Category: The Nation – Nigeria

As global tensions escalate and traditional governance structures falter, China has unveiled a sweeping proposal to reshape international cooperation. The Global Governance Initiative (GGI), introduced by President Xi Jinping at the 25th Heads of State Council Summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in Tianjin, seeks to establish a more equitable and inclusive global order.

The GGI is the fourth major global initiative proposed by President Xi, following the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, and the Global Civilization Initiative.

Xi called on nations to ‘work together for a more just and equitable global governance system,’ emphasizing the need for a shared future for humanity. The initiative comes at a time of mounting global crises-from the wars in Ukraine and Gaza to internal conflicts in Sudan and rising tensions between Israel and Iran. These, alongside climate change and economic instability, have intensified calls for reform.

The GGI outlines five key principles: sovereign equality, adherence to international law, multilateralism, a people-centered approach, and a focus on tangible action. It aims to address the underrepresentation of the Global South, the waning credibility of global institutions, and the ineffectiveness of current systems in tackling global challenges.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi described the initiative as timely, aligning with the UN Charter and reinforcing the United Nations’ central role in global affairs. ‘The world is fraught with challenges,’ Wang said, ‘and the GGI offers a framework for collective action through multilateral mechanisms.’

Nigeria’s Strategic Role

Nigeria stands to benefit significantly from the initiative. Following President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s visit to the 9th Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in Beijing, China-Nigeria relations were elevated to a **Comprehensive Strategic Partnership**-a move seen as deepening trust and cooperation.

The implications of the initiative for Nigeria include Economic Growth: The GGI can contribute to Nigeria’s economic growth by promoting infrastructure development, healthcare, and agricultural modernization.

– Global Influence: Nigeria’s participation in the GGI can enhance its global influence, particularly in campaigning for a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).

-And Strategic Partnership: As a key strategic partner for China, Nigeria can benefit from China’s commitment to supporting Africa’s development and promoting global governance reforms.

Foreign Minister Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar has championed Nigeria’s campaign for a permanent seat on the UN Security Council, citing the country’s contributions to global peace and security. Speaking at a recent lecture hosted by the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), Tuggar emphasized the importance of strategic autonomy in a multipolar world.

‘The idea is to avoid entangling alliances or ideological over-alignment,’ Tuggar said. ‘Nigeria’s foreign policy must be driven by shared interests and mutual purpose.’

He warned against binary alignments, stressing that Nigeria’s size and potential demand flexibility in shaping global governance. Tuggar also highlighted Nigeria’s strengths-its large population, internal market, and capacity for defense mobilization-as assets in the evolving global order.

Africa’s Broader Opportunity

For Africa, the GGI presents a chance to amplify its voice in international institutions, access new technologies, and finance climate-friendly development. It also promises stronger partnerships with China in infrastructure, healthcare, and agriculture.

Mr. Charles Onunaiju, Director of the Chinese Centre, underscored the initiative’s significance, stating that global governance must move beyond power politics. ‘It must no longer be the case that might make right,’ he wrote. ‘The GGI responds to the Global South’s call for peace, development, and cooperation.’

Onunaiju added that the initiative answers fundamental questions about who governs, for whom governance is conducted, and how it should be carried out. He called for a fairer global system that shares development opportunities and confronts challenges collectively.

As the world navigates an increasingly fragmented landscape, the Global Governance Initiative may offer a blueprint for unity, reform, and resilience-anchored in shared values and mutual respect.

Troops of the Nigerian Army have killed 17 terrorists, arrested 85 suspects, and rescued 10 kidnapped victims in a series of coordinated operations across the country within the last 48 hours.

A credible source at the Army Headquarters told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the feats were recorded across several theatres of operation nationwide.

The source said the apprehended suspects included Boko Haram informants, logistics suppliers, terrorist collaborators, drug peddlers, and kidnappers, while the rescued victims were safely evacuated and undergoing profiling and medical evaluation.

In the North East, the source said the troops of Operation Hadin Kai sustained aggressive counter-terrorism operations under Operations Desert Sanity IV and Diligent Search, leading to multiple encounters with Boko Haram and ISWAP terrorists in Borno and Adamawa States.

The source said that troops of 202 and 222 Battalions came under ambush during an operation around Goni Kurmi and Kashomri villages in Konduga Local Government Area of Borno, fought gallantly and neutralised several terrorists.

