“Self-defense is not just a set of techniques; it’s a state of mind, and it begins with the belief that you are worth defending.” – Rorion Gracie, a renowned Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu master. The universality of self-defence refers to the inherent and widely recognised right of individuals and states to use force for the purpose of defending themselves against an imminent or actual threat, a concept found across cultures, religions, and philosophies, and enshrined in international law. The spate of killings by gun totting criminals would make the suggestion by the…

Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, the immediate past governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, and all members of the Peoples Democratic Party in Delta State have defected to the All Progressives Congress. The announcement was made on Wednesday in Asaba, the Delta State capital, by Senator James Manager, shortly after a meeting that lasted over six hours at Government House, Asaba. Manager stated, “All PDP members in the state, including the governor, former Governor Okowa, the Speaker, the state party chairman, all the local government chairmen and others, have agreed to move to…

The funeral of Pope Francis will take place on Saturday, April 26, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. in St. Peter’s Square. This was according to a statement the Holy See Press Office issued on Tuesday. Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, Dean of the College of Cardinals, “Will preside at the Mass, which will be concelebrated by Patriarchs, Cardinals, Archbishops, Bishops, and priests from across the globe.” It added, “The Eucharistic celebration will conclude with the Ultima commendatio and the Valedictio. The late Pope Francis’ body will then be taken into St. Peter’s…

Catholics all over the world are mourning the death of the Pontiff, Pope Francis, who has passed on at the age of 88. The Vatican confirmed that the pontiff passed away on Easter Monday at his residence in the Casa Santa Marta within Vatican City. Cardinal Kevin Farrel announced the death of Pope Francis from the Casa Santa Marta on Monday morning. Farrel said the Pope, whose real name is Jorge Mario Bergoglio, died at exactly 7.35 am. His death comes hours after he greeted Catholic faithful who were at…

The Ogun State Chapter of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners, on Sunday, praised Governor Dapo Abiodun for the approval and release of N6.7bn for the payment of the backlog of gratuities to pensioners in the state. The chairman of the union, Waheed Oloyede, disclosed this in a statement released on Sunday. Oloyede said that while N3.2bn is allocated for the retirees of the state government, the remaining N3.5bn is for retired local government workers. He stated, “Your Excellency, this gesture demonstrates your commitment to the welfare of senior citizens whose…

Hunting, as a universal and natural occupation, is as old as man. Since the beginning of time, humans hunt to capture or kill wildlife for meat, while in other cases, repel dangerous predators to secure a peaceful environment. Over time, the rise of criminality has changed the shape of this existing occupational and social formation where the help of hunters is often needed in many cases to secure a peaceful, safe and harmonious society, while they still maintain their old traditional system of practice. The heinous crimes perpetrated in recent…

Eerin wó, Àjànàkú sùn bí òkè… We are saddened by the passing of Dr. Victor Omololu Olunloyo at the age of 89. He was a revered Nigerian elder statesman and former Governor of Oyo State. A patriotic and astute leader. A renowned Mathematician. The Balogun of Oyo and Otun Bobasewa of Ife, Dr. Olunloyo was the first Rector, Ibadan Polytechnic and first Rector, Kwara State Polytechnic among other notable appointments. His long record of service to the nation and humanity is a source of pride to his associates even as…

Oríkì Sango! A bí lumo bí òwú Ọkọ̀ mi asọ̀ǹbọ̀-sọnbọ idà Ebiti káwọ́ sẹ́yìn soro bíi agbọ́n Ẹ̀bìtì ká ọwọ́ ìjà lérí Èyí tí yó ṣẹ ní àá ń wòye Sango! Sangiri làgiri Ò làgiri kàkà fìgbà ẹdùn bọ̀ A wọ̀lú tìlù tariwo Ṣàngó oooooo Ka-bi-ye-si Alase! Ekeji orisa! Iku baba yeye, Alaafin oro mo jo gbo ti gbogbo Oyo mbo. Oranmiyan, Alaafin, oruntolu. Iba! f’ori ade, Iba, eji gba orun ileke, k’ade pelori Oba. Fulfilling Alaafin Siyanbola Onikepe Ladigbolu dream and wishes, (the great grand father of the new…

The Independent National Electoral Commission has confirmed that the contact details of the petitioners’ representatives in the recall process of the Senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, are now available. The National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun, disclosed this in a statement issued on Wednesday. According to the statement, a letter containing the telephone numbers, email addresses, and other contact information of the petitioners’ representatives was submitted, on Wednesday, to the commission’s Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu. The update followed an earlier statement issued by INEC…

