Author: Daily Post Nigeria

The 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, is currently holding a closed-door meeting with the Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde.

The meeting is taking place at the Oyo State Government House.

Obi was accompanied to the meeting by some Igbo elders, African Democratic Congress, ADC, senators from the South-East, and his political associates.

Although he is yet to address the press, the meeting may not be unconnected to his presidential ambition.

This is coming barely 24 hours after the former governor of Anambra State met with ex-Nigerian President, Goodluck Jonathan.

Obi has been consulting leaders across the country ahead of the ADC primary election.

BREAKING: Peter Obi in closed-door meeting with Gov Makinde

Manchester City legend, Sergio Aguero, has named his favourites to win the UEFA Champions League this season.

Reigning champions Paris Saint-Germain will tackle Bayern Munich in the semi-final first leg tie in Paris on Tuesday night.

Atletico Madrid will host Arsenal in the second semi-final first leg tie on Wednesday in Spain.

However, Aguero feels PSG are the favourites to win the Champions League. According to him, the French Ligue 1 side are very dangerous.

“I think PSG are doing very well,” Aguero told Stake when speaking about the favourite to win the Champions League.

“It’s not easy to be back-to-back champions, but today both Bayern and Paris are very strong.

“We will see what happens, but I think PSG have many chances. They play in the same way, they have very difficult players to stop, they are dangerous, and today they look a bit more complete.

“With Luis Enrique, they know exactly what they want and how they want to play. I think today we all think Paris have the best chance.”

UCL: They’re dangerous – Sergio Aguero names favourites to win trophy

Reigning world champion Zhao Xintong let a 3-0 lead slip as Shaun Murphy fought back to claim a 5-3 lead in the opening session of their World Championship quarter-final.

Zhao, 29, has openly talked about the pressure of defending his crown and lifting the ‘Crucible curse’ that has followed first-time winners at the famous Sheffield venue, but began in scintillating fashion.

A break of 122 suggested Zhao had picked up from where he left off against Ding Junhui in the second round, and when he pinched the second frame and made a half century in the third, he had established a healthy advantage.

But Murphy, who won the title in 2005, crafted a 69 then reeled off the next four frames to turn the match on its head.

The Englishman took the fifth and sixth frames on the black after capitalising on errors from his opponent and controlled the seventh.

When Zhao missed the pink in a tense eighth frame, it handed Murphy a two-frame advantage heading into their second session on Tuesday.

Over on the other side of the auditorium, Barry Hawkins shared the opening six frames of a high-quality contest with Northern Ireland’s Mark Allen.

However, Hawkins, who had already compiled a century break and three other half centuries, knocked in breaks of 75 and 63 to open up a deserved 5-3 scoreline in his favour.

Snooker W’Championship: Zhao Lets Early Lead Slip As Murphy Fights Back is first published on The Whistler Newspaper

Zenith Bank Plc has announced the opening of its Côte d’Ivoire subsidiary, marking a pivotal achievement in the Group’s Pan-African expansion strategy.

The official opening ceremony, scheduled to hold on Wednesday, April 29, 2026, is expected to attract senior government officials and regulators from Nigeria and Côte d’Ivoire, continental business leaders, and members of the diplomatic community, highlighting the strategic economic ties and investment opportunities between the two markets.

The new subsidiary, licensed in December 2025 by the Ministry of Finance and Budget, Republic of Côte d’Ivoire, and regulated by the UMOA Banking Commission, will commence operations from its headquarters at SCI Wall Street, Avenue Noguès, Plateau, Abidjan.

The launch represents a strategic move to deepen the Bank’s presence in Francophone West Africa and strengthen financial intermediation within the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU). Positioned as a gateway for cross-border trade and investment, Zenith Bank Côte d’Ivoire will focus on corporate banking, trade finance, local and offshore banking services, and structured financial solutions tailored to businesses operating across Africa and internationally.

Commenting on the launch, the Group Managing Director/CEO, Dame Dr. Adaora Umeoji, OON, said: “From the very beginning, our Founder and Chairman, Jim Ovia CFR, set out to build a truly global brand with a strong presence across Africa and key international markets. The launch of Zenith Bank Côte d’Ivoire is a bold step in realising that vision; opening a strategic corridor into Francophone West Africa and reinforcing our commitment to facilitating trade, investment, and enterprise growth across the continent. As we continue to expand thoughtfully and strategically, we remain focused on delivering world-class banking solutions that connect African businesses to global opportunities.”

