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President Trump and President Putin agree to a 30-day ceasefire deal

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Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday, agreed to a 30-day ceasefire proposal concerning attacks on energy infrastructure in Ukraine.

This agreement was reached during a two-hour phone call with U.S. President Donald Trump on March 18, 2025.

The ceasefire specifically targets energy and infrastructure-related attacks, marking a limited de-escalation in the ongoing conflict.

However, Putin did not consent to a broader ceasefire that the U.S. had advocated for.

He emphasized that the ceasefire’s success hinges on Ukraine halting military mobilizations and the cessation of foreign military aid to Ukraine.

Additionally, Putin raised concerns about Ukraine potentially using the 30-day pause to rearm and continue mobilization efforts.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has expressed conditional support for the ceasefire but remains cautious.

He highlighted the need for clear terms and verification mechanisms to ensure compliance.

European leaders, including UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, France’s Emmanuel Macron, and Germany’s Olaf Scholz, have welcomed this initial step.

But they stressed the necessity for a comprehensive and lasting peace that involves Ukraine’s active participation.

The ceasefire agreement also includes plans for a prisoner exchange, with both Russia and Ukraine set to release 175 individuals each.

Further negotiations are anticipated to address additional aspects of the conflict, including maritime operations and the establishment of a more extensive truce.

President Donald Trump on Tuesday shared details of his phone conversation with Russia’s President Vladimir Putin.

The President described the discussion, which focused on the Russia-Ukraine war, as “a very good and productive one.”

In a post on Truth Social, Trump confirmed that they had agreed to “an immediate ceasefire on all energy and infrastructure.”

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The leaders also reached an understanding to work quickly towards a complete ceasefire to end “this very horrible war.”

“This war would never have started if I were President!” Trump added.

“Many elements of a Contract for Peace were discussed, including the fact that thousands of soldiers are being killed, and both President Putin and President Zelenskyy would like to see it end.

“That process is now in full force and effect, and we will, hopefully, for the sake of humanity, get the job done!” the President wrote.

The White House described it as the first step in a “movement to peace.”

It hopes will include a maritime ceasefire in the Black Sea and eventually a full and lasting end to the fighting.

There was no indication that Putin has backed away from his previous conditions, fiercely opposed by Kyiv, to consider a broader ceasefire.

Russia wants Ukraine to renounce any prospect of joining the NATO military alliance, sharply cut its army, and protect Russian language and culture to keep the country in Moscow’s orbit, among other concessions.

In fact, Putin during the call reiterated his demand for an end to foreign military and intelligence assistance to Ukraine, according to the Kremlin.

Shortly after the call ended, air raid alerts sounded in Kyiv, followed by explosions in the city. Local officials urged people to seek shelter.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told reporters that Ukraine is open to any proposals that lead to a sustainable and just peace.

But it stressed the need for full transparency in discussions.

“We need to understand what the conversation is about,” Zelenskyy said.

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“What are the details? And hopefully, we will be fully informed, and our partners will discuss everything with us.”

He added: “There are two sides in this war — Russia and Ukraine. Trying to negotiate without Ukraine, in my view, will not be productive.”

Ukrainian officials had proposed a ceasefire covering the Black Sea and long-range missile strikes and the release of prisoners at their meeting with a U.S delegation in Saudi Arabia this month.

Trump immediately cheered Tuesday’s development as a major step toward his ultimate goal of ending the biggest land war in Europe since World War II.

Trump wrote on social media,

“We agreed to an immediate Ceasefire on all Energy and Infrastructure,

“with an understanding that we will be working quickly to have a Complete Ceasefire and, ultimately, an END to this very horrible War between Russia and Ukraine.”

Ukrainian officials last week agreed to the 30-day ceasefire proposal during talks in Saudi Arabia led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

Zelenskyy, however, remains skeptical that Putin is ready for peace as Russian forces continue to pound Ukraine.

The Trump-Putin engagement is just the latest turn in dramatically shifting U.S.-Russia relations.

 

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2027: El-Rufai Leads Kaduna SDP to Join Forces with ADC Coalition

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Former Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai

A major political shift has unfolded in Kaduna State as former governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, spearheaded the merger of the entire structure of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) with the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

The development, which signals a significant realignment ahead of Nigeria’s next political cycle, was announced during a coalition meeting held in Kaduna on Saturday, August 23, 2025.

