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Omokri Hits Back at Peter Obi Over First Lady’s Library Appeal
ABUJA — Reno Omokri, a former presidential aide and vocal supporter of President Bola Tinubu, on Monday accused Peter Obi of hypocrisy and poor leadership after the former Labour Party presidential candidate criticized First Lady Oluremi Tinubu’s appeal for donations to complete the National Library in Abuja.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Omokri posted his long criticism on X, saying Obi “should be ashamed” and calling him “a man who has no shame.” He argued that private donations for public institutions are common worldwide and said Obi’s reaction showed ignorance and desperation.
Obi’s original post, shared on his social media accounts, had congratulated the First Lady on her birthday but expressed shock that the National Library would need private donations to be completed. He wrote that the plea was an indictment of national priorities and warned that treating libraries as “afterthoughts” shows a worrying lack of commitment to education.
Vanguard News
Omokri rejected that view. In his post, he defended the First Lady’s appeal as patriotic and framed private giving as a way to protect public projects from political control. He cited the example of philanthropist Andrew Carnegie — who funded thousands of libraries worldwide — to say that private support of libraries is a long-standing global practice.
Omokri also attacked Obi’s record as governor of Anambra State, alleging the poverty rate rose during Obi’s tenure and accusing him of prioritizing trade over leadership. Those claims were presented by Omokri as part of his criticism and were not independently verified in Omokri’s post.
The exchange highlights growing tensions between prominent political voices in Nigeria ahead of the 2027 election cycle. Obi’s comment tapped into broader public frustration over unfinished public projects and government spending. Omokri’s response, in turn, sought to rally supporters by portraying Obi as out of touch and politically motivated.
Observers said the spat is likely to fuel a wider public debate about how large public projects should be funded. Some experts argue that government budgets must carry the primary responsibility for national infrastructure, including libraries. Others note that public-private partnerships and philanthropy can play a useful role when state resources are limited. Neither side offered new policy proposals in their posts.
Reaction on social media was mixed. Supporters of Obi praised his call for government accountability, while others sided with Omokri and the First Lady, saying private donations can speed up the completion of stalled projects. Commenters also used the dispute to raise separate grievances about government spending and public services.
The National Library in Abuja has been a long-standing project that many Nigerians say has suffered from years of neglect and slow progress. The First Lady’s recent request asked well-wishers and friends to donate toward completing the building rather than sending birthday gifts or newspaper adverts. Her office framed the appeal as a patriotic way to support education and national heritage.
What happens next is unclear. The First Lady’s appeal may attract private funds and attention to the library project. At the same time, the row between high-profile figures could push lawmakers and the government to clarify who should fund major cultural and educational projects in Nigeria. Analysts say the debate could also shape voter views as parties and personalities position themselves for the next elections.
For now, the dispute remains a public back-and-forth on social media, with both sides using strong language and historical examples to make their case. Whether it leads to more funding for the National Library or changes in government policy on public projects will depend on follow-up actions by political leaders, donors and the federal government.
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Lyon Win Five-Goal Thriller Against Crystal Palace As Sunderland Strike Late [Europa League Full Results].
Lyon took the lead in the 10th minute when Corentin Tolisso reacted quickly to a loose ball following a corner kick.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
The French side extended their advantage in first-half stoppage time, with Ernest Nuamah finishing off Keito Nakamura’s cross after an impressive attacking move.
Crystal Palace reduced the deficit shortly after the restart through Yeremy Pino, who converted a well-executed set-piece routine.
However, Lyon restored their two-goal advantage when Pavel Sulc scored with a close-range flick.
Daichi Kamada brought Palace back into contention with nine minutes remaining, but Lyon defended their lead to secure their second consecutive victory in the league phase.
Sunderland Snatch Dramatic Late Victory
Sunderland produced a late comeback to defeat Torreense 2-1 in Portugal, with Noah Sadiki scoring the decisive goal in the 93rd minute.
The hosts took the lead in the 37th minute after Volnei Feltes beat his marker before unleashing a long-range effort beyond Sunderland goalkeeper Robin Roefs.
Sunderland manager Regis Le Bris responded by introducing Granit Xhaka and Enzo Le Fee shortly before the hour mark, helping his side regain control of the contest.
Jules Ahoka subsequently equalised for the visitors before Sadiki struck deep into stoppage time to complete the comeback.
The closing stages were marked by a lengthy VAR review that ultimately denied Sunderland a late penalty, but the visitors still left Portugal with all three points.
Leverkusen, AC Milan Record Convincing Wins
Bayer Leverkusen moved to the top of the standings after defeating Lech Poznan 4-0.
Patrik Schick scored twice from the penalty spot in the first half, while Malik Tillman also found the net before the interval. Ibrahim Maza completed the scoring late in the game.
AC Milan recorded an identical scoreline away against Salzburg, with teenage forward Alphadjo Cisse netting a hat-trick. Goncalo Ramos added the fourth goal in the 72nd minute.
However, Filippo Terracciano’s red card took some shine off Milan’s emphatic victory.
Other Europa League Results
Elsewhere, Bournemouth defeated Sturm Graz 3-0, while Juventus claimed a 2-1 away victory over Celta Vigo. Olympiacos also secured a narrow 1-0 win against Marseille.
Real Sociedad were held to a 1-1 draw by Union Saint-Gilloise, while Dinamo Zagreb defeated Anderlecht 1-0.
Benfica cruised to a 4-1 victory over Celtic, AZ Alkmaar beat Hapoel Be’er Sheva 2-1, and Besiktas edged Hoffenheim 3-2 away from home.
