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The governorship candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, in Rivers State, Blessing Fubara, has declared that he has no godfather but God.

Fubara disclosed this while noting that he and his brother, Governor Sim Fubara of Rivers State have a different perspective.

He spoke on Arise Television’s Prime Time on Friday night while dismissing claims that his political ambition is an extension of Fubara’s political project.

According to Fubara: “I don’t have a godfather but I have God the father. You would also agree with me that if my ambition is determined by the grounds you are mentioning, it would mean I have no clear vision or focus for what I am working toward.

“My brother, Nigerians, and indeed the wider world saw what happened between him and his party. We have different political ideologies and individual perspectives.

“It’s a trying moment for us in Rivers State and there are all sorts of narratives. They come with different narratives and try to set up a perspective for the people to run with but we are focused with our eyes on the ball that the sole of Rivers State must be rescued.”

Rivers guber: ‘I’ve no godfather’ – Fubara

At least four players have left the England camp ahead of their 2026 World Cup opener against Croatia next Wednesday.

They are: Ethan Nwaneri, Alex Scott, Josh King and Rio Ngumoha.

The four players were called up by Three Lions manager, Thomas Tuchel, to be part of their training camp.

However, they were not listed with the official squad for the tournament.

With the deadline to replace players over, the quartet have now left the camp in Florida.

An official tweet from the team’s X account, read: “An important part of our preparations so far.

“Thanks to Alex Scott, Ethan Nwaneri, Rio Ngumoha and Josh King who depart at the conclusion of our camp in Florida.”

2026 World Cup: Four players leave England camp ahead of Croatia clash

Political strategist and former supporter of Mr Peter Obi’s presidential project, Mr Ikenna Azomchine, has warned Nigerians against supporting any presidential candidate blindly.

Azomchine, who spoke on a Trust TV political programme during an interview, said he has decided to reassess his partisan loyalties ahead of the next electoral cycle.

The coordinator of the Obidient Movement explained that even though he has parted ways with Mr Peter Obi, he would not support the kind of vocal criticism associated with actor-turned-politician Mr Kenneth Okonkwo.

Speaking about his recent lukewarm attitude towards the presidential project of Mr Peter Obi, who is now the candidate of the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC), Azomchine said he had tried to discuss with Obi how he planned to win the 2027 presidential election, but the candidate could not explain any strategy.

He hinted that his group, the Obidient Movement, would work for the re-election of President Bola Tinubu, while stating that he would be happy to see his former principal, Mr Peter Obi, contribute ideas on how Nigeria could be made great again.

“I wanted him (Obi) at the table to tell me how we would win in 2027, but he was never able to do that. There is no clear strategic roadmap ahead of the next general election.

“Movements (Obidient) cannot survive on sheer sentiment alone without a practical path toward capturing executive power.

“My insistence on detailed electoral planning is meant to protect the efforts of millions of followers who expect actual governance results rather than another round of avoidable losses.

“Engaging with alternative political options becomes necessary when existing leadership structures cannot provide clear answers on how they intend to achieve victory and implement their public policies.

“My ultimate goal remains finding a viable political platform that can deliver tangible economic progress for the country. I urge opposition elements to move past rhetoric and focus on creating realistic, measurable strategies if they truly want to remain relevant in the evolving national landscape,” he said.

2027: Obidient General, Azomchine warns Nigerians against blind support for any presidential candidate 

Nigeria’s entertainment and academic communities have been thrown into mourning following the death of veteran actor and scholar, Professor Adekola Akangbe Gabriel Oyewo, popularly known as Professor Kola Oyewo.

He was 80 years old.

The news of his passing was announced on Friday by his son, Adetoyese Oyewo, through a message shared on Facebook, where he paid tribute to the late actor’s life and achievements.

In the announcement, Adetoyese described his father as a man whose life was marked by “love, wisdom, strength and kindness,” expressing deep sorrow over the loss.

“It is with a heavy heart that I share the passing of my beloved father,” he wrote.

He said that although the family was grieving, they remained grateful for the life Professor Oyewo lived and the impact he made on countless individuals throughout his lifetime.

