Former military Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon (retd.), has said the Biafra civil war was never his choice.
Gowon was presiding over the affairs of Nigeria during the civil war from July 6, 1967 to January 15, 1970.
He described the civil war as the most difficult period of his life.
The former ruler spoke after he was honoured with a Life Time Integrity and Achievement Award at the fifth convention of the Christian Men’s Fellowship, Abuja Anglican Diocese on Saturday in Abuja.
He also disclosed that his decision to prosecute the Biafra civil war was never born out of hatred.
Gowon explained that he prosecuted the civil war due to the urgency to preserve national unity.
The former Nigerian ruler called for forgiveness, reconciliation and unity across faiths and ethnicities.
He said, “I always remember the civil war. It was the most difficult period of my life.
“It was not my choice, but I had to be there, and had to do what I did in order to keep this country together.
“It was never a hatred against any people, I can assure you.”
Reflecting on life after that period, the former Head of State stressed that his decisions had often been guided by prayers and a desire to act with integrity and compassion.
“As far as this heart is concerned, everything that I do, it is through prayers.
“I ask God to help me to do the right thing the way He thinks it should be done, with love and respect for all the people.
“That is why at the end, what do we have to say? As they say: no victor, no vanquished,” he added
Donald Trump said on Saturday that his relationship with his billionaire donor Elon Musk is over and warned there would be “serious consequences” if Musk funds U.S. Democrats running against Republicans who vote for the president’s sweeping tax and spending bill.
In a telephone interview with NBC News, Trump declined to say what those consequences would be, and went on to add that he had not had discussions about whether to investigate Musk.
Asked if he thought his relationship with the Tesla and SpaceX CEO was over, Trump said, “I would assume so, yeah.”
“No,” Trump told NBC when asked if he had any desire to repair his relationship with Musk.
“I have no intention of speaking to him,” Trump said.
However, Trump said he had not thought about terminating U.S. government contracts with Musk’s StarLink satellite internet or SpaceX rocket launch companies.
Musk and Trump began exchanging insults this week, as Musk denounced Trump’s bill as a “disgusting abomination”.
Musk’s opposition to the measure complicated efforts to pass the legislation in Congress, where Republicans hold only slim majorities in the House of Representatives and Senate.
The bill narrowly passed the House last month and is now before the Senate, where Trump’s fellow Republicans are considering making changes.
Nonpartisan analysts estimate the measure would add $2.4 trillion to the $36.2 trillion U.S. debt over 10 years, which worries many lawmakers, including some Republicans who are fiscal hawks.
Musk also declared it was time for a new political party in the United States “to represent the 80 per cent in the middle!”
Trump said on Saturday he is confident the bill would get passed by the U.S. July 4 Independence Day holiday.
“In fact, yeah, people that were, were going to vote for it are now enthusiastically going to vote for it, and we expect it to pass,” Trump told NBC.
Republicans have strongly backed Trump’s initiatives since he began his second term as president on Jan. 20.
While some Republican lawmakers have made comments to the news media expressing concern about some of Trump’s choices, they have yet to vote down any of his policies or nominations.
Musk has deleted some social media posts critical of Trump, including one that signaled support for impeaching the president, appearing to seek a de-escalation of their public feud which exploded on Thursday.
During his first term as president, the House, then controlled by Democrats, twice voted to impeach Trump but the Senate both times acquitted him.
The White House and Musk did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Saturday on the deleted posts.
People who have spoken to Musk said his anger has begun to recede and they thought he would want to repair his relationship with Trump.
One of the X posts that Musk appeared to have deleted was a response to another user posting: “President vs Elon. Who wins? My money’s on Elon. Trump should be impeached and (Vice President) JD Vance should replace him.” Musk had written “yes.”
On Theo Von’s “This Past Weekend” podcast – recorded on Thursday as the feud between Trump and Musk unfolded and released on Saturday – Vance called Musk’s criticism of Trump a “huge mistake.”
“I’m always going to be loyal to the president, and I hope that eventually Elon kind of comes back into the fold. Maybe that’s not possible now because he’s gone so nuclear.
But I hope it is,” said Vance, describing Musk as an “incredible entrepreneur.”
Trump is due to attend an Ultimate Fighting Championship fight card on Saturday in New Jersey.
