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Summer Transfers: Updates on McAtee, Konate, Saliba, Vinicius, Gyokeres, Mbeumo & Others

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Manchester City are reportedly willing to allow James McAtee depart during the summer transfer season provided the price is right.
According to The Telegraph, the Premier League winners have set a £35 million transfer fee for the 22-year-old English midfielder.
West Ham United and Bundesliga side Eintracht Frankfurt are among the clubs considering a move, although they will have to reach City’s asking price to do so.

Meanwhile, Real Madrid appears to be playing a long game in several aspects.

According to Football Insider, Los Blancos are willing to wait until next summer to get Ibrahima Konate from Liverpool on a free transfer. However, a lowball bid during this window is still possible.

Read Also: Championing Progress: Why Rep. Philip Agbese Deserves Our Mandate Again in 2027

Madrid is also keeping an eye on William Saliba, who plays for Arsenal. The 24-year-old French defender has impressed under Mikel Arteta, and L’Équipe reports that the Spanish giants are keeping a close eye on him, ready to strike if the opportunity arises.

According to AS, the enticing nine-figure Saudi offer for Vinicius Jr. has been withdrawn for the time being.

The 25-year-old Real Madrid star remains a top target for Saudi teams, but talks might resume in 2026, when the Brazilian attacker may be more willing to leave Europe.

Leeds United, the Championship club, is aiming to acquire transfer funds by starting a bidding war for 21-year-old Spanish forward Mateo Joseph.

According to The Sun, the club hopes to move Joseph to fund a summer transfer for Fulham’s Brazilian forward Rodrigo Muniz, 24.

Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim is pressing for more additions before the transfer window ends. According to The Mirror, Amorim plans at least two further extensions. One of them might be Sporting CP attacker Viktor Gyokeres.

According to A Bola, United has submitted a bid to recruit the 27-year-old Swedish forward, with Arsenal also interested.

According to Fabrizio Romano, Bryan Mbeumo has completed his physical before joining Manchester United from Brentford.

The 25-year-old Cameroonian forward is almost ready to be introduced as United’s latest signing.

Tottenham Hotspur are willing to match Bournemouth’s value of Ukrainian defender Illia Zabarnyi, 22, according to Caught Offside.

Tottenham are looking to strengthen their backline and see Zabarnyi as a long-term investment.

Meanwhile, Nottingham Forest are leading the pursuit to recruit Aston Villa’s Jacob Ramsey, 24, according to Football Insider, as the midfielder seeks more playing time.

Meanwhile, The Northern Echo says that Sunderland have pulled out of a £17.5 million agreement for Sassuolo’s Armand Lauriente, opting to explore elsewhere following lengthy negotiations.

Championing Progress: Why Rep. Philip Agbese Deserves Our Mandate Again in 2027

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The journey to a brighter, more prosperous Enone Federal Constituency is well underway, thanks to the impactful leadership of Rep. Philip Agbese. As the 2027 general elections approach, it’s time to reflect on the tangible progress made and the urgent need to sustain this momentum by re-electing a leader who has consistently delivered on his promises.

Rep. Agbese’s first term in the National Assembly has been defined by purposeful action, visionary development, and people-focused representation. From improved infrastructure to social intervention programs and strong policy advocacy, his contributions have touched lives across Ado, Okpokwu, and Ogbadibo, setting a new standard for effective governance in our constituency.

It is against this backdrop that the Door to Door 4 Okanga 2027 movement has taken root — a grassroots campaign committed to spreading the message of progress, achievement, and continuity. Our mission is simple: to engage every household, every voter, and every community with the compelling story of how Rep. Agbese is building the Enone of tomorrow, today.

Re-electing him isn’t just about politics; it’s about protecting the gains we’ve made and expanding opportunities for even greater impact. His deep understanding of our needs, combined with his courage to act, makes him the best choice to continue driving development, strengthening our economy, and championing the aspirations of our people.

We call on all sons and daughters of Enone to rally behind this vision. This is our chance to reaffirm our belief in competent, accountable leadership. Let’s unite behind Rep. Philip Agbese and give him the mandate to finish the work he has so passionately begun.

Together, we can keep moving forward. Together, we choose progress.

Signed,
Comr. Patrick Eza
National Coordinator
Door to Door 4 Okanga 2027

Veteran Actor Adebayo Salami: Some Actresses Offer Sex for Roles, “It Happens”

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Actresses offering sex for jobs is a common practice in the film industry, according to veteran actor Adebayo Salami, better known by her stage name Oga Bello.
However, because of his rigorous discipline, the film producer claimed he has never been a victim of it.
According to the 71-year-old movie icon, he establishes clear boundaries and has never let any actress approach him with such proposals.

