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FG Shifts Council Meeting Amid Osun LG Crisis

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By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

The Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation has announced the postponement of the National Council for Art, Culture, Tourism, and Creative Economy meeting, originally scheduled to be held in Osun State from February 25 to 27, 2025.

The decision comes in response to heightened political tensions in the state following the local government crisis.

The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, communicated this decision through an internal memo titled ‘Urgent Action Against Hosting of National Council for Art, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy from 24-27 February 2025, in Osun State’, which was addressed to State Commissioners, Directors of MDAs, Heads of Departments/Units, and key stakeholders.

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“With reference to the above, I wish to bring to your notice the current tense situation in Osun State stemmed from political unrest and uproar in view of the ongoing local government elections”, the memo partly read.

The memo further directed all concerned parties to take note of the change in schedule and assured them that a new date for the meeting would be announced in due course.

“From the foregoing, I am directed by the Hon. Minister to inform you that the upcoming Council Meeting scheduled to hold in Osun State from 25 – 27 February 2025 has been postponed to a later date that will be duly communicated.

“Any inconvenience(s) caused is highly regretted, please”, the memo further stated.

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The ministry also urged recipients of the circular to ensure its wide dissemination to all relevant stakeholders.

“You are requested to give this Circular the needed circulation. While thanking you for your usual cooperation and understanding, please accept the Hon. Minister’s warm regard”, the memo concluded.

Recall that the Peoples Democratic Party won all the chairmanship and councillorship seats in all the 30 local government areas of Osun State on Saturday.

The Chairman of the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission, Hashim Abioye, made this known at a press conference on Saturday in Osogbo, the state capital.

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Abioye also said the PDP also cleared the 332 councillorship seats in the poll.

The OSSIEC chairman, who said Certified True Copies of the result of the elections would be made available to whoever is interested in having them, congratulated the candidates on their victory at the poll.

Also, on Sunday, Governor Ademola Adeleke inaugurated the newly elected LG chairmen and councillors in the Saturday poll.

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Celebrity boxing: Speed Darlington wants rematch after losing to Portable

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By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

Nigerian singer Speed Darlington is calling for a rematch against Portable after losing to him in a celebrity boxing match.

Speed Darlington was knocked out in the second round, and he’s unhappy about the outcome.

In a video, he claimed Portable didn’t deserve the win and the prize money, saying he had plans to use the money to build a swimming pool for his community in Imo State.

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Portable, I want a rematch. E dey pain me say you dey carry all that money dey go. E dey break my heart.

” I want a rematch. It’s so unfair. You have up to two experience before me and you fight. I never enter ring before. I did not come from poverty,” he said.

“You don’t deserve that money. E dey pain me. I want to build swimming pool for my villagers. I need a rematch, Portable”, he said.

According to Speed Darlington, Portable had an unfair advantage due to his experience, accusing him of using supernatural means to win the fight.

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He also claimed he suffered a shoulder injury during the match despite not feeling tired.

Speed Darlington, who wants a rematch, said he needs 30 days to prepare better

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Israel’s remote controlled bulldozers breaking ground in Gaza war

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At first glance, there is nothing unusual about the bulky bulldozer turning up soil at a testing site in central Israel, but as it pulled closer it became clear: the driver’s cabin is eerily empty.

This is the Robdozer, a fortified engineering vehicle manned remotely, and in this case operated from a military expo halfway across the globe in Alabama.

Army engineers and military experts say that the Robdozer — the robotic version of Caterpillar’s D9 bulldozer — is the future of automated combat.

The Israeli military has used D9 for years to carry out frontline tasks like trowelling roads for advancing troops, removing rubble and flattening terrain.

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But since war in Gaza broke out in October 2023 and later in Lebanon, the Israeli military has increasingly deployed this robotic version in a bid to enhance its field operations and reduce the risks to its troops.

“The idea is to eliminate the person from the cockpit of the dozer,” said Rani, whose team at the state-owned Israel Aerospace Industries developed the Robdozer.

An unmanned D9 bulldozer digs up a field during a demonstration to the press at the Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) quarters near Tel Aviv on March 26, 2025. Israel’s increasing use of advanced technology on the battlefield, from air defence systems to a broad range of AI-driven intelligence tools, has been well-documented but also criticised for inaccuracies, lack of human oversight and potential violations of international law. (Photo by GIL COHEN-MAGEN / AFP)

During the Gaza war, the military has increasingly opted for the unmanned version, which can carry out a full range of tasks “even better than a human”, said Rani, using his first name only for security reasons.

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While such vehicles and other systems are currently operated by humans, future versions could be autonomous, raising ethical and legal concerns over the unchartered future of warfare being shaped by the Israeli military in the Gaza war.

‘Changing the paradigm’
Israel’s increasing use of advanced technology on the battlefield, from air defence systems to a broad range of AI-driven intelligence tools, has been well-documented but also criticised for inaccuracies, lack of human oversight and potential violations of international law.

Analysts say the growing Israeli deployment of the Robdozer reflects broader global trends towards automation in heavy combat vehicles, like remote-controlled personnel carriers that operate much like drones.

An Israeli military official, who requested anonymity to discuss sensitive matters, told AFP that the army has been using “robotic tools for over a decade, but in very small numbers. Now it is being used in large-scale warfare”.

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70-hour Chess Marathon: Onakoya reportedly breaks record set by Norwegians

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Nigerian chess sensation and founder of Chess in Slums Africa, Tunde Onakoya, has broken the chess marathon record of 61 hours, 3 minutes, and 34 seconds, set by two Norwegian players, Hallvard Haug Flatebø and Sjur Ferkingstad, in June 2024.

Onakoya and his chess partner, Shawn Martinez, are currently aiming to complete a 70-hour chess marathon in Times Square, New York.

The marathon, a four-day non-stop gameplay, started on April 17.

In a post shared on X shortly after surpassing the current record, he expressed fulfillment and called for action to educate and create opportunities for street children in Nigeria.

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For all the dreamers! We’ve officially BROKEN THE RECORD with my brother,” he wrote.

Although the official confirmation from Guinness World Records is still being awaited, Nigerians and chess lovers from different parts of the world have congratulated the chess master on his latest achievement.

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