Other results saw Celje lose 0-3 to Omonia, Ferencvaros defeat Plzen 2-1, Jagiellonia beat Ararat-Armenia 3-1, and Nijmegen draw 1-1 with Levski Sofia.
2026/2027 Europa League Matchday 2 Results
- AZ Alkmaar 2-1 Hapoel Be’er Sheva
- Celje 0-3 Omonia
- Lech Poznan 0-4 Bayer Leverkusen
- Lyon 3-2 Crystal Palace
- Union Saint-Gilloise 1-1 Real Sociedad
- Salzburg 0-4 AC Milan
- Sparta Prague 1-1 Lillestrom
- Torreense 1-2 Sunderland
- Benfica 4-1 Celtic
- Bournemouth 3-0 Sturm Graz
- Celta Vigo 1-2 Juventus
- Dinamo Zagreb 1-0 Anderlecht
- Ferencvaros 2-1 Plzen
- Hoffenheim 2-3 Besiktas
- Jagiellonia 3-1 Ararat-Armenia
- Marseille 0-1 Olympiacos
- Nijmegen 1-1 Levski Sofia
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has proposed a schedule for President Bola Tinubu’s campaign rallies across 12 states ahead of the 2027 general elections.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
According to the proposed timetable, the campaign is expected to commence in Kaduna State on October 24, 2026, and conclude with a grand rally in Lagos State on January 9, 2027.
reports that the planned rallies will cover Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones, with Tinubu scheduled to attend campaign events in 12 locations across the country.
Other proposed destinations include Port Harcourt, Jos, Ibadan, Maiduguri, Enugu, Bauchi, Sokoto, Asaba, Kano and Yola.
Full List of Proposed Campaign Dates and Locations
The proposed timetable outlines the following dates and venues for Tinubu’s campaign appearances:
- Kaduna, Kaduna State – Saturday, October 24, 2026
- Port Harcourt, Rivers State – Saturday, November 7, 2026
- Jos, Plateau State – Saturday, November 14, 2026
- Ibadan, Oyo State – Saturday, November 21, 2026
- Maiduguri, Borno State – Wednesday, November 25, 2026
- Enugu, Enugu State – Saturday, November 28, 2026
- Bauchi, Bauchi State – Sunday, November 29, 2026
- Sokoto, Sokoto State – Friday, December 4, 2026
- Asaba, Delta State – Saturday, December 12, 2026
- Kano, Kano State – Thursday, December 17, 2026
- Yola, Adamawa State – Monday, January 4, 2027
- Lagos, Lagos State – Saturday, January 9, 2027
Momodu Questions Tinubu’s Commitment to Free and Fair Elections
Meanwhile, a chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Dele Momodu, has expressed doubts about President Tinubu’s commitment to conducting free and fair elections in 2027, claiming that even some of the President’s supporters harbour similar concerns.
reports that the veteran journalist made the remarks during an interview on Arise News’ Prime Time programme.
Momodu alleged that some Nigerians fear Tinubu might be unwilling to relinquish power if he loses the next presidential election.
He, however, insisted that Nigerians would resist any attempt by the President to remain in office after an electoral defeat.
The ADC chieftain further claimed that some governors elected on the APC platform, alongside judges and legislators, were apprehensive about the possible outcome of the 2027 elections.
Speaking during the interview, Momodu said many Nigerians would question whether Tinubu could be trusted to oversee a credible and transparent electoral process.
He argued that some supporters of the President were confident of victory but, according to him, struggled to explain the basis for their optimism beyond their belief in Tinubu’s political influence.
Momodu also maintained that his confidence in the opposition’s efforts was not based solely on his party, but on what he described as the growing determination of ordinary Nigerians who do not want Tinubu to secure another term.
He recalled Tinubu’s political struggle to win a second term as governor of Lagos State, suggesting that opposition figures were also working behind the scenes to challenge his bid for re-election as President.
The ADC chieftain added that some political figures who publicly support Tinubu were allegedly concerned about the current political climate but were reluctant to express their reservations openly.
He concluded by describing the President’s position within the political establishment as one that many were unwilling to challenge directly.
Momodu’s remarks reflect his personal assessment of the political atmosphere ahead of the 2027 elections and his criticism of the Tinubu administration.
A 15-member delegation from the Confederation of African Football (CAF) is expected to arrive in Nigeria on Friday, October 16, to conduct a final inspection of facilities ahead of the 48th CAF Ordinary General Assembly and the 2026 CAF Awards.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
The delegation, led by CAF Head of Safety and Security, Dr Christian Emeruwa, will assess venues and related arrangements in Lagos and Abuja to ensure they meet the standards required for hosting the two major continental events.
During their visit to Lagos, the CAF officials will inspect the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and Creative Arts, Eko Hotel and Suites, and Murtala Muhammed International Airport. They are also scheduled to meet with representatives of the Lagos State Government.
The team will then proceed to Abuja, where it will assess the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre, Transcorp Hilton Hotel, and Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport.
The delegation is also expected to pay courtesy visits to the Chairman and Director-General of the National Sports Commission.
A six-member delegation from the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), led by Dr Ademola Olajire, will accompany the CAF officials throughout the inspection exercise.
The visit follows an earlier assessment conducted between July 31 and August 4, during which initial operational agreements were established.
The final inspection will focus on verifying the readiness of the venues, security provisions and logistical arrangements to ensure the successful hosting of both events.
The 48th CAF Ordinary General Assembly is scheduled to hold on Saturday, November 21, at the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre in Abuja.
Meanwhile, the 2026 CAF Awards ceremony is slated for Monday, December 7, at the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and Creative Arts in Lagos.
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