He clarified that an attempt to do so with him is difficult due to his work ethic and morals.

“You won’t have the opportunity to approach me.” That’s unlike anyone I’ve ever met. However, he acknowledged, “I know it happens in this generation.”

Having begun acting in 1964 at the age of 12, Salami noted that he is conscious of the increasing lack of discipline among today’s actors and directors.

Read Also: Foreign Portfolio Pressures, Global Trade Woes Stifle Nigeria’s NFEM – Experts

During his early years in the company, he claimed that some behaviors that are now commonplace, such tardiness and weak excuses, were never accepted.

He stated: “This discipline is really different from the discipline of our day. This is a profession where certain explanations are untenable.

You should leave my set even if you are playing the lead.

I’m a disciplined producer and director, so I won’t even give you the opportunity to come see me or discuss it with me.

Foreign Portfolio Pressures, Global Trade Woes Stifle Nigeria’s NFEM – Experts

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The growth of the Nigerian Foreign Exchange Market’s (NFEM) overall liquidity is allegedly constrained by a significant drop in inflows from local sources and the persistent global trade uncertainties, which analysts say pose a downside risk to foreign exchange inflows from Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPIs).

They warned that inflows from local sources fell to a four-month low, falling by 61.4% m/m to USD2.11 billion (May: USD5.48 billion), after individual inflows fell by 91.6% m/m, CBN by 77.2% m/m, exporters/importers by 74.4% m/m, and non-bank corporates by -17.6% m/m. portions

The persistent uncertainties surrounding global trade, they argued, continue to pose a danger to strong inflows from foreign counterparts, which could limit the expansion of total forex liquidity.

The Nigerian Foreign Exchange Market’s (NFEM) overall inflows decreased by 28.1% month over month to USD4.84 billion in June (May: USD6.74 billion), according to data from FMDQ.

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Local inflows, which accounted for 43.7% of total inflows, significantly decreased, which was the main cause of the outturn.

Following reductions in inflows throughout the individual (-91.6% m/m), CBN (-77.2% m/m), exporters/importers (-74.4% m/m), and non-bank corporates (-17.6% m/m) sectors, inflows from local sources fell to a four-month low, falling by 61.4% m/m to USD2.11 billion (May: USD5.48 billion).

In contrast, foreign inflows (56.3% of total inflows) climbed by 116.8% month over month to USD2.73 billion (May: USD1.26 billion), the highest level in 29 months, helped by a rise in market confidence and an easing of international pressures.

Consequently, the FPI (+133.6% m/m) category saw a greater rate of accretion, whilst inflows from FDIs (-31.6% m/m) and other corporates (-39.8% m/m) decreased.

Following declines in inflows across the individual (-91.6% m/m), CBN (-77.2% m/m), exporters/importers (-74.4% m/m), and non-bank corporates (-17.6% m/m) segments, Cordros Securities Researchers reported in their Weekly Economic and Market Report that inflows from local sources had fallen to a four-month low, plunging 61.4% m/m to USD2.11 billion (May: USD5.48 billion).

NAFDAC Receives N20.5bn Worth of Fake Medicines From Customs in Rivers

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The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) at Onne Port, Rivers State, has taken custody of eleven containers containing illegal and unregistered pharmaceutical products from the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS).

In collaboration with the Department of State Services (DSS) and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), officials from the Customs Area II Command seized the containers, which were valued at N20,545,999,200 in duty.

Hazardous pharmaceuticals that were allegedly unlawfully smuggled into Nigeria were found in the seized containers.

The operation is part of a renewed inter-agency effort to stop the flow of illegal and counterfeit narcotics into the nation, according to Comptroller-General of Customs Bashir Adeniyi, who made the announcement during the ceremonial handover on Friday.

According to him, Customs and NAFDAC have formed a combined task force to carry out the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that was signed by both organizations in 2024.

Read Also: Tinubu’s N39bn ICC Project Cannot Be Justified – Deji Adeyanju

In Abuja, we started putting the Memorandum of Understanding between NCS and NAFDAC into effect just two weeks ago. We are now working together to reduce the unlawful importation of unregistered medical products, and our group is the driving force behind that effort,” she stated.

Declaring that this is the second significant drug seizure in as many days, he reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s policies of strengthening national security, protecting public health, and tightening border security.

NAFDAC’s Director-General, Professor Mojisola Adeyeye, hailed the action as a noteworthy example of inter-agency cooperation aimed at safeguarding Nigerians from dangerous pharmaceuticals after receiving the containers.

