Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has been reappointed as Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO) for a second term, News360 Nigeria reports.

The reappointment, confirmed on Friday, solidifies her position as the first woman and first African to lead the global trade body.

The decision, made by consensus among the WTO’s 166 members during a closed-door General Council meeting, was expedited to avoid potential political interference. Her current term is set to expire in August 2025, and the next term will lead up to the 2026 ministerial conference in Cameroon.

The push for a swift reappointment is seen as a precaution against possible challenges from a returning Donald Trump administration, which previously delayed her initial appointment in 2020.

– Fear of a void –

The overwhelming support for Okonjo-Iweala’s second term came “not so much (because) everyone loves Ngozi”, a source close to the discussions told AFP.

Rather, members were “worried that if she doesn’t get reinstated, then it’s possible that the administration in Washington would slow things (or) block other contenders”, leaving a void at the top, the source said.

“The alternative of no-one leading the organisation is unacceptable to them.”

Rockwell, a former WTO spokesman, told AFP that speeding up Okonjo-Iweala’s reappointment “creates tensions in the relationship with the United States, for sure — tensions which would probably have been there under any circumstances, but now this raises the stakes”.

During Trump’s first term, the WTO faced relentless attacks from his administration, which crippled the organisation’s dispute settlement appeal system, and also threatened to pull the United States out of the organisation altogether.

And Trump has already signalled he is preparing to launch all-out trade wars, threatening to unleash a flurry of tariffs on China, Canada and Mexico on his first day in office on January 20.

“The festival of tariffs announced to date shows that he has no intention of following any rules,” said Elvire Fabry, a researcher at the Institut Jacques Delors think-tank.

“The United States would not even need to withdraw from the WTO,” she told AFP. “They are freeing themselves from the WTO rules”.

In this context, the WTO chief will have “a firefighter role”, she said.

– ‘Very difficult’ –

It will be a question of “saving what can be saved, and making the case that there is no real alternative to the WTO rules”, said another source close to the discussions on speeding up Okonjo-Iweala’s reappointment.

“It will be a very difficult mandate, with little certainty about what will happen.”

Rockwell noted that the WTO’s problems were not solely linked to Washington.

“It is a time right now in which application of the WTO rules has deteriorated,” he said.

“You can’t blame all of this on the United States. That’s true of many other members as well.”

Dmitry Grozoubinski, author of the book “Why Politicians Lie about Trade”, agreed.

“Governments are increasingly turning to trade measures to address issues like national security, environmental competition, and re-industrialisation, and policymakers aren’t as moved as they once were by arguments that their ideas violate the letter or spirit of WTO commitments,” he told AFP.

“If president-elect Trump makes destroying the WTO a priority,” he said, the organisation’s “options will be limited as the institution is not built to withstand overt demolition from within its membership”.

Since taking the WTO reins, Okonjo-Iweala has tried to breathe new life into the fragile organisation, pushing for fresh focus on areas like climate change and health.

But pressure is growing for WTO reform, in particular of the moribund appeals portion of its dispute settlement system, which collapsed during the first Trump presidency as Washington blocked the appointment of judges.

We need to promote religious tolerance and unit in Nigeria. This was what Niger State Governor did.
Kudos.

The National Chairman of the Labour Party (LP), Julius Abure, has called on the party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, Abia State Governor Alex Otti, and other discontented stakeholders to reconcile and rejoin the party.

Abure appealed during an exclusive interview with Saturday PUNCH (not ABN TV), amidst ongoing efforts to resolve internal party disputes and foster unity within the LP.

The embattled chairman has faced criticism from party chieftains over his controversial reelection at the Nnewi convention, which some stakeholders argued lacked inclusivity. This discontent led Obi, Otti, and others to establish a 29-member caretaker committee in July, headed by former Finance Minister Nnenadi Usman, to oversee an expanded election of new executives across all levels.

However, a recent victory at the Federal High Court in Abuja reaffirmed Abure as the legitimate national chairman of the Labour Party. Since the ruling, Abure has intensified efforts to mend fences with aggrieved members and restore unity.

Speaking on the party’s current state, Abure denied allegations of a crisis, stating, “I want to say there is no more crisis in the party. The court has said there is only one leader in LP. And if there is a dispute in the country or anywhere, the only place you can go for reprieve is the court.