He added that troops of 195 Battalion, working with the Department of State Services (DSS), apprehended a notorious Boko Haram/ISWAP informant and ransom collector at Customs IDP Camp in Jere Local Government Area.

The suspect, he said, was tracked through monitored calls and bank transactions.

He added that in troops recovered an AK-47 rifle earlier stolen by terrorists, rescued two kidnapped escapees, and apprehended three major logistics suppliers with food items and materials meant for ISWAP cells in Alagarno.

‘Similarly, in Adamawa, troops of 144 Battalion intercepted seven vehicles and nine motorcycles conveying 368 bags of cement suspected to be heading to terrorist enclaves in Madagali Local Government Area.

‘Troops also foiled infiltration attempts in Buratai, Biu Local Government Area of Borno, with air support from the Nigerian Air Force (NAF).

‘Other units recovered N4.77 million cash, six mobile phones and two bicycles abandoned by fleeing insurgents along the Maiduguri-Damboa Road,’ he said.

In the North West, the source revealed that troops under Operation Fansan Yamma conducted clearance and stabilization operations in Sokoto and Zamfara States.

According to him, 69 suspected drug peddlers were apprehended in raids on communities in Sokoto South Local Government Area, while another five terrorist collaborators were apprehended in Gudu Local Government Area.

He added that troops also rescued one civilian injured in a terrorist attack along Faru-Bagabbuzi Road in Maradun Local Government Area of Zamfara.

In North Central, the source said the troops of Operation Enduring Peace rescued one kidnapped victim at Dorowa in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau.

According to him, another operation at Rawaya Village, Gashish District, led to the recovery of two AK-47 rifles, one G3 rifle, one revolver pistol, six magazines, and over 1,200 rounds of ammunition.

He said the troops of Operation Whirl Stroke also apprehended two suspected kidnappers at Idadu Town in Doma Local Government Area of Nasarawa State.

He added that troops also destroyed a terrorist camp and seizing mobile phones and customized vehicle plates at Gbagir in Ukum Local Government Area of Benue.

‘In the South South, troops of Operation Delta Safe intensified operations against oil thieves. Omoku in Rivers intercepted a wooden boat carrying 840 litres of illegally refined Dual Purpose Kerosene (DPK) and arrested one suspect.

‘Another patrol in Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta, seized a vehicle conveying 2,500 litres of illegal condensate.

‘Across all theatres, troops recovered no fewer than 15 assorted weapons, 21 magazines and over 1,200 rounds of ammunition, alongside cash and logistics materials.

‘The Nigerian Army remains committed to maintaining the operational momentum and will continue to deny terrorists and criminal elements any freedom of action across the country,’ the source added.

He commended the troops for their professionalism and resilience, noting that morale remains high across all formations and units.

When Sir Alex Ferguson walked into Manchester United’s old Carrington training ground in November 1986, few would have predicted he’d go on to define not just a club, but an entire era of football.

He inherited chaos: a divided dressing room, drinking culture, fading glory, and impatient fans. For three and a half years, results barely improved. United finished 11th, 11th, and 13th. There were protests, boos, and headlines calling for his head.

But the board did something almost unthinkable in today’s game. They waited. They backed him. And in doing so, they changed football forever.

Ferguson stayed for 27 years, won 38 trophies, built five different United teams, and retired as a living monument to patience and persistence.

Today, that kind of story couldn’t happen. Not in this climate. Not in this football economy.

And that’s the sobering truth: we will probably never see another Sir Alex Ferguson.

The Modern Game Eats Its Own

Managers today operate in the football equivalent of a pressure cooker. Lose two games and you’re ‘under pressure.’ Lose four, and you’re a trending topic. Lose six, and you’re unemployed.

Even success doesn’t guarantee safety anymore. Nuno Espírito Santo guided Nottingham Forest into Europe in 2024/25, sacked after a minor dip and a public clash with the owner.

This is the new football reality: it’s not about what you’ve done; it’s about what you’ve done lately.

In Ferguson’s era, clubs were guided by stability and human judgment. Today, they’re driven by quarterly performance metrics and social media narratives.

The Age of Impatience

Football has always been emotional, but the internet era has turned it into a 24-hour referendum. Every lineup decision is dissected. Every substitution is a scandal. Every loss becomes a crisis.

When Ferguson’s United were dumped out of the League Cup by Oxford United in 1986, fans were furious, but they had to vent on radio call-ins or letters to newspapers. Today, that anger trends worldwide within minutes, amplified by millions.

