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Adesanya’s confession after Du Plessis loss

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In a twist of fate, Nigerian-born UFC star Israel Adesanya succumbed to a fourth-round submission loss to South Africa’s Dricus Du Plessis in their middleweight title showdown at UFC 305 in Perth on Saturday night.

Despite leading on the scorecards heading into the championship rounds, Adesanya’s dream of reclaiming the belt got shattered by what he described as “a dumb mistake” on the ground that allowed Du Plessis to secure a rear-naked choke.

Reflecting on the fight, Adesanya admitted, “I felt strong; I resisted his takedowns well. I just made a stupid, dumb mistake on the ground, and he adjusted well to the Gable grip and caught me.”

The fight, which had been fuelled by intense pre-fight tension centred on African heritage, saw both fighters engage in a gruelling back-and-forth battle.

 

 

Despite the loss, Adesanya remained composed, acknowledging the South African’s victory while expressing pride in his own performance.

“I’m disappointed in myself, but at the same time I’m proud. He was just the better man on the night, and I give him respect for that,” he said.

The defeat leaves Adesanya, 35, contemplating his next move in a division he once dominated.

When asked about what’s next, he said, “I didn’t think this far; I didn’t manifest this! I’m 35.”

For Du Plessis, the victory marks a successful first defence of his title and solidifies his claim as the undisputed middleweight champion.

He, too, addressed the pre-fight tension and admits he respects ‘The Last Stylebender, saying, “Africa would have won either way tonight. I have the utmost respect for him, warrior to warrior. I’m really sorry that it came across that I disrespected the fact that he’s from Africa; that was never my intention.

“(He’s) one of the—if not the—greatest strikers ever in this division. The takedown was key. In this division, it’s hard to keep people down. This man is the king of getting back up.”

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FEDERAL ROAD SAFETY CORPS HONORS AND DECORATES JESAM MICHAEL AS SPECIAL MARSHAL

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*FEDERAL ROAD SAFETY CORPS HONORS AND DECORATES JESAM MICHAEL AS SPECIAL MARSHAL*

 

 

In a grand and prestigious ceremony, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has honored and decorated Chief Jesam Michael, the CEO of Afriq Group of Companies, as a Special Marshal. The event, held at the Nigeria University Commission (NUC), saw an array of dignitaries, including Senator Dr. Mohammed Abba Aji, who was also among the honorees. The occasion was graced by high-ranking officials of the FRSC, distinguished guests, and the staff of Afriq Group of Companies, all celebrating this remarkable achievement.

 

Jesam Michael’s induction as a Special Marshal is a testament to his unwavering commitment to public service, road safety, and community empowerment. His philanthropic contributions, particularly through his work with the Jesam Michael Afriq Foundation, have earned him widespread recognition. This latest honor as a Special Marshal further solidifies his legacy as a leader dedicated to making positive changes in society.

 

During the ceremony, Jesam Michael expressed his deep gratitude and reinforced his lifelong philosophy of giving back to society. Notably, he supported the FRSC’s efforts with a generous donation to ensure the success of the event and further promote road safety initiatives. In his speech, Jesam Michael highlighted the importance of selfless giving and community service, stating:

 

“Giving back to the community is part of my calling. I believe that every individual has a role to play in uplifting society. It’s not just about success in business, but about using what we have to help others. The society needs help, and it is our collective responsibility to provide it.”

His words resonated deeply with the audience, reflecting his passion for philanthropy and his vision for a safer, more united society. By serving as a Special Marshal, Jesam Michael is set to further contribute to the FRSC’s mission of reducing road accidents and ensuring safer roads for all Nigerians.

As CEO of Afriq Group of Companies and founder of the Jesam Michael Afriq Foundation, Jesam Michael has consistently demonstrated a deep commitment to humanitarian causes. His foundation has empowered thousands of individuals through educational scholarships, healthcare support, and economic initiatives for small-scale businesses. His passion for community development is now extending to road safety, as he steps into his new role as a Special Marshal.

In accepting the honor, Jesam Michael pledged to work diligently with the FRSC and use his influence to promote road safety measures. His dedication to giving back to society remains unwavering, and his role as a Special Marshal will further amplify his impact on national and local levels.

