Governor of Ogun State, Dapo Abiodun has urged Nigerians to have faith despite the economic challenges they are facing, stressing that the country is “still at the baby steps of democracy”.

Abiodun, while emphasising the need to be steadfast and trust the democratic process, urged Nigerians to continue to support the government and its policies.

The governor gave the charge on Wednesday during the Democracy Day Celebration prayers held at the family home of the winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential elections, Late Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola in Gbagura, Abeokuta.

Represented by the Deputy Governor, Noimot Salako-Oyedele, Abiodun expressed immense pleasure that Nigerians are celebrating 25 years of unbroken democracy which was laid by the late Abiola and appreciated the Federal Government for setting aside the day not just to honour his memory but also to celebrate democratic rule in Nigeria.

“We give glory to Almighty Allah that we are all here today and that democracy has continued to thrive. There are challenges, we are still at the baby steps of democracy but our call is that everybody works together to support ourselves, support our institution so we can succeed at this governance we are practicing now. We know that ultimately this is what will give us the best leadership,development and everything that we want.

“I also use this opportunity to commend the efforts of our leader Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu for all that he is doing for us in Nigeria and seek the prayer and support from all of us for guidance and success. We should continue to pray for our leaders so that Allah will guide them and they will to lead us aright.”

Abiodun added that his administration would continue to honour the legacy of the Late Abiola particularly as he was a prominent son of the state.

He also pledged that his government would not relent in delivering the dividends of democracy to the people of Ogun State.

“We would continue to uphold and support this family as we continue to uphold the dividend of democracy across the state.”

Earlier In his sermon, Mufasir Agura, Alhaji Daud Toriola, described Abiola as “food and drugs” due to the role both played in the body system, saying though he is gone, the lives he touched while alive still speaks of his impact.

Mr Ameen Abiola, speaking on behalf of the Abiola family, thanked everyone for coming annually to remember the late MKO Abiola, particularly the state government for its unwavering support and the recent renovation of the family home.

He thanked the Federal Government for declaring June 12 as Democracy Day and honouring the late Abiola, saying the gesture goes a long way towards protecting the legacies he left behind.

The National Troupe on Wednesday unveiled a large picture portrait of President Bola Tinubu.

The portrait was unveiled at the Eagles Square during the 2024 Democracy Day celebration parade.

It was announced at the 2024 Democracy Day event that the project was initiated by the Artefact Gallery, Best Theatre Company and the National Council for Arts and Culture

The portrait of the president is said to be the world’s largest painting portrait on canvas.

President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday slipped while boarding the parade vehicle at the venue of the 2024 Democracy Day.

The President had approached the vehicle shortly after he arrived at the Eagles Square, Abuja venue of the programme.

Our correspondent observed that the President lost his footing momentarily as he was about to step into the vehicle.

However, despite the slip, the President quickly regained his balance and continued with the proceedings.

The event at Eagles Square was part of a series of events to mark the country’s Democracy Day celebration.

A United States, US, jury has convicted President Joe Biden’s son, Hunter, on three federal felony gun charges by a federal jury.

The charges stem from an incident in October 2018, when Hunter Biden purchased a revolver at a Delaware gun shop.

After about three hours of deliberation, the jury found Hunter guilty of lying about his drug use on a federal background check form and possessing a firearm while addicted to or using illegal drugs.

This conviction marks a historic moment as it is the first time a president’s immediate family member has been found guilty of a crime during their father’s term in office, although Hunter Biden’s offences occurred before Joe Biden became president.

Hunter Biden faces up to 25 years in prison and a fine of up to $750,000 at sentencing, though as a first-time offender, he is likely to receive a lesser sentence. Sentencing is expected to occur within 120 days.

Prosecutors, led by special counsel David Weiss, argued successfully that Hunter Biden’s actions violated laws meant to prevent drug addicts from owning firearms.

Despite the defence team’s efforts to argue that Hunter did not view himself as a user or addict at the time of the purchase, the jury returned a unanimous guilty verdict on all charges.

The conviction concludes a chapter of the ongoing Justice Department investigation into Hunter Biden, which began in 2018. He is set to face another trial in September for federal tax offences.