Sometimes a woman finds herself at a destination she did not plan for, a place where she neither bargained for nor boarded a bus or plane to. She just wakes up and finds herself there, a totally new place where she has to learn a new language, new coping skills, a different way of life. What is she supposed to do especially when the new place brings with it both fortune and challenges? Let us start with a woman who married a young brilliant middle-income man when they were both…

Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keeps the law, happy is he ¹” – Proverbs 28:19 “I don’t really want my photographs in your offices, because I’m not a God or an icon, but a servant of the nation – Volodymyr Zelenskyy President of Ukraine. “Hang pictures of your children instead and look at them every time you want to make a decision, and whenever the spirit of theft visits you, take a good look at your family’s picture and ask yourself if they deserve…

Princess Mojisola Meranda has agreed to resign as the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, clearing the way for new leadership in the Assembly, The Witness reports. Sources disclosed that the announcement of her resignation has been delayed as President Bola Tinubu is yet to choose from the list of potential replacements presented to him by the leadership of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the state. The decision follows discussions and interventions from prominent political figures, including former APC National Chairman Chief Bisi Akande and former Ogun…

Former military president Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida has revealed details about his marriage to his late wife, Maryam, including her conversion to Islam, in his newly released autobiography, A Journey in Service. The book, launched on Thursday alongside a fundraiser for his presidential library, provides insight into their love story, from their early days in Kaduna to their life as a married couple. Babangida recalled meeting Maryam, formerly Maria Okogwu, in their younger years while living in the unmarried officers’ quarters on Kanta Road, Kaduna. He described being captivated by her…

The National Industrial Court sitting in Lagos has sacked the acting clerk of the House, Ottun Babatunde, who was appointed by Speaker Mojisola Meranda. The court ordered the reinstatement of the former clerk of the House, Olalekan Onafeko. The order follows an ex parte application to the court made by Onafeko through his counsel, Yusuf Nurudeen, in a case he filed against the Lagos State Government, Lagos State Civil Service Commission, Lagos State House of Assembly Service Commission, the Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly, Attorney-General of Lagos State and…

As the people of Ancient city of Oyo, the State Government and the coronation Committee gathered for the installation of the 46th Alaafin of Oyo, at AGANJU SQUARE within the precinct of the total mythical space of 150,000 km2 (58,000 sq mi) remains a re-exaction of culture and traditions at its best in this 21st or is it 22nd century. The event was an opportunity to showcase the uniqueness of cherished heritage and traditions and laid to rest all “duku” (means rifts or misunderstanding) among the royal family and the…

By Lanre Ogundipe The defamation debacle between revered legal luminary, Chief Afe Babalola, (SAN), and self-styled “retired” lawyer, Dele Farotimi triggered national and (to some extent) global reactions towards the end of last year. There are reports on regular and social media that following the visit of some Yoruba traditional rulers, the matter may have being resolved. According to a statement, the Ooni of Ife, HRM Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi led a delegation of Obas from other parts of Yoruba land Sunday night to the Ado Ekiti residence of Babalola seeking…

South African President, Cyril Ramaphosa on Monday hit back at his United States counterpart, Donald Trump over the latter’s threat to cut funding to the African nation after accusing it of “confiscating” land and “treating certain classes of people very badly.” Trump on Sunday announced he was cutting off all future funding to the country pending an investigation. “South Africa is confiscating land, and treating certain classes of people very badly. I will be cutting off all future funding to South Africa until a full investigation of this situation has…

The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Owoade I, has ordered the immediate dissolution of an unauthorised coronation committee allegedly set up by a group of individuals without his approval. In a statement made available to The PUNCH on Wednesday in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, the monarch warned that any further meetings or activities related to the committee would be considered illegal and would not be tolerated. Oba Owode emphasised that any committee or event related to his coronation must receive prior approval from his office. The statement, titled “Coronation…

The All Progressives Congress has expelled a former Minister of Interior and ex-Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola, over alleged anti-party activities. Aregbesola, who led Osun State for two terms, had spearheaded a faction within the APC known as The Osun Progressives which was later rebranded as the Omoluabi Caucus. A letter from the APC leadership seen by newsmen on Wednesday officially confirmed Aregbesola’s expulsion. The letter, titled “Allegations of Anti-Party Activities – Conveyance of State Exco Decision to You,” accused him of breaching Article 21 of the party’s constitution, which…

About 3,690 Nigerians in the United States are faced with deportation as Donald Trump begins a crackdown on illegal immigrants in the country. In a document compiled by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations and sighted by our correspondent on Tuesday, the agency revealed the data is broken down by nationality and number of people faced with deportation. It also clarified that as of November 24, 2024, there are 1,445,549 non-citizens on ICE’s non-detained docket with final removal orders. In the document titled “Noncitizens on the ICE…