“It was said that our national convention didn’t follow due process. That was why people went to court. INEC said we didn’t follow due process and we went to court. The court said the convention was in line with the party constitution, electoral act, and the constitution of the land. INEC has since obeyed it, and we are working very closely with the commission.”

He further urged all disenchanted members to reconcile with the party, emphasizing forgiveness and unity. “All those who feel offended should come back to the party. We have forgiven all those who perceived they had done us one thing or the other. I am not angry. We have put it behind us and LP is one big family,” he added.

Abure also highlighted the economic challenges facing Nigerians, urging both leaders and citizens to reflect and contribute to national development. He emphasized the need for electoral reform to ensure the emergence of competent leaders with integrity.

“Our country today is at a crossroads. It is a time for all of us to do a sober reflection. The problem is not just down to leadership. It also involves the followership,” he noted.

Mrs Aramide Olupona, the mother of a 17-year-old girl (name withheld) whom an Assistant Superintendent of Police allegedly raped, has accused the police of deliberately stalling the case to enable the suspect to retire in December.

The incident reportedly occurred on June 29 at Ogudu Police Station, in Ojota, Lagos. An ASP, identified as Owolabi Akinlolu, allegedly summoned the 17-year-old secondary school student to the station, claiming they had apprehended the suspect who had stolen her phone two weeks prior.

But the teenager told City Round that when she showed up at the police station, the senior officer reportedly invited her into his office, locked the door, and raped her.

Mrs Olupona in July accused the police of trying to bury the case, adding that the suspect’s wife and the rest of his family had come to plead with her to drop the charges because Akinlolu would retire in December.

After the story was published by Saturday PUNCH, the suspect was arrested and queried by the Lagos State Police Command who later disclosed it had concluded its investigation into the claims against 56-year-old Akinlolu, and forwarded it to the headquarters in Abuja.

Meanwhile, Mrs Olupona, in a phone interview with City Round, accused the police of keeping mum on the case and planned to shield the suspect from a dismissal.

She said, “Since August when they said they completed their investigation, the case has not been referred to the court. Now, I got some information from a police source that they want Owolabi to retire in December rather than be dismissed from the police force.

“They plan to have him on trial next year after his retirement so he will still be taking his pension from the force. Is this not bad? That is why they have been silent about the case for the past three months. What message are they passing to my daughter who was defiled or even to other perpetrators out there? It’s unfair.”

Reacting to the incident, the president of Women Arise for Change Initiative, Dr Joe Odumakin, decried the sexual violence against women and girls around the world and urged Mrs Olupona and her daughter not to give up the fight for justice.

“The alleged police officer rapist is in prison, while prosecution is ongoing. Other complicit officers have been dealt with as well. One was sacked by the force, while the other was de-ranked from a sergeant to a corporal,” she added.

In his reaction, the Chief Executive Officer of Gnosis Help Initiative, Olumide Omosebi, advised that the focus of the case should shift to the Nigeria Police Force in Abuja to ensure that the suspect faces an “orderly room trial.”

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, did not take the call made to his phone and did not respond to the text message requesting his comment as of the time of filing this report.

The fallout from the September 21 Edo governorship election has taken a dramatic turn, with former Minister of Aviation, Osita Chidoka, accusing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of masterminding an elaborate scheme to rig the poll in favor of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Speaking on Politics Today on Channels Television, Chidoka labeled the election “a sham” and provided data he claims proves widespread manipulation orchestrated at INEC’s highest levels.

Chidoka revealed shocking discrepancies in the election results, alleging that INEC inflated the number of accredited voters by over 100,000 in 798 polling units. “Presiding officers recorded 580,000 accredited voters, yet INEC’s backend magically produced 687,000. This wasn’t an accident; it was deliberate tampering,” he said. According to him, PDP votes were slashed by 11,665 during collation, while 32,284 votes were illegally added to APC’s tally.

Even more damning, Chidoka said, were the inconsistencies between INEC’s certified results and the data uploaded to its Result Viewing Portal (IReV). “Someone at INEC printed fake result sheets and wrote the outcome they wanted. This isn’t just incompetence; it’s fraud on a massive scale,” he declared.

The former minister claimed that when invalid votes and manipulations were removed, PDP candidate Barr. Asue Ighodalo emerged as the rightful winner. However, he refused to officially recognize the result, citing the sheer scale of rigging. “What happened in Edo wasn’t an election—it was a travesty. If this stands, there’s no point in having elections in 2027.”