Both cases have been managed by David Weiss, previously appointed by President Trump, whose team has denied any political motivations behind the prosecution.

Despite the legal turmoil, President Biden and the White House have consistently ruled out a pardon for Hunter Biden.

An Area Court in Jos on Tuesday, sentenced two persons, Isah Abubakar and Abdulrazak Salihu, to three months imprisonment each for fighting in public and constituting a nuisance.

The judge, Shawomi Bokkos, sentenced the convicts after they pleaded guilty to the offence.

The judge, however, gave the convicts an option of N 10,000 fine each or three months imprisonment for disturbing the peace of the public.

Earlier, the police prosecutor, Insp Monday Dabit, told the court that information was received at the Laranto police station that the convicts were engaged in a fight behind the St Augustine Major Seminary.

Dabit said that during the police investigation, the suspects confessed to the crime.

The police prosecutor said the offence contravened the provisions of Section 83 of the Plateau State Penal Code Law of Northern Nigeria.

A man in Denmark has been sentenced to life imprisonment and subsequent preventive detention after stabbing a heavily pregnant woman to death in 2016, the district court in Glostrup announced the sentence.

The now 30-year-old man is said to have stabbed the woman 11 times with a knife in a park near Copenhagen and then cut off a piece of her nose, according to the court’s statement.

The man denied the crime and his defence lawyer said that he would appeal against the judgement.

The murder weapon has still not been found and there is no technical evidence such as fingerprints or DNA to prove the man’s guilt.

In 2020, the police deployed an undercover investigator as a cellmate of the suspect, who was serving a prison sentence for the attempted murder of his ex-girlfriend.

The undercover investigator recorded the man describing how he had killed the pregnant woman, which contributed to the court’s decision to find him guilty.

A 30-year-old Nigerian pilgrim gave birth to a baby boy named Mohammed at the Maternity and Children’s Hospital in Makkah, which is under the Makkah Health Cluster.

This marks the first birth of a pilgrim during the current Hajj season.

The Makkah Health Cluster reported that the pilgrim, who was in her 31st week of pregnancy, was admitted to the hospital’s emergency department after experiencing labor pains.

Emergency doctors immediately attended to her and transferred her to the maternity ward, where she had a natural delivery.

Both the mother and baby are in good health, though the newborn, being premature, is receiving special care.

The Nigerian pilgrim expressed her profound gratitude and appreciation to the medical staff for their exceptional care and support for her and her baby.

Yet-to-be identified gunmen on Tuesday shot two police officers at a security checkpoint on the Owerri-Okigwe road in Imo State.

The assailants also shot another person said to be a civilian inside a house.

An eyewitness who confirmed the incident to newsmen said it happened at about 06:25 am at Akabo in Ikeduru Council Area of the state.

A voice in a viral video stated: “This just happened now. Unknown gunmen have shot two police officers at Akabo in Ikeduru LGA. Also, a civilian was shot.”

The video showed two uniformed police officers lying helplessly on the ground and another body in a room.

Another eyewitness in the video said, “Unknown gunmen in a vehicle driving roughly were shooting sporadically after killing the two police officers at a security checkpoint and also shot a man inside his house. They targeted the man and shot him.”

Residents have scampered for safety while shop owners closed their shops out of fear.

According to one of the residents, who pleaded anonymity for security reasons, “We are running. Nobody knows what is next. So we have to take cover for the moment until everything is calm. The best thing is to close your shop at the moment.”

Meanwhile, the State Police Public Relations Officer, Henry Okoye, is yet to comment on the incident as of the time of filing this report.

The Northern Ethnic Youth Group Assembly (NEYGA) has called on the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to thoroughly clean up its structure and eliminate any lingering influences from the tenure of former Governor Godwin Emefiele.

In a statement signed by Mallam Ibrahim Dan-Musa, the group’s spokesperson, NEYGA demanded that the current management take decisive action to hold those responsible accountable.

NEYGA urged Nigerians to support the current management’s efforts to restore the CBN’s credibility and stability.

“We must embrace reform now or face the consequences tomorrow,” the statement warned.

NEYGA commended the special investigations committee led by Jim Obazee for uncovering details of the mismanagement and demanded immediate and decisive action towards reform and accountability.