Jesam Michael’s decoration as a Special Marshal represents a milestone in his journey of service, demonstrating how leadership, philanthropy, and a heart for the community can come together to create lasting change. With his induction, Nigeria’s roads are bound to become safer, and more lives will be positively impacted by his dedication to public service.

 

FEDERAL ROAD SAFETY CORPS HONORS AND DECORATES JESAM MICHAEL AS SPECIAL MARSHAL

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Speaker Obasa Celebrates First Lady Oluremi Tinubu At 64

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Speaker Obasa Celebrates First Lady Oluremi Tinubu At 64

– calls her Nigeria’s shining light

The Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, has congratulated Senator Oluremi Tinubu on her 64th birthday describing her as a compassionate Nigerian dedicated to impacting the citizens of the country.

In a message by the Speaker’s media office, Dr. Obasa noted the First Lady’s courage, commitment to a better society, support for the President, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, and her belief in an egalitarian society.

The Speaker further described her as a shining example of a Nigerian woman who commits her life and service to lifting the downtrodden.

“The First Lady’s love for Nigeria and her roles in national unity and development are worthy of emulation by every well-meaning citizen. She has continued to touch lives across the country, particularly lifting women and children out of poverty.

“With her philanthropic activities, it is noteworthy that Senator Tinubu has continued to etch her name in the history of Nigeria as a politician of repute, a champion of the downtrodden and an advocate for the youth, the aged and good governance,” Dr. Obasa said in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Eromosele Ebhomele.

The Speaker added that right from the time she played roles as First Lady of Lagos, Senator Oluremi Tinubu has remained a crusader for a more vibrant democracy in the country.

According to Obasa, “our First Lady has been a great pillar of support for the President as she takes up roles that further unify the country.

“History will never forget how, with Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, she played her part in the fight that finally gave birth to the democracy currently practised in Nigeria.

“As a true mother, she ensured that those exiled during the fight against the annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election result won by Chief MKO Abiola were adequately cared for.

“It is also noted that as First Lady of Lagos State, she made sure that the children of the poor were lifted through educational programmes including The Spelling Bee Competition, which, delightedly, has produced great minds and future leaders.

“As a Senator, she stood for anything that would add to the growth and progress of Lagos in many capacities making the State proud of her. We can never forget the impact of her New Era Foundation through which many Nigerians were given fresh reasons to live.

“On this occasion of her 64th birthday, I pray, on behalf of my family and colleagues at the Lagos State House of Assembly, that God continue to fill her with His grace, good health and divine wisdom to carry on with the good work for which we remain proud, amen.”

Eromosele Ebhomele
Chief Press Secretary to the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly.

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X-raying Senator Nwoko, Okpai Power Plant and The Delta State Government By Victory Oghene

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X-raying Senator Nwoko, Okpai Power Plant and The Delta State Government By Victory Oghene

X-raying Senator Nwoko, Okpai Power Plant and The Delta State Government

By Victory Oghene

 

Few days ago, distinguished Senator, Prince Chinedu Munir Nwoko popularly known as Ned Nwoko representing Delta North at the Upper Chamber had strongly implored the Delta State Government to pay more attention to the local electricity sector, leveraging on Okpai Power Plant to improve power supply for the benefit of Deltans and attract both local and foreign direct investments.

X-raying Senator Nwoko, Okpai Power Plant and The Delta State Government

By Victory Oghene

He stressed the imperative of local access to power from the Okpai Power Plant, which, he noted, has not been of benefit to the host communities despite increased generation capacity.

 

The Senator who is the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Reparation and Repatriation, urged the Delta State Government to take charge of the state’s electricity sector to bolster power supply and improve local access to electricity. He believes state management will help fulfil the Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) signed with oil companies for Corporate Social Responsibility projects and attract more investors to local power initiatives.

Nwoko harped on the intractable issue faced by the Ndokwa people, who have long generated power for the nation while experiencing inadequate electricity in their communities. He appealed to Governor Sheriff Oborevwori to ensure that captured power is redirected to benefit residents.

