Author: TheLagosianMagazine

By Sola Ojewusi When the story of modern Yoruba royalty is told, one name shall tower like the Obanta hills of Ijebu — Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona, the Awujale of Ijebuland, who reigned for an extraordinary sixty-four years, defying the erosion of time, resisting the shadows of irrelevance, and embracing the fire of Renaissance. His passing marks not just the end of a reign, but the closing of a chapter in Nigerian royalty that was as rich in wisdom as it was in cultural grandeur. He ascended the throne in 1960, the year Nigeria claimed her independence — an omen,…

Auchi, Edo State – July 14, 2025 By Sola Ojewusi A dark cloud once again hovers over Nigerian sports as one of the nation’s most revered football legends, Kadiri Ikhana (MON), lies critically ill in Auchi, Edo State. His deteriorating health condition has sparked urgent appeals for intervention from the Nigerian public, governments at all levels, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), and philanthropic individuals. In a heartfelt plea made public by Dr. Olusegun Odegbami (MON, OLY)—himself a legend of Nigerian football—the grim reality of life after sports for retired athletes has been laid bare once again. “We are suffering, living…

By Peter Omopo | July 13, 2025 Nigeria has lost one of its most revered and longest-reigning traditional monarchs, Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona, the Awujale and Paramount Ruler of Ijebuland, who passed away on Sunday, July 13, 2025, at the age of 91. The monarch’s death was confirmed by Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun, who expressed deep sorrow over the passing of the iconic traditional ruler. Oba Adetona’s demise came just hours after the announcement of the death of former President Muhammadu Buhari, a close friend and contemporary of the Awujale, adding a layer of national grief to an already…

By Peter Omopo | July 13, 2025 President Bola Tinubu has ordered a seven-day period of national mourning and summoned an emergency session of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) in honour of Nigeria’s former President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), who died on Sunday in a hospital in the United Kingdom at the age of 82. In a statement personally signed by Tinubu on Sunday evening, the President described Buhari’s passing as a “monumental loss” to Nigeria and announced that all national flags will fly at half-mast across the country from Sunday, July 13, until Saturday, July 19. “As a…

By Peter Omopo | July 13, 2025 Nigeria today mourns the passing of one of its most consequential and enigmatic leaders—Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.)—a man whose career spanned over four decades of the nation’s post-independence history, straddling both military and democratic governance. The former Head of State and two-term civilian President died in a hospital in London on Sunday, July 13, 2025, at the age of 82. His death brings the curtain down on a storied life marked by a complex blend of authoritarianism, democratic resilience, and unwavering political ambition. From Daura to National Duty Born on December 17,…

By Peter Omopo | July 13, 2025 The passing of Nigeria’s former President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), at the age of 82 in a London hospital on Sunday, July 13, 2025, has drawn fresh attention to his remarkable political journey—one defined by resilience, reinvention, and an unyielding quest for leadership. Before his eventual election as president in 2015, Buhari endured three successive defeats in the presidential polls—making him one of the most persistent political figures in Nigeria’s democratic history. The First Attempt – 2003 (ANPP vs Obasanjo) Buhari first entered the presidential race in 2003 under the banner of…

By Peter Omopo | July 13, 2025 The All Progressives Congress (APC) has recorded a sweeping victory in the Lagos State local government elections, clinching all 57 chairmanship seats and 375 out of 376 councillorship positions, according to official results released by the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) on Sunday. The elections, held on Saturday, July 12, covered all 20 Local Government Areas (LGAs) and 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) in the state. LASIEC Chairperson Justice Ayotunde Phillips (retd.) described the poll as “largely peaceful”, despite reports of low voter turnout and isolated concerns of irregularities in some…

By Peter Omopo | July 13, 2025 Former President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), has died at the age of 82. The news of his passing was confirmed on Sunday afternoon by his longtime spokesperson, Mallam Garba Shehu, who disclosed that the former president died in a hospital in the United Kingdom, where he had been receiving medical care in recent weeks. “It is with deep sorrow that we confirm the passing of our former leader and statesman, Muhammadu Buhari. He died peacefully in the early hours of Sunday in London, surrounded by close…

By  Peter Omopo | Yenagoa | June 28, 2025 Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to fostering unity, youth empowerment, and community development through sports, as the state joined the global celebration of the Olympic Day Run 2025 on Saturday. The event, held at the Sampson Siasia Stadium in Yenagoa, drew hundreds of participants and sports enthusiasts who engaged in a vibrant display of physical activity, culture, and communal spirit. Governor Diri, represented by his Technical Advisor on Sports, Mr. Alaowei Opukeme, described the celebration as a powerful reminder of the deeper values behind the…

By Peter Omopo | July 13, 2025 Lagos, Nigeria – President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has formally endorsed the 2025 edition of the All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA), scheduled to take place in Lagos from November 25 to 30, under the unifying theme, #UnstoppableAfrica. The endorsement cements Nigeria’s role as the continental hub of creative excellence and reaffirms the Federal Government’s commitment to promoting Africa’s vibrant music, arts, and culture on the global stage. To ensure seamless coordination, the Federal Government has inaugurated a high-level Local Organizing Committee (LOC), spearheaded by the Federal Ministry of Arts, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy,…