The result? Owners panic. Boards blink. Managers fall.

If Ferguson had managed his first three years in the social media age, he’d have been gone before he even got to that pivotal 1990 FA Cup run that saved his job.

The Business Has Changed the Bench

Modern football is a global business, and that’s both its strength and its curse.

Clubs are now multi-billion-dollar enterprises, often owned by corporations or foreign investors. These owners expect immediate results, like shareholders expecting quarterly profits. A project that takes ‘three to five years’ sounds noble until TV deals, sponsorship contracts, and Champions League revenues are at stake.

Even the word manager is fading. Most are now ‘head coaches,’ part of a bigger sporting structure where decisions on transfers, scouting, and youth development belong to committees, not individuals.

Ferguson had control over every detail, from signings to the academy, even down to what players ate. That total command allowed him to shape a club in his image. Today’s coaches are replaceable parts in a high-speed system. If one fails, the machine just swaps him out.

Player Power Has Changed the Game

In Ferguson’s United, no player, no matter how big, was bigger than the club. He proved it by selling Beckham, Keane, and Van Nistelrooy when they crossed the line.

That’s not the world we live in now.

Today, players are global brands. They have agents, entourages, and social media audiences larger than the clubs they play for. A single emoji on Instagram can send a manager’s reputation into free fall.

That’s not to say modern players are villains; it’s the ecosystem that’s changed. Managers used to manage men. Now, they manage million-dollar franchises disguised as players.

Even the ‘Project’ Clubs Aren’t Safe

Clubs love to talk about ‘long-term projects.’ Few actually commit to them.

Mikel Arteta at Arsenal is one of the rare exceptions, a manager who survived early storms to create something lasting. But even he admitted that, during his first two seasons, he felt ‘one defeat away’ from being fired.

Diego Simeone and Pep Guardiola are the only two modern managers who’ve built semi-dynasties in the chaos of modern football. Yet even their tenures, 14 and 10 years respectively, pale compared to Ferguson’s reign. And they had something most managers don’t: complete institutional backing.

The truth is, Ferguson had bad seasons. He rebuilt teams that failed. He lost titles, finals, and dressing rooms, but United never wavered. Today, one bad season and you’re ‘no longer part of the vision.’

So, Will We Ever See Another Ferguson?

Honestly? Probably not.

The modern game has evolved beyond the conditions that made Ferguson possible. The pressure’s higher, the patience shorter, and the attention span microscopic. Managers today are operators, not architects.

Pep Guardiola’s reign at Manchester City is the closest thing we’ve seen, a sustained era of dominance built on control and consistency. But even he admits: ‘No one does this forever. Football moves too fast now.’

Ferguson wasn’t just the last of his kind. He may have been the only one of his kind.

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Veteran Juju musician Oluwashina Peters popularly known as Sir Shina Peters, has declared that producing timeless music is the ultimate measure of a musician’s legacy.

Speaking on a recent episode of The Honest Bunch podcast, the 67-year-old music icon claimed to have surpassed the late American pop legend Michael Jackson in the number of evergreen songs, asserting his four classics outshine Jackson’s two, namely Of The World and Thriller.

‘The only thing you can show for showbiz at the end is how many evergreens you have produced. To my credit, I have four evergreens. Even Michael Jackson has just two; Of The World and Thriller.

‘So, if I have four, I am accomplished,’ he expressed.

Peters, a trailblazer in the Juju music scene, expressed pride in his contributions to Nigerian music but voiced strong concerns about the industry’s current state.

He lamented that the high standards set by himself and his contemporaries have been ‘bastardised’ by the new generation of artists, signaling a decline in quality and authenticity.

Nnamdi Kanu’s lawyer, Aloy Ejimakor, has confirmed he remains in detention at the Kuje Prison, 24 hours after his arrest during the #FreeNnamdiKanu protest in Abuja.

Ejimakor assured supporters of his safety on his status in a post on X (formerly Twitter) while expressing concerns about how his case was handled by the police.

The human rights lawyer wrote: ‘I am safe and sound but still under custody at Kuje prison. The Magistrate refused to listen to our submissions. He insisted on remanding us till Friday and got his way’.

Ejimakor also alleged that the authorities deliberately took his case to a particular court in Kuje instead of any of the other available Magistrate courts in the city.

