The exclusion of several well-known members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) from appointment has been criticized by an organization called the Progressive Young Leaders Assembly (PYLA). …

                                                                                                                 BELLO MASARI

The absence of several prominent members of the governing All Progressives Congress (APC) from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's appointments has drawn criticism from an organization called the Progressive Young Leaders Assembly (PYLA). It claimed that the fact that some important members—including former governors Kayode Fayemi, Umaru Tanko Almakura, Bello Masari, Ahmad Sani Yerima, and Abdusalam Abdulkarim Zaura, among others—had not yet been recognized for their contributions to the president's victory had demonstrated the need for a complete overhaul of the party's reward system.

                                                                                                    Abdusalam Abdulkarim Zaura

This was said Tuesday in Abuja by the chairman of the PYLA, Abubakar Kurawa. He expressed his displeasure with President Tinubu's appointments of ministers and other officials so far, saying that they failed to take into account those who had toilingly contributed their time, physical energy, and hard-earned resources to ensure the party's victory in the February 25 presidential elections.

The fact that individuals like Fayemi, Almakura, Masari, Dambazzau, Abdulkarim Zaura, Senators Aishatu Binani, Ovie Omo-Agege, Andy Uba, and others have yet to get even a letter of praise for their work, according to Kurawa, is concerning. According to him, the 'democratic injustice' might lead to the APC's demise in the campaign for office in 2027 and beyond if it is not properly handled.

Harry Kane departs for Bayeny for medical checks With 280 goals in 435 appearances, Harry Kane holds the record for most goals scored by a player for Tottenham. The Spurs academy product is about to leave his alma mater to join Bayern Munich.

Later today, Harry Kane will go to Germany to finalize his £100 million transfer to Bayern Munich. This morning, Kane was scheduled to go to Munich but was advised against it. After turning around, he proceeded to a family house close to the airport to wait for approval to finalize the transaction.

Tottenham denied that their agreement with Bayern Munich had altered despite rumors that they were seeking to make last-minute adjustments to the arrangement.

Nasir El-Rufai, a former governor of Kaduna State, has decided against joining President Bola Tinubu's government. According to sources in the presidency, Mr. El-Rufai informed President Tinubu during a meeting on Tuesday that he was no longer interested in becoming a minister but would still make his contribution as a private person to the development of Nigeria.

One of our sources stated, "He also told the president that he needed time to concentrate on his doctorate programme at a university in The Netherlands." Jafaru Ibrahim Sani, a new ministerial nominee for Kaduna State, was proposed by the former governor, who said the President would find him to be extremely valuable and resourceful, according to another insider who spoke to this medium. While Mr. El-Rufai was governor of Kaduna State, Mr. Sani served as commissioner in three ministries (Local Government, Education, and Environment).

                                                                                                     Jafaru Ibrahim Sani

A day after the Senate approved 45 ministerial nominations following a week-long review of 48 of them, Mr. El-Rufai paid a visit to the President at the White House. However, the higher parliamentary body refused to ratify him and the nominations of the other two, citing State Security Service security reports as justification. Sani Danladi, a former senator from Taraba, and Stella Okotete, a contender from Delta State, were the other two.

Senators from Oyo State are given oversight duties. The chairman and vice chairmen of the Senate's standing committees have been named by the selection committee, which is led by Senate President Chief Godswill Obot Akpabio CON. It is my pleasure to inform you that I have been chosen to lead the committee on the environment, according to a statement made by Hon. Senator Yunus Akintunde of Oyo Central.

The honor did not stop there; I was appointed the committee on police issues vice-chairman. The Federal Ministry of Environment and its parastatals/agencies are subject to scrutiny by the committee on the environment in the following areas:

1.       Environmental Health & Registration Council of Nigeria.

2.       Forest Research Institute of Nigeria which runs the Federal College of Forestry, a monotechnic based in Ibadan.

3.       National Environmental Standards Regulatory & Enforcement Agency (NESREA).

4.       National Agency for Great Green Wall (NAGGW) which was established chiefly to address land degradation and desertification, in Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Jigawa, Kano, Kastina, Kebbi, Sokoto, Yobe and Zamfara states.