The gathering brought together influential leaders, party executives, and stakeholders drawn from diverse political platforms.

In a communiqué issued after the meeting and signed by the Kaduna State Coalition Publicity Secretary, Hon. Darius Kurah, El-Rufai was identified as the key figure driving the coalition efforts.

He chaired the meeting, which was attended by ADC leaders, former commissioners, SDP executives, and several prominent figures from the state’s political class.

Among the attendees were Hon. Ja’afar Mohammed Sani, ADC Vice Chairman (North West); Elder Patrick Ambut, ADC Kaduna State Chairman; and Mallam Bashir Saidu, a leading ADC strategist in the state.

Addressing the gathering, El-Rufai described the merger as a decisive step toward building a credible political alternative in Kaduna.

He stressed that the coalition’s central goal is unity, with a strong emphasis on inclusive governance and people-centered development.

“Our mission is clear: to strengthen progressive leadership in Kaduna and Nigeria by rallying around shared ideals and ensuring that politics serves the people, not personal interests,” El-Rufai said.

Ja’afar Mohammed Sani, ADC Vice Chairman for the North West, praised the SDP leadership for what he called a “bold and courageous decision.”

He described the merger as a new dawn for credible leadership in Kaduna and a signal that opposition politics is reawakening.

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Similarly, Elder Patrick Ambut welcomed the SDP members into the ADC fold, assuring them of full integration into existing party structures.

He noted that the coalition was not just about structures merging but about harmonizing ideologies for the collective good of the people.

Mallam Bashir Saidu reinforced this view, stressing that the merger represented “a convergence of visions and principles dedicated to building a future where governance is truly accountable.”

As part of the resolutions adopted at the meeting, the ADC National Working Committee (NWC) was tasked with setting up a Membership Registration Committee.

This committee will work closely with the Kaduna State chapter, alongside local government and ward units, to begin new membership registration while revalidating existing members.

According to the communiqué, this grassroots exercise is expected to strengthen the coalition’s reach, consolidate its base, and position it strategically ahead of future elections.

The meeting ended on a hopeful note, with stakeholders pledging commitment to building a formidable front capable of challenging the dominance of established parties in the state.

Political observers say El-Rufai’s move has reshaped Kaduna’s political landscape.

By leading the SDP into a merger with the ADC, the former governor has positioned himself once again as a central figure in the state’s opposition politics.

The coalition is seen as part of a broader strategy by opposition forces to rally around credible alternatives and build momentum ahead of 2027.

With grassroots mobilization already on the agenda, analysts suggest the ADC-SDP merger could become a significant force, particularly in northern Nigeria where El-Rufai still commands influence.

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For now, Kaduna’s political terrain has shifted, and the coming months will determine whether this coalition translates into electoral strength or fades into another short-lived alliance.

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Oral sex by couple is not sin — Apostle Johnson Suleman

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Apostle Suleman

The General Overseer of Omega Fire Ministries International, Apostle Johnson Suleman, has said oral sex between a husband and wife is not sinful.

He made the comment during a question-and-answer session at a church service.

Though, it is unclear when the service took place, but a video of his remarks surfaced on YouTube on 22 August 2025.

During the session, a woman, believed to be in her 50s asked, “Daddy, Sir, is oral sex a sin?” Mr Suleman, popularly called “Daddy” by members of the congregation, chuckled before responding.

“Should I answer from the Bible?” he asked, as the audience urged him to speak. “Anything you do with your wife indoors is not a sin. So long as she’s your wife and both of you agree to do it, (it is not a sin),” he said.

Some congregants murmured at his response, but Mr Suleman continued: “I can show you (from the Bible). When the Bible was talking about the wife of your youth, it was talking about ‘go within thy walls, let thy hands pass through her cisterns.’ What do you think the Bible was saying? So long as it is not fetish, a ritual, it is not diabolic, (it is not a sin).”

He also dismissed claims that oral sex is inappropriate because the mouth is used to pray.

“Don’t you use the same mouth to gossip? Don’t you use the same mouth to tell lies?” he asked in Pidgin English.

Anticipating backlash, the preacher said he was unfazed. “Save your home, save your home,” he told worshippers, urging couples not to deny their spouse’s request for sex.

