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Osinbajo backs chess master, Onakoya’s 58-hour Guinness World Record attempt

Published

11 months ago

April 17, 2024

By Francesca Hangeior

Former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has extended his best wishes to Nigerian chess master, Tunde Onakoya, in his attempt to break the Guinness World Record for the longest chess marathon on Wednesday.

Onakoya, founder of Chess in Slums Africa, announced on Saturday that he plan to play chess continuously for 58 hours without losing a game from 10am on April 17 to 8pm on April 19 in Times Square, New York City.

Onakoya said he was doing it “for the dreams of millions of children across Africa without access to education.”

Sharing a picture of himself and Onakoya playing chess, Osinbajo wrote on his X handle on Wednesday, “Dear Tunde, best of luck in Times Square as you attempt to set the Guinness World Record for the Longest Chess Marathon!
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“Your resilience and spirit inspire us all. Remember your own powerful words: ‘It is possible to do great things from a small place.’

“Let the dynamic energy of Times Square amplify the greatness that you, a proud Nigerian, bring to the chessboard. We’re all behind you—show the world the strength and determination you are made of!”

According to the Guinness World Records, the longest chess marathon for 56 hours, 09 minutes, and 37 seconds was achieved by Hallvard Haug Flatebø and Sjur Ferkingstad from Norway on November 11, 2018.

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Popular Youth Leader Shot Dead Over Tricycle Park Dispute By Security Operativesà

Published

30 minutes ago

March 6, 2025

Naijablitznews

Chidebe Ibeakuzie (aka Mighty), a youth leader in Obosi community, Idemili North Local Government Area (LGA) of Anambra State, has been shot dead.

Multiple sources said he was shot dead by security agents in a tussle over the ownership and control of a tricycle park near the military cantonment in Onitsha.

During the clash, two Obosi youths were reportedly abducted, others injured, while an unspecified number of Keke Operators and passersby sustained gunshot injuries.

The unrest stemmed from a heated dispute between the families of late Tochukwu Anyaoku, an Obosi native, and Edward Ibuzo, a former member of the Anambra State House of Assembly representing Onitsha North 1 Constituency.

The late Anyaoku had leased the tricycle park before his death last year, with his wife taking over its management after his demise.

However, Ibuzo allegedly laid claim to the land, sparking a bitter standoff.

Obosi youths accused Ibuzo of orchestrating the attack by engaging operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS), who they claim were responsible for the fatal shooting of Mighty.

In response, Ibuzo denied any involvement, stating via a WhatsApp call to journalists that he was in Germany at the time of the incident, while he also has a court judgement authorizing him to take over the park.

He alleged that DSS operatives had intervened after witnessing a suspected kidnapping, which led to an exchange of gunfire.

A prominent Obosi stakeholder, Omezie Chukwurah, also known as “Governor Obosi,” lamented the escalating violence, revealing that previous police interventions had led to another Obosi youth being shot in the head.

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He further alleged that the operatives who killed Mighty arrived in vehicles linked to Ibuzo.

The Sun

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PDP Crisis: Former Lawmaker Ossai Blames Party Elders, Defects to APC

Published

1 hour ago

March 6, 2025

Gloria Ikibah

…say the centre can no longer hold the umbrella

…say APC brings solution through president Tinubu

By Gloria Ikibah

A former House of Representatives member, Hon. Ossai Nicholas Ossai, has attributed the ongoing turmoil in the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to its elders and founding members.

Ossai, who represented Ndokwa/Ukwuani Federal Constituency in Delta State under the PDP in the 9th Assembly, officially joined the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) on Wednesday.

Speaking at a press conference on Thursday at the National Assembly complex in Abuja, he stated that attempts to restore unity in the PDP had failed due to deep-seated ideological and political conflicts. He described the situation as a clash of opposing views, making reconciliation nearly impossible.

He said: “I’ve been with PDP since 1999, and we have tried as much as possible to fix PDP, especially when they have issues of leadership in the past. The National Assembly, who are PDP members tried to strengthen PDP, but I believe today that strengthening has been removed from the hands of the Parliament.

“Among the gladiators who are founding fathers of PDP too, have tried as much as possible to break the umbrella. So the centre cannot hold, and judging from the fact that all political parties in Nigeria are centralists in programmes and policies, there’s no sharp ideological programs that you can say you can separate from each political party today in the country.”

Speaking on why he joined the APC, Ossai said Tinubu is a man with focus and championing great feat. And so he wants to assist in navigating Nigeria into the next promise land.

“People want solution and it is the person who will give solution to the people that you have to converge on. APC gives solution through President Tinubu to the people. That’s why we are converging. Tinubu is the personality that is bringing progressive directions to this generation. So we converge on him.

“We need People who are great leaders, who champion policies that can navigate the country to the promised land. We have had some strong leaders before who could not do it, but today we have a very strong leader that I believe in and that leader is Asiwaju Tinubu.

“I followed him up during the time of SDP in Lagos. I was part of the Abalajobi groups in Lagos, and from the human rights up to SDP. I have seen his leadership style. As a governor of Lagos State, I followed him up. Then, I was a member of the House of Assembly.

“He is somebody I pray that he will continue to succeed and become president of the country. And today he is the president, and he has issued in policies that are germane to sustaining our country, strengthening our country for the future.

“Today, my role model, Asiwaju Tinubu is championing the course for the next generations. And there’s every need for me, to follow my role model who is doing great since the umbrella has been broken, by people who are supposed to mend the umbrella.

“His policies aligns with mine. And I feel that also Delta States will align with such policies, which is currently not happening. And I feel that I can join forces with those of them who have been strongly in APC, in Delta State, to face Delta State.

“I can bet you that APC is going to win Delta State. And not only winning the governorship, but winning the presidential election. And not only win the presidential election, I use my federal constituency as the basis to champion this course.

“You will see the recent program that President Tinubu has been chuning out. You can see what is going on in terms of infrastructure development in different places that have been abandoned over the years. You can also see that currently, a policy came out from the federal government through a policy of Inherit, whereby those people who are having challenges in issues of kidney problems, diabetes, and others.

“You can also see policies on agriculture, where all APC governors are gearing towards agricultural revolutions. And you can see that inflationary rate has dropped in terms of food in the market. You people who go to the market to buy food, you go to buy tomatoes and peppers.

“So, I have come to join APC to assist in navigating Nigeria into the next promised land. I think that’s why I joined APC. Like I said, the entire parties is a centralist party. No sharp ideological program. But we have the capability of implementing this program, and APC stands out. So APC to the next level”, Ossai asserted.

News

Akpabio’s Gate: Natasha reacts to suspension, says “this injustice cannot be sustained”

Published

3 hours ago

March 6, 2025

Naijablitznews

…walks out of chamber

Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has reacted to her suspension declaring that this injustice cannot be sustained.

In her words: “This injustice cannot be sustained,” as she walks out of chamber as Senate hands her six months suspension

The Senate had slammed a six month suspension on Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan consequent upon Ethics panel’s recommendation.

She is also directed to tender a written apology regarding her allegations against Senate President Godswill Akpabio.

The recommendation was announced on Thursday during plenary by Senator Neda Imasuen (LP, Edo South), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Code of Conduct, and Public Petitions.

The Senate also dismissed Akpoti-Uduaghan’s claims that Akpabio had been silencing her in the chamber, labelling the allegations as baseless and frivolous.