The Coalition of South East Youth Leaders, COSEYL, says it has mobilized at least 2 million persons in the region to join the nationwide protest by the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC.

DAILY POST reports that the NLC and the Trades Union Congress, TUC, have slated Wednesday (today) for its strike and nationwide mass protests following the hardship occasioned by the removal of fuel subsidy.

The decision followed the inability of the Federal Government to reach a truce with the organized labour as the two-day meeting between the duo ended in a deadlock on Tuesday.

NLC and TUC are demanding for palliatives and other measures that would mitigate the effect of the fuel subsidy removal on Nigerians.

Speaking on the planned protest on Tuesday, the NLC President, Joe Ajaero, said in a statement that the organised labour had no reason to suspend the planned national protest.

Ajaero spoke a few hours after another round of meeting of the Presidential Steering Committee on Palliatives held at the Aso Rock Villa, Abuja, deadlocked.

Backing the move by NLC, COSEYL in a statement issued on Wednesday by its President General, Goodluck Ibem said its members were in full support, stressing that the protest became necessary following the unbearable hardship being faced by Nigerians.

The statement reads in part, “We have mobilized two million of our members to fully support the nationwide protest by the Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC, and other groups in the country.

Nigeria and her economy depends solely on fuel and other petroleum products to function and any decision or policy that increases the price of the petroleum products will hit hard on Nigerians.

We therefore pledge our full support to the protest in order to save Nigerians from extinction as a result of the hardship and suffering they are currently facing.

Former Ivory Coast President, Henri Konan Bedie is dead.

Badie, who dominated politics in the West African nation for a generation, died at the age of 89, a close relative told Reuters on Tuesday.

Bedie served as president from 1993 until his ouster in 1999.

He later ran a losing race against his long-time political rival, President Alassane Ouattara in 2020, when he was 86 years old.

NAN reports that it is not clear how Bedie died.

His spokesman could not be reached for comment as of the time of filing this report.

He was long remembered – and in some parts reviled – for his role in promoting the issue of ivoirite, or Ivorian identity.

The remains of the late former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Prince Vincent Eze Ogbulafor was at the weekend laid to rest in his home town, Itaja-Obuohia, Olokoro, Umuahia South Local Government Area, Abia State.

Aged 73, the late Ogbulafor was also an ex-national secretary of the PDP and former minister of National Planning during the past administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

The deceased politician left behind an aged mother, wife, children and siblings.

The burial ceremony attracted a cream of political bigwigs led by the Governor of Abia State, Dr Alex Chioma Otti.

Speaking earlier on the virtues of the late former PDP national chairman during a burial church service at the Holy Cross Catholic Church, Olokoro, in Umuahia South LGA, Governor Otti said the late Ogbulafor lived a good life and left many legacies behind.

He noted that the history of his political journey cannot be complete without Ogbulafor being mentioned.

The Ogbulafor family in a tribute given by the first son, Uchenna, appreciated Governor Alex Otti for the relationship that existed between him and their father.

The family further thanked the Governor, the deceased’s business and political associates, friends, admirers and the leadership of the PDP for coming to identify with them in their moment of mourning.

Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke has charged key stakeholders in his administration to shun every form of corrupt practice which can have negative impact on the people of the State.

Governor Adeleke also charged them to be innovative, diligent and prudent.

The Governor gave the charge at the beginning of a 3-day strategic retreat and onboarding programme for new political office holders and key stakeholders of Osun State in Ede.

The participants are commissioners, Special Advisers, Permanent Secretaries, among others.

He noted that his administration was poised on a 5-point agenda, which encapsulates workers’ welfare, boosting businesses and reviving the State economy, through the introduction of policies that would boost the State’s GDP.

He revealed that his government recognised local suppliers and was looking for means to expand the local economy by avoiding exportation of contracts and services from outside the State.

The only exception, he noted, was if there were no capable hands in the state to carry out the job.

There must be a collaborative effort to reform education, health, agriculture and peoples’ welfare.

Osun is blessed with resources which can be used to create wealth for the people.

I want you to know that this is our State and we must do everything possible to develop it. This State is blessed with resources which, if well managed, can improve our economy and at the same time, create wealth for all and sundry.

I want to task and share with you principles of unity to achieve collective success.

He said, Please, avoid infighting and you must work together as a team to achieve the desired goals. Political appointees and Permanent Secretaries must work within the public service rules.

He also charged the Ministries, Departments and Agencies of government to carry the various House Committees along in the activities of their Ministries.

Phrank Shaibu, the Special Assistant on Public Communications to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has described President Bola Tinubu’s national broadcast as uninspiring and deceptive.

Shaibu said the nationwide broadcast was a complete waste of time.

He noted that Tinubu’s speech was only done in order to convince the organised labour not to embark on a nationwide protest.

In a statement he signed, the Atiku’s aide maintained that Tinubu’s broadcast was an afterthought after removing petrol subsidy without a clear plan that would have ameliorated the sufferings of the people who have gotten poorer since the All Progressives Congress, APC, took power in 2015.

According to Shaibu, Tinubu’s speech was hurriedly put together in order to dissuade the suffering masses and the organised labour from embarking on protests. Rather than apologise for removing subsidy without providing a cushion for the poor, he went about accusing subsidy thieves of being behind the current suffering. If he is sure of this, why hasn’t he arrested them?

Tinubu also lied when he claimed that he had for years been an advocate of subsidy removal. This was a man who in 2012 described petrol subsidy removal as, the Goodluck Jonathan tax and sponsored protests in Lagos State. After he dubiously got to power, he lacked imagination on how to address the issue and then removed the subsidy but without a plan.