According to him, the late actor’s legacy would continue through the memories shared by family members, friends, colleagues and admirers whose lives he influenced.

Adetoyese also appealed for prayers and support for the family during the mourning period, saying they were celebrating a life dedicated to service, learning and the arts.

Professor Oyewo was widely recognised as one of Nigeria’s leading figures in theatre and performing arts, earning respect both as an accomplished actor and as an academic.

Over several decades, he contributed significantly to the development and preservation of Yoruba theatre, while also helping to promote Nigerian culture through his work on stage, screen and in the classroom.

His career spanned acting, teaching and cultural advocacy, making him a prominent voice in the growth of theatre arts in Nigeria.

BREAKING: Veteran Nollywood actor, Kola Oyewo dies

Bosnia and Herzegovina secured a hard-fought 1-1 draw against co-hosts Canada in their opening Group B match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Toronto.

Jovo Lukić opened the scoring for Bosnia in the 21st minute. Despite dominating possession, Canada was repeatedly denied by resilient defending, including a spectacular goal-line clearance by Sead Kolašinac.

Canada eventually found the equalizer when Southampton forward Cyle Larin scored in the 77th minute.

Under the tournament’s new expanded format, Canada and Bosnia have made sure that they’ll remain competitive in the remaining group stage matches.

The top two teams from each group will advance to the Round of 32. Additionally, the eight third-place teams with the best scores will also advance.

With this result, both national teams share one point each, awaiting the next group match between Switzerland and Qatar.

Bosnia Draw With Canada In Co-Host’s World Cup Opener is first published on The Whistler Newspaper

Ebonyi State Governor, Francis Nwifuru, has deployed 31 security vehicles to security agencies in the state, reaffirming his administration’s commitment to strengthening safety and protecting lives and property.
The brief ceremony, held at the New Government House, Abakaliki, as part of activities marking Democracy Day, also featured an inspection of a guard of honour mounted by officers of the Nigeria Police Force.

Presenting the vehicles to heads of various security formations, Governor Nwifuru commended the professionalism and dedication of security operatives in the state, describing them as “men of honour” who have remained committed to combating crime through conventional and technology-driven approaches.

He noted the strong synergy among security agencies, including the Nigerian Army, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Nigeria Customs Service, Nigeria Immigration Service, Nigerian Correctional Service, Federal Road Safety Corps, Department of State Services, and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency.

According to him, his administration has invested in modern security tools, including drones and other intelligence equipment, to enhance surveillance and rapid response to threats, while withholding sensitive operational details for security reasons.

Governor Nwifuru said the procurement of the patrol vehicles was necessary to restore mobility to grassroots security operations, especially following the earlier withdrawal of vehicles from local security units.

He urged security personnel to remain vigilant despite the prevailing peace in the state and to maintain professionalism amid rising political activities.

“As political activities gather momentum, remain focused, professional, and committed to your duty without fear or favour,” he said.

The governor expressed appreciation to service chiefs and community stakeholders for their continued collaboration in sustaining peace across Ebonyi State.

Earlier, he inspected the guard of honour mounted in his honour by officers of the Nigeria Police Force as part of the Democracy Day celebrations.

Democracy Day: Gov Nwifuru deploys 31 patrol vehicles to security agencies in Ebonyi

 Minister of Defence Gen Chris Musa post on his his visit to Inspector-General of Police Tunji Disu today 

“In an effort to strengthen national security and deepen collaboration among the nation’s security agencies, I met with the Inspector-General of Nigeria Police Force  and senior officers of the Force.

Some of the key outcomes of our engagement included:

1. Strengthening military-police operational coordination to enhance joint responses to security threats.

2. Improving intelligence sharing mechanisms for faster detection, disruption, and neutralisation of criminal activities nationwide.

3. Eliminating operational overlaps among security institutions.

4. Enhancing critical information exchange to support more proactive security operations nationwide.

5. Deepening inter-agency synergy and institutional cooperation across the national security architecture.

6. Establishing clearer frameworks for coordinated planning and execution of security operations.

7. Reinforcing a unified approach to tackling terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, and other emerging security threats.

