Ridoola's blog

As US citizens head to the polls to elect their next president, the world watches closely, aware that the outcome carries far-reaching implications across the globe, including Africa. Many Americans have already cast their votes, with others doing so today, choosing between former Republican President Donald Trump and Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris—candidates with starkly different approaches to both national and global issues. Trump and Harris Have Already Set the Tone Although neither candidate has focused heavily on US-Africa relations, their positions are clear. During his presidency, Trump sparked controversy by referring to some African nations as “shithole countries” . Notably, he never visited any African country while in office. U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris and U.S. Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff meet with the Oguaa chief Osabarimba Kwesi Atta II and community leaders in Cape Coast. REUTERS/Francis Kokoroko In contrast, Harris has visited Ghana, Zambia, and

Sources within the EFCC highlighted the seriousness of the allegations, noting that the former governor remains in detention due to the weight of evidence under review. Former Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa spent his second night in custody as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) intensifies its investigation into allegations of financial misappropriations. Okowa, who was the running mate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar in the 2023 elections, reportedly presented himself to the EFCC’s Port Harcourt office on Monday, November 4, following a summons from the anti-graft agency. Investigators allege that during his time in office, Okowa was involved in the diversion of approximately ₦1.3 trillion in public funds. One investigator stated, “He was also accused of failing to render accounts of the funds as well as another ₦40 billion he allegedly claimed he used to acquire shares in UTM Floating Liquefied Natural Gas.” Furthermo

As U.S citizens head to the poll tomorrow, November 5, to elect their next president, it could mark a historic day. The democratic nominee, Kamala Harris , who entered the race late, has the chance to become the first female president if she wins against former president Donald Trump. Harris is no stranger to being the first in many rooms, having broken barriers throughout her career. Here is a look at some firsts of Harris’s career and some that might await her if she’s being elected as president. If Harris is elected as president 1 First female president To date, the United States has never elected a woman to the White House. Since the first presidential election in 1789, all 46 presidents have been men. Throughout Harris’s campaign, gender has not been a major talking point, focusing rather on policy than identity - unlike in 2016, when Hillary Clinton was the Democratic nominee. 2 First Black female president In the 2008 election, Barack Obama made history as the first Blac

President Tinubu and his team continue to advocate for the bill, seeing it as a foundation for national development and economic growth for all Nigerians. President Bola Tinubu's Tax Reform Bill has emerged as a cornerstone of his administration's economic vision, focusing on creating a unified and efficient tax system that promises to drive national growth. The bill, comprising four legislative components, targets multiple taxation, enhances tax processes, and aims to align Nigeria's tax system with global standards. Key components of the reform include the Nigeria Tax Bill, intended to reduce overlapping taxes; the Nigeria Tax Administration Bill, which seeks to harmonise tax processes nationwide; the Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Bill, which proposes renaming the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS); and the Joint Revenue Board Establishment Bill, aimed at creating a Joint Revenue Board to streamline tax administration across the country. Amidst all these

Baltasar Ebang Engonga, a top government official in Equatorial Guinea, is at the center of a scandal that’s causing shockwaves across the country and beyond. Engonga, who leads the National Agency for Financial Investigation (ANIF), is responsible for tackling financial crimes and corruption. But in a surprising twist, he’s now under fire for his involvement in an alleged sex tape scandal involving hundreds of private recordings. According to reports, Engonga secretly recorded over 400 explicit videos that allegedly feature high-profile individuals and their family members, including some very close to Equatorial Guinea’s political elite. It’s said that these videos include VIPs’ wives, sisters, and cousins, making this one of the biggest scandals to hit the country in recent memory. What Happened? Here’s What We Know Engonga’s job is to lead investigations into financial misconduct (just like the EFCC boss does in Nigeria) , but this scandal has nothing to do with his profession

Frank accused the judiciary of contributing to the children’s ordeal, claiming they have been heavily compromised to reward corruption within the system. Former APC Deputy National Publicity Secretary Timi Frank has demanded that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu order the immediate release of detained minors allegedly involved in #EndBadGovernance protests. Frank urged the President to send these children to school rather than subjecting them to incarceration alongside adult criminals. “The President must ditch bureaucracy at this time and immediately order the release of these children with a directive that they be enrolled in school,” Frank asserted in a statement from Abuja. READ ALSO: IGP labels minors’ collapse in Court as scripted drama to tarnish Police image He described the detention of minors among hardened criminals as “judicial tyranny” and condemned the imposed N10 million bail as “cruelty to children.” Frank emphasised that the children have already endured over 90 d

More than 75 million Americans have already cast ballots, according to the Election Lab at the University of Florida, in a sign of voter enthusiasm. Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris appeared on the “Saturday Night Live” TV comedy show on Saturday, adding a surprise jolt to the U.S. presidential election just three days before her showdown with Republican Donald Trump. “Keep Calm-ala and carry on-ala,” Harris said in unison with the actor who plays her on the show, Maya Rudolph. It was Harris’ first time on the show, which has had other presidential candidates over its decades-long run. Trump appeared during his first presidential bid in 2015, where he poked fun at his tendency to exaggerate and steer clear of policy specifics. He also appeared in 2004, long before he entered politics. A Trump aide said he didn’t know if he had been invited to appear this year. Earlier on Saturday, Harris and Trump’s planes shared the tarmac in Charlotte, North Carolina, as the tw

Badenoch has repeatedly explored her Nigerian experience to boost her chances in the contest by narrating tales of her unpleasant experiences growing up in Africa's most populous nation. In a historic victory, Kemi Badenoch, a British-Nigerian former Business Secretary, has been elected as the new leader of the UK’s Conservative Party. Badenoch’s win makes her the first black woman to lead a major political party in the United Kingdom. The 44-year-old clinched the leadership after defeating Robert Jenrick in the final vote, securing 53,806 votes to his 41,388. Her appointment also positions her as Leader of the Opposition, succeeding Rishi Sunak, who stepped down earlier this year. The Conservative Party’s announcement of her win on Saturday morning marks a significant shift, with Badenoch pledging to reshape party policies. “This is a time for us to return to our first principles,” she stated during her campaign. Kemi Badenoch gives a speech after becoming the new leade

The payments extend beyond university salaries, providing financial relief to retirees within the Nigerian Union of Pensioners Contributory Pension Scheme sector. The Federal Government has disbursed long-awaited funds to cover unpaid salaries for Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) members of federal universities and benefits owed to retirees under the Nigerian Union of Pensioners Contributory Pension Scheme. The Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation (OAGF) confirmed this development in a statement released on Saturday, November 2, with Bawa Mokwa , Director of Press and Public Relations, announcing the payments. “The Federal Government has released funds for payment of withheld salaries of the Non-Academic Staff Union of Federal Universities, ” Mokwa stated, confirming that disbursements to NASU members have already commenced, with many staff members verifying receipt. The payments extend beyond university salaries, providing financial relief to retirees within the Nige

The former Kano State Governor also referenced the Child's Rights Act of 2003, reminding the government of its responsibility to uphold children's rights to dignity and protection from any form of abuse. The arraignment of minors involved in the #Endbadgovernance protests has drawn heavy criticism from notable political figures, including former New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) presidential candidate Rabiu Kwankwaso and former Kaduna Senator Shehu Sani. Both have voiced their dismay at what they describe as a troubling response from the government. One of the minors reportedly collapsed in court before the trial began, highlighting the dire health conditions many of these children face. Kwankwaso took to social media to express his concern over the government's approach, questioning why visibly malnourished minors, who should be in school, are being subjected to such harsh treatment. "These children are being exposed to cruel conditions that are highly unusual a