Shaibu said Tinubu’s so-called plans to provide N50,000 grants to small businesses would be undermined by inflation, exchange rate problems and corruption

He added, Tinubu says he will provide N50,000 (roughly $60) to 1, 300 nano businesses. This is reminiscent of the dubious trader moni and the monthly N20,000 spent on the public works programme of the last APC government which not only failed to stimulate the economy but also worsened poverty as funds went into private pockets.

What mechanism is in place to ensure that poor Nigerians access this? The answer is none. This is nothing but deception as we shall all see in the coming weeks.

He also questioned Tinubu’s plan to give 500,000 hectares of land to farmers in order to boost agriculture even when insecurity had failed to reduce.

He added, The Land Use Act puts lands under the purview of the governors. His so-called plan to provide 500,000 hectares is just part of the deception and a continuation of Buhari’s failed promises.

Besides, just on Saturday, farmers were killed and others kidnapped in Birnin Gwari, Kaduna State. Till now, there has not been a word from the Presidential Villa.

Most of the communities being attacked are agrarian communities which rely on farming. What sort of plan can you implement in the agric sector without first tackling insecurity?

He said Tinubu’s claim that the minimum wage would soon be reviewed upwards was evidence that he failed to properly plan for the removal of petrol subsidy.

Shaibu stated, Shouldn’t the discussion on the increase of minimum wage have been done prior to subsidy removal? This is the height of cluelessness, putting the cart before the horse.

Atalanta striker, Rasmus Hojlund is set to undergo a medical with Manchester United on Tuesday ahead of a proposed move, according to The Athletic.

Both clubs have agreed a deal worth €75m (£64m) plus £10m (£8m) in add-ons for the 20-year-old.

Hojlund is poised to become Erik ten Hag’s third signing of the summer after Mason Mount and Andre Onana.

He has already agreed terms on a five-year deal with the option of a further year at Old Trafford.

Hojlund is now scheduled to fly into the UK for his medical tests.

Atalanta were in pre-season action on Saturday against Bournemouth with Hojlund not featuring ahead of his summer switch.

Hojlund is thought to have said his goodbyes to his team-mates ahead of the move.

Napoli striker, Victor Osimhen will become the highest-paid African footballer if he joins Al Hilal this summer.

The Saudi Arabian club have launched a stunning £120.3million bid to land Osimhen, according to Sky Sports.

There has been an influx of top players to the Middle East this off-season, where there are astonishing contracts on offer.

African players have not been left out, with names like Riyad Mahrez, Sadio Mane and Eduoard Mendy leaving Europe for Saudi Arabia.

Mahrez will reportedly earn £750,000-per-week on his three-year contract at Al Ahli, while Mane will pocket around £650,000-per-week at Al Nassr.

However, the £1million-per-week wage Al Hilal are offering Osimhen, will make him the best paid footballer from the continent.

The 24-year-old has held talks over extending his deal at Napoli, but there has been no agreement yet, with the existing deal set to expire in 2025.

Paris Saint-Germain manager, Luis Enrique is already eyeing a move for Barcelona midfielder, Gavi after completing the transfer for winger Ousmane Dembele this summer.

PSG are reportedly close to landing Dembele who currently has a €50million release clause in his contract.

Dembele himself has already said yes to a move to PSG and has agreed to a five-year deal.

The 26-year-old is currently seen as a cheaper replacement for PSG forward Kylian Mbappe, whose future is already up in the air and could be leaving the Parisians this summer.

Dembele could also join a list of Barcelona players who have signed for PSG in recent seasons. Notably, Neymar, Dani Alves and Lionel Messi.

According to El Nacional, PSG are believed to still be keen on knocking on Barcelona’s door, but this time next summer, as Enrique has identified Gavi as a transfer target.

The French Ligue 1 champions would love to jump at the opportunity to add Gavi to their ranks in 2024 and would be willing to tempt Barcelona with an offer.

Uncertainty have surrounded the hosting of the Nigeria National League relegation playoffs in Kano.

The coalition of the eight clubs taking place in the tournament complained about the outbreak of Diphtheria in that part of the State.

The clubs also hinted at the economic hardship in the country which is likely to affect some teams’ participation in the relegation playoffs.

They however urged the NNL to cancel the playoff arrangement as the plan is outside the football calendar.

ABS, Sokoto United, Ikorodu City, Edel FC, FWC Champion FC, Smart City FC, Henserd FC and Adamawa United are the teams expected to take part in the playoffs.

In June, about 439 of suspected cases came from Kano, of which 160 were later confirmed.

In July, 130 additional cases were confirmed before the month ended.

iggie has introduced a new nomination process for the ongoing Big Brother Naija All Stars reality show.

After the Head of House game, which produced Kiddwaya as the new Head of House on Monday night, Biggie announced to the housemates that the new nomination process would be called Pardon Me Please, PMP.

In the new nomination process, each housemate has to name someone they feel should remain in Big Brother’s house. The most named housemate wins the PMP game and is safe for the week, along with the HOH and black envelope holder.

If there is no winner in the PMP game, Big Brother will declare it inconclusive. Biggie will also not recognise a tie between two housemates.

Kiddwaya and his BBFS Tolanibaj, Neo, Uriel, and Pere, along with Angel, who is the Black Envelope holder, are safe from eviction nomination this week.

Big Brother Naija organisers also announced a new twist during Sunday’s fake eviction show.

In the current season of the show, a judge or jury would be introduced into this All Stars edition, and the jury would determine who to evict.