Since his second election win, he has attended two previous UFC mixed martial arts fight cards with Musk. Musk is not expected to attend on Saturday.
Musk, the world’s richest man, bankrolled a large part of Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign, spending nearly 300 million dollars in last year’s U.S. elections and taking credit for Republicans retaining a majority of seats in the House and retaking a majority in the Senate.
Trump named Musk to head an effort to downsize the federal workforce and slash spending, lauding him at the White House only about a week ago for his work as head of the Department of Government Efficiency.
Musk cut only about half of one per cent of total spending, far short of his brash plans to axe two trillion dollars from the federal budget.
The popular Ijebu age grade, Egbe Bobakeye Okunrin Akile Ijebu, on Saturday, lamented the wrong narrative being circulated on social media about the visit of the late Queen Elizabeth II of England to Nigeria, particularly, Ijebu land in 1956.
While addressing journalists at Ijebu Ode on Saturday, Abiodun Onanuga, the Giwa of the age-grade, said that the narrative being pushed around that the late Queen Elizabeth II slept in the house of the late Ogbeni Oja of Ijebu land and famous industrialist, Chief Timothy Adeola Odutola, during her visit was an outright falsehood.
The group stated that the late monarch was received at Itoro by the late Awujale, Oba Daniel Adesanya, then she moved to the GRA residence of the colonial head of the old Ijebu Province, now housing the Egbe Bobakeye.
According to the group, they said she had her lunch there and left for Lagos.
Onanuga said that the foremost age grade decided to take it upon itself to clear the air about this unnecessary distortion of history, and the dissemination of untrue news to preserve the integrity of highly diligent and resourceful people.
He explained that the age group, about a year ago, commissioned two of its members, Kayode Adesanya and Lekan Odufunlade, to approach the British National Archives to research this controversial history and investigate the truth.
He stated that “The duo painstakingly checked through volumes of documents for several months and succeeded in obtaining a well compiled information on Her Majesty’s travel, meticulously detailing every point of her official visit to a few parts of the old Western Region of Nigeria, including where she had lunch.
“They ultimately obtained incontrovertible documentary evidence from the British Government on the itinerary of Her Majesty, Elizabeth II, the late Queen of England’s visit to Ijebu-Ode and our Ule Egbe in 1956.
“On behalf of Egbe Bobakeye, I can now state categorically and indisputably that our own Ule Egbe, which used to be the residence of the British resident in ljebu-Ode, was the venue where the Queen had her lunch.
“This record unequivocally debunks any claim that her Majesty spent the night in Ijebu-Ode because she left for Lagos after visiting the Awujale at Itoro and having lunch at our present Ule Egbe, which at that time was housing the colonials”.
Odunfunlade, one of the researchers commissioned for the research, said that the researcher got the truth from some documents obtained at the British National Archive.
Odunfunlade, however, called on the federal government to intensify efforts at preservation and documentation of the country’s history, such that it will be available for the yet unborn generation.
An accident claimed the lives of nine people in Kyaramma village, Ringim Local Government Area of Jigawa State.
The accident, which occurred on Saturday around 20:00, involved two Golf 3 saloon vehicles and also left several others injured.
According to the Jigawa State Police Command, the vehicles collided head-on, resulting in the fatal crash.
In a statement made available to journalists on Saturday in Dutse, the state capital, the Police Public Relations Officer, Jigawa State Police Command, Dutse, Shiisu Adam, revealed that one of the vehicles, with registration number Kaduna MKA 687 AY, was driven by Adamu Sunusi, a 35-year-old man from Hadejia LGA, heading to Gujungu town from Abuja.
The other vehicle, with registration number KWL 606 KA, was driven by Bashari Danjummai, a 30-year-old man from Sauna Area, Nassarawa LGA, Kano State, heading to Kano from Hadejia.
Adam said that the Police “upon receiving the report, Motor Traffic Department personnel rushed to the scene and provided assistance. The injured victims were rushed to Ringim General Hospital for treatment.’He further clarified that nine passengers, including the two drivers, were pronounced dead by the doctor after a post-mortem examination.
“Eleven passengers are currently receiving treatment at the hospital and are responding well. Efforts are underway to identify all victims and notify their families,” said the statement.
The Jigawa police, therefore, assured the public that further updates would be provided as the investigation progresses.