The new subsidiary will be headed by MD/CEO Mr. Cédric Tano, a seasoned banking executive with over two decades of experience. Speaking ahead of the official opening, he said “We are proud to establish Zenith Bank’s presence in Côte d’Ivoire at a time of strong economic growth in the country and increasing regional integration. Our focus is to showcase the Zenith brand as a customer-centric institution that combines global best practices with deep local insight. We are well positioned to support businesses with innovative financing solutions, facilitate cross-border trade, and contribute meaningfully to the growth of the Ivorian economy and the wider WAEMU region.”

The Côte d’Ivoire launch forms part of Zenith Bank’s broader continental growth strategy. In addition to the Anglophone countries where it currently operates, and in line with the expansion into the Francophone market, the Bank has commenced its entry process into the CEMAC (Central African Economic and Monetary Community) region, with Cameroon as the focal point.

With a footprint already spanning Nigeria, Ghana, Sierra Leone, The Gambia, the United Kingdom, France, the UAE, and China, Zenith Bank continues to bridge African markets with global opportunities, enabling seamless trade and financial connectivity across the continent and beyond.

Founded in 1990, Zenith Bank has grown into one of Africa’s most respected banking institutions, boasting a robust capital base and a consistent track record of strong financial performance. For 16 consecutive years, the Bank has held the record of highest Tier-1 capital in the Nigerian banking industry. Built on the foundation of People, Technology, and Service, Zenith Bank continues to deliver innovative financial solutions while maintaining a disciplined approach to growth and risk management. Its performance has earned it numerous local and international recognitions and endorsements.

Zenith Bank launches Côte D’ivoire subsidiary, strengthens Francophone West Africa presence

Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic believes Luka Modric will be fit to lead his side at this summer’s World Cup after the AC Milan midfielder had surgery on a broken cheekbone.

The 40-year-old was injured following a clash of heads with Juventus midfielder Manuel Locatelli when their sides drew 0-0 on Sunday.

Milan said Modric had suffered a “complex, multi-fragment fracture of the left zygomatic bone” and had undergone “completely successful” surgery.

The San Siro side did not specify how long Modric might be out but wished him “a speedy recovery ahead of the Fifa World Cup”.

The World Cup starts on 11 June and Croatia open their campaign against England on 17 June.

“I’ve been talking to Luka and wished him a successful surgery and a quality and speedy recovery,” said Dalic.

“I am convinced that he will do everything to be ready for the World Cup, and we’ll provide full support.

“I am confident that the recovery will go according to plan and that Luka, as team captain, will lead us at another major competition this summer.”

Modric is set to miss the rest of the Serie A season as AC Milan chase a Champions League spot, with four games left to play.

They are in third place on 67 points, with fourth-placed Juventus on 64 points and Como on 61 points along with Roma.

Croatia Confident Of 40-Year-Old Modric’s Recovery For W’Cup is first published on The Whistler Newspaper

A civil society group, The Osun Masterminds, TOM, has raised concerns over worsening economic hardship across the country.

The group made this known during the April State of the State address by its Executive Director, Prof Wasiu Oyedokun-Alli on Tuesday.

While noting that survival had become increasingly difficult for many Nigerians, the group added that it was using the avenue to highlight key socio-economic and political developments in Osun State and Nigeria.

The group’s Executive Director, Wasiu Oyedokun-Alli, said, “The current situation in the country does not need any introduction. Survival has become an extreme sport for most Nigerians.”

He added that despite government claims of macroeconomic improvements, ordinary citizens continue to face rising food prices, high fuel costs, and insecurity affecting agricultural production.

The group called on the Federal Government to take urgent steps to ease the burden on citizens, including reducing fuel costs and addressing insecurity disrupting food supply chains.

The group also urged the Osun State Government to adopt more proactive measures to improve living conditions and deliver people-oriented policies.

“States must move away from being just procurement offices to becoming real problem solvers that develop policies with direct impact on the people,” the group said.

On the political climate ahead of the 2026 governorship election, the coalition stressed the need for peaceful campaigns and mutual respect among political actors.

It condemned a recent incident involving the supporters of the Accord and the All Progressives Congress, APC, describing acts of suppression of political expression as unacceptable.

“The action of suppression of another party supporter’s free political will is unacceptable and may spiral into a breakdown of law and order,” the group warned.

On the recent opposition parties’ summit held in Ibadan, TOM, commended the dialogue among opposition groups while cautioning against statements capable of inciting violence or undermining democratic institutions.

It emphasised the need to protect the integrity of the Independent National Electoral Commission and urged the Federal Government to provide adequate support for credible elections.

CSO raises alarm over worsening economic hardship across Nigeria

Various states across the federation have been advised to replicate the Command and Control Centre established by the Enugu State government to monitor the security situations across the state.