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While Mr Suleman insisted the practice is permissible in marriage, health specialists have long cautioned against it.

Oral sex — also known as orogenital sex — involves using the mouth, lips or tongue to stimulate a partner’s genitals or anus.

Adegboyega Fawole, a gynaecologist at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, warned in 2017 that it could expose people to Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) infections in the mouth, raising the risk of HPV-related oral cancers.

The virus is also linked to cervical cancer, genital warts and anal cancer.

Similarly, Bamidele Mutiu, a consultant microbiologist at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, explained in a 2021 interview that organisms causing sexually transmitted diseases survive in genital secretions and are not destroyed by saliva.

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‘I’m Under Attack Over My Race and Ethnicity’ – Kemi Badenoch Cries Out

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Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch has revealed the scale of racism and hostility she has faced since becoming the first black woman to lead the Tories.

In an interview with The Sunday Times, Badenoch admitted she did not expect the level of personal attacks she has endured online and within political circle.

“There’s a certain cadre of people who clearly can’t cope with the fact that I won this and I’m doing it,” she said.

“The level of personal attacks from anonymous people is hysterical.

Not just from MPs only two or three out of 120 but also online.

People used to talk about Trump derangement syndrome. I think there’s a Kemi derangement syndrome: ‘How could she possibly have done this?’.”

The 44-year-old politician, who was born in Wimbledon and raised in Nigeria before returning to the UK at 16, said much of the abuse has focused on her race and identity.

“On social media, there’s a lot of ethno-nationalism creeping up,” she noted.

“There are tropes around, ‘well, she couldn’t possibly have done this all by herself.’”

Badenoch rarely speaks at length about her race, often stressing that she sees Britain as a country where minorities thrive. She has previously argued that “Britain is not a racist country” and faced criticism for saying that white working-class boys struggle more than ethnic minorities on many social indicators.

“I always try to think of every possible explanation before I go to race and racism,” she told the paper.

“That is a healthy way to run a society. There will always be people who throw mud and hope it sticks.”

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The Tory leader now faces a critical moment as she prepares for her first party conference speech.

With the Conservatives polling at just 17%, she is under pressure to unite her party and fend off speculation of a leadership challenge from her shadow justice secretary, Robert Jenrick.

On rumours Jenrick could soon replace her, Badenoch dismissed the claims as “wishful thinking.”

“There will always be sore losers—our candidate didn’t win, and so on,” she said.

“When I hear those things, I can tell those people are not focused on the country at all. Many of them think this is a game. But the lives of people in this country aren’t a game.”

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UNIUYO VC turns FG loan into extortion racket 

...NELFund beneficiaries forced to pay higher fees, extra ₦50,000 illegal charges

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The University of Uyo, a federal government-owned university in Akwa Ibom State, has become the first campus where the Federal Government’s new loan scheme for indigent students is being twisted into a money-making scam.

At the centre of the storm is Vice Chancellor Prof. Nyaudoh Ndaeyo, accused by staff, students, and academics of sabotaging the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFund) and weaponizing poverty for profit.

How the Loan Works

Under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s policy, each beneficiary should receive ₦284,100:
₦44,100, for institutional fees, and ₦240,000, for upkeep

The design is simple: government pays so that poor students won’t drop out.

How Uniuyo Twists It

Inside Uniuyo, the VC has allegedly flipped the scheme on its head. Beneficiaries are being told to pay fees first pending when the Federal Government will release the money (loan). Refunds, staff say, could take “months or years—if they ever come at all.”

To make matters worse, NELFund students are being charged higher fees than their classmates. Documents and testimonies show that final year students in the Faculty of Arts are made to pay an extra ₦20,000 ‘development levy’ and ₦30,000 ‘professional accreditation fee’ imposed only on NELFund beneficiaries. That’s a shocking ₦50,000 illegal surcharge—punishing the very students government is trying to help.

Staff Blow the Whistle

A Registry officer said bluntly:
“The Federal Government created NELFund to ease students’ burden. But the VC has turned it upside down. He is using it to raise money.”

A top Bursary official added:
“Prof. Ndaeyo knows refunds hardly work here. He wants students to pay first, knowing many will never get their money back. This is deliberate monetization of education.”