However, the State Commissioner of Police, Ahmad Abdullahi, expressed his condolences to the families of the deceased and wished the injured a speedy recovery.
Abdullah urged drivers to adhere to traffic rules and regulations, avoid speeding, and ensure the roadworthiness of their vehicles to prevent such tragic incidents.
President Bola Tinubu has expressed grief and extended his condolences to the family and friends of Nigerian boxing icon Obisia Nwankpa, who passed away on June 2, 2025, at the age of 75.
Nwankpa, a towering figure in Nigerian sports, carved a distinguished career that saw him represent the nation on the global stage.
He proudly competed for Nigeria at the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich in the light-welterweight division.
His golden era continued as he secured gold medals at the 1973 All-Africa Games in Lagos and the 1974 British Commonwealth Games in Christchurch, New Zealand, both in the welterweight category. Throughout his illustrious career, Nwankpa held multiple prestigious titles, including Nigerian Lightweight Champion, African Boxing Union Light-Welterweight Champion, and Commonwealth Lightweight Champion.
In a statement signed and released by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, on Saturday, Tinubu paid tribute to the deceased, noting that Nwankpa’s contributions extended beyond his active fighting days.
“Nigeria’s sporting community and Nigerians will long remember the legendary boxer and coach for the honour he brought to the country in the ring and the exciting moments he gave to fans throughout his career,” the president stated.
Tinubu further emphasised the nation’s indebtedness to the late champion for his post-retirement impact.
“The nation owes him a debt of gratitude for nurturing a new generation of boxers after retiring from active competition, including leading Nigeria’s boxing team to the Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008 Olympics,” he added, acknowledging Nwankpa’s role in mentoring aspiring talents.
The President concluded by offering prayers for the peaceful repose of Obisia Nwankpa’s soul and for divine comfort to all who mourn his passing.
Zambia’s former president Edgar Lungu, who held power for almost seven years until 2021, died Thursday in a hospital in South Africa at the age of 68, his party and family announced.
Lungu had been receiving specialised medical treatment in a clinic in Pretoria, the Patriotic Front, his political party, said in a statement.
“My father had been under medical supervision in recent weeks,” his daughter Tasila Lungu-Mwansa announced in a video shared on social media.
“His condition was managed with dignity and privacy with support from all well-wishers,” she said, without providing details of the cause of his death.
Lungu had suffered from recurring achalasia, a condition caused by narrowing of the oesophagus, for which he had been treated in South Africa.
Lungu, a trained military officer and lawyer, stepped down from the presidency in 2021 when veteran opposition leader Hakainde Hichilema, the current president, won elections by a landslide.
He had said he planned to run for president again in the 2026 elections.
He came into power in 2015, after the death in office of his predecessor Michael Sata, and described himself as an “ordinary Zambian of humble beginnings”.
President Donald Trump has signed a new proclamation barring citizens from 12 countries from entering the United States, citing national security concerns.
The full travel ban affects nationals from Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen.
The restriction will take effect on June 9, 2025.
In addition to the full bans, the proclamation imposes partial restrictions on citizens of Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela.
There are some exemptions, including athletes travelling for major sporting events, some Afghan nationals and dual nationals with citizenship in unaffected countries, according to the BBC.
Trump stated that the measure is intended to prevent individuals considered potential security risks from gaining entry into the US.
“We cannot have open migration from any country where we cannot safely and reliably vet and screen,” he said in a video message posted on X on Wednesday.
According to the White House, the countries facing the harshest restrictions were deemed to have a “large-scale presence of terrorists,” poor cooperation on visa-related security measures, and inadequate systems for verifying travelers’ identities.
The administration also cited issues such as poor record-keeping of criminal histories and high visa overstay rates as contributing factors.
The new directive builds on Trump’s broader immigration crackdown initiated at the beginning of his second term.
On January 20, the president signed an executive order mandating stricter security checks for foreign nationals and instructing federal agencies to review which countries should face entry suspensions due to inadequate vetting procedures.
This move echoes Trump’s controversial travel ban during his first term, which initially targeted seven predominantly Muslim countries and was upheld by the US Supreme Court in 2018.
The ban was later repealed by President Joe Biden in 2021, who described it as “a stain on our national conscience.”
