serve the Philistines or play Judas Iscariot against the collective interests of their people and their unborn generations.
In all the cases it has always ended with the ignominious bitter experience of use and dump. And the reason is that under normal political circumstances no Fulani man—the harbinger of Islam and ordained Caliphate of Allah, will ever work for an Igbo—an ardent Christian and traditional democrat to become the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. I don’t think our Igbo leaders fully understand with their shallow political mentality and decrepit sense of history, the depth of this ideological and religious chasm separating the Igbo and Fulani. Do they think this deep political gorge can just be cover by mere word of mouth?
Why must the Fulani think they must always manipulate Igbo leaders against the will of the Igbo masses?
The instinctive counter-political questions that should occupy the agitating mind of every patriotic Igbo are: Why must the often dominant band of Igbo political contractors and criminals think in their blurred senses that it is only by the grace of Fulani leaders that the Igbo can win the Presidency of the Nigerian nation? Are the Fulani more intelligent than the Igbo? Are the Fulani more educated than the Igbo? Are the Fulani more strong-hearted than the Igbo? Are the Fulani more warrior-like than the Igbo? Are the Fulani more acceptable to other Nigerians than the Igbo? Are the Fulani more accommodating to other Nigerians than the Igbo?
This opinion on the Fulani by Sheikh Muhammad of Tunis in the nineteenth century still subsists today because of the depraved political myopism of the Igbo political leadership in particular and Nigerian Christians in general. In his words:
“The idolatrous tribes to the south of Sudan are divided into groups and families. They are vastly superior in numbers to the Moslems, and it is surprising that they do not overwhelm them. The explanation may be found in the spirit of brotherhood which unites the Muslims, whilst the pagans are always divided one against another. When the enemy attacks a village and takes away the women and children the people of the next village look on without attempting to give assistance. They are attacked next, and their neighbours regard them with equal indifference. If these idolaters knew the strength which union gives none of the Moslem States of Sudan would dare to attack them.”
Is the above scenario not still taking place today from Zamfara through the Christian Middle Belt to Igboland and Yorubaland in the South? If the Igbo and Christian political leaderships are not cursed or enchanted by false Fulani political and military invincibility, why shouldn’t they devise a formidable united force and put an end to this monster called Fulani once and for all?
The Fulani tried in Republic of Cameroon after President Ahmadou Ahidjo and the Christians under President Paul Biya put them in their proper place. They tried it in Central African Republic and they were told to leave the country by force. In Guinea, Burkina Faso, Mali, Senegal, and Ghana they have been cut to their sizes. Why can’t Nigerians do the same?
As negotiations on the new national minimum wage continues, organised labour on Wednesday shifted ground on its demand from N615,000 to N500,000.
The new concession by the labour movement which came after the rejection of the N54,000 offer by the government side forced the government team to go into separate consultation before reconvening of the meeting on Wednesday evening.
A reliable source at the Tripartite Committee meeting told THISDAY that the government was expected to respond to the fresh submission made by labor with yet another proposal.
The source said: “Labor has stepped down their demand for N615,000. They are now negotiating for N500,000 as new national minimum wage.”
The federal government had stepped up on its offer last Tuesday by raising its proposed new minimum wage to N54,000 to be at par with what the organized private sector proposed.
However a member of the Tripartite Committee representing Nigerian Labor Congress (NLC) Prof. Theophilus Ndubuaku, said that labor rejected the upgraded offer from the government
Instead, Ndubuaku said that organized labor had maintained its position to He also said that the May 31 deadline labor had given to the government to conclude every negotiation still stands, adding that there may not be any other notice to government for strike if it fails to keep to the deadline.
He also said that the May 31 deadline labor had given to the government to conclude every negotiation still stands, adding that there may not be any other notice to government for strike if it fails to keep to the deadline.
But the tripartite committee again failed to achieve a compromise on the figure that will form the new national minimum wage after over four hours of deliberations. The parties agreed to adjourn negotiations till Tuesday next week.
At the resumed meeting of the Committee on Wednesday, Governor of Imo state, Hope Uzodinma, was said to have stood in the Governors Forum.
Pandemonium erupted at the national headquarters of the All Progressives Congress in Abuja on Thursday when suspected thugs attacked some protesting members of the North Central APC midway through their protest in front of the party.
