By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

The 2023 presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, has criticized the Federal Government’s proposed National Youth Conference, calling it a ploy to favor President Bola Tinubu’s son, Seyi Tinubu, and his associates.

Speaking during an interview on Lunchtime Politics on Wednesday, Sowore alleged that the conference is unlikely to address the real issues facing Nigerian youths. Instead, he described it as a politically motivated initiative aimed at rewarding select individuals.

The current administration is trying to reward the youths who are aligned with them, particularly the President’s son and his associates,” Sowore said, branding the initiative as unproductive.

President Tinubu, in his Independence Day broadcast on October 1, announced plans for a 30-day National Youth Conference. He highlighted the need for a platform where young Nigerians could discuss challenges and opportunities.

“In light of this, I am pleased to announce the organization of a National Youth Conference. This conference will serve as a platform to address the diverse challenges and opportunities confronting our young people, who make up over 60 percent of our population,” Tinubu stated.

Sowore, however, expressed skepticism about the conference’s intentions and outcomes. He argued that the initiative is unlikely to yield substantial results and accused the government of deliberately excluding genuine youth voices.

These young people being invited to the conference are likely Seyi Tinubu’s friends, not the actual representatives of Nigerian youths,” Sowore alleged. “They cannot allow genuine, critical youth voices at the table. If I were invited, I would decline because I already know this is a charade. Nothing meaningful will come out of it.”

He further criticized the initiative as an attempt to create the illusion of inclusivity. “The whole idea is to make young people feel involved—like they belong—while livestreaming the event and compensating select individuals. But in the end, it will achieve nothing,” he said.

Sowore emphasized that Nigerian youths do not need a conference to take meaningful action. Instead, he urged young people who are serious about governance and leadership to unite and work collectively to achieve their goals.

“The real transformation will come when serious-minded young people join forces to take over power and implement their vision. That is how change will happen—not through superficial conferences,” Sowore concluded.

This critique highlights the ongoing debate about youth participation in governance and whether government-led initiatives genuinely address their needs or serve as political tools.

By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

Brito Sporting Club of Portugal, a football club founded in 1956, has signed an official contract with a United Kingdom-based highly-talented, young Nigeria-born footballer, Yaqub Usman-Malah.

The official unveiling of the young promising footballer was carried out on Saturday, January 4, 2025.

Yaqub, born in Nigeria in 2006, is a budding Nigerian talent with unquantifiable promise and potential.

Prior to his official contract with Brito Sporting Club of Portugal, he was a student and a trainee player with the Brooke College Football Academy in the United Kingdom.

At Brooke College Football Academy, Yaqub had an impressive goal average of 17 goals in 32 matches with no injuries in 116 training days, cumulating into 2, 270 minutes of on-field action.

A clear testimony of his outstanding performance at the Academy was provided by the lead coach of the Under-17B team Yaqub played with.

The lead coach, Tomasz Wasylik, described Yaqub as a ‘well-liked person’ and a role model to his teammates due to his professionalism and unmatched work rate.

The Lead Coach further stated that Yaqub has played in National School Cup competitions against other colleges and programmes in the 2023/2024 session and is a good ‘tactical player’, ‘technically good” and can ‘play in multiple positions on the field’.

It is expected that Yaqub will live to the potential and promise identified by Coach Tomasz Wasylik of the Brooke College Football Academy and achieve greatness in his new club.

“While looking forward to the display of his unarguable skills and boundless stamina, we wish Yaqub a successful career and a place in the halls of football greatness across the globe,” Yaqub’s father, Mr Usman Malah said in a statement issued to the media, on Wednesday 8, 2025.

END.

By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

An Ekiti State High Court, Ado Ekiti Division, has sentenced a 26-year-old man, Omodara Dada, to seven years in prison for burglary.

Dada was charged in court for robbing the owner of a ₦64,000 phone and ₦8,000 in cash while armed with a knife in 2022.

He was arraigned before Justice Lekan Ogunmoye on 19th July 2022 on a single charge of armed robbery, contrary to section 312(2) of the Criminal Law of Ekiti State, 2011.

The charge reads: “The convict, on 13th February 2022, at Ado Ekiti, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, did rob one Fakiyesi Tope of his black Infinix Hot 8 phone, valued at ₦64,000, and a cash sum of ₦8,000. At the time of the robbery, he was armed with a knife.”

The victim, in his statement to the police, said: “I am a hotel manager. On the fateful day, I was sleeping in my hotel room. I woke up suddenly when I heard a sound and saw the defendant trying to remove my plasma television. I attempted to shout, but he brought out a knife and threatened to stab me if I shouted.

“I later discovered that he had taken my phone and a cash sum of ₦8,000 that I had placed on the table. I held him from behind when he tried to escape, and I called for help. He was overpowered with the assistance of others, apprehended, and handed over to the police,” he stated.

To prove his case, the prosecutor, Albert Adeyemi, called three witnesses and presented the victim’s and defendant’s statements, a knife, and the ₦8,000 cash, among other exhibits.

The defendant, who did not call any witnesses, spoke in his defence through his counsel and pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy.

In his judgment, Justice Ogunmoye said: “The evidence produced at the hearing in support of the greater offence is insufficient to sustain the charge of armed robbery but establishes beyond reasonable doubt the lesser offence.”

“The defendant is convicted for the offence of burglary under section 323 of the Criminal Law of Ekiti State.

“He is sentenced to seven years in prison, to commence from the date of his detention at the Federal Correctional Facility, Ado Ekiti,” the judge pronounced.