In a dramatic twist, Chidoka announced his resignation from the PDP, saying he wants to focus fully on fighting for electoral reform without being tied to partisan politics. “Nothing else is as important to me right now as the defense of our democracy,” he stated.

Chidoka’s revelations have sparked outrage and intensified calls for the judiciary to intervene. “The courts must act. INEC has betrayed public trust, and our democracy is on life support,” he warned. The question now is whether Nigeria’s judiciary will step in to salvage the integrity of the electoral process—or allow this “stolen election” to stand.

Award-winning Afrobeat star Ayodeji Balogun, better known as Wizkid, has caused a stir on social media with a series of tweets aimed at his rivals. Eyes Of Lagos reports,

In a now-deleted post on X (formerly Twitter), the singer said, “Otw in Lagos. I pray I run into my opps!” The tweet was removed after about an hour. This comes after several cryptic messages from Wizkid directed at his critics. Recently, he declared that 2024 would mark the “downfall of his opponents” and promised to surpass his critics with unmatched success.

The comments have sparked debates online, with fans and others speculating about who he might be referring to. While some applaud his confidence, others are urging him to focus on his music and promote peace in the industry.
Other deleted tweets from Wizkid

I am not for or against the Tax Reform Bill, for i have not had the chance to read the almost 400-page document. But what I am against completely is the speed with which this bill is being passed at NASS. Why the rush on something so sensitive that can have far-reaching consequences to the majority of the people in the country?

Have we not learned our lessons by the hastily removal of fuel subsidy and unification of FX without defining clearly the implementation strategy, which plunged us into the worst economic crises in the entire history of this country?

I believe there's need for NASS to slow down and allow robust discussions by tax experts from across the country to carefully scrutinize this tax bill, and address any grey area that has the potential to further exacerbate our situation.

A herbalist, Ismail Usman, accidentally shot himself while testing a bulletproof charm he had prepared, according to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) police command.

The command’s spokesperson, Josephine Adeh, confirmed the incident, stating that a distress call had been received from a resident about the event, which occurred in Kuchibuyi village, Abuja. Eyes Of Lagos reports,

Usman sustained life-threatening injuries after using a locally made gun to shoot himself in the stomach, believing the charm would protect him. Police officers from the Byazhin Division responded promptly, finding him in critical condition. He was rushed to Kubwa General Hospital for emergency treatment before being transferred to Gwagwalada Specialist Hospital for further care.

Following the incident, police searched Usman’s residence and recovered the homemade gun along with various charms used in the experiment.

Adeh stated that Usman will face charges for unlawful possession of firearms and attempted suicide, which violates Section 231 of the Penal Code Law of Northern Nigeria.

Ekiti State Governor, Mr Biodun Oyebanji has reiterated the commitment of his administration to regular upgrade of infrastructure in the education sector to meet global standards.

Governor Oyebanji stated this in Ikere Ekiti on Thursday while commissioning an ultra Modern Senate Building, built and donated to the Bamidele Olumilua University of Education, Science and Technology, Ikere Ekiti (BOUESTI ) by the Chancellor of the University, Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN).

The event was attended by the Minister of Education, Dr Olatunji Alausa; former Governor of Ondo State, Dr Olusegun Mimiko; Secretary to the State Government, Dr (Mrs) Habibat Adubiaro; Senator Olarenwaju Tejuoso; and Chairman, Governing Council of BoUESTI, Prof Patrick Aina, and Vice Chancellor of sister universities, among others.

Governor Oyebanji emphasized the importance of modernizing educational facilities to create an environment conducive for learning and teaching, stressing that a well-structured education system is key to the development of any society.

He added that his government remained focused on ensuring that Ekiti students have access to world-class education and facilities.

Speaking further, the Governor explained that his effort in the education sector in the state could be seen in the tremendous improvement in the infrastructure of primary and secondary schools across the state.

While commending Chief Olanipekun for his generosity as well as his remarkable contribution to the improvement of education infrastructure in the state, the Governor expressed his profound appreciation to the former NBA President for remaining strongly committed to the development and progress of the state.

Describing Chief Olanipekun as a pillar of development in the state, Governor Oyebanji said his contribution has significantly impacted various sectors, adding that his dedication to community service have set a benchmark for others to follow.

While calling on other prominent Ekiti indigenes to join hands in building a brighter future for the state, the Governor noted that collective efforts are essential for meaningful development of the state.