The protesters had stormed the party secretariat to demand the resignation of the APC National Chairman, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, and allow the leadership seat, previously occupied by Abdullahi Adamu to return to the North Central.
Chanting solidarity songs and displaying banners that read, ‘Return APC National Chairmanship to North Central’ and ‘Dr. Ganduje, kindly resign to face your prosecution in Kano’, the protesters appealed to President Bola Tinubu and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, to help influence the process of a peaceful transition of the party chairmanship seat back to their region.
But a few minutes into their protest, the procession was scuttled by suspected hoodlums who swooped on the aggrieved party members, beating them with sticks as they fled in different directions.
Addressing journalists after they regrouped a few blocks away from the party’s secretariat, Plateau State Coordinator of the North Central APC Stakeholders, Hamisu Suleiman lamented the treatment meted out to them, saying they will not be deterred until ‘justice is served.’
He said, “We came here only to be attacked by thugs sponsored by the party. They did not only beat us, they stripped us of the banners and drove our people away from the APC secretariat. Today, we are here to protest the unfair treatment meted out to people of the North Central. This is because the national chairmanship of the APC was mistakenly given to Dr Abdullahi Ganduje.
“We are therefore calling the attention of our dear President Bola Tinubu to correct the anomaly. We know that he will listen to us. The APC chairman position is supposed to be zoned according to the constitution of the party and the same constitution confers the position on us. Unfortunately, it was zoned to the North West and we will not accept it.
“We are here for justice and justice must be served. I am calling the attention of all the stakeholders of the party to return our mandate. This is why we are protesting here today. It is our right and nobody can take it away from us.”
Also speaking, Sani Jigas, who identified himself as the Nasarawa State chairman of North Central Forum, appealed to the governors of their zone to mount pressure on the president during their planned stakeholders meeting on Saturday.
“This is our mandate. It is well known to everybody. It is well known to everybody that there is a consensus at the national convention that the APC chairmanship should be zoned to the North Central. We are still agitating for that.
“We are not afraid of their thugs. We will remain here until justice is done. We are also calling on our governors because we are aware of the meeting of North Central governors and stakeholders in Lafia by next week,” he said.
Reacting to the North Central agitation, the Deputy National Organising Secretary of the party, Nze Chidi Duru, disclosed that the protesters were probably not aware of the new arrangement at the last meeting of the APC National Executive Committee in Abuja.
According to him, the highest organ of the ruling party had moved the office of the national chairman previously held by the North Central to North West while the office of legal adviser was re-zoned to North Central before the emergence of Ganduje.
He said, “I am not aware of the so-called agitation for the resignation of the national chairman by North Central people. But I am aware that at the last NEC, the party took a decision that assumed the power of a convention, which the party constitution allows to do in circumstances such as this to re-basket and re-zone the national offices. That is very important.
“So if the claim is that it is illegal and that the office of the national chairman should be resident in North Central, the only conclusion one can make is that such a claim is hinged on a very faulty foundation. To stretch that argument further, the necessary steps to take toward suspending a candidate or removing a candidate are already enshrined in the party constitution.
“One such is not by an amorphous group to come together to demand the resignation of the national chairman. The steps to take are already in our constitution and we urge this group, if at all they are our members, to go through the party constitution and advise themselves accordingly.”
A stunning Ademola Lookman hat trick handed Atalanta the Europa League title on Wednesday, just the second major trophy in their 117-year history after a 3-0 win over Bayer Leverkusen that ended the German champions’ remarkable unbeaten streak.
Lookman, who struggled to establish himself in the English Premier League with Everton, Fulham and Leicester City before reviving his career in Italy under Atalanta coach Gian Piero Gasperini, struck twice inside the first 26 minutes before sealing the win 15 minutes from full-time.
The victory ended Gasperini’s own two-decade long pursuit of major silverware as his side totally outmatched Xabi Alonso’s formidable Leverkusen side — or “Neverlusen” as they had been dubbed after going an incredible 51 games unbeaten.
Just as they did against Premier League heavyweights Liverpool and three-times finalists Marseille in the previous two rounds, Atalanta didn’t give their opponents a sniff to mark their first European final with a famous victory.
“I think we wrote history, also for the way we won it,” Gasperini said after the match. “It was just extraordinary, we defeated Liverpool, Sporting who won the championship. When we faced Liverpool they were first in the Premier League.