Facing intense scrutiny over its handling of the country’s economy, the CBN’s current management has pledged to implement reforms aimed at stabilizing the economy and restoring public trust in the bank.

The Federal Government has declared Wednesday, June 12, a public holiday to commemorate the 2024 Democracy Day celebration.

This is contained in a statement by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Interior, Dr Aishetu Ndayako, on Tuesday in Abuja.

Mr Ndayako stated that the Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, who made the declaration on behalf of the Federal Government, congratulated Nigerians on the occasion.

He said that as the nation marks yet another democracy day in its history, Nigerians should reflect on the efforts of our founding fathers and ensure that Nigeria remains a united country.

Mr Tunji-Ojo added that Nigeria should be a more secure, peaceful and indivisible entity for the benefit of all.

He urged Nigerians to remain steadfast on the tenets of democratic governance.

The minister said that President Bola Tinubu was committed to positive reforms to revive the nation’s economy and enhance security.

Mr Tunji-Ojo called on Nigerians and friends of Nigeria to appreciate the progress that had been made and look forward to a better future for Nigeria’s Democracy.

He wished Nigerians a happy democracy day celebration.

On June 7, 2018, former President Muhammadu Buhari directed that the nation’s Democracy Day will henceforth be held on June 12 of every year as against earlier arrangement of observing it on May 29.

Mr Buhari also honored the winner of the annulled June 12, 1993 presidential election, Chief Moshood Abiola, with the highest national honour, the Grand Commander of the Federal Republic.

Mr Buhari said further that, June 12, 1993, election was the freest, fairest and most peaceful election since Nigeria’s independence.

He stated, “June 12, 1993, was the day millions of Nigerians expressed their democratic will in the freest, fairest and most peaceful elections since our independence. That the outcome of that election was not upheld by the then military Government does not detract from its democratic credentials.’’

President Buhari also conferred a national honour on Baba Gana Kingibe and recognised the late Gani Fawehinmi for his role in the actualisation of the June 12 elections.

MKO Abiola died in detention while struggling to actualise his mandate freely given by Nigerians during the June 12, 1993, presidential election.

The federal government says it has fixed the vandalised railings and expansion joints at the Second Niger Bridge.

Uchenna Orji, Minister of Works Dave Umahi’s media aide, announced this in Onitsha on Monday, explaining that the vandalised sections of the bridge were fixed on Sunday.

Mr Orji said the ministry had been working with the police and other security agencies to tighten security and stop vandalism on the bridge to save the structure from further damage.

He explained further that the ministry was adopting decisive measures to curb further incidents of vandalism and theft of facilities on the bridge and other public infrastructure nationwide.

Mr Orji said the minister urged all road users, residents and authorities to be vigilant and report any suspected vandals to the nearest police station or call: 08030986263, 08033389700, 08067736638 and 08037056860.

“The Federal Ministry of Works shall promptly and handsomely reward any person or group who nabs or gives useful information on the identity of perpetrators or vandals,” he said.

This was the second time the bridge was vandalised since former President Muhammadu Buhari inaugurated it on May 23, 2023.

Belgian King Philippe, on Monday, accepted the resignation of Prime Minister Alexander De Croo, as is normal after elections in Belgium.

Mr De Croo’s coalition government will stay on as a caretaker until a new coalition is formed, the prime minister said on the social media platform X.

The New Flemish Alliance (N-VA), a conservative and Flemish separatist group, came first in the elections, as they did in the last election in 2019.

However, the N-VA remained in opposition, while Mr De Croo’s Flemish liberal Open VLD eventually formed a seven-party coalition.

Belgian politics is fractious and split almost entirely on linguistic lines between the Dutch-speaking Flemings and the French-speaking Walloons.

There is very little direct competition for votes between the parties of the two languages, which largely compete amongst themselves separately.

The final results on Monday showed the conservative N-VA with 24 of 150 seats in the Chamber of Representatives, having lost one seat.

The more extreme Flemish-nationalist party Vlaams Belang (Flemish Interest) has 20 points, a gain of two, as does the French-speaking liberal Reformist Movement (MR), which gained four.

