馃嚦馃嚞NigeriaWest Africa
Croatia coach confident Luka Modri膰 will recover for World Cup despite facial injury
via Punch Nigeria1 min read
Croatia head coach Zlatko Dali膰 is confident that captain Luka Modri膰 will recover in time to lead the team at the upcoming FIFA World Cup. Modri膰 sustained a broken cheekbone during a match between AC Milan and Juventus, which resulted in a complex, multi-fragment fracture of the left zygomatic bone. He has since undergone successful surgery, though AC Milan has not provided a specific timeline for his return. Modri膰 is expected to miss the remainder of the Serie A season. Despite this setback, Dali膰 remains optimistic about Modri膰鈥檚 availability for the World Cup, which starts on June 11. Croatia will begin their campaign against England on June 17. Dali膰 has spoken with Modri膰, expressing his support and belief that the recovery process will proceed as planned. Modri膰, a key leader for Croatia, is expected to be central to their World Cup plans if he recovers in time.
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Former Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, cautioned that weakening key institutions, particularly the legislature, endangers Nigeria's democracy. Speaking at The Platform鈥檚 June Forum in Lagos for the 2026 Democracy Day celebration, Saraki stressed that a strong and independent parliament is crucial for democratic stability, good governance, and national development. He described the National Assembly as the "load-bearing wall" of Nigeria's democracy, asserting that democracy was fought for and must be protected through strong institutions. Saraki highlighted the 1993 presidential election as a symbol of Nigerians' commitment to democratic ideals. He argued that the legislature provides a platform for managing political disagreements and preventing national crises, stating that a legislature that merely endorses executive decisions without scrutiny fails its constitutional duty. Saraki defended the National Assembly's oversight and budgetary roles, recalling the Eighth Senate's rejection of a $29.96 billion external loan request in 2016 due to insufficient details and its refusal to confirm former acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ibrahim Magu, based on security reports. He cited legislative reforms like the Not Too Young To Run Act and the Disability Act as examples of driving national progress. While acknowledging legislative shortcomings, Saraki maintained that the solution is to strengthen the institution through greater transparency, inde
Dennis Otuaro, Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, stated that Democracy Day marks a significant milestone in Nigeria's democratic evolution, serving as a unifying reference for the country's political development. He noted that June 12 symbolizes electoral freedom and the pursuit of credible democratic governance, reflecting Nigeria's aspiration for fair elections and accountable leadership. Otuaro paid tribute to Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola and others involved in the June 12 struggle, acknowledging their role in the return to democratic rule in 1999. He commended President Bola Tinubu for efforts to strengthen democratic institutions and expand civic participation, citing development outcomes in the Niger Delta as evidence of democracy's benefits under the current administration. Otuaro linked improvements in the PAP to increased government backing, which has strengthened scholarships, skills acquisition, and empowerment initiatives, with over 8,235 students currently benefiting from scholarship schemes. He also referenced federal projects and institutions like the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, the South-South Development Commission, the Federal University of Environment and Technology in Ogoniland, and the Nigeria Maritime University, Okerenkoko, as indicators of government attention to the region's development needs. Otuaro urged citizens to support security agencies in addressing insecurity and called on youths and former agitators in the Niger Del
Must ReadA US deportation flight carrying nationals from Iran, Afghanistan, Turkey, and Georgia was en route to the Central African Republic CAR on Friday, according to lawyers. This practice of "third-country" deportations, including individuals with legal protections, has become a feature of US President Donald Trump's immigration policies. The US State Department advises against travel to the CAR due to violence. Lawyers expressed concern that deportees, including Iranian women with "withholding of removal" status, might ultimately be forced to return to the countries they fled. The flight departed from Alexandria, Louisiana, and made a scheduled stopover in Ghana, a known hub for such deportations. It was unclear if all passengers would continue to the CAR. The Trump administration argues it is only barred from sending individuals with "withholding of removal" to their country of origin, allowing them to be sent elsewhere. Critics state these individuals are abandoned in a country where they lack status, connections, and support. While the CAR's security has improved with UN, Rwandan, and Russian support, anti-government fighters and armed groups remain active. A lawsuit was recently filed with the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights to halt US deportations to Equatorial Guinea, another African hub, and prevent onward expulsion to home countries.