“And now the German champions. “Incredible. The boys were extraordinary, a memorable performance.”
Leverkusen started the game looking decidedly unsure of themselves and some uncharacteristically sloppy play handed the first chance of the game to Gianluca Scamacca, who didn’t get enough on his header from a fine Matteo Ruggeri cross.
It was an early warning shot and the purposeful Italians struck within minutes when Davide Zappacosta was allowed far too much space down the right before Lookman beat a flatfooted Exequiel Palacios to the cut back to stroke home the opener.
Lookman was mobbed by his teammates and substitutes who were in dreamland 14 minutes later.
“One of the best nights of my life. Amazing performance from the team, we did it, we did it, we did it!” Lookman said. “Not got much else to say but yeah fantastic.
“They do always say third time lucky, so yeah it is for us today (winning a final at the third attempt this season). I’m just happy we won. We won today, so yes very pleased.”
Another Leverkusen error gifted possession to the Nigeria forward, who skipped past one defender and curled a beautiful right-footed shot into the bottom-right corner from just outside the box.
The stunned Germans showed brief flashes of how quickly they can turn it on in attack but little came of it and it was Charles De Ketelaere who came closest on the break as Atalanta did not show a shred of debut final nerves nor any effects from the absence of injured captain Marten de Roon.
Leverkusen swapped defender Josip Stanisic for top scorer Victor Boniface at halftime but it changed little as both sets of travelling fans continued to create the kind of Aviva Stadium noise matched only by some of the Irish rugby teams’ famous wins or memorable international soccer nights of years gone by.
Leverkusen had only failed to score once during the run that featured 42 wins in all competitions and 17 goals scored in or after the 90th minute, but the chances of another comeback faded away against the resolute Atalanta backline.
Lookman completely extinguished them on the counter-attack with another stunning strike into the top corner, this time with his left foot to complete his first-ever career hat trick, the sixth in a major European final and first since Jupp Heynckes’ for Borussia Monchengladbach in the 1975 UEFA Cup.
He was flung into the air by his teammates 15 minutes later when the final whistle blew and the Bergamo club ended the 61-year wait since their 1963 Italian Cup triumph.
“He was at Leicester, at Leipzig on loan, and we had a senior manager at Atalanta who worked at Leicester who thought he was a possible useful player for us,” Gasperini said of Lookman. “Nobody thought he could be so good because he wasn’t so prolific in England, but I changed his position and this season he has had a very good year.
“Tonight he achieved something that will be in the annals of football history forever — an extraordinary hat trick. He is a matchwinner.”
In an effort to actualise a new people’s constitution for Nigeria, The Patriots, a group of eminent leaders of thought in the country under the leadership of former Secretary General of the Commonwealth, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, has announced the launch of a nationwide mobilisation and advocacy.
A statement on Tuesday signed by Salvation Alibor on behalf of The Patriots secretariat stated that the group will engage governors, leaders of thought and political stakeholders across the country.
The statement reads, “The Patriots’ nationwide advocacy and mobilisation for a new democratic people’s constitution for Nigeria has become imperative following the consensus reached by leaders of thought and eminent political stakeholders who converged on the national constitutional dialogue on the future of Nigeria, hosted by The Patriots in March 2024, that the present Federal Government should be encouraged to drop its constitutional amendment rituals for a more profound process of giving Nigeria a new democratic people’s constitution through an elected Constituent Assembly in resolving the myriads of political, economic and security challenges confronting the survival of Nigeria.
“It was to the end of this popular consensus by Nigerian stakeholders that the leadership of The Patriots was compelled to embark on wide consultations with members of The Patriots, leaders of thought and other political stakeholders of Nigeria in setting up a broad based pan Nigerian advocacy team that will move round the country to mobilise Nigerians and further popularise the agenda for a democratic constitution that can further unite Nigeria.
“Therefore, after due consultations, the national secretariat of The Patriots wishes to announce the setting up of a pan Nigerian Advocacy Team of the Patriots on the Constitution Reforms of Nigeria as follows: Prof Anthony Kila, Chairman; Senator Shehu Sanni, Co- Chair; Hajia Bilikisu Magoro, Vice Chairman; Dr. Sam Amadi, member; Deacon Chris Iyovwaye, member; Alhaji Shettima Yerima, member; Comrade Ene Obi, member; Dr. Otive Igbuzor, member; Mr. Samson Itodo, member; Madu Bright O. Alwell, member; Ms. Ann Kio Briggs, member; Mr. Fafa Dan Princewill, member; Mr. Zaka Bala, member; Mr. Kayode Samuel, member; Mr. Chido Onumah, member; Barr. Affiong L Affiong, member, and Mr. Salvation Alibor, Under Secretary.
