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  • UK, US chapters reject Oba Olaitan as Afenifere’s factional leader

    UK, US chapters reject Oba Olaitan as Afenifere’s factional leader

    Two groups, under the platform of the United Kingdom and the United States of America chapters of the pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, have rejected the appointment of Oba Oladipo Olaitan as the association’s leader.

    This was contained in a statement by the chairmen of the groups, Babatunde Shianaba (UK), and Dr Durojaiye Akindutire (US), made available to our correspondent in Akure, Ondo State, on Saturday,

    Olaitan was appointed as the leader of the Afenifere, loyal to the late Pa Ayo Adebanjo, at the group’s meeting held at Sanya Ogbo Ijebu, Ogun State, on Tuesday.

    The appointment came a few days after the death of Chief Ayo Adebanjo, who passed away at the age of 97.

    Oba Olaitan was the deputy to the late Adebanjo

    However, in the statement, the UK and US chapters of Afenifere, described the appointment of Oba Olaitan as an affront to the Afenifere in general.

    They declared that Pa Reuben Fasoranti remained the leader of the association.

    The statement read, “Afenifere remains a structured and principled organisation under the leadership of Pa Reuben Fasoranti, a revered elder statesman whose wisdom and steadfast guidance continue to shape the destiny of the Yoruba people.

    “It is wholly against Yoruba culture and values for younger individuals to belittle elders or seek to usurp the authority of well-established leaders.

    “Those parading themselves as representatives of a so-called faction of Afenifere are nothing more than political opportunists and self-serving power traders.

    “If they wish to establish a separate entity, they are at liberty to do so, but they must desist from exploiting Afenifere’s revered name to further their personal ambitions.

    “Afenifere has always been a movement dedicated to the welfare of the Yoruba people within Nigeria, advocating for justice, equity, and good governance.

    “The very notion that a faction could claim to represent Afenifere while acting in direct contradiction to its founding principles is patently absurd. We urge such individuals to educate themselves on the rich and noble history of Afenifere rather than engage in reckless political manoeuvring.”

    While appealing to Olaitan to desist from assuming the office of a leader of the group, the Afenifere in diaspora said traditional rulers were expected to serve as custodians of peace and unity, not as instruments of discord within respected socio-political structures.

    They also called for his sanction.

  • Afenifere in UK, US disown Oba Olaitan as leader

    Afenifere in UK, US disown Oba Olaitan as leader

    The United Kingdom and United States chapters of the Pan-Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere, have rejected the appointment of Oba Oladipo Olaitan as the new leader of the organization, dismissing the claim as misleading and erroneous.

    In a joint statement signed by Dr. Durojaiye Akindutire, Chairman of Afenifere USA, and Engr. Babatunde Shianaba, Chairman of Afenifere UK, described the claim as a deliberate misrepresentation of facts.

    “This misleading claim is not only false but also a grave affront to the esteemed institution of Afenifere, which has long been a beacon of Yoruba socio-political advancement,” the statement read.

    They emphasized that Afenifere remains a structured and principled organization under the leadership of Pa Reuben Fasoranti, a revered elder statesman whose wisdom and steadfast guidance continue to shape the Yoruba people’s destiny.

    The statement strongly condemned those attempting to divide the group:

    “It is wholly against Yoruba culture and values for younger individuals to belittle elders or seek to usurp the authority of well-established leaders. Those parading themselves as representatives of a so-called faction of Afenifere are nothing more than political opportunists and self-serving power traders.”

    The leaders urged such individuals to form their political entity rather than exploit Afenifere’s revered name for personal ambitions.

    Afenifere’s UK and US chapters also called on Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, to caution Oba Oladipo Olaitan against meddling in the group’s affairs in a divisive manner.

    “Traditional rulers are expected to serve as custodians of peace and unity, not as instruments of discord within respected socio-political structures. It is beneath the dignity of an Oba to be manipulated as a pawn in efforts to destabilize an organization that has tirelessly championed Yoruba progress.”