Mr De Croo’s OpenVLD performed poorly, losing five of its 12 seats, leaving it with seven.

The MR was the only coalition partner to gain seats.

The Flemish Social Democratic Vooruit, also a coalition partner, held on to its 13 seats, though it made no net gain.

The remaining four parties in the outgoing coalition all suffered losses, especially the French-speaking green party Ecolo, which lost 10 seats, leaving it with just three.

The Belgian federal election was held on the same day as the European Parliament election.

Two soldiers have been hospitalised after bandits operating in Tegina, Rafi Local Government Area of Niger State shot and wounded them at their military base.

Rafi is one of the hotspots local government areas in the state where bandits have been terrorising residents and making it impossible for the farmers to engage in their vocation.

The incident was said to have occurred in the early hours of Monday during a gun duel between the soldiers and the bandits.

Meanwhile, one of the bandits’ leaders was killed in the gun duel.

It was learnt that the bandits were attempting to cross to Mashegu and Wushishi Local Government Areas of the state to rustle cattle when they encountered the soldiers.

The Chairman of Rafi Local Government Arwa, Ayuba Katako, confirmed the incident .

Katako said the two shot soldiers were being treated at the IBB Specialist Hospital, Minna.

He added that the military, police and vigilantes who are ensuring peace and security of lives and property in the state deserved to be commended.

“It happened in my domain. The two soldiers have been taken to the IBB Specialist Hospital where they are responding to treatment.

“The military, police and vigilantes are trying their best to ensure peace and security of lives and property in the state and they deserve to be commended,” he said.

Katako decried the continuous attacks on security operatives and called for patience, support and prayers to overcome the menace of insecurity bedevilling the state and Nigeria at large.

The state military cantonment in Minna could not be reached just as the police spokesman, Wasiu Abiodun, could not also be reached at the time of filing the report.

The Executive Secretary of Kwara State Pilgrims Welfare Board, Abdulsalam Abdulkadir, has stated that two Nigerian pilgrims from the state contingent, Hajia Hawawu Mohammed and Salisu Mohammed, have died in Saudi Arabia.

According to a statement issued by the Executive Secretary on Sunday, Mohammed was said to have jumped from her rooftop in Madina, Saudi Arabia while Salisu Mohammed died in a public hospital’s intensive care unit after suddenly falling ill.

Mohammed, who is from Kwara State, was also confirmed dead by the authorities in Saudi Arabia, which described her death as “suicidal”.

According to the board, Mohammed, a member of the Batch 3 contingent from Kwara State, died at the intensive care unit of a public hospital in Madina.

The pilgrims’ board stated that it deeply regrets these sad events but submits totally to the decree and ultimate knowledge of Allah in all affairs.

The board said, ‘Kwara State Muslim Pilgrims Board sends heartfelt commiserations to the families of two of our pilgrims who returned to their Lord in Madina, Saudi Arabia.

“Saliu Mohammed, who arrived with Batch 3 of the state contingent, died in an intensive care unit of a public hospital in Madina after suddenly falling ill; while Hajia Hawawu Mohammed (Batch 9) also died following what Saudi authorities have investigated and found to be an unfortunate suicidal episode from the rooftop of her apartment in Madina.”

The Ogun State Government has commenced rehabilitation work on the Laderin-Olokuta road, leading to the Professor Wole Soyinka Train Station in Abeokuta South local government area of the state.

The road, which connects over 40 communities and serves as a main link to the popular Wole Soyinka Train Station, had been in a deplorable state for the past two years, leading to protests by residents of the communities.

The residents lamented that the deplorable condition of the road had paralysed socio-economic activities in the area.

Also, the bad state of the road had made it impossible for commuters to access train services.

Last month, the State House of Assembly passed a resolution, directing the state government to immediately commence rehabilitation work on the road to ease human and vehicular movements along the axis, especially for commuters who depend on the railway as a means of transportation.

Responding to the Assembly’s directive, the state government, in a statement posted on its X handle, said the state needed the permission of the minister of works before reconstruction could begin.

But speaking to our correspondent over the weekend, Special Adviser to Governor Dapo Abiodun on Media, Kayode Akinmade, said the state had commenced the reconstruction of the road.

