
Veteran musician Zaaki Azzay stated he would only support a presidential candidate genuinely committed to Nigeria's progress and willing to make sacrifices for the country. In an interview with Saturday Beats, Azzay expressed that he has not yet seen any politician who truly stands out. He believes that the current president, Tinubu, should be allowed to complete his eight years, as he sees no significant difference in other emerging politicians, describing it as "recycling the same set of people." Azzay emphasized that an ideal leader must be selfless and youth-inclined, ready to sacrifice for Nigeria, to initiate a fresh cycle rather than repeating past patterns. He noted that many Nigerians, especially young people, have lost faith due to repeated disappointments from leaders. Azzay also discussed the decline of socially conscious music, attributing it to public discouragement and a lack of government support. He mentioned that while some artists still create patriotic music, government events often prioritize popular club-hit artists over those promoting peace and unity. He clarified that his song "Change Is Possible" was a message about peace and unity, often misunderstood as a political campaign slogan.
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Punch Nigeria.
Must ReadThe Nigerian Senate is scheduled to hold an emergency plenary session today to consider the State Police Bill, a proposed constitutional amendment aimed at decentralizing policing and allowing states to establish their own police services. This special sitting follows concerns that the bill, which requires a two-thirds majority vote for constitutional amendments, could not be concluded before the recent recess due to a quorum shortfall. Senate Spokesman, Senator Yemi Adaramodu, confirmed that the State Police legislation is a priority for the session, which will also address other matters of public interest, especially national security. The emergency plenary, communicated via a memo from the Clerk of the Senate, Emmanuel Odo, was convened at the instance of Senate President Godswill Akpabio to address urgent national importance, particularly issues related to national security. This recall of lawmakers during their recess highlights the growing anxiety over Nigeria's security situation, including persistent attacks by terrorists, bandits, and other criminal groups. If passed, the bill will move policing from the Exclusive Legislative List to the Concurrent Legislative List, allowing state governments to establish their own police formations alongside the federal police. Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele, leading the debate, emphasized that local police officers would be better positioned to gather intelligence due to their familiarity with local languages, customs, and communit
Must ReadTroops of Operation Hadin Kai rescued 47 individuals, primarily women and children, from an Islamic State West Africa Province ISWAP enclave in Kangarwa, Kukawa Local Government Area of Borno State on June 20. Acting Military Information Officer, Headquarters Joint Task Force North-East Operation Hadin Kai, Capt. Mohammed Goni, stated that the rescue followed sustained military offensives against terrorist hideouts in the Lake Chad region. He explained that intensified ground and air assaults forced insurgents to abandon their positions, allowing the captives to escape. The rescued persons are currently receiving medical attention and humanitarian support at a secure location, with plans for their reintegration. Goni emphasized the military's commitment to protecting civilians and weakening terrorist networks, vowing to continue operations to dismantle remaining cells and restore peace to the North-East. Borno State has been a focal point of insurgency for over a decade, with the military recently intensifying operations across the Lake Chad basin and Sambisa axis.

Erling Haaland scored two goals, leading Norway to a 3-2 victory over Senegal and securing their spot in the World Cup last 32. Substitute Marcus Holmgren Pedersen opened the scoring for Norway in the first half, with Haaland extending their lead after the break. Although Ismaila Sarr reduced the deficit for Senegal, Haaland capitalized on defensive errors to score again. Sarr scored a late consolation goal, but Norway held on for the win. Haaland now has four goals in two tournament games. Norway, with only one loss in their last 18 matches, will face France for the top spot in their group. Senegal must defeat Iraq in their final game to have a chance of avoiding an early exit. Norway's dominant performance, featuring Haaland's 59th and 60th international goals in 52 games, marked their first back-to-back World Cup wins. Key moments included Senegal goalkeeper Edouard Mendy making several saves, but a mistake from captain Kalidou Koulibaly led to Pedersen's goal. Haaland scored his first goal after a counter-attack, set up by Martin Odegaard. Sarr responded for Senegal, but Koulibaly's failure to clear allowed Haaland to score his second. Despite a late goal from Sarr, Norway secured their progression, joining France in the knockout rounds.