Alibor added, “The committee will be expected to undertake advocacy visits to key stakeholder groups in country, including governors, traditional rulers, religious leaders and sectoral leaders of the Nigerian polity, among others, to seek their support and the buy-in of broad Nigerians for the renewed advocacy for a new democratic constitution for Nigeria in fostering the cohesion, stability and prosperity of Nigeria.”
The Political Commission of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) which includes stakeholders of the Labour Party (LP) has inaugurated a transition committee to manage the affairs of the party.
They appointed former NLC president, Comrade Abduwahab Omar, to lead the committee to conduct the party’s national convention.
Also, two co-chairmen were appointed: Professor Sam Ahmadi and Comrade Abiodun Olamosu, while Engr Nnwawulite Nwauwa will serve as the secretary to the committee.
Similarly, 13 sub-committees were constituted to oversee various aspects of the transition committee’s administration.
The committees comprising members drawn from diverse stakeholders across Nigeria, will work towards conducting an all-inclusive and expansive national convention within the next three months.
The move came after NLC voided the renewal of tenure for the incumbent national chairman, Julius Abure and his National Working Committee (NWC) “giving room for a leadership vacuum in the party.”
The chairman of the NLC Political Commission, Prof. Theophilus Ndubuaku, who briefed journalists at the end of the meeting, said the stakeholders had decided to put in place the transition committee in view of the vacuum of leadership that existed in the Labour Party.
He said, “In view of that, the stakeholders have unanimously resolved that a former president of NLC, Comrade Abduwahab Omar, should head the transition committee of the Labour Party.
“So, with what has been done today, we don’t have any vacancies or any gaps in the leadership of the Labour Party. We have filled this vacuum of leadership using this transition committee and within 90 days we expect that a convention will be conducted and the Labour Party will move forward.”
After his appointment, Omar said a new era had come for the party.
The committee wasted no time, as it announced a meeting scheduled for today to chart the path to a successful convention.
Omar said the committee aims to build a formidable team that will position the Labour Party for victory in upcoming elections and expressed the confidence in the committee’s ability to deliver its mandate within the stipulated time.
He said Nigerians can expect transparency, openness, and a renewed sense of purpose as the party moves forward under the leadership of the transition committee
He said, “Today marks the beginning of a new era, we are committed to running congresses at all levels, from wards to local governments and states, culminating in a national convention, our leadership will derive from the grassroots, ensuring that the Labour Party remains unique and decent.”
We are transistors and we will not be deterred by any form of cajolery or blackmail.” He highlighted the stakeholders’ commitment to honesty and integrity, emphasizing that the transition committee would work collectively to lead the party forward”.
Chairman of the Federal Civil Service Commission, Prof Tunji Olaopa, has called for the phasing out of Higher National Diploma (HND) programmes offered by polytechnics in Nigeria
At a dialogue organised by the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) in Abuja, Olaopa proposed a comprehensive overhaul of the educational system to address the professional conflict between B.Sc./B.Tech. and HND holders.
Referencing a 2007 memorandum from the Heads of Polytechnics and Colleges of Technology (COHEADS), Olaopa suggested converting polytechnics into campuses of nearby universities, with major polytechnics evolving into full-fledged universities of technology.
Central to his proposal is the abolition of HND qualifications while retaining National Diplomas (NDs) as entry requirement for the restructured university and technology school system.
He envisioned establishing two distinct streams of B.Sc. (Technology) and B.Tech., with B.Tech. programmes focusing on practical skills development tailored to meet industry demands.
Olaopa commended institutions like the First Technical University, Ibadan, for pioneering this model and stressed the importance of rigorous curriculum redesign and faculty development to support the transition.
He also suggested expanding the ND programme to accommodate vocational training, incorporating elements of the City and Guild certification for enhanced practical skill acquisition.
„In so doing – and this for me is the game-changer – HND should be scrapped, while the National Diploma (ND) should be retained as a qualifying certificate for entrance into the new and old universities of technology and schools of technology affiliates of existing universities,“ Olaopa said.