Tinubu’s N39bn ICC Project Cannot Be Justified – Deji Adeyanju

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Nigerian lawyer cum Human Rights Activist, Deji Adeyanju, has characterized the staggering ₦39 billion spent on the restoration of the Bola Tinubu International Conference Centre (ICC) as a swindle.
It was noted that in June, President Tinubu commissioned the ICC which was rebuilt by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.
The ICC, which was built in 1991 by the dictatorship of former Military President, Ibrahim Babangida, was renamed the Bola Tinubu International Conference Centre after ₦39 billion was spent on its rehabilitation.

Wike, during a recent news conference, also claimed that the ICC is currently generating as much as ₦700 million after its reconstruction.

However, Adeyanju, in a post via 𝕏 on Sunday, July 20, 2025, lamented the purported terrible status of the ICC.

Read Also: 2027 Presidency: Southern PDP Candidate Hunt in Progress — Bode George

Adeyanju said he attended a birthday party at the facility and was horrified by the state of the area.

According to him, the air conditioners were not working and he is confident that even “₦5 billion was not put into the place for repairs.”

He added, “I attended the Seyi Vodi party yesterday at ICC and I felt so sorry for this country. The air conditioning was not working, and I am confident N5 billion was not put into the place for repairs. At most N3 bn was put in it. What happened at that place cannot be labeled anything else other than a scam.”

2027 Presidency: Southern PDP Candidate Hunt in Progress — Bode George

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Amidst rising tensions over the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) zoning arrangement ahead of the 2027 elections, party chieftain and former Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Bode George, has acknowledged that deliberate attempts are underway to obtain a southern presidential candidate.

George disclosed in an interview that the party is discreetly forming a consensus around respectable southern figures who can fly the PDP flag against the All Progressives Congress (APC) and President Bola Tinubu in 2027.
According to reports, George claimed that the process of selecting a southerner as the party’s presidential flagbearer is underway.

“In politics, there is no shut-down. We’re heading to a meeting this week, a make-or-break meeting if you will.

Read Also: Okanga Delivers Again for Ijigban: A Day of Love, Laughter, and Generosity

While George and other Southern PDP officials urge for relocating the presidential ticket to the South, some National Executive Committee members remain opposed, stating that the party should prioritize electability and internal unity over regional concerns.

George acknowledged the zoning differences, but emphasized the necessity of secrecy and smart timing in identifying viable candidates.

He stated, “Arrangements are already in progress, and there are several reputable, responsible persons of good reputation who have been tried and verified.

“But it’s too early to start tossing names about. If you do that now, you’re asking for trouble.”

The development comes as the PDP deals with a chaotic internal environment with the exit of former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, and the creation of a new opposition group under the African Democratic Congress.

Okanga Delivers Again for Ijigban: A Day of Love, Laughter, and Generosity

Joy and celebration swept across Ijigban as Okanga once again delivered in grand style for his people. The community came alive with vibrant performances from local rappers, generous cash gifts, and plenty of food, creating a festive atmosphere that left no one behind.

The love between Okanga and the people of Ijigban was evident in every corner. “Ijigban loves Okanga, and Okanga loves Ijigban,” became the anthem of the day, echoing the unbreakable bond between the beloved figure and his community.

Standing firmly behind this impactful initiative was Dr. Hon. Chief Philip Agbese, the respected member of the House of Representatives representing Ado/Okpokwu/Ogbadibo Federal Constituency. His continued support and encouragement have helped strengthen grassroots empowerment efforts like this one. Dr. Agbese’s influence and leadership remain a pillar of progress in the Benue South region.

The Okanga Sisters were visibly emotional, overwhelmed by the love shown to their brother. “We are proud and deeply moved by what we witnessed today,” one of them said.

Once again, Okanga’s commitment—backed by the visionary leadership of Dr. Philip Agbese—proves that when leaders remember their roots, communities flourish.




What Peter Obi Should Do If Okpebholo Fails to Withdraw Illegal Threat – Femi Falana

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The governor of Edo State, Monday Okpebholo, has been requested by Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Femi Falana to revoke the threat against Peter Obi, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP).
During a public event on Friday, Okphebolo reminded everyone that Peter Obi should not travel to Edo without first obtaining security clearance because of the violence that allegedly followed the former governor of Anambra State’s most recent visit to the state.
The man who claims to have no “shishi” came and gave N15 million, he said. How did he obtain it? Three were murdered after he left. Obi should not enter Edo without a security clearance because of this.

But in a statement issued on Sunday, Falana denounced Okpebholo’s remarks, claiming that they were against the 1999 Constitution.

If Okpebholo doesn’t take back the unlawful threat, Peter Obi should go ahead and apply to the Federal High Court’s Benin Judicial Division to have his fundamental right to life upheld, according to the human rights attorney.