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Cruel Irony

Lecturers are furious. A senior academic in the Faculty of Arts called it a cruel irony:
“Poor students are paying more than the rich. This is wickedness. It shows the VC loves money more than humanity.”

Others point to a disturbing pattern under Ndaeyo—skyrocketing acceptance fees, inflated transcript costs, and endless hidden charges.

“Every policy he introduces is about extracting money. NELFund is just the latest victim,” said a professor in Engineering.

Students Cry Out

For students, the betrayal cuts deepest.

“If I had money, why would I apply for a loan?” asked a Political Science student. “They are using our suffering to make money for themselves. This is exploitation.”

Bigger Question

Why would a Vice Chancellor sabotage a Federal Government program meant to help the poor? Insiders say it’s either an obsession with internally generated revenue—or plain greed.

Either way, the consequences are devastating: poor students are being pushed out while Uniuyo’s coffers grow fat.

Time for Action

As one Education professor warned:
“We cannot allow one man’s greed to mortgage the future of our children. Universities should be centres of hope, not dens of extortion.”

With ₦284,100 per student at stake, attention now shifts to the Ministry of Education and the Presidency. Will they act to protect indigent students—or let Uniuyo’s Vice Chancellor turn a national lifeline into an extortion racket?

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JUST IN: Benue Assembly Speaker Resigns

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The Speaker of the Benue State House of Assembly, Aondona Dajoh, has resigned from his position, citing the “best interest of the state” as the reason for his decision.

Dajoh’s resignation was conveyed in a letter he personally signed, dated August 24, 2025, and made available to Channels Television.

In the letter, titled “Resignation As The Speaker, Benue State House of Assembly,” the Gboko West representative wrote:

“I write to resign my position as the Speaker, Benue State House of Assembly, effective today, August 24, 2025.

This is done in good faith and in the best interest of the state. I want to appreciate my dear colleagues for the opportunity they gave me to be the first among equals.

I pledge to remain committed to my duties as a legislator and representative of Gboko West State Constituency.”

Dajoh’s resignation comes just days after the House suspended four members — Alfred Berger (Makurdi North), Terna Shimawua (Kian), Cyril Ekong (Obi), and James Umoru (Apa) — for six months.

The lawmakers had allegedly spearheaded an attempt to impeach the Speaker in a late-night move.

The Majority Leader, Saater Tiseer, who raised a motion of urgent importance, accused the four of attempting to destabilise the Assembly with a “needless crisis.”

The motion was unanimously adopted, and Dajoh subsequently directed the Sergeant-at-Arms to escort the suspended members out of the chambers.

Following Berger’s suspension, Dajoh also appointed Audu Elias as the new spokesperson of the House.

Meanwhile, Governor Hyacinth Alia has distanced himself from the political tension in the Assembly.

In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Tersoo Kula, the governor said he had no role in the alleged impeachment plot.

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“The governor, Hyacinth Alia, is not aware of and has no involvement whatsoever in any purported attempt to remove the Speaker or in any activities currently taking place in the Benue State House of Assembly,” the statement read.

It added that Governor Alia maintained a cordial working relationship with the Dajoh-led Assembly and remained committed to supporting the legislature in carrying out its duties.

The resignation also follows a turbulent week in the Assembly. Just a day earlier, the House screened and confirmed six commissioner nominees but rejected two, including a law professor, Timothy Ornguga.

Ornguga’s nomination was struck out after four petitions were submitted against him, alleging misconduct during his years as a lecturer, as well as concerns about his qualifications.

Lawmakers, led by Tarka representative Manger Manger, queried his credentials, including the absence of a primary school certificate.

Alongside Ornguga, nominee James Dwen was also rejected after failing to adequately defend himself against allegations contained in petitions.

The House asked Governor Alia to submit replacements for both nominees.

Dajoh’s resignation is expected to reshape the leadership dynamics of the Assembly, which has been rocked in recent weeks by internal divisions, impeachment plots, and controversial legislative battles.

While he has stepped down from the top seat, Dajoh assured his constituents that he will remain fully committed to his legislative responsibilities.

His exit as Speaker raises questions about whether the recent suspension of lawmakers and rejection of commissioner nominees may have deepened divisions within the Benue political space.

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