    The statement further criticized Olaitan’s credentials, questioning his legitimacy to lead Afenifere:

    “It is preposterous that a fourth-class Oba from a remote hamlet in Ijesha land, Alaago-Kajola, would harbor ambitions of leading Afenifere and, by extension, the Yoruba people.”

    They accused him of previous political miscalculations, including his 2007 Osun State gubernatorial candidacy under the now-defunct NDP, a party linked to the late General Sani Abacha’s political machinery.

    “Olaitan disregarded wise counsel from Afenifere leaders, demonstrating a long-standing pattern of pursuing an anti-Yoruba agenda.”

    As a result, they called on Pa Reuben Fasoranti to expel Oba Olaitan from Afenifere, citing his lack of commitment and absence from official meetings since March 16, 2021.

    “His continued association with Afenifere is untenable. He must be expelled, just like others falsely parading themselves as members without any legitimate affiliation.”

    Concluding the statement, Afenifere’s UK and US representatives reiterated that the organization has no faction, and remains firmly under the leadership of Pa Reuben Fasoranti.

    “Any attempt to sow confusion or distort the truth will ultimately fail, for history and justice shall always prevail.”

  • Canada beats US in revenge hockey rematch played on political thin ice

    Canada beats US in revenge hockey rematch played on political thin ice

    Canada has beaten the United States after the two countries battled it out on the rink in a championship game that proved to be about more than just ice hockey.

    The 4 Nations Face Off final ended 3-2 in overtime.

    On any ordinary day, this fixture would have been a significant one for the two neighbouring countries who have long been friendly rivals on the ice.

    But heating up the rivalry this time was the looming threat of an economically damaging trade war, as well as Donald Trump’s persistent musings to annex Canada and make it the 51st state.

    Trump himself was invited to attend the game in Boston by Team USA’s general manager Bill Guerin. The US president was unable to make it, but made a point of calling the team to wish them good luck.

    He also repeated his desire to absorb Canada, writing in a Truth Social post ahead of the game that he hoped the country “will someday, maybe soon, become our cherished and very important, Fifty First State”.

    Canada’s public safety minister David McGuinty later told reporters he took Trump’s quip as a sign that the president was “worried about the outcome” of the game.

    After Canada’s victory, outgoing PM Justin Trudeau – dubbed “Governor Trudeau” by Trump – posted on X: “You can’t take our country – and you can’t take our game.”

    For fans across North America, the final was a “dream match-up,” ice hockey writer Daniel Nugent-Bowman told the BBC. Not since the 2014 Winter Olympics had the top men’s ice hockey players from Canada and the US faced off in such a consequential game.

    Both countries boast some of the biggest stars in the National Hockey League (NHL), like Canadians Mitch Marner and Connor McDavid, and Americans Auston Matthews and Jack Eichel. The game was a chance for this new generation of players to prove themselves.

    But in Canada, the game was also a personal one, giving both die-hard and casual fans an opportunity to bask in national pride at a time when the country’s sovereignty looks to be threatened by its closest neighbour.

    The first game between Canada and the US of this tournament, played on 15 February in Montreal, saw the American national anthem booed by Canadian fans, despite the announcer asking fans beforehand – in both English and French – to show respect to the opposing team.

    Vocal protests of the US anthem have become a common sight at sports games in Canada over the past month since Trump threatened a 25% tariff on all Canadian goods.

    When it came to singing the Canadian anthem, fans – including Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau – belted it out at the top of their lungs.

    Three fist fights then broke out on the ice in the first nine seconds of the game between the American and Canadian players. It was an astonishing sight, even by ice hockey standards where fights are common.

    Matthew Tkachuk, a Team USA player who was among those involved in the brawls, told reporters afterwards that his team needed to deliver a message that “It’s our time right now.”

    Perhaps the loudest message sent that day was Team USA’s decisive 3-1 win against Canada.

    Few Canadians would dispute how integral ice hockey is to the country’s national identity.

    The sport has served as a backdrop to some of the most patriotic moments in Canada’s history, like Sidney Crosby’s overtime gold medal goal at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.