Read Also: Constitution Review: Bayelsa Pushes for More LGAs, State Police, Electoral and Judicial Overhaul

The “new sheriff in town” in Edo State threatened Mr. Peter Obi’s life, he said, in violation of both article 4 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples (Ratification and Enforcement) and section 33 of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 Constitution as amended, which guarantees every citizen the fundamental right to life.

Given that the Constitution’s section 14(2)(b) states that the security and well-being of the populace must be the top priority of government, Governor Okpebholo need to revoke the threat, publicly apologize to Mr. Peter Obi, and guarantee his safety in Edo State.

But if Governor Okpebholo doesn’t back down from the unlawful threat due to his haughtiness, Mr. Peter Obi ought to go ahead and apply to the Federal High Court’s Benin Judicial Division to have his fundamental right to life upheld. Given the frequency of extrajudicial killings and mob justice in the nation, Mr. Obi ought to take immediate action.

Constitution Review: Bayelsa Pushes for More LGAs, State Police, Electoral and Judicial Overhaul

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In addition to the eight local government units that already exist in the state, Bayelsa State has requested the establishment of 25 more.

The establishment of state police, electoral and judicial reforms, and fiscal federalism were among proposals put up by the state.
At the current public hearing of the House of Representatives’ Committee on the Review of the 1999 constitution, which is being held by the South South Centre A (which includes Bayelsa, Delta, and Edo) at the DSP Alamieyeseigha Banquet Hall in Yenagoa on Saturday, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Biriyai Dambo, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, gave the state’s position.
Since the current local government regions were overcrowded, with some having more than 150 communities, Mr. Dambo claimed that the state needed to establish new councils.

Additionally, the state argued that it had the financial means to support the planned councils, which were established by the House of Assembly in accordance with Section 8(3) of the 1999 Constitution (as modified).
By suggesting that the nation be reorganized according to the ideas of fiscal federalism, Bayelsa proposed that all natural resources, both on and off the coast of the federating states, be fully controlled and that the federal government receive 40% of tax revenue while the states keep 60% of the money generated by their resources.

The establishment of state police, according to the state, will improve states’ ability to combat crime and maintain proper security.

Nigeria was ready for state policing, it was added, and the movement for state police was in line with true federalism.

Reviewing the local government system and autonomy, reviewing the legislative and exclusive lists, strengthening the Independent National Elec­toral Commission through electoral changes, and implementing judicial reforms were all equally important components of the state’s stance.

The fundamental right of the people to modify the constitution that established their government is the cornerstone of every strong democracy, according to remarks made earlier by Senator Douye Diri, the governor of Bayelsa State.

A review, he said, guarantees that the constitution is not a static document but rather a living tool that changes to meet the evolving needs and goals of the people.

“Really just, equitable, responsive, and demonstrably dedicated to the holistic development of not just the state or the Ni­ger Delta region but also the Nigerian federation,” Governor Diri emphasized, was the core of Bayelsa State’s demands: a strong commitment to the establishment of a federal system and structure.

In addition, he said that the people of Bayelsa wanted “historical injustices related to the inequitable allocation of resources, alongside the glaring disparities in the creation and distribution of local government areas fixed.”

Delta State Governor Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori was represented at the occasion by his deputy, Sir Monday Onyeme, while Attorney General Samson Osagie represented his counterpart, Senator Monday Okpebolo.

Both governors endorsed the constitution review exercise, claiming it would fix the existing constitution’s shortcomings and close its gaps.

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They also pointed out how contentious the 1999 constitution had grown.

Moreover, the South South Center chairman Prior to being presented on the House floor, each document would undergo a thorough assessment and presentation to the entire Constitution assessment Committee, according to Prof. Julius Ihonvbere, the House of Representatives’ majority leader and a committee member.

According to Ihonvbere, the involvement of stakeholders would improve Nigeria and make it more democratic and inclusive of all people.

Representatives from the state, including Dr. Fred Agbedi (Sagbama/Ekerem­or Federal Constituency), Mrs. Marie Ebikake (Nem­be/Brass), Dr. Mitema Ob­ordor (Ogbia), and Rodney Ambaiowei (Southern Ijaw), as well as Speaker of the Bayelsa State House of As­sembly Rt. Hon. Abraham Ingobere and his Delta State counterpart Emomotimi Guwor, were in attendance.

The Amanyanabo of Twon-Brass, King Alfred Diete-Spiff, King Bubaraye Dakolo, the chairman of the state council of traditional rulers, and other dignitaries from Bayelsa, Delta, and Edo states were also in attendance.