THE WHISTLER reports that the control centre, located at the Government House, Enugu, was built by the state to provide surveillance and enable swift and accurate responses to security emergencies across the state.

The call was made by members of the Executive Intelligence Management Course (EIMC) 19 of the National Institute for Security Studies (NISS), Abuja, who paid a courtesy visit to Governor Peter Mbah at the Government House, Enugu.

It was gathered that the team was on a study tour of Enugu State in fulfilment of their course, which focuses on “Ethnic Militia and Resource Competition in Africa: Implications for National Security.”

Fielding questions from Government House correspondents, a staff member of NISS, Dr Olusola Opa-Ola, praised Enugu’s Command and Control Centre with its accompanying AI-enabled cameras mounted across the state.

He said, “The command and control has assisted the state in so many ways in curbing insecurity and in identifying grey areas. It is a major factor that enables security operatives to achieve these great lengths that they have achieved. We hope other states can come around, and copy this type of command and control. It has assisted the state to nip crimes in the bud. Other states around here or even in the federation can copy this kind of security investment.”

He also called for greater collaboration among all tiers of government and agencies in charge of security.

In his words, “One agency cannot do it alone, and one state cannot do it alone except by collaboration.”

Governor Mbah said there was no way his administration could actualise its vision to grow the state’s economy from $4.4bn to $30bn without tackling the huge security challenges inherited at its inception.

He said his administration would continue to prioritise the security of lives and property, and commended various security agencies for their cooperation in restoring the confidence of investors and residents in the capacity of government to secure them.

Nigerian States Told To Replicate Enugu’s Security Architecture is first published on The Whistler Newspaper

World number one Jannik Sinner continued his dominant form at the Madrid Open, defeating Britain’s Cameron Norrie in straight sets to reach the quarter-finals.

Sinner, chasing a fourth consecutive ATP Masters 1000 title, secured a 6-2 7-5 victory in under 90 minutes, extending his winning streak to 20 matches. The Italian has been in exceptional form, having already claimed titles at Indian Wells, Miami Open, and Monte Carlo Masters this season.

The win also sees the 24-year-old equal his best-ever performance in Madrid, having previously reached the quarter-finals in 2024.

Norrie, 30, made a promising start by holding serve comfortably in the opening game, but his momentum quickly faded as Sinner broke twice to take the first set 6-2 with ease.

The second set proved more competitive, with both players holding serve until the fifth game. Norrie briefly threatened a comeback, even winning seven consecutive points to break back after falling behind. However, at 5-5, Sinner capitalised on his opportunity, breaking the Brit before serving out the match.

With the victory, Sinner became only the second player in history to win his first 20 ATP Masters 1000 matches in a season, matching a feat achieved by Novak Djokovic in 2011 and 2015.
Reflecting on the match, Sinner said, “We know each other quite well. We practised a lot in the last tournament. We both kind of knew what to expect.”

He also highlighted the challenges of playing on clay saying, “This surface is very, very different to all the other surfaces, so it’s very tough to get the right feedback and sometimes you feel like you are not playing your best.”

Despite those challenges, he expressed satisfaction with his progress:
“I’m very happy to be in the quarters again. It’s a tournament I haven’t played a lot, so it means a lot to me and I’m happy to be through in two sets.”

Sinner will next face either Czech player Vit Kopriva or Madrid-born teenager Rafael Jodar in the quarter-finals.
The Italian also raised concerns about tournament scheduling, after playing at an unusual morning time slot. He pointed to the challenges faced by players competing late into the night.

“For matches at 8pm, it’s very, very late,” he said. “You finish at 1.30am and you need to eat, you need to have treatment, so it’s very late. We try to adapt ourselves, our bodies and minds.”

Sinner Beats Norrie, Equals Historic 20-Match Winning Run is first published on The Whistler Newspaper

In a recent podcast appearance, human rights activist and lawyer Barr. Deji Adeyanju claimed that Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke has achieved more in office than his Abia State counterpart, Alex Otti. Adeyanju attributed the high public perception of Otti to “social media influencers” and “propaganda”, while asserting that Adeleke is delivering more substantive results despite his “dancing” persona.

THE CLAIM:

“The dancing governor (Adeleke) has done more than Alex Otti. The difference is that Otti has more social media influencers; the other guy only attends parties and dances; he’s not taking propaganda seriously. Otti commissioned a water fountain; people were jubilating.” — Barr. Deji Adeyanju.

VERIFYING THE CLAIMS

To verify this claim, The Whistler examined the 2025 governance scorecards and fiscal data provided by Statisense, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), the Debt Management Office (DMO), and the 2025 SBM Health Preparedness Index. The analysis focused on debt management, revenue growth, infrastructure investment, and human development.