The Switzerland authorities said they have begun an investigation into the murder of Michael Ekemezie, who reportedly died in Lausanne on May 25 after some Swiss police officers pinned his head to the ground during a routine check.
According to the family, the 39-year-old Ekemezie from Mgbakwu, Awka North Local Government Area of Anambra State, reportedly collapsed and died at the police station less than an hour after being taken into custody.
The elder brother of the deceased, Henry Ekemezie, had in an interview with our correspondent on Monday, disclosed that his brother was chased by the police during a routine check, after he was caught up, handcuffed and pinned face-down, by an officer who used brutal force that proved fatal.
A viral video that circulated on X also showed the moment the deceased was pinned to the ground by a Swiss police officer, crying out in pain and shouting, “You’re hurting me.”
As a result, the family of the deceased, through their counsel, Sir Ifeanyi Ejiofor, petitioned the Embassy of Switzerland in Nigeria and the Nigerian Diaspora Commission on May 30, 2025, demanding an investigation into his death.
The family lamented that since the incident took place, neither the Switzerland government or the Federal Government of Nigeria had reached out to the family.
However, in a reply dated June 4, 2025, the Swiss Embassy contacted the family of the deceased through their counsel, informing them that the competent prosecutor’s office has launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death.
The reaction by the Switzerland embassy is coming after the report featured in the South-East Punch on Wednesday.
The letter dated June 4, 2025, and signed by the Chargé d’Affaires of Switzerland, Siamak Rouhani, was made available to our correspondent on Wednesday,
The letter read, “The Embassy of Switzerland acknowledges receipt of your letter dated 30 May, 2025.
“The Embassy would like to inform that the competent prosecutor’s office has launched an investigation into the death of a person of African origin on May 25, 2025, at a police station in Lausanne, Switzerland.
“The results of this investigation are pending. In accordance with the principle of separation of powers and of the protection of personal data, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs does not hold any information concerning ongoing cantonal proceedings and cannot interfere in them.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, therefore, has no information concerning the circumstances of this tragic event. The deceased’s family and its agent – supported by the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in Bern – can therefore interact directly with the competent cantonal authorities.”
However, in its reaction, the family of the deceased, through their legal counsel, Ifeanyi Ejiofor, acknowledged the response of the Swiss Embassy while reiterating with unwavering resolve a demand for a thorough, transparent, and expedited investigation.
“On May 30, 2025, we submitted a formal petition to the Embassy of Switzerland in Nigeria, urging an immediate and transparent investigation into the tragic and deeply disturbing death of Mr Michael Ekemezie, a Nigerian citizen who lost his life after reportedly being brutalised by Swiss police officers in Lausanne, Switzerland, on May 25, 2025.
“Today, we acknowledge receipt of an official response dated June 4, 2025, signed by the Chargé d’Affaires, Mr Siamak Rouhani. In the correspondence, the Embassy confirmed that the competent cantonal prosecutor’s office has formally launched an investigation into the incident. However, invoking Switzerland’s strict data protection laws and constitutional principle of separation of powers, the embassy declined to disclose further details at this stage.
“While we take note of this official acknowledgement and the initiation of investigative proceedings, we remain deeply concerned about the lack of transparency and the continued silence surrounding the exact circumstances of Mr Ekemezie’s death. A young Nigerian life was lost, under suspicious and distressing conditions, while in the custody of a country that proudly upholds itself as a global advocate of human rights, justice, and the rule of law.
“This is not just a legal matter; it is a human tragedy. A mother grieves. A family mourns. A nation watches with bated breath.
“Justice must not be shielded behind bureaucratic procedures. It must not be delayed. And it must never be denied. We urge the Swiss government and all relevant authorities to fully cooperate with the government of Nigeria and the legal representatives of Mr Ekemezie’s family, and every diplomatic and legal channel must be pursued. The truth must be uncovered. Accountability must be served,” the family said in a statement.
Former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, has criticised the current chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Mahmood Yakubu, alleging that the All Progressives Congress would not have been registered or won the 2015 general elections if Yakubu had been in charge at the time.
Speaking on Arise TV on Tuesday night, Amaechi praised former INEC Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, for ensuring a transparent electoral process that led to the APC’s registration and eventual victory in 2015.
He said, “The current chairman of INEC, if he was the chairman of INEC in 2015, we would not have won. That’s an important point. May God bless (Attahiru) Jega. Because the ground rules were clear. The current chairman of INEC can only be compared to Iwu.
