News
Tinubu To Appoint Ambassadors Within Weeks – Aide
President Bola Tinubu will announce his ambassadors within the next few weeks, one of his aides, Ademola Oshodi, has said.
Oshodi, a Senior Special Adviser on Foreign Affairs and Protocol to Tinubu, stated this on Channels Television’s 2024 Year-In-Review programme on Sunday.
“I believe in the next few weeks, there will be a pronouncement for the ambassadors, and steps will be taken by the Senate and accreditation to put them in place in their various missions around the world,” he said.
During the programme, Nigeria’s former Ambassador to the Benin Republic, Lawrence Obisakin; and former Nigeria’s High Commissioner In Australia, Ayoola Olukanni, faulted Tinubu’s non-appointment of ambassadors 16 months after he recalled all career and political ambassadors representing Nigeria overseas.
On September 2, 2023, some three months after Tinubu, an ex-Lagos governor, was inaugurated Nigeria’s President, he recalled all Nigerian ambassadors manning over 100 Nigerian embassies and high commissions from their host countries.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, had said the ambassadors served at the behest of the President in their host nations and it was the President’s “prerogative to send or recall them from any country”.
However, 16 months later, the President has not sent a list of fresh ambassadors to the Senate for approval and onward deployment to missions abroad despite that Nigeria has been playing host to the ambassadors of other countries with missions in the nation’s capital, Abuja.
Oshodi said his principal has been busy putting things in place for the envoys to be appointed and sent to foreign soils.
The presidential aide said, “The ambassadors are coming but the most important thing we should realise is that things are being put in place for the ambassadors and the high commissioners. We have chargé d’affaires to the nations, and consul generals that have been sent, more of a prelude to the ambassadors’ arrival.
“The foreign missions are not in dire straits. The president inherited missions that were not in great shape. So, things have to be put in shape and prepared for the ambassadors, and their families, dignitaries, diplomats, etc.
“It is something that the President and his administration are focused on. As much as the ambassadors are key, I want to clearly state that even the last administration, without giving excuses, took 20 months for them to put ambassadors in place.”
News
Gunmen abduct Nigerian Professor, Demand N10m Ransom
By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
Gunmen suspected to be kidnappers have abducted Professor John Ebeh, a senior lecturer in the Department of Philosophy at Prince Abubakar Audu University (PAAU), Anyigba, Kogi State.
The assailants are reportedly demanding a N10 million ransom for his release.
Eyewitness accounts revealed that the attackers invaded the professor’s residence in Agbeji, a suburb of Anyigba, in Dekina Local Government Area, at about 7 p.m. on Thursday.
According to a neighbor who identified himself as Akpai, “The hoodlums operated in a commando manner. It was swift. We noticed a car trailing him furiously; we took it as one of his friends or colleagues, not until we started hearing gunshots around his gate.”
A family source disclosed that the professor was abducted just as he was about to enter his compound.
“Professor Ebeh was almost at the gate of his house at Agbeji, on his way from the town when the incident happened.
“He had even given out a signal to his people to open the gate of his house when some people emerged suddenly from their hideout and started shooting sporadically.
“Amidst the confusion, someone drove in furiously and blocked his car.
“Some masked people alighted from the vehicle and whisked him away at gunpoint.
“His abductors called the family on Friday night, demanding N10 million,” the source recounted.
University officials have yet to issue an official statement regarding the incident.
However, one of Professor Ebeh’s colleagues expressed shock at the development, saying, “The kidnapping (of the professor) came to us as a shock. I have just visited his family to sympathize with them.”
News
Sad: Ondo SSG Is Dead
By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
The Secretary to the Ondo State Government, Tayo Oluwatuyi, on Saturday died in an auto crash.
The SSG died in the crash which occurred while he was traveling from Akure, Ondo State capital, to Ibadan in Oyo State.
Confirming the incident, Ondo State Commissioner for Information, Wale Akinlosotu, stated that Oluwatuyi was hospitalised before he gave up the ghost.
“Hon. Oluwatuyi was a dedicated public servant whose unwavering commitment to administrative coordination, policy advisory, and implementation had a significant impact on Ondo State.
“Further details regarding memorial arrangements will be shared as they become available,” he added.
News
Mohamed Salah confirms this season as his last season at Liverpool
By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
Liverpool’s talisman, Mohamed Salah Hamed Mahrous Ghaly, popularly known as Mohamed Salah, has confirmed that the 2024–2025 football season will be his last season donning the shirts of Liverpool.
In an interview with Sky Sports, Mo Salah revealed that he is eager to win this year’s English Premier League title for the Reds to sign off his eight-year stay with the Merseyside based club.
Salah reflected on Liverpool’s previous Premier League triumph in the 2019-2020 season, noting that they were unable to celebrate it as they had hoped. Salah stated that he is determined to help the team win the title this year and celebrate in a manner worthy of their remarkable achievement.
He reflected on Liverpool’s previous Premier League triumph, noting that they were unable to celebrate it as they had hoped. Salah stated that he is determined to help the team win the title this year and celebrate in a manner worthy of their remarkable achievement.
“It’s probably because we didn’t celebrate the one we won in the way we wanted and also, coming back here too, it’s my last year in the club so you want to do something special for the city.
“We waited for that title for 30 years or so. So, to win it and it was the pandemic at that time, we didn’t really have time to celebrate it in the right way. It’s not a nice thing to do, so hopefully we can do it this year.”
“I really want to win the Premier League this season as it’s my last year at the club. I want to give something special to the City.” He said.
Mohamed Salah’s contract with Liverpool is set to expire at the end of the current season. He explained that although his agent, Ramy Abbas, and Liverpool are yet to reach any conclusive decision regarding a contract renewal, he remains focused and is not distracted by the off-field uncertainty.
“We are far away from any progress so we just need to wait and see.
“The thing in my head is ‘OK, if it’s my last six months, or last year, what do you want to see in the future? Do you want to look back and say I was concerned about the contract or I was stressed’ or do you just want to say ‘OK, I had an unbelievable season’.
“That’s in my head now. All the time now. If I feel that kind of distraction, I remind myself ‘You want to look back and you had an unbelievable season’. So that’s what I want to do.” He explained.
He has been in electric form this term, scoring 17 goals in 18 league games, while also registering 13 assists. He has won 9 trophies with Liverpool which includes 1 EPL title, 1 FA Cup, 2 EFL Cups, 1 FA Community Shield, 1 UEFA Champions League title, 1 UEFA Super Cup and 1 FIFA Club World Cup.
Source: Elvisanokyenews.com
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