5.       National Oil Spill Detection & Response Agency (NOSDRA).

6.       National Parks Service The committee on police affairs shall oversee the activities in the Ministry of Police Affairs and its parastatals namely the NPF, Police Service Commission, Nigeria Police Trust Fund, Police colleges and formations and the Police Academy, Wudil, Kano.

Senator Yunus Akintunde claims that he wants to utilize legislation as a vehicle for fostering economic growth and national development, carry out thorough and effective oversight activities using the senate's standing committees, and uphold the integrity of the rule of law.

In a related event, Yunus Akintunde used the chance to congratulate Sarafadeen Alli and Fatai Buhari, the other senators from Oyo state, on being chosen to lead committees. Distinguished Senator AbdulFatai Omotayo Buhari (Oyo North) has been selected to lead the committee on aviation. Senator Sharafadeen Abiodun All serves as vice-chairman of the committee on customs and chairman of the INEC committee.

General Abdourahmane Tiani, who was named the new head of state of Niger by the coup's leaders, arrives in Niamey, Niger, to meet with ministers. A new movement aspires to bring back President Bazoum, who was dismissed. Just before the regional meeting in Niger, there is a launch. Army leaders in Mali and Burkina Faso firmly support the regime, which has rejected diplomatic envoys. NIAMEY, A former rebel commander and politician in Niger has started a movement opposing the junta that seized control in a coup on July 26. This is the first indication of internal opposition to army rule in the strategically significant Sahel nation.

In a statement made public on Wednesday, Rhissa Ag Boula stated that the goal of his newly formed Council of Resistance for the Republic (CRR) was to restore former President Mohamed Bazoum, who has been held captive at his home since the coup. The statement claimed that those tasked with defending Niger were behind the disaster.

The launch comes as diplomatic attempts to overthrow the coup looked to be at a standstill after the junta rejected the most recent diplomatic mission and the army governments of Burkina Faso and Mali, two neighboring countries that support the armed takeover, appealed to the UN to forbid any military action. In response to demands to talk before a conference on Thursday where the leaders of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) would debate the use of force, the coup leaders in Niger on Tuesday refused access to African and U.N. envoys.

The CRR, according to Ag Boula's statement, supports ECOWAS and any other foreign players attempting to restore constitutional order in Niger, and it added that it will make itself accessible to the group for any helpful purposes.

Several Nigerien political personalities, according to a CRR member, have joined the organization but were unable to publicly declare their support due to safety concerns. In the 1990s and 2000s, Ag Boula was a key figure in Tuareg uprisings, a nomadic ethnic minority living in the desert north of Niger. He was absorbed into the administration under Bazoum and Mahamadou Issoufou, like many other ex-rebels. Ag Boula's comments may alarm the coup leaders given his popularity among Tuaregs, who dominate politics and trade in parts of the vast north, even though the level of support for the CRR is uncertain. In order to extend the junta's power outside of Niamey's municipal borders, Tuareg's support is essential.

The United Nations, Western countries, and democratic ECOWAS members like Nigeria call on the junta to restore the civilian administration that had been mostly effective in curbing a violent Islamist insurgency that was wreaking havoc in the Sahel area. The fact that Niger is the seventh-largest producer of uranium, the most popular nuclear energy fuel, increases the strategic significance of the country. ECOWAS members Mali and Burkina Faso, whose own juntas seized power in coups during the previous two years, have sworn to support Niger's new army rulers from any attempts to overthrow them violently.