Akinmade said contractors on Friday moved their equipment to site and commenced the rehabilitation of the road.

“Yes, the contractors have been mobilized and they have moved into site. By this time next week we would have done a lot of work on the road.

“The governor has restated his commitment to ensure that he continue to build roads across all the senatorial districts.

“He has also assured that no area of the state will be marginalised, and that development will be even and fairly distributed across the 20 local government areas of the state and he will continue to do this,” Akinmade said.

Some youths in Akure, Ondo State capital, on Monday protested against the invasion of some night clubs in the state by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

The protesters, who kicked against the commando style in which the anti-graft agency invaded the clubs, stated that the destruction of facilities in the clubs was not necessary.

At the weekend, EFCC operatives stormed the popular Signatures and Alba Royale clubs, where 127 suspected internet fraudsters were arrested, including a groom-to-be.

The Ibadan zonal office of the Commission, which confirmed the raid, disclosed that the arrested suspects were picked based on intelligence reports.

Condemning the raid, the protesting youths emphasised that the brutality meted on the suspects by EFCC operatives was uncalled for.

One of the protesters, Oluwaseun Ogunmola, who spoke with journalists, said the raid by the EFCC was contrary to the agency’s ban on night operations.

Ogunmola demanded that those arrested and profiled as internet fraudsters in the Akure clubs be released unconditionally.

Another protester, Tobi Akinnubi, said, “In Nigeria now, youths cannot use phones or laptops; they can’t drive cars because the EFCC sees them as fraudsters.

“Our ladies have been taken away; have they committed any offenses? This is pure brutality. Enough is enough, and we must put an end to this.”

Israel’s centrist War Cabinet Minister, Benny Gantz, has announced his resignation from Prime Minister Benjamin
Netanyahu’s emergency government, calling for new elections.

In response, Netanyahu released a statement saying that “Israel is in an existential war on several fronts.

“Benny, this is not the time to abandon the campaign.”

In a televised press conference, Gantz accused Netanyahu of prioritising his political survival over a ceasefire deal that would secure the release of about 100 hostages held in Gaza.

“Unfortunately, Netanyahu is preventing us from advancing toward the real victory,” said Gantz.

“Strategic decisions are met with hesitation due to political considerations.”

Echoing increasing public protest against Netanyahu’s government, Gantz called for a new round of elections in the fall.

He urged Netanyahu to set an agreed date to hold them.

“Don’t let our people be torn apart,” he said.

Gantz’s decision to withdraw his centrist party from Netanyahu’s far-right coalition left it with extremist ministers, including Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, who advocate for reoccupying the Gaza Strip and expanding Israeli settlements there.

Gantz’s resignation followed a May ultimatum he issued to the right-wing prime minister, demanding that Netanyahu develop a clear post-conflict strategy for Gaza, where Israel has been conducting a fatal assault, and agree to a hostage-ceasefire agreement.

Iran on Sunday announced the six candidates, mostly conservatives, approved for the June 28 election to replace President Ebrahim Raisi, who was killed in a helicopter crash.

The candidates announced by the interior ministry were selected from 80 registered hopefuls by the Guardian Council, which oversees elections in the Islamic Republic.

Among those approved are the conservative speaker of parliament Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and the ultraconservative former nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili, who is known for his inflexible negotiating stance.

Just one reformist candidate, Massoud Pezeshkian, who is a lawmaker representing Tabriz in Iran’s parliament, has been approved.

Pezeshkian, 69, has been outspoken against the government’s lack of transparency during nationwide protests which were triggered by the September 2022 death in police custody of Mahsa Amini.

The conservative former interior minister Mostafa Pourmohammadi has also been authorised to run.

Others on the list include conservative Tehran mayor Alireza Zakani and incumbent vice president Amirhossein Ghazizadeh-Hashemi, the ultraconservative head of the Martyrs’ Foundation.

In a Sunday post on social media site X, Zakani said he would “compete until the end to continue the path of” Raisi.

According to Iran’s electoral law, campaigning should officially start from Sunday until 24 hours before the elections.

