Connect with us

Featured

Soyinka’s a Global Icon, Gov Aiyedatiwa Lauds Nobel Laureate at 90

Published

on

The Governor of Ondo State, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has congratulated Professor Wole Soyinka on his 90th birthday anniversary, describing him as a global icon and a Nigerian patriot of the highest standard.

This is contained in a statement issued by Prince Ebenezer Adeniyan, Chief Press Secretary to the Governor on Saturday.

The Governor, fond of Soyinka’s multiple literary works, said the playwright winning the 1986 Nobel Prize as the first Black man from Africa was a testament to his explosive creative ability and a validation of his bonafides as a prodigy of erudition.

Apart from Soyinka’s stellar and seminal contributions to all genres of Literature, Governor Aiyedatiwa also commended the restless bard for his several interventions as a political activist who has been speaking truth to power for over six decades of his adult life.

Governor Aiyedatiwa noted Soyinka’s worthy contributions to the June 12 struggle and Nigeria’s return to democracy in 1999, saying the sacrifices he made have left giant footprints in the sands of time.

Governor Aiyedatiwa said although Soyinka is a citizen of the world, Africa and, indeed, Nigeria is proud of him and his achievements and will forever be grateful to him for bringing glory and honour to the country and the continent at large.

The governor wished the author of the Trial of Brother Jero, You Must Set Forth at Dawn, The Man Died, The Interpreter, A Dance of the Forests, Death and the King’s Horseman, among others, many more feathers to his already well-garlanded cap as he begins a new phase in the tribe of nonagenarian

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Featured

Boko Haram Among Terror Groups Funded by USAID, Says US Congressman, Perry

Published

on

By

US Congressman, Scott Perry, has said that US aid agency, United States Agency for International Development, funded terrorist organisations, including Boko Haram.

Perry, a Republican representing Pennsylvania, made the claim during the inaugural hearing of the Subcommittee on Delivering on Government Efficiency on Thursday.

The session, titled “The War on Waste: Stamping Out the Scourge of Improper Payments and Fraud,” focused on alleged misappropriations of taxpayer funds.

“Who gets some of that money? Does that name ring a bell to anybody in the room? Because your money, your money, $697 million annually, plus the shipments of cash funds in Madrasas, ISIS, Al-Qaeda, Boko Haram, ISIS Khorasan, terrorist training camps. That’s what it’s funding,” Perry said.

According to the subcommittee’s website, it will “actively work with President Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency to root out waste, shore up vulnerable payment systems, and fully investigate schemes to defraud taxpayers.”

Perry further cited USAID’s reported funding of $136 million for building 120 schools in Pakistan, alleging that there was “zero evidence” of the schools’ construction.

Perry added, ” If you think that the programme under Operation Enduring Sentinel entitled Women’s Scholarship Endowment, which receives $60 million annually, or the Young Women Lead, which gets about $5 million annually, is going to women who, by the way, if you read the Inspector General’s report, is telling you that the Taliban does not
allow women to speak in public, yet somehow you’re believing, and American people are supposed to believe, that this money is going for the betterment of the women in Afghanistan. It is not.

“You are funding terrorism, and it’s coming through USAID. And it’s not just Afghanistan, because Pakistan’s right next door.

“USAID spent $840 million in the last year, the last 20 years, on Pakistan’s education-related programme. It includes $136 million to build 120 schools, of which there is zero evidence that any of them were built. Why would there be any evidence? The Inspector General can’t get in to see them.

“But you know what? We doubled down and spent $20 million from USAID to create educational television programs for children unable to attend the physical school. Yeah, they can’t attend it, because it doesn’t exist. You paid for it.

“Somebody else got the money. You are paying for terrorism. This has got to end.”

US President Donald Trump has previously called for the closure of USAID, accusing the agency of corruption in a post on his Truth Social platform.

The move is part of Trump’s–and his billionaire ally Elon Musk’s–drive to shrink the US government.

Musk, whom Trump appointed to lead the Department of Government Efficiency, has also criticised USAID, alleging that it engages in rogue operations.

Musk has called USAID “a viper’s nest of radical-left Marxists who hate America” and has vowed to shut it down.

Among other criticisms, which Musk has claimed that USAID does “rogue CIA work” and even “funded bioweapon research, including COVID-19, that killed millions of people.”

Trump said DOGE would “dismantle government bureaucracy, slash excessive regulations, cut wasteful expenditures, and restructure federal agencies — essential to the ‘Save America’ movement. This will send shockwaves through the system, and anyone involved in government waste, which is a lot of people!”

Continue Reading

Featured

CDS Visa Denial: No Comments, Canadian Embassy Declares

Published

on

By

The Canadian High Commission in Nigeria has refused to make further comments on circumstances surrounding the denial of visas to some senior Nigerian military officials, including the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, citing privacy policies.

The Authorities however, acknowledged social media reports of the situation.

Musa and some military officials were denied visas to attend an event in Canada honouring war veterans, a situation the CDS revealed during an event in Abuja on Thursday.

Responding on Friday, via its social media handle, the Canadian High Commission stated, “The High Commission of Canada in Nigeria is aware of media reports related to planned travel by senior officials. However, for privacy reasons, we are unable to comment on the status of visa applications of specific individuals.”

Continue Reading

Featured

Afenifere Leader, Pa Ayo Adebanjo Dies at 96

Published

on

By

Pa Ayo Adebanjo, the Afenifere leader, is dead.

He died on Friday morning at his Lekki residence in Lagos, according to a family statement. He was aged 96.

It reads: “With a heart full of gratitude for a selfless life spent in the service of God, the nation and humanity, we announce the passing on of our beloved patriarch, Chief Samuel Ayodele Adebanjo.

“He died peacefully this morning, Friday, February 14, 2025 at his Lekki, Lagos Nigeria home at the age of 96.

“The foremost nationalist, elder statesman, distinguished lawyer, very distinct politician, apostle of true federalism, former organising secretary of Action Group and the national leader of Afenifere is survived by his 94 year-old wife, Chief Christy Ayo-Adebanjo, children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

“We will forever cherish his commitment to fighting for truth, equity and justice. His belief and struggle for a truly independent and progressive Nigeria was total and this he fought for until he breathed his last breath.

“The family is consulting with Papa’s friends, associates, numerous interest groups across the length and breadth of Nigeria and beyond, to fine tune plans for a befitting funeral details which will be communicated in due course.

“A condolence register is open at his residence in Lagos (8, Ayo Adebanjo Close, Lekki Phase 1, Lagos) and  his country home in Isanya Ogbo, near Ijebu Ode Ogun State.”

Continue Reading

Trending