‘For context: Keep in mind that they bypassed several Magistrate courts in town and headed to this one in Kuje,’ he stated.

Ejimakor was among those arrested on Monday during the #FreeNnamdiKanu protest led by human rights activist Omoyele Sowore.

Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, called on legal regulatory bodies in Nigeria to sanction Ejimakor for participating in the ongoing #FreeNnamdiKanu protest in Abuja.

According to Onanuga, Ejimakor’s participation in the protest undermines legal ethics, given that Kanu’s case is still before a competent court.

‘I spotted Aloy Ejimakor, one of Nnamdi Kanu’s lawyers, among the small group of protesters mobilised in Abuja by Omoyele Sowore,’ Onanuga wrote.

‘I wonder what Mr. Ejimakor was thinking when he decided to join this shambolic protest. As a lawyer, he should be aware of the principle of sub judice, particularly in relation to the ongoing treason case before the court.’

Onanuga noted the prosecution had already concluded its case and that it was now the duty of Kanu’s legal team to focus on presenting a strong defence rather than engaging in public demonstrations.

Her comment comes in the wake of the ongoing controversy surrounding actress Regina Daniels’ marriage to businessman and politician Ned Nwoko, which has sparked widespread online debate about women’s choices and societal expectations.

In a post shared on Instagram story, the actress expressed strong dissatisfaction with the way women are perceived and treated.

She wrote: ‘Nobody can convince me otherwise, so keep your comments to yourself. The Nigerian society genuinely hates women.’

Her statement has drawn mixed reactions from social media users, with some supporting her position while others dismissed it as an overstatement.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has said his administration’s anti-corruption drive has recorded a huge success in the last two years.

He said the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had secured over 7,000 convictions and recovered assets worth more than N500 billion in the first two years of his administration.

President said the recovered funds were being channelled into social investment programmes, such as the Students Loan Scheme and the Consumer Credit Scheme.

He urged the Judiciary to uphold the highest standards of integrity and impartiality in the fight against corruption.

The President warned that the collapse of justice institutions marks the beginning of a nation’s moral decay.

President Tinubu spoke yesterday in Abuja at the opening of a joint workshop of the EFCC and the National Judicial Institute (NJI).

The President, who was represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to strengthening judicial independence and improving the welfare of judicial officers.

‘The moral foundation of the Nigerian nation rests squarely on the integrity of its judicial system. We draw our moral distinction as a people from the judiciary, and we owe it the reverence and autonomy to remain the last sanctuary of our collective conscience’, the President declared.

In a statement by Senior Special Assistant on Media and Communications in the Office of the Vice President, Stanley Nkwocha, President Tinubu described his administration’s recent review of judicial remuneration as part of a broader reform to enhance judicial independence and efficiency.

The President underscored that while Nigerians express frustration over the slow pace of adjudication in high-profile corruption cases, his government has refrained from interfering in the process.

‘There is no person or group who can accuse this administration of shielding political actors on account of their affiliation to this government or the political party. We have allowed both the judiciary and the anti-graft agencies to exercise their constitutional and statutory powers,’ he said.

Addressing the evolving landscape of financial crimes, President Tinubu stressed the need for continuous judicial training in emerging technologies, particularly in handling cybercrime and cryptocurrency-related cases.

‘Learning and relearning is no longer a buzz phrase but an essential undertaking for continued relevance in this digital age. How does one do justice in a cryptocurrency fraud case except one is grounded in such matters?’ he noted.

The President reminded judicial officers that corruption spares no one, regardless of social standing.

He said: ‘Your vantage position on the Bench does not insulate you from the consequences of corruption. There are no special roads, hospitals, or communities for judges.’

The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) and Chairperson of the NJI Board of Governors, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, noted that the decisions of judicial officers have far-reaching effects on Nigeria’s growth and stability.

The CJN urged judges to remain firm, fair, and deliberate in their adjudications, ensuring that justice is never delayed or denied.

‘The strength of the judiciary lies in the trust reposed in judges by the Nigerian people. We must preserve that trust by ensuring justice is neither partial nor delayed,’ Justice Kekere-Ekun said.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio, who was represented by the Senate Chief Whip Mohammed Monguno, affirmed the legislature’s commitment to supporting anti-corruption agencies through enabling laws and funding.

‘Corruption is an enemy of the state, and combating it requires action from all fronts-the legislature, the judiciary, and the citizenry,’ Akpabio said.

