Since the inception of the populous city of Ibadan, no governor had ever governed the state twice. No wonder, the state has been dubbed the political hotbed of the South West. Before the commencement of the 2015 election, there was palpable tension in the state as political gladiators slugged it out in a very keenly contested election.

Another episode that played out in the South West, was the kidnap of former Secretary to the Government of the Federation and National Chairman of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Chief Olu Falae, which happened in September. What ought to be a day of merry making turned sour for Falae, who was kidnapped by suspected Fulani herdsmen on his 77th birthday.

THE days ahead may just be harder than envisaged as the International Monetary Fund (IMF) yesterday, said crude oil prices may slump to as low as $20 per barrel in 2016.

The Eket Federal Constituency Elders Forum, yesterday, vowed to resist the truncation of the tenure of Mr Dan Abia as the Managing Director of Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC and by extension, the tenure of Akwa Ibom State.

The Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, has promised that it would not hesitate to apply appropriate sanctions against banks that flout laid down regulations and international best practices.

THE Abia State National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA Commander, Bamidele Akingbade has promised to use all available resources to rid Abia State of drug peddlers, despite the challenges facing the agency in the state.

GOVERNOR David Umahi of Ebonyi State, yesterday, signed into law the 2016 Appropriation Bill of N101.1billion.

In a bid to check housing deficit, the Ogun State Government is to begin the construction of mass affordable houses across the state in 2016.

THE world woke up on Friday December 18 to the calamity that is the proxy war in Syria. The war began four years ago. Over 250,000 killed. Cities destroyed, 7.6 million, internally displaced. Over four million are refugees with an increasing number pushing into Europe. Most of the refugees are children; too young to have started the bloody conflict, but not too young to be victims of the senseless war.THE world woke up on Friday December 18 to the calamity that is the proxy war in Syria. The war began four years ago. Over 250,000 killed. Cities destroyed, 7.6 million, internally displaced. Over four million are refugees with an increasing number pushing into Europe. Most of the refugees are children; too young to have started the bloody conflict, but not too young to be victims of the senseless war.

The Muhammadu Buhari administration has started making good its pledge to probe the big-time financial transactions of the previous administration with the on-going investigation of arms deals between 2007 and May 29 2015. Already, a 13-man committee constituted to examine the transactions has unearthed what it described as large-scale scams totalling N643.817 billion and $2.193 billion after a preliminary inquiry.

Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State has admonished youths in the state to refrain from extravagant acts such as spending their hard earned money on fire crackers.

The Kwara State Government has disclosed that it has paid off the N17 billion infrastructure bond obtained in 2009, stressing that this has enabled it obtain a fresh N20 billion bond for new projects.

Though the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, is yet to lift the ban on electioneering campaigns in Ondo State, some aspirants are getting set to occupy the Alagbaka Government House in 2016. Dr. Segun Abraham is a governorship aspirant seeking to fly the flag of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State. In this interview, Dr Abraham spoke on his ambition, the challenges facing the party and preparations for the 2016 governorship elections in the state.

LAGOS—A 17-year-old girl, identified as Miss Sefinatu Arowofela, was burnt to death in a fire disaster that engulfed a two-storey building in Allen Avenue, Ikeja Local Government, Lagos, even as 14 fire disasters were recorded in the State on Wednesday.

Odion Ighalo is high on confidence that his side can defeat a depleted Manchester United side in Saturday’s early game at Vicarage Road.

The Nigeria international, 26, has scored seven goals in 12 Premier League appearances so far this season and returns to the Hornets on a high after helping his nation into the third round of World Cup 2018 qualification.