They urged the Security Council to stop any military action against Niger in a letter to the UN, arguing that such an action would have unanticipated effects such as the dissolution of ECOWAS, a humanitarian catastrophe, and a deterioration of the security situation. They asserted that they were dedicated to resolving disputes via diplomacy and dialogue and accused Western powers of using ECOWAS as a front to hide a hostile agenda towards Niger. The Niger junta has repeatedly rejected attempts by African, American, and United Nations envoys to negotiate with it despite these pledges from its friends, and the ruling generals have shown no hint that they are willing to make any concessions.

In one of the poorest nations in the world, the coup has already resulted in border and airspace bans that have cut off the supply of food and medicine. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken reported speaking with Bazoum late on Tuesday to emphasize continuing attempts to settle the conflict peacefully. He sent a message on the social media website X, formerly known as Twitter, saying, "The United States reiterates our call for the immediate release of him and his family."

Bola Tinubu, the president of Nigeria and the head of ECOWAS, placed more sanctions on Niger on Tuesday in an effort to squeeze the takeover's participants and stated all alternatives remained on the table. According to ECOWAS, using force would only be a last choice. The heads of state will examine a potential military response plan that the bloc's defense chiefs have agreed upon during their summit on Thursday in Abuja, Nigeria.

The influence of Russia in the Sahel area, which Western nations worry might become stronger if the junta in Niger follows the pattern set by Mali by expelling Western soldiers and bringing in Wagner mercenaries, further complicates the political situation. Under agreements established with the now-removed government, Niger presently hosts soldiers from the United States, France, Germany, and Italy.

There is still work to be done on the specifics of Harry Maguire's departure, but West Ham are cautiously confident about completing the deal from Manchester United after having a £20 million bid for him rejected last month.

West Ham With Manchester United, a deal to recruit defender Harry Maguire is in principle agreed upon by West Ham and is expected to cost in the neighborhood of £30 million. Personal issues should not be an issue, but there is still work to be done on the specifics of his departure from United. Despite the fact that West Ham's £20 million offer for the England international was turned down last month, they remain cautiously hopeful about finalizing the acquisition.

Prior to Man Utd's opening Premier League match against Wolves on Monday Night Football, Maguire practiced with the team on Wednesday morning. Should United be able to acquire defenders to replace Maguire and Eric Bailly, whose agents have spoken with Al Nassr, they have done their homework on a number of defenders, notably Jean-Clair Todibo of Nice.

Todibo's representatives have been consulted in order to determine the specifics of a prospective contract. Erik ten Hag stated to Sky Sports News that he wants competition for positions and depth in the squad so they can compete on all fronts.

CBN GOES AFTER FIVE BANKS DIRECTOR

Don't Write-Off," the CBN warns, as four banks approve loans totaling over N112 billion. Financial institutions should follow the recommendations the Central Bank of Nigeria provided about their senior directors who have debts. This is because directors of the Union Bank of Nigeria, Stanbic IBTC Holdings, Sterling Bank, and Access Holdings have received loans totaling more than N122 billion. Executive directors and staff members frequently receive loans with interest rates below the market.

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has introduced strict fines aimed at directors of financial institutions that obtain loans from the banks they are linked with in an effort to combat possible conflicts of interest within the banking industry. This action comes after N122.7 billion in loans and advances from four commercial banks were given to companies in 2022 that were under the control of senior management executives and connected parties.

The financial institution's directors, associates, and staff members received insider-related loans.

These financial institutions include Access Holdings, Sterling Bank, Stanbic IBTC Holdings, and Union Bank of Nigeria.

CBN insider loan guidelines The Central Bank of Nigeria's Circular BSD/1/2004, published February 18, 2004, on "Disclosure of Insider Related Credits in the Financial Statements of Banks," sets forth requirements for insider-related loans and advances. A bank is prohibited under the BOFIA Act 2020 from lending any of its directors or important shareholders more than 5% of its paid-up share capital.

Breakdown of banks' director's/employees' loans.