He assured all of continued legislative backing for security and law enforcement reforms.

The NJI Administrator, Justice B. A. Adejumo, lauded the collaborative efforts of the EFCC and the judiciary, describing the annual workshop as ‘a vital platform for strengthening institutional synergy in the fight against corruption’.

He reiterated that ‘no nation can develop without tackling corruption head-on’.

EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede applauded the judiciary’s partnership in advancing the anti-graft crusade.

The EFCC chairman noted that the Supreme Court’s recent decision reaffirming the commission’s constitutional mandate had further strengthened institutional confidence.

‘The record of 4,111 convictions and humongous asset recoveries could not have been achieved by a lazy or ineffective judiciary,’ he said.

Olukoyede reaffirmed the commission’s resolve to sustain its drive against financial crimes.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said he was pleased with his players’ commitment, but warned that they cannot get ahead of themselves as they fight for silverware on multiple fronts.

Arsenal, unbeaten since August, are three points clear at the top of the Premier League and have won both their Champions League matches so far, but Arteta was not keen to accept the ‘favourites’ tag in the English top-flight.

‘The only thing I embrace is when I see the team, the energy, the temperature, the commitment and quality that they can deliver. That gives me the conviction that we can go all the way,’ Arteta told reporters a day before hosting Atletico Madrid in the Champions League.

‘But that’s just a feeling, then the next day you have to prove it and you can’t be busy thinking about those topics.

‘Every game in (the Premier League) is must-win. We are very appreciative of that, so we don’t get carried away with anything.’

Asked about a video shared on social media that showed Arsenal defender William Saliba watching Atletico Madrid on the coach after Saturday’s 1-0 win at Fulham, Arteta praised the France international’s eagerness to prepare for future opponents.

‘Very pleased because I didn’t encourage it, that came from them. We know this will be a tough one, so the earlier we think about it the better. I love that initiative from the players,’ Arteta said.

Arteta said he looked up to Atletico manager Diego Simeone, who has led the Spanish club to two Europa League and two LaLiga titles since taking charge in 2011.

‘What he has done since he got to Atletico has been outstanding, not only what has achieved but the way he has done it. The identity he has created, they are simple and clear to identify because the manager is very much them,’ Arteta said. ‘He is someone I look up to. His passion, how long he has been in the game, how he still has that capacity to transmit a willingness to win. To keep convincing players in this environment, you have to be extraordinarily good.’

Defender Piero Hincapie will be available for today’s clash after recovering from a groin injury, Arteta added.

TODAY’S FIXTURES

Barcelona vs. Olympiakos

Kairat Almaty vs. Pafos

Arsenal vs. Atletico

Leverkusen vs. PSG

Copenhagen vs. Dortmund

Newcastle vs. Benfica

PSV vs. Napoli

Saint-Gilloise vs. Inter

Villarreal vs. Man City

Despite the propaganda of the emergent African Democratic Party (ADC), and the Labour Party (LP), the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), remains the main opposition party in the country with a potential to put up a fight against the dominant All Progressive Congress (APC), in the 2027 general election if they can put their house in order. But with all the crisis bedevilling the PDP, it appears the party would remain in disarray, unless the warriors sheathe their swords.

Looking back, former president, Goodluck Jonathan and former vice president, Atiku Abubakar, principally bear the blame for the precipitate decline of the PDP. What Atiku started in the run up to the 2011 general election by decamping from the party, Jonathan consolidated by running for the 2015 general election which he eventually lost. While PDP members, especially from the north accepted as fait accompli that Vice President Jonathan should run for election in 2011, after completing the term granted late President Umaru Yar’Adua, they rejected outright his attempt to run again in 2015.

From hindsight, the division caused by the decision of Jonathan to run led to a fissure, and the emergence of what became known as new PDP, which some governors and legislators championed. The eventual loss of power by the party saw the exodus of many members of the party, especially the fair weather ones, to the APC which won the presidential poll with President Muhammadu Buhari, as flag bearer. And ever since, it has been a free fall for the PDP.

Former vice president, Atiku Abubakar, after abandoning the party during their crisis period, returned for the second time, to hijack the presidential ticket of PDP for the 2023 general election. That action appears to have set the party down to its current free fall to destruction. The former governor of Rivers State and current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, having been deceived by the former Speaker, House of Representatives and former governor of Sokoto, Aminu Tambuwal (an Atiku accomplice), appears to have forsworn never to be taken for a ride again, by the party men.