1. Fiscal Discipline and Debt Management: Data from the DMO (June 2023 – Dec 2025) shows that both governors have made efforts to reduce debt, but the scales differ:

• Domestic Debt: Abia State under Otti saw a 66% reduction (N142.5bn to N48.4bn), while Osun under Adeleke recorded a 45% reduction (N146.5bn to N80.3bn).
• External Debt: Adeleke managed Osun’s external debt better, with a 10% increase, compared to Abia’s 16.1% increase.
• Overall Fiscal Performance: In the 2025 Fiscal Performance Ranking, Abia ranked 4th in the federation, while Osun ranked 12th.

2. Revenue Generation (IGR): Adeleke’s administration has shown superior performance in aggressive revenue drives:

• Osun IGR Growth: Grew by 97.6% (N27.72bn to N54.77bn).
• Abia IGR Growth: Grew by 68.6% (N23.73bn to N40.0bn).

3. Infrastructure and Capital Expenditure (Capex): A primary metric for doing more in governance is the allocation of funds to capital projects versus recurrent spending (salaries and overheads):

• Abia (Otti): Allocated N611.7bn (82% of total budget) to Capital Expenditure in 2025.
• Osun (Adeleke): Allocated N191.55bn (45% of total budget) to Capital Expenditure.
• The Whistler fact-check shows Otti is committing nearly double the percentage of his state’s resources to long-term infrastructure than Adeleke.

4. Ease of Doing Business and Health

• Business Environment: According to PEBEC (2025), Abia is in the Middle Tier for Ease of Doing Business, while Osun remains in the Lower Tier.
• Health: The 2025 SBM Health Preparedness Index ranked Abia as the 1st most health-prepared state in Nigeria. Osun followed in a commendable 4th place.

5. Human Development Index (HDI) and FDI

• HDI: Abia maintains a higher Human Development Index (0.674) compared to Osun (0.607), reflecting better outcomes in education and life expectancy.
• Foreign Direct Investment (FDI): According to NBS Capital Importation reports, both states recorded zero ($0) FDI in 2024, indicating that neither governor has yet successfully attracted foreign capital despite their respective “propaganda” or “dancing” styles.

6. Education: Performance & Funding

While Osun has made the most “dramatic” leap in rankings, Abia remains the consistent academic powerhouse of the two.

• National Examination Rankings (NECO 2024/2025):
  • Abia: Ranked 1st in Nigeria for the best overall performance in the 2024 NECO exams (83.40% pass rate). Governor Otti has maintained Abia’s long-standing reputation as an academic leader.
  • Osun: Governor Adeleke’s administration achieved a significant milestone, moving Osun from 33rd in 2022 to 7th in 2024. While impressive, Osun still trails Abia in the top-tier rankings.
• Budgetary Commitment (2026 Projections based on 2025 performance):
  • Abia: Allocated ₦203.25bn (19.93%) of its budget to education. A major project includes the ₦17.8bn fencing and security of 262 secondary schools to ensure student safety.
  • Osun: Allocated ₦87.17bn (12.0%) of its budget to education. The primary focus remains on tertiary infrastructure, such as the Early Childhood Education building at the College of Education, Ila-Orangun.

VERDICT: MISLEADING

Barr. Deji Adeyanju’s claim that Governor Adeleke has done more than Governor Alex Otti is MISLEADING.

While Governor Adeleke leads in IGR growth percentage and external debt control, Governor Otti significantly outperforms him in domestic debt reduction, fiscal performance ranking, Ease of Doing Business, Health Preparedness, Education performance ranking and investment

Most crucially, the data on Capital Expenditure, the most direct measure of “doing” projects, shows that Otti has committed 82% of his budget to infrastructure, more than doubling Adeleke’s 45% commitment. Therefore, the assertion that Otti’s reputation is merely a product of “social media influencers” is contradicted by major fiscal and developmental indices.

FACT-CHECK: Is Governor Adeleke Outperforming Otti? is first published on The Whistler Newspaper

FC Basira have announced the disengagement of nine players after the completion of the 2025-26 Nigeria National League, NNL, season.

The released players are, Abdullahi Abdulrahman, Zamani Panshak, Mko Andrew, Zakaria Sunday, Enoch Kudu.

Others are veteran midfielder Ichull Lordson, Peter Eneji, Musa Aminu and Ishaku Faisal.

The management of the Lafia-based side made the announcement in a statement signed by the media officer Ramalan Abubakar.

FC Basira missed out on a promotion to the Nigeria Premier Football League, NPFL.

They finished the campaign in third position on the NNL Conference C table.

NNL: FC Basira releases nine players after missing NPFL promotion