Holdings of Stanbic IBTC: N56.5 billion 53.4 billion Naira at Union Bank of Nigeria N2.4 billion, Sterling Bank N469.01 million Access Holdings Directors are strongly cautioned by CBN over non-performing loans. In another circular, the CBN emphasized that it would do away with directors who had defaulted on loans from bank boards and place them on a blacklist for employment at all other financial institutions. The following is taken from the document: "Any director whose credit facility or that of his/her related interests remains non-performing in the banking subsidiary of an FHC, for more than one year, shall cease to be on the Board of the Financial Holding Company (FHC), shall be blacklisted from sitting on the Board of such banking subsidiary, or that of any other financial institution under the purview of the CBN."

The time frame set by a group of West African countries for Niger to revert to democracy; however, neighboring military-led Burkina Faso and Mali have rejected this demand and jointly warned that any involvement would equal a declaration of war. Although war is far from inevitable, the circumstances for a significant escalation are rapidly developing on a continent that has seen some of the worst conflicts of the previous century.

Such a conflict may potentially include major nations like the United States, France, and Russia in addition to having significant effects well beyond the peoples of the Sahel area. The possibility of conflict remains large on the horizon as Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, the chair of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), has pledged to reverse Nigerien General Abdourahamane "Omar" Tchiani's seizure of the neighboring country last week.

Ibrahim Maiga, the senior consultant for the Sahel Project of the International Crisis Group, told Newsweek that "I don't think we should underestimate ECOWAS' resolve to see this coup fail in Niger." "Tinubu has shown firmness in terms of seeing this not go through, and Tinubu is loyal for all the strong decisions that he took in his country," the speaker continued. Therefore, we shouldn't undervalue his willingness to take drastic measures, such as using military force.

The erratic Manchester City midfielder acknowledged that Arsenal made smart acquisitions this summer as Mikel Arteta's team looks to improve upon last year's title triumph. Declan Rice, Kai Havertz, and Jurrien Timber have been lauded by Kevin De Bruyne for their three new signings by Arsenal this summer.

On Sunday at Wembley in the Community Shield, the Manchester City superstar faced up against the three, and the Gunners won in an exciting penalty shootout. To many people's amazement, De Bruyne was one of City's spot-kick villains since his attempt hit the crossbar and rebounded back out. Before Fabio Vieira gave Arsenal the victory, Rodri had a penalty saved by Aaron Ramsdale.

De Bruyne discussed how the three Arsenal stars who moved to north London this summer are already demonstrating their value to the squad after the spectacular event. While Rice receives the most attention due to his eye-watering £105 million price tag, Havertz put on a standout performance as the team's forward leader, effectively connecting the midfield to the attack.

Even more amazing was the fact that Timber, who usually plays as either a central defender or a right-back, was employed as a left-back on the day. Timber was unquestionably the greatest player of the three. Regarding Rice, Havertz, and Timber's impact, De Bruyne said, "I think they are terrific players. "They consider what they require and purchase them.

President Tinubu's suit filed by Atiku was dismissed by a Chicago court.

A lawsuit requesting information about President Bola Tinubu's academic record at Chicago State University has been dropped.

Tinubu stated before the 2022 elections that he received a Bachelor of Business Administration with honors from Chicago State University (CSU). Tinubu's degree was confirmed by Beverly Poindexter from the CSU Office of the Registrar, but there were still some questions. Atiku, a contender for president, then started a court action to get these records.

 Atiku dropped the action before the hearing, which led Judge Patrick J. Heneghan to dismiss the matter. He said that "Petitioner's subpoena in this case is withdrawn," putting an end to CSU's involvement.

Tinubu was acknowledged as a prestigious CSU graduate and an important player in the US by Victor Henderson, a renowned commercial litigation attorney in Chicago. Henderson made the following statement in a press release dated August 2, 2023: "Despite Tinubu's prominence, Atiku Abubakar and a few of his supporters have attempted to unlawfully access the President's confidential educational records by filing an improper lawsuit without even the most basic of due processes, let alone the courtesy of asking the President to release his records.