Former hardline president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who was previously disqualified from entering the presidential races in 2017 and 2021, was again excluded from the list.

Others including moderate ex-parliament speaker Ali Larijani and Vahid Haghanian, a former commander in Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, were also barred from standing.

Four women had also registered their candidacy but were disqualified, as has been the case for all presidential elections since the 1979 Islamic revolution.

Iran’s presidential elections were originally slated for 2025 but were brought forward following Raisi’s unexpected death on May 19.

Raisi and seven members of his entourage, including foreign minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, were killed when their aircraft came down on a fog-shrouded mountainside in northern Iran.

In Iran, ultimate authority is wielded by the supreme leader and not the president. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, 85, has held the former post for 35 years.

Following Raisi’s death, Khamenei assigned vice president Mohammad Mokhber, 68, as caretaker president in accordance with the constitution.

In the 2021 elections, the Guardian Council disqualified multiple reformist and moderate figures ahead of the presidential elections which brought the ultraconservative Raisi to power.

Those elections had a record low turnout for a presidential poll, at just 48.8 per cent.

This month’s vote will be held during a turbulent time, as the Gaza war rages between Iran’s arch-foe Israel and Tehran-backed Palestinian militant group Hamas, and amid continued diplomatic tensions over Iran’s nuclear programme.

The Kano State Government has established a clinic in Makkah, Saudi Arabia, as part of an effort to provide adequate medical care for its Pilgrims.

The clinic, which is aimed at complementing the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria NAHCON clinic, will provide the required medical attention to the state’s pilgrims.

The State Amirul Hajj and Deputy Governor of Kano State, Aminu Gwarzo, is scheduled to visit the clinic immediately upon his arrival from Madinah to assess the level of commitment of the state pilgrim board to the pilgrims.

The Head of the Media Team for Kano State Pilgrims and also the Deputy Governor’s Spokesperson, Ibrahim Shuaibu, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday, a copy of which was made available to PUNCH Online.

According to Ibrahim, the Coordinator of Health Matters for the State Pilgrims Board, Binta Yusuf revealed that approval has been given for the clinic, which will operate in House Number 5 in Makkah.

“NAHCON officials have visited the site and given their approval for the clinic to commence operation,” she said.

Binta noted that Governor Yusuf had earlier sponsored a team of 11 health professionals, led by Prof. Abdurrahman Sheshe, to provide medical care to the state’s pilgrims.

She said the establishment of the clinic is a further demonstration of the state government’s commitment to the welfare of its citizens in the holy land.

She noted that Kano is the only state in Nigeria that NAHCON allowed to open a clinic for its pilgrims in Makkah.

India’s Prime Minister, Narendra Modi was sworn in on Sunday for a third term after worse-than-expected election results left him reliant on coalition partners to govern.

Modi, flanked by officials from his Hindu nationalist party and leaders of his coalition members, vowed in a ceremony marking his formal assumption of power to “bear true allegiance to the constitution of India”.

Modi’s Hindu-nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party ruled outright for the past decade but failed to repeat its previous two landslide wins this time around, defying analysts’ expectations and exit polls.

He was instead forced into quick-fire talks with the National Democratic Alliance, a 15-member coalition, to gather the parliamentary numbers needed to govern.

Honour guards lined the steps of the presidential palace and a military brass band played as he made the oath.

But with Modi yet to announce his new cabinet, the line of lawmakers also taking the oath of office was keenly watched for an indication of who will be in government.

Modi was followed immediately by top BJP aides Rajnath Singh, Amit Shah and Nitin Gadkari – the defence, interior and transport ministers in his last government respectively.

Larger coalition parties have demanded hefty concessions in exchange for their support.

Modi described recent days as “very busy” in an article published on his website Sunday ahead of the ceremony, saying he was in the “midst of preparations of government formation”.

Wearing a gleaming white kurta flowing shirt and trousers, Modi was the first of several ministers and deputy ministers sworn in by President Droupadi Murmu at the ceremony attended by several thousand people.

The crowd included adoring BJP loyalists, as well as South Asian leaders, Bollywood celebrities such as legend Shahrukh Khan, and billionaire tycoons Gautam Adani and Mukesh Ambani, key Modi allies.