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News_Naija

Delta PDP Defection, A Game Of Survival Dele Momodu

Veteran journalist and politician, Dele Momodu, has reacted to the mass defection of top leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party in Delta State to the All Progressives Congress, describing it as a survival tactic rather than a genuine shift in political ideology. Speaking during a live television interview on Channels TV on Wednesday, Momodu said the move did not come as a surprise, noting that Nigerian political history is filled with similar episodes of defections. “I’m a very good student of Nigeria’s political history, so nothing can surprise me about our politicians. “The history of Nigerian politics is replete with stories of defections,” he said. Responding to the defection of Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, his predecessor Ifeanyi Okowa, and several other key PDP figures to the APC, Momodu said, “What will surprise me is if President Bola Ahmed Tinubu believes that people are joining APC because they love him or because he’s doing so fantastically well. What people are doing now is a game of survival.” He argued that harassment by anti-graft agencies is pushing politicians to align with the ruling party for protection. “Name one of them who has not been harassed at different times by either EFCC, ICPC, or the Special Fraud Unit. “Gone are the days when we admired the likes of Nelson Mandela, Jomo Kenyatta, MKO Abiola, Chief Awolowo, all of them for going to detention. These days, nobody wants to go to detention. Everybody wants be be at home to enjoy that money they have made in politics,” he said. Momodu added, “This government’s strategy is a carrot and stick. If we can’t persuade you, we can force you. And I think force is working for now.” The defection was officially announced on Wednesday in Asaba by Senator James Manager following a six-hour closed-door meeting at the Government House. “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 APC. “We cannot continue to be in a sinking boat,” Manager said. Delta State Commissioner for Information, Mr. Charles Aniagwu, also confirmed the collective decision, citing the need for political alignment to sustain development in the state. “In taking that decision, we concluded that leaving the PDP was very necessary for us to be able to collaborate and build a state that every Deltan will be proud of. “We believe that what is happening, and the state of the PDP, is akin to that palm wine whose taste has changed — and there was a need for us to change the drinking party,” Aniagwu stated. He further hinted at a formal public declaration scheduled for the next week, saying, “By the grace of God, on Monday next week, we will be able to make a very big statement confirming that we are moving into the APC.”

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Futbol

Bayindir's Failed Man Utd Audition Offers Onana Dilemma

It was the last thing Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim needed. After taking goalkeeper Andre Onana out of the firing line for Sunday's trip to Newcastle, the Portuguese watched forlorn as replacement Altay Bayindir conceded four goals in a chastening defeat at St James' Park. To makes matters worse, the Turkey international was to blame for Newcastle's fourth after a poor pass. "We did a lot of mistakes that made it harder to win a game - that's all," said Amorim. "It's a little bit of everything, it's hard to point to one thing." With a crucial Europa League quarter-final second leg to follow against Lyon on Thursday, United are keen to put defeat in the north-east quickly behind them. But Amorim now faces a potentially season-defining decision of whether to recall Onana or stick with Bayindir. Whether Onana was rested or simply dropped for the visit to Newcastle, the fact he wasn't even named on the bench was a brave decision from the United boss. Speaking before kick-off, former Manchester United captain Roy Keane said Amorim's patience with the Cameroon international had worn out. "I think he (Onana) has done OK in the Premier League because United defensively actually haven't been too bad," Keane told Sky Sports. "The keeper has made some big mistakes and he's been punished for it, so it's a big call for the manager." Onana came under fire again following two costly errors in the 2-2 first-leg draw in Lyon last Thursday. Since the start of last season, the 29-year-old has made eight errors leading to goals in all competitions, the most of any keeper playing for a Premier League club. "The situation has been coming," former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson told 5 Live. "A lot of Manchester United fans have been getting frustrated with him and there is a time where you do need to take the goalkeeper out of the firing line because the pressure does become too much. "When you're in front of the opposition fans, you're reminded of your poor form every time you touch the ball and sometimes you do need a rest. "It's good man-management to put your arm round him and say, 'look you're still my number one goalkeeper, but at the moment you're not playing to the levels I want you to play at - I'm going to take you out, whether it's one, two or three games'." Amorim may have been keen to stress Onana's omission was a one-game decision, but you don't drop your first-choice keeper at this stage of the season and do so lightly. Bayindir, a £4.3m signing from Fenerbahce in 2023, has waited patiently for his first start in the Premier League. But the 26-year-old failed to grasp his opportunity against Newcastle, conceding four of Newcastle's six shots on target and flapping at a number of crosses. He attempted 57 passes, but completed just 27 of those - an unimpressive rate of 47.4%. The most costly of those passes came 13 minutes from time, when Bayindir attempted a chipped pass into midfield that was cut out by Joelinton, allowing Bruno Guimaraes to add a fourth goal. Newcastle were already on their way to victory by then, but the passage of play underlined why, even with Onana making so many errors, Amorim has tended to keep faith with the former Inter Milan stopper. Amorim, understandably, was keen to move on from the defeat by Newcastle and stressed several times in his post-match interview how the focus was now firmly on the visit of Lyon. It's the biggest match of his United reign so far, keeping hopes alive of a trophy and place in next season's Champions League, but the Portuguese was giving nothing away when asked if he would recall Onana. "You have to wait, we are going to start the next week," said Amorim. "I'm going to choose the best starting XI for the next match." Robinson, though, thinks Onana's spell on the sidelines will continue. "I don't think he's going to play [against Lyon]," said the former Tottenham goalkeeper. "You don't take him out for just one game, put him in a few days later and expect him to be on top of his game. I don't expect to see him play on Thursday."