8. Advancing efforts to improve response times and operational effectiveness through closer collaboration.

A secure nation requires security institutions that work in synergy. As threats continue to evolve, our collective coordination and commitment to a common purpose must remain stronger than ever in safeguarding lives, securing our communities, and preserving national stability.

June 11, 2026.

#GenCGMusa

#GCGM

The National Leader of the Nigerian Democratic Congress, NDC, Senator Seriake Dickson, on Friday held a closed-door meeting with the party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, amid recent crises in the party.

Dickson made this known in a statement on his official X handle, revealing that the meeting, which lasted nearly three hours, was attended by Obi and other senior party leaders.

“I just received my brother, colleague, and partner in the New Nigerian Project, His Excellency Mr Peter Gregory Obi, CON, our presidential candidate, who, together with some distinguished leaders of our party, held a closed-door meeting which lasted about three hours.

“In the course of that meeting, we reviewed the activities of our party and discussed a few recent issues that have been a source of concern to all sides, and we amicably resolved all the issues.

“We have always been on the same page on the bigger picture, i.e., winning the elections for all candidates of our party and rescuing Nigeria from the misgovernance of the APC-led government. However, a few issues have arisen, and we have agreed on how to handle them moving forward.

“I want to use this opportunity again to call on all members of our party to stop the bickering and name-calling and focus on the bigger picture.

“Both His Excellency Peter Obi and I, as well as other leaders and stakeholders of our party, will continue to consult and engage with one another to address and resolve concerns, strengthen the unity and cohesion of our party, and ensure that we remain focused on our shared mission of rescuing Nigeria and building a better future for all.”

NDC: Dickson, Obi hold closed door meeting amid internal crises

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Resident Electoral Commissioner for Ondo State, Dr Mutiu Agboke, has urged participants designated for the forthcoming Ondo South Senatorial District by-election to uphold professionalism and integrity in the discharge of their electoral responsibilities.
Dr Agboke gave the charge during the commencement of training on Friday for INEC electoral officers as preparations intensified for the June 20 poll.

The training programme for Presiding Officers and Assistant Presiding Officers began at various designated centres across the local government areas of the senatorial district, according to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Dr Agboke, accompanied by the Administrative Secretary, Mrs Adenike Tadese, visited some of the training centres to assess the exercise and monitor participants’ level of preparedness. He charged the officers to remain committed to excellence and ensure strict adherence to electoral guidelines throughout the conduct of the by-election.

According to the commissioner, “the quality of the election will depend largely on the competence and commitment of the officials assigned to manage the process at polling units.”

The training sessions covered key aspects of election administration and were aimed at equipping participants with the knowledge and skills required for their assignments.

He said the exercise further strengthened the readiness of the electoral officers and formed part of preparations for the successful conduct of the June 20 by-election in Ondo South Senatorial District.

The Ondo South Senatorial District by-election will be conducted on Saturday, June 20, 2026.

Ondo Electoral Officers undergo training ahead of Senatorial by-election

As Nigerians rejoiced on Democracy Day, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, has called on the Federal Government to intensify efforts to tackle insecurity and curb banditry, kidnapping and other criminal activities across the country.

In a statement issued on Friday in Ile-Ife by the Director of Media and Public Affairs, Ooni’s Palace, Moses Olafare, to commemorate Democracy Day, the traditional ruler noted that insecurity continues to threaten peace and development nationwide, urging Nigerians to remain patient and supportive of government efforts to address both security and economic challenges.

He emphasised that no responsible government would deliberately allow insecurity to thrive within its territory, stressing that the safety of citizens is fundamental to national growth and stability.

While acknowledging persistent security challenges in several parts of the country, the Ooni urged governments at all levels to strengthen the nation’s security architecture and enhance intelligence gathering, just as he called for the proper equipping of security agencies and the prosecution of perpetrators of criminal activities.

“Democracy thrives best in an atmosphere of peace, security, and justice. As we celebrate another Democracy Day, I urge governments at all levels to intensify the fight against insecurity and banditry,” he said.

Intensify fight against insecurity – Ooni charges government