News

2027: ‘Tinubu-Shettima zero-zero ticket, not Muslim-Muslim ticket’ – Adebayo

Published

1 month ago

July 14, 2026

Preport

Presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party, SDP, Adewole Adebayo, on Tuesday declared that there is nothing like a Muslim-Muslim ticket, stressing that Nigerians are not interested in such ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

Adebayo maintained that Nigerians want a righteous leader who is fit for the job and is not one who emerges based on religious sentiments.

Appearing on Arise Television’s Morning Show, the SDP presidential candidate described the President Bola Tinubu and Kashim Shettima ticket as zero-zero ticket.

He said: “There is nothing like the Muslim-Muslim ticket, even when the contraption was brought up four years ago and I was in Kano, I was asked the same question while meddling with the Ulamas and I let them know that if you are hoping for a Muslim-Muslim ticket in President Tinubu and Vice President Shettima, you will be lucky to even have a single Muslim out of the two.

“And it turned out now that it’s not a Muslim-Muslim ticket, from the point of view of Muslims in Nigeria it’s a zero-zero ticket because in Islam what is expected of a leader in Islamic jurisprudence is not the religion of that leader but justice.

“The reason why Muslims get involved in politics is to have a just society and there are guidelines in Islamic jurisprudence regarding politics. In Islam, it’s expected that if you are a good Muslim you do not give public office or responsibility to anyone who is not fit for that, so you look among yourselves for the most suitable and committed person.”

He insisted that the concept of Muslim-Muslim ticket was created to defraud Nigerians.

“Second, you don’t give power based on favoritism or bias, and you don’t give power based on expectation of reward.

“So the whole concept from the beginning was just to defraud the populace by using religious sentiment. What the North and all Nigerians are looking for is a righteous leader no matter the person,” he said.

Noting that Nigerians are groaning due to the toMuslim-Muslim ticket, Adebayo said one of the proponents, Nasir El-Rufai and his family are crying, adding that Nigerians do not support it.

“So when you say you are looking for a Muslim-Muslim ticket and there is no justice anywhere, even one of the proponents, El-Rufai who was celebrating it, he and his family are now crying for justice and that is the biggest irony you can have.

“Nobody was more of a Muslim-Muslim ticket than El-Rufai who can’t get justice, so I don’t think that Nigerians are interested in that at all and the government and APC are just looking for what to say, there is no support for a Muslim-Muslim ticket anywhere,” he added.

News

Nigerian Teenage Stars Raheem Salaudeen, Fawas Adeleke Spark UK Scholarship Interest After Stunning Trial

Published

5 hours ago

August 25, 2026

Preport

Two promising Nigerian midfielders, Raheem Moyinoluwa Salaudeen and Fawas Ayomide Adeleke, have attracted significant attention in the United Kingdom after impressing during a football trial, with both youngsters now being considered for scholarship opportunities that could combine their football development with further education.

The teenage midfielders, who are products of Buruj Sports Academy, caught the attention of the technical team with their performances during the trial, opening the door to what could become a major step forward in their young careers.

Following their impressive showing, Anthony Williams MSC, Director of UK Football Trials, approached the players over a potential scholarship opportunity, with discussions now ongoing with their management representatives.

The proposed scholarships would give the two youngsters an opportunity to continue their football development in the United Kingdom while also pursuing further education, providing a pathway that could prove crucial to their ambitions of becoming professional footballers.

Salaudeen, born on May 13, 2010, has already built an impressive international résumé despite his young age.

The midfielder represented Nigeria at U-15 level during a two-legged international friendly against Morocco in 2024 before featuring for the country at the All African School Games in Algeria in 2025.

His performances subsequently earned him a call-up to the Nigeria U-17 set-up for a four-nation international invitation tournament in China in 2026.

Salaudeen has also gained experience beyond youth international football, having featured in Nigeria’s Nationwide League One, giving him an opportunity to compete against older and more experienced players.

Adeleke, born on April 20, 2011, has followed a similarly impressive path.

The young midfielder represented Nigeria at U-15 level against Morocco in 2024 and was also part of the Nigerian team at the African Schools Football Championship in 2025.

Like Salaudeen, Adeleke has already stepped into senior football through appearances in the Nationwide League One despite still being a teenager.

That combination of youth international experience and exposure to senior football has now helped place both players firmly on the radar in the United Kingdom.

Their latest trial has therefore become more than just another opportunity to showcase their ability.

It could potentially open the door to a new football and educational environment where they can continue developing their technical and tactical qualities while preparing academically for their future.

Both players have completed their secondary education in Nigeria and are now looking ahead to the possibility of beginning the next chapter of their lives in the United Kingdom.

For Salaudeen and Adeleke, the opportunity comes at a crucial stage in their development, with both youngsters determined to take full advantage of the interest generated by their performances.

Their journey from representing Nigeria at youth international level, to gaining valuable senior experience in the NLO, and now attracting scholarship interest in the United Kingdom, underlines the progress made by the two Buruj Sports Academy products.

With discussions over the proposed scholarships continuing, the young Nigerians now have an opportunity that could take their careers to another level.

And if they can build on the promise that attracted attention during their UK trial, Salaudeen and Adeleke could be taking their first major steps towards turning their dream of professional football into reality.

Business

AXA Mansard Health Takes World Hepatitis Day Campaign to Bariga with Free Screenings and Community Relief

Published

6 hours ago

August 25, 2026

Preport

PRESS RELEASE—As part of efforts to promote preventive healthcare and early detection of diseases, AXA Mansard Health has taken its hepatitis awareness campaign to Bariga, Lagos, providing residents with free screening, health education and support services.
The initiative, organised to commemorate World Hepatitis Day 2026, reflects the health management organisation’s continued focus on improving access to preventive healthcare, particularly in communities where routine screening and health information may be limited.
Residents who participated in the outreach received free hepatitis screening and were educated on prevention, diagnosis and the importance of seeking timely medical attention.
The programme also extended beyond medical intervention, with relief packages distributed to vulnerable families in the community as part of efforts to provide immediate support to beneficiaries.
According to AXA Mansard Health, taking health education and screening directly to communities is critical to closing gaps in awareness and access to preventive services.
The initiative underscores the growing importance of preventive healthcare in Nigeria, where delayed diagnosis and limited access to routine screening can worsen the health and financial consequences of treatable diseases.
For insurers and health maintenance organisations (HMOs), greater emphasis on prevention and early detection could also help reduce long-term healthcare costs by encouraging timely intervention before illnesses become more severe.
The Bariga outreach therefore highlights a broader shift in healthcare delivery towards awareness, screening and early intervention rather than treatment after diseases have advanced.
AXA Mansard Health said it would continue to support initiatives that equip Nigerians with the knowledge and resources needed to make informed decisions about their health.
The organisation stressed that sustained public education and improved access to screening are essential to preventing hepatitis from progressing into serious and potentially life-threatening conditions.
The campaign also demonstrates the role of private-sector, early detection and preventive care.

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