Recall that the senator had earlier collaborated with two major investors interested in collaborating with the Delta Government through Public-Private Partnerships (PPP). He pointed out that states have successfully managed federal road projects to secure refunds and suggested that the electricity sector equally deserves such intervention.

Gloria Okolugbo, Nwoko’s Communication Team Leader, backed the senator’s admonition to the Delta State’s government . She noted that the state government intervention would transform Delta State’s economy, taking a swipe at recent online media reports that politicised discussions about the power plant, labelling them as speculative and uninformed.

Nwoko provided details about the Okpai Power Plant in Ndokwa East LGA, which has been operational since 2005 and has increased its capacity to 980 MW by March 2022. Despite this, host communities have not benefited from the generated power. He emphasised that the Electricity Power Sector Reform Act (EPSRA) 2005 entitles host communities to benefit from energy projects on their land.

The senator reiterated his call for the state government to facilitate access to power and implement the 132KVA Double Circuit transmission line intended for Ndokwa/Ukuani communities. He stressed that domesticating the Electricity Act 2023 would attract further investment, enable mini-grids, and support independent power projects for underserved areas in the state.

Nwoko concluded by urging cooperation and prioritisation of the issue, aiming for a significant improvement in local power supply without engaging in unnecessary controversy.
But in what appears to be aversion to Nwoko’s advice , the state government has criticized the senator’s admonitory call on Delta State governor to intervene , labeling it diversionary and off the cuff.

Reacting to Nwoko, the Delta State government through the Executive Assistant to the Governor on Public Enlightenment (Projects and Policies), Mr, Olisa Ifeajika, urged Senator Nwoko to pursue the federal government for the completion of the Independent Power Plant in Okpai, Ndokwa East council area of Delta state, rather than coercing the state government to do so.
“We expected Senator Nwoko to fight at the national level and make the Federal Government get the project done and not to come to the state to coerce Governor Oborevwori to use state funds to complete the project” said Ifeajika.
He stated this at a news conference on Thursday in Asaba, Ifeajika asked Senator Nwoko to rather champion the reconstruction of federal roads that are in terrible conditions in his constituency, including the Onicha-Ugbo-Idumuje-Ugboko-Ewohinmi-Abuja road, which passes through his community (Idumuje-Ugboko) directly.
The vituperative response of the governor’s aide was a reaction Senator Nwoko who had earlier carpeted Governor Oborevwori for allegedly refusing to help actualise the step-down of the Okpai Power Plant on the ground that the state is passing through financial doldrums.
According to him, the reasons allegedly given by the governor that the state has no money because he is servicing the debt inherited from the immediate past administration were untenable.
However, Ifeajika, who said that Nigeria operates a three-tier government system with defined roles and functions, further urged Senator Nwoko to focus on the job of bringing democratic dividends from the Federal Government to his constituency, the reason why he was elected by the people.
Nwoko’s attempt to demonise Governor Oborevwori over the IPP Step-Down, a federal government project, was an unfortunate and deliberate intention to create unnecessary tension in the state, he stated.
According to him, “Nigeria’s Constitution operates three tiers of government, and we all know how government functions. At all levels, there is the Executive, the Legislative, and the Judiciary, and they complement each other to function well.
“As constituents of members of the National Assembly from the state, we look up to them to attract development in different dimensions from the Federal Government to the Constituencies.
“Senator Nwoko’s job, like those in the House of Assembly here in Delta, is to work closely with President Bola Tinubu and the Federal Executive Council to attract development to Delta North, and by extension, to the state.
“Members of the House of Assembly here are also expected to work closely with Governor Oborevwori to attract projects and dividends of democracy to their people, just as councillors are expected to work closely with Local Government Council Chairmen to attract projects to their various wards.
“The first phase of the IPP project in Okpai in Ndokwa East, whose work started in 2002, was inaugurated by then President Olusegun Obasanjo in 2005, with the capacity to generate 480 megawatts of electricity.
“Senator Nwoko knows where the authority for power generation and distribution in the country lies. He knows that the national grid where generated electricity is warehoused and distributed is under federal control.
“He knew all these and found that there was a need to get the management of the IPP to meet an agreement that was reached before now so that the Okpai community and others around that area could have a step-down.”
The governor’s aide recalled that Senator Nwoko had on March 7, 2024, moved a motion on the floor of the Senate asking the IPP Joint Venture partners—the Federal Government, represented by NNPCL, Agip, and Conoco—to complete the step-down project.
He disclosed that the motion also urged the Federal Government to investigate the delay in distributing 100 megawatts of electricity to Okpai and adjoining communities through the proposed step-down.
“The motion didn’t say that Delta State Government should carry out or complete the step-down. This is because the state government was not involved in any way.
“It did not also ask that the Delta State Government should be investigated for the delay in distributing the 100 megawatts of electricity from the IPP.
“Senator Nwoko knew where to situate the motion, and it was properly situated. We, therefore, find his utterances a bit uncharitable for him to begin to arm-twist Governor Oborevwori to pick the bill for the Okpai project, which was not in any way within the purview of the state government.
“Senator Nwoko is in Abuja to bring whatever is available there to Deltans. We see a situation where he was trying to coerce and stampede the governor as something akin to blackmail.
“It became more uncharitable when he said that the governor must bring out the money to pay the contractors upfront. This is very irregular,” he said.
But reacting to the unnecessary controversy , professor Adeagbon Moritiwon, a retired political science don stated that ‘’ What Nwoko said was in order and the reaction of the governor through his aide amounted to an overkill. After all, the senator is noted for championing the Okpai power plant, and if the state government joins hands with him to put pressure on the federal government the project will come on stream sooner than later.’’
A Deltan lawyer Ovie Darah in a chat with newsmen said ‘’ when will our politicians learn to play by the rule of politics, there are certain things that should not be politicized such as issues of infrastructural development. What Nwoko said was an advice to the governor, the only thing is that he made it public, but I can say that the governor’s response smacked of politics and is diversionary. Political actors should join hands together for the development of the nation.’’
In his own reaction, Dr. Olufemi Omoyele, a public affairs analyst said he was appalled by the welter of hired hands vilifying Nwoko since he issued some statements in the residence of General Mike Ndubuisi( Rtd), concerning the Okpai IPP project, some mischievous persons have made it a duty to create Political capital out of it.