“When we were to register APC, Jega opened the door and we complied with the registration requirements. He got APC registered. The current man, if you comply with all these, he would not register you.”
He further alleged that INEC under Yakubu is already showing signs of bias.
“Already, INEC is biased. So, the only thing I can tell you now is that, looking at the way Nigeria has run the election, even the Option A4 led us forward. At least a lot of transparency. You were sure of what was going on. Then we came back to meet people like Iwu and others and the current one and things got worse.
“So, you don’t know whether to say we are progressing or we are regressing. There’s a state capture using the electoral institution as a machine.”
South Korea’s President Lee Jae-myung pledged to reach out to the nuclear-armed North and “heal wounds” as he assumed office on Wednesday, following a decisive victory in a snap election triggered by his predecessor’s controversial martial law declaration.
The centre-left leader also warned that “rising protectionism and supply chain restructuring” pose an existential threat to Asia’s export-dependent fourth-largest economy, which has been unsettled by global trade disruptions, notably under former US President Donald Trump.
Lee secured a commanding 49.4 per cent of the vote, defeating conservative Kim Moon-soo, who garnered 41.2 per cent. Kim conceded defeat after being hampered by internal party divisions and a third-party candidate splitting the right-wing vote. Lee’s term began immediately after the official certification of the results on Wednesday.
Upon taking office, Lee spoke with South Korea’s top military commander and formally assumed operational control of the armed forces, urging vigilance amid potential provocations from Pyongyang. However, in his first public remarks, he emphasised his readiness for dialogue.
“We will heal the wounds of division and war and establish a future of peace and prosperity,” he said. “No matter how costly, peace is better than war.”
Lee vowed that Seoul would “deter North Korean nuclear and military provocations while opening communication channels and pursuing dialogue and cooperation to build peace on the Korean Peninsula.”
His inauguration came just hours before US tariffs on steel and aluminium were set to take effect, imposing a 50 per cent levy on key South Korean exports.
“The rapid changes in the global order, such as rising protectionism and supply chain restructuring, pose a threat to our very survival,” Lee warned.
Markets responded positively to the election outcome, with the benchmark KOSPI index and the South Korean won both rising on Wednesday.
A Significant Shift
Lee’s approach to North Korea marks a “significant departure” from his hawkish predecessor, as he did not immediately impose preconditions for dialogue, said Hong Min, a senior analyst at the Korea Institute for National Unification. This signals “his desire to resolve disagreements through talks,” Hong told AFP.
Lee held a modest inauguration ceremony at the National Assembly — the same venue where his predecessor deployed armed troops during an attempted suspension of civilian rule.
He also announced key appointments, including long-time adviser Kim Min-seok as prime minister and former unification minister Lee Jong-seok as head of intelligence.
Lee’s first day in office is expected to conclude with a series of congratulatory calls from world leaders, with US President Donald Trump likely to be among the first.
Trump’s top diplomat, Marco Rubio, swiftly congratulated Lee and expressed hope for cooperation, despite Lee’s previous calls for greater distance from the United States.
US Secretary of State emphasised that the Washington-Seoul alliance remains “ironclad,” citing “shared values and deep economic ties.”
The White House described the election as “free and fair” but expressed concerns about “Chinese interference and influence in democracies around the world.”
Chinese President Xi Jinping congratulated Lee, highlighting the “great importance” of China-South Korea relations and expressing willingness to “firmly maintain the direction of good-neighbourly friendship” based on mutual benefit.
Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba expressed a desire to “energise cooperation” between Seoul and Tokyo, South Korea’s former colonial ruler.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi also congratulated Lee on social media, expressing hopes to “strengthen” ties with South Korea.
A Positive Outlook
Lee assumes power with his party holding a parliamentary majority secure for the next three years, positioning him well to advance his legislative agenda.
On the streets of Seoul, citizens welcomed Lee’s conciliatory stance towards the North.
“Since our economy and many other aspects of society are closely linked to inter-Korean relations, I hope we can take a long-term perspective and move in a more positive direction,” said Choi Ki-ho, 55.
Lee Ju-yeon, a 42-year-old public sector employee, expressed hope that Lee “will devote himself to uniting our divided nation.”