He added, „The design should create two streams of B.Sc. (Technology) and B.Tech., with B.Tech. designed to focus on inculcating technical skills and competencies across the middle to the very high levels of jobs and careers, a model which the First Technical University, Ibadan (on whose Governing Council I was one of the pioneer members) is attempting to pioneer.“
Olaopa said the curricula and pedagogical remodelling of the OND-B.Tech certification will involve training for demand-driven end users’ skills, with faculty drawn significantly from scholars-practitioners and professors of practice—practically oriented lecturers with strong backgrounds in theory and research.
He proposed expanding the National Diploma (ND) to fill the space for technical and vocational training programmes, embedding the City and Guild certification to reinforce practical skill acquisition.
He emphasised the need for aggressive staff development, facilities upgrade, and increased funding to support these changes.
Inspired by the German dual vocational training model, Olaopa proposed a hybrid approach integrating theoretical knowledge with practical experience, with costs shared between the government and the business sector.
Expressing skepticism about past initiatives to address the B.Sc./HND dichotomy, Olaopa urged caution in implementing reforms that could undermine the distinct educational objectives of polytechnics and universities.
He emphasized the need to preserve the unique roles of polytechnics and universities while exploring avenues for collaboration.
In conclusion, Olaopa‘s proposal advocates for a holistic restructuring of Nigeria‘s higher education system to bridge the gap between academic theory and practical skills acquisition.
Governor of Enugu State, Dr. Peter Mbah, has taken his investment drive to Vienna, Austria, where he held high level meetings with senior government officials, the business community and international development partners and also signed a Memorandum of Understanding, MOU, towards the development of the state.
Mbah, who seeks to grow the state’s economy from $4.4bn to $30bn in four to eight years through private sector investment and strategic partnerships, met with the Austrian Minister of Interior,Gehard Karner; Minister of Labour and Commerce, Dr. Martin Kocher; Minister of Agriculture, Norbert Totschnig; Managing Director of the Austrian Promotional Bank, Bernhard Sagmeister; Director General of the International Centre for Migration Policy Development, ICMPD, Michael Spindelegge; parliamentarians, among others, who expressed readiness to collaborate with the Enugu State government for the mutual benefits of both parties.
At the meeting with Austria’s Minister of Interior, Karner, Mbah and his host agreed to partner across various sectors with opportunities in Nigeria for Austrian SMEs.
As a way of kickstarting a fruitful relationship, Mbah and Karner signed an MOU on behalf of their respective governments for the establishment of a K-9 training unit in Enugu to boost security and crime detection.
Mbah’s meeting with the Austrian Minister of Agriculture, Totschnig, dwelt on the implementation of an agricultural model region, measuring about 2,000 to 5,000 hectares, and replicating the Austrian Cooperative success story in Enugu State.
Meeting with the Austrian Minister of Labour and Commerce, Dr. Kocher, the Enugu State governor said his administration expressed readiness to help expand collaboration between Austrian and Nigerian businesses, especially in the areas of agriculture, hydro power, work and knowledge in semiconductors, possibly leveraging the already existing Austrian business presence at the European Business Park, Godfrey Okoye University, Enugu.
“Enugu is open for business. We are your trusted partner for business in Nigeria and a stepping stone to Austrian businesses looking for a foothold in Africa,” he said.
Meanwhile, the MD of the Austrian Promotional Bank, AWS, Sagmeister, said the bank was already supporting some Austrian businesses investing in Enugu State.
Mr. Sagmeister said the Austrian Promotional Bank was interested in exploring more opportunities to provide guarantees, including guarantees for credits from Nigerian banks, for Austrian businesses investing in Nigeria and equally assist the Enugu State Government to design creative approaches to procuring foreign funding.
Governor Mbah also toured the Spittelau waste incineration plant, which handles 250,000 tons of municipal refuse annually and generates a large proportion of electricity for powering the city of Vienna.
Meanwhile, the Austrian Chamber of Commerce has invited the Enugu State Government to the next Africa Day in Vienna where the state would boost its chances of investment by meeting with over 300 Austrian businesses with interest in overseas investment and opportunities.
The Head of International Relationships at the Chamber of Commerce, Michael Otter, said the Chamber was ready to work with Governor Mbah for the mutual benefits of Enugu State and Austria.