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News_Naija

OPay Extends N1.2bn 10-year Scholarship To Kwara State Polytechnic

OPay, one of Nigeria’s leading financial institutions, has expanded its 10-year scholarship initiative to Kwara State Polytechnic, marking a milestone in the company’s long-term commitment to supporting education across Nigeria. In a statement made available to The PUNCH by the firm on Wednesday, the partnership will see 20 outstanding students from the institution benefit from scholarships valued at N300,000 each, making Kwara State Polytechnic the first polytechnic to be included in OPay’s N1.2bn 10-Year Scholarship Programme. The scholarship programme, launched to reduce the financial burden faced by students in tertiary institutions, aims to empower the next generation of leaders by providing them with the resources they need to focus fully on their academic and personal growth. Speaking on the expansion of the initiative, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of OPay, Dauda Gotring, emphasised the company’s commitment to investing in the future of Nigeria’s youth. “Our scholarship support is to ensure that the dreams of talented scholars do not die,” Gotring said. “Through this 10-year scholarship program, we’re not just easing the financial stress of today’s students, we are empowering a generation that will drive innovation and progress.” It added that the N1.2bn scholarship plan is part of OPay’s broader mission to provide financial support to 400 students annually across Nigeria. The programme is expected to span 10 years, benefiting students from both polytechnics and universities. According to the statement, the inclusion of Kwara State Polytechnic is a testament to the company’s focus on nationwide impact, ensuring that educational opportunities are accessible to students across the country, regardless of their geographical location or financial background. The Rector of Kwara State Polytechnic, Abdul Mohammed, expressed his gratitude for the scholarship program’s introduction to the institution, noting its transformative impact on the students who will benefit. “We thank OPay for bringing the scholarship to Kwara State Polytechnic as this will have a huge impact on the students being awarded, giving them the motivation to excel in their academics and beyond,” Mohammed said. It noted that its commitment to supporting education aligns with its broader mission to promote financial inclusion across Nigeria. Established in 2018, the company has become a key player in the Nigerian financial services sector, providing a wide range of payment solutions, including money transfers, bill payments, and merchant services. OPay is licensed by the Central Bank of Nigeria and insured by the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation, offering customers a secure and reliable financial platform. In the coming years, OPay plans to continue expanding its scholarship program, with the ultimate goal of supporting a diverse group of students and fostering the next generation of leaders, innovators, and changemakers. With the inclusion of Kwara State Polytechnic in its 10-year scholarship plan, OPay is taking a bold step toward creating a future where no student’s dreams are cut short due to financial constraints. The PUNCH reported that OPay extended its N1.2bn 10-year scholarship initiative to students of the University of Ilorin.

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News_Naija

Rice Most Seized Commodity In Q1 Customs

The Nigeria Customs Service has said that with 159 cases involving 135,474 bags valued at N939m, rice remained the most prevalent commodity seized by the service in the first quarter of 2025. The Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, stated this in Abuja while briefing journalists on the service’s activities in the first quarter of the year, according to his speech made available to our correspondent. Adeniyi said aside from rice, petroleum products followed with 61 seizures, totaling 65,819 litres with a duty-paid value of N43m. “Rice remained the most prevalent seized commodity, with 159 cases involving 135,474 bags valued at N939m. Petroleum products followed with 61 seizures totaling 65,819 liters valued at N43m,” Adeniyi said. According to him, of particular note were 22 narcotics interceptions valued at N730m, which reflects the service’s intensified focus on combating drug trafficking. “The service also recorded three high-value wildlife product seizures with a remarkable N5.6bn value, underscoring both the lucrative nature of this illegal trade and our commitment to environmental protection under international conventions,” he said. The CGC added that other notable seizures included 13 cases of textile fabrics valued at N134m, “five cases of retreaded tires valued at N104m, and pharmaceuticals, one case valued at N17.1m. These comprehensive results demonstrate the service’s vigilance across all categories of prohibited and restricted goods.” He maintained that the trend of seizures highlights several strategic priorities, stressing that the service pays more attention to intercepting high-volume items like rice and petroleum products through enhanced border surveillance. “Specialized operations targeting high-value wildlife trafficking, building on existing collaborations with UNODC and other international partners, sustained focus on dangerous narcotics and pharmaceutical smuggling, implementation of advanced non-intrusive inspection technology to improve detection rates,” he said. According to him, from rice to wildlife, these seizures show the service’s targeted approach, stressing that while the results indicate progress in curbing smuggling activities, the service recognizes the evolving nature of illicit trade. The CGC vowed that the NCS remains committed to refining its enforcement strategies through intelligence-led operations, technological advancement, and strengthened interagency cooperation to protect national revenue and security. He stated that within the period under review, the service achieved several significant milestones in its modernization and institutional development agenda. Adeniyi maintained that the achievements align with the service’s strategic objectives and contribute to its overall mandate. He said that within the period under review, the service continued to roll out its indigenously developed customs clearance platform, B’Odogwu, expanding its operations to additional customs formations across the country, adding that the expansion has enhanced operational efficiency and improved service delivery to our stakeholders. The CGC explained that in February, the service officially launched the Authorized Economic Operators Programme, “a World Customs Organization-endorsed initiative that recognises businesses with strong compliance records and security standards. This program provides benefits such as expedited clearance, reduced inspections, and enhanced predictability in customs procedures for qualifying operators.”