    Historically, Canada has had the upper hand against the US. The two countries have met 20 times in best-on-best tournaments since the 1976 Canada Cup, with Canada winning 14 of those games.

    Canadian fans boo US anthem as tariffs spur ‘buy local’ pledge
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    Trump tariffs ‘made something snap in us’ – many Canadians see US rift beyond repair

  • UK economy picks up, boosting govt amid US tariffs

    UK economy picks up, boosting govt amid US tariffs

    Britain’s economy picked up at the end of last year, official data showed Thursday, relieving some pressure on the Labour government as the country faces up to US tariffs.

    Gross domestic product expanded 0.1 percent in the October-December period after zero growth in the third quarter of 2024, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said in a statement.

    Analysts’ consensus forecast was for the UK economy to have contracted slightly in the fourth quarter.

    The data hands a reprieve to the government of Prime Minister Keir Starmer which has put growing the UK economy at the top of its mission since Labour won a general election in July after 14 years in opposition to the Conservatives.

    The economy had struggled to grow during its first few months in office as inflation remained elevated.

    The Bank of England last week halved its forecast for British growth this year, saying GDP would now grow by only 0.75 percent in 2025, blaming global risks amid tariffs on imports into the United States unleashed by President Donald Trump.

    That would mark a slowdown on growth of 0.9 percent last year, according to ONS data Thursday, which added that the economy expanded 0.4 percent in December.

    “The economy picked up in December after several weak months, meaning overall the economy grew a little in the fourth quarter,” noted Liz McKeown, director of economics at the ONS.

    “Across the quarter, growth in services and construction were partially offset by a fall in production,” she added.

    – Tariffs threat –

    Reacting to the latest figures, finance minister Rachel Reeves said she was determined to help grow the UK economy, in large part by easing regulation on building new infrastructure.

    “For too long, politicians have accepted an economy that has failed working people,” she said in a statement.

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    “After 14 years of flatlining living standards, we are going further and faster through our plan for change to put more money in people’s pockets,” Reeves added.

    Her plans could be scuppered, however, by Trump’s tariffs.

    Britain on Tuesday said it was “engaging” with the United States on the detail of the president’s steel tariffs, in contrast to firm responses by Canada and the European Union.

    Seeking to keep Britain’s closest ally onside, Starmer told parliament Wednesday:

    “The US and the UK share a strong and balanced trading relationship, we invest hugely in each other’s economies and we will continue to work closely with President Trump to boost growth and to create jobs.”

  • Apple renames Gulf of Mexico to ‘Gulf of America’ on US app

    Apple has renamed the Gulf of Mexico as the “Gulf of America” for US users of its mapping application to comply with an executive order by President Donald Trump.

    People using the Apple Maps application from the United States will find the body of water is now called the “Gulf of America.”

    Those accessing the service from abroad however will still find it called the “Gulf of Mexico.”

    Apple’s decision comes after Google on Monday changed the name to “Gulf of America” for those using its Maps platform inside the United States.

    Google wrote in a blog post that users outside the United States will continue to see both names.

    “People using Maps in the U.S. will see ‘Gulf of America,’ and people in Mexico will see ‘Gulf of Mexico.’ Everyone else will see both names,” Google wrote.

    Trump signed executive orders changing the names of Denali, a mountain in Alaska, and the Gulf of Mexico soon after his January 20 swearing-in as president.

    The term “Gulf of America” was soon used by the US Coast Guard in a press release on enforcing Trump’s new crackdown on migrants, as well as Florida’s Republican governor, Ron DeSantis, when discussing a winter storm.

    The move raised diplomatic concerns in Mexico, and President Claudia Sheinbaum said the government would write to Google and object to the name change.

    The Associated Press said Tuesday that its White House reporter was barred from an event with Trump over the top US news agency’s refusal to use “Gulf of America”.

    Trump’s order to change Denali to Mount McKinley reverses then-president Barack Obama’s 2015 decision to officially recognize Denali, the name used by Alaska Natives for centuries for North America’s highest peak.