Omoyele noted that he believes the senator has strong attraction to his mandate , as Senator Nwoko himself noted in several fora that he takes his mandate very seriously. ‘’The Okpai IPP project which is being handled by Nigeria Agip oil ,NNPC, Conocophilips and EniPower has been a controversial project which has witnessed a lot of delays. The expansion plan for Okpai IPP was designed for an additional power generation provided by means of a combined cycle gas turbine plant with two gas turbine generators and one steam turbine generator located 60km south west from Onitsha in Delta State, close to the River Niger.That is why the senator is worried.’’

It must be noted that the approved expansion of the phase 2 of the Okpai IPP project to increase the plants existing power generating capacity of 480MV by a further 450 MV to provide a total 980 MV output into the National power supply grid has been concluded.

In view of the seriousness of the project in the eyes of Nwoko, the Senator had sometime this year paid a working visit to the Minister of Power of Power, Adebayo Adelabu and the Managing Director, Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), Sule Ahmed to find a quick way to fix this lingering Okpai IPP project. The Managing Director of TCN identified lack of funds as being the primary obstacle to the project completion for the benefit of Delta North people

For the past 19 years since the Okpai power plant was commissioned, Senator Nwoko appears to be the first Senator from the district to spearhead a pragmatic approach towards the speedy implementation of the project to serve the people from Delta North.

It should be noted that as far back as 2005 , the former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo had commissioned the Okpai IPP and directed that the plant provide 50 megawatts of electricity to benefit the host communities within a 50- Kilometer radius from the project. Even this has not been complied with let alone implements 100 megawatts which should serve a larger number of communities in Delta North

It is in realization that the Okpai IPP will serve more of the interest of Delta state that Senator Nwoko approached the Delta State government to fund and complete the project for use by Deltans.

There is nothing new in a state government funding a private or Federal Government project if it serves the interests of its citizens.

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