“Today's event is very significant in the development of this university and the overall development of education in our state, I therefore congratulate Chief Olanipekun and his wife and the entire university community on the completion of this magnificent edifice.

“As a government, we understand the importance of education to the overall development plan of Ekiti State. Indeed human capital development is one critical item in our shared prosperity agenda as encapsulated in our six-pillars. Our government remains committed to continuous improvement of our education infrastructure to facilitate a conducive learning environment at all levels of education”, the Governor added.

In his own remarks, the Minister of Education, Dr Olatunji Alausa, who commended the donor for his selfless contribution to the education sector, described the gesture as a demonstration of his commitment to national growth and development..

While reiterating President Tinubu led-federal government decision to prioritize science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and medical sciences (STEM) as a key driver of the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda for the education sector, the Minister noted that Nigeria’s future growth and competitiveness on the global stage are tied to how well the nation prepares its youth to meet challenges of the 21st century.

Stressing the importance of equipping young Nigerians with the critical skills and innovative capabilities needed to succeed in the global economy, Dr Alausa maintained that the federal government remains committed to transforming the education system of the country.

In his address, the donor of the building and Chancellor of the University, Chief Wole Olanipekun( SAN), expressed satisfaction in contributing to the advancement of the education sector and the progress of the state.

He explained that the gesture was a way of giving back to his community and supporting the vision of the University of becoming a beacon of academic excellence.

He said he had to double up on the construction of the senate building in order to fulfill his earlier promise to Governor Oyebanji and demonstrate his support for his government’s efforts in the areas of education , human capital and infrastructure development.

It is breakfast time with my friend, @PeterObi, in the "land of beauty." -AA

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“Nigerians are not worth fighting for.” I hear that every now and then, and I’ve always disbelieved it.

Yesterday, you proved me right. You all are the reason my detention by @HQNigerianArmy lasted ‘only’ three days. I’m a free man today because of your social media engagements with #FreeFisayoNow and the publications/broadcasts by the traditional media. And I can prove it.

After my arrest at about 2am on Wednesday, I was grilled by different levels of the Army until deep into the night. I didn’t return to my cell until at least 11pm on Wednesday. My case was then forwarded to a superior office that was to interrogate me on Thursday.

Surprisingly, Thursday was uneventful; from morning until night, this office never sent for me. I soon learnt the Army would take “as long as it wanted” to conduct their “investigation” just to establish that I was indeed an investigative journalist.

To my utmost surprise, on Friday morning, at about 11am or thereabouts, I was retrieved from my cell for transfer to the Military Intelligence Brigade (MIB). It was during the transfer that someone who ran into me asked to know my name, after which they said: “You’re the one; you’re in the news.”

Without your pressure, I’d still be in that cell by now, away from civilisation and held incommunicado. So, yes, my freedom is your freedom. This victory exists because of you, you and you. Thank you!

EVIDENCE OF SYSTEMIC RIGGING IN EDO ELECTION SO SUBSTANTIAL – ATHENA CENTRE

A non-partisan research institute, Athena Centre for Policy and Leadership, has indicted the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on the conduct of the September 21 Edo State governorship election.

The organisation which conducted a review on the election which produced the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Monday Okpebholo, as governor of the South-South state, claimed that it was compromised.

Okpebholo polled 291,667 votes to beat his closest contender, Asue Ighodalo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who polled 247,274 votes.

Founder of Athena Centre and ex-Aviation Minister, Osita Chidoka, who presented the Centre’s findings on the Edo State election on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Friday, stated that there was substantial evidence of systemic rigging.

“The evidence of systemic rigging observed in this election is so substantial that we cannot call the results,” Chidoka said on the programme.

“The evidence of systemic rigging is so substantial that we think that this election should not be allowed to stand. If this stands, then there is no election in 2027.”

He said he is shocked that an institution like INEC would put its reputation at stake for the purpose of an election.

The former minister alleged that there was a lack of transparency in the election and discrepancies in voter accreditation.

He also alleged incidences of over-voting, and manipulation at ward collation centres and that the BVAS accreditation record was not transmitted to INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV).

He stated that 153 polling units were not accounted for which means there were no results from those polling units.

He concluded that the Edo State election cannot be deemed credible because it failed to meet basic integrity standards due to substantial interference in the electoral process by the umpire.