Wike has ensured that he has the PDP is in his vice grip, and so unless on terms, that he considers as fair and just, he has vowed that the party will not hold the National Convention to elect new party leaders. Governors Bala Mohammed and Seyi Makinde, of Oyo and Bauchi states, respectively, and other party leaders who dared Wike to do his worst, are realizing that life is being squeezed out of their party, as the day unfolds.

The chairmen of PDP, in Imo and Abia states, Austin Nwachukwu and Amah Abraham Nnana, with the party secretary in south-south zone, remains in court, claiming that the PDP has not conducted the required congresses in some states to elect delegates to the planned convention amongst other grievances. While that case is still pending, the PDP got enmeshed in another crisis, between the acting national party chairman, Umar Damagun and the national legal adviser, Kamaldeen Ajibade, SAN, over the right to appoint a counsel to defend the party in the suit filed by those opposed to the convention.

The legal adviser contends that by Article 40 of the party’s constitution, no other party officer or organ has the right to appoint a legal counsel to defend the party, without his concurrence. The National Working Committee, without waiting for the court presided over by Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Abuja, to determine the conflicting claims between the chairman and the legal adviser, relieved the legal adviser of any right to represent the PDP in the suit.

There is the chance that the legal adviser may seek to open another battle front with the party, over what he may consider as attempt to whittle down his power. While all that is playing out, the secretary of the party has raised a bombshell capable of truncating the entire plans for the convention. He claimed that his signature was forged on the document, notifying INEC of the planned convention, and has petitioned the Department of State Security (DSS), the Nigeria Police and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), over the claim.

While PDP has dismissed the impact, and vowed to forge ahead with the convention, we wait to see whether the claim if proved to be true, would affect the veracity of the notice required to be sent to INEC before a convention can be validly held by a political party. While Anyanwu is seeking the prosecution of the party leaders, over the alleged forgery, it is instructive that no party official has come forward to renounce the alleged forgery of the signature of the party secretary.

Less than four weeks to the date slated for the convention, the court has asked the parties to maintain status quo, pending the determination of the suit. Of note, Justice Omotosho, has promised to determine the substantive suit by the end of October, so the parties would know their fate. If he gives the party the go ahead, to hold the convention, the challenges over party delegates, the alleged forged signature and other issues, would continue to becloud the convention.

Interestingly, there are diehards in the party who have maintained that the party would survive all the challenges and come out stronger. Apart from the governors of Bauchi and Oyo states, there is the elder statesman Chief Olabode George of Lagos State. There is also the latest alliance between Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim and former Senate President Bukola Saraki, to work together. On the reverse side, recently the governors of Enugu and Bayelsa states have left the party, and their colleague in Taraba, Agbu Kefas, is touted to be on his way out of the party.

The ADC which the promoters had said would provide the opposition to the APC, when juxtaposed against the indices of potential greatness, so far, is akin to the despondency of Macbeth in the Shakespearean play, of the same title: ‘a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.’ In that play, Macbeth had made the exclamation on the hopelessness of his life, when he heard that his wife, Lady Macbeth had committed suicide. This column believes that those who believed the hype by the promoters of ADC, may now exhibit such despondency.

The other party which got some elixir, in the 2023 general election, the Labour Party, has been left high and dry, with an ‘enemy chairman’ in charge of the party. At the last INEC meeting with party chairmen, Barrister Julius Abure, who has fallen out with the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), the former presidential candidate of the party, Peter Obi, and the only party governor, Alex Otti, was ensconced in the chair reserved for Labour Party.

Heartland FC will trade tackles with Solution FC of Awka at the Dan Anyiam Stadium, Owerri tomorrow in a replay of the friendly game played in the Anambra capital last month.

The Naze Millionaires battled Solution FC to a goalless draw in Awka and as the Emmanuel Amuneke-tutored lads continue their preparation for the start of the Nigeria National League season both teams will lock horns again in the return leg of the tie.

It will be recalled that Heartland FC endured a painful late-minute implosion when former player Francis Erikan struck deep into stoppage time to earn Akwa United a 1-1 draw in a tense friendly encounter at the Dan Anyiam Stadium, Owerri, on Saturday afternoon.

The encounter offered valuable lessons and fitness for both teams as they continue preparations to return to topflight football and the tie with Solution FC will provide more insight into the level of Heartland FC build up to the lower league season will starts on November 8th .