News
Soleimani’s Funeral: Iraq Asks US Forces To Leave as NATO suspends training
Iraq’s prime minister Sunday urged parliament to take “urgent measures” to force the withdrawal of foreign forces following a U.S. drone strike that killed a senior Iranian commander and key Iraqi militia leader in Baghdad last week.
In an address to parliament, Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi recommended that the government establish a timetable for the exit of foreign troops, including the members of the U.S.-led coalition to fight the Islamic State, “for the sake of our national sovereignty.”
“What happened was a political assassination,” Abdul Mahdi said of the U.S. strike that targeted Iran’s elite Quds Force commander, Maj. Gen. Qasem Soleimani, as traveled in a convoy near the Baghdad airport.
He said that foreign troops were in Iraq to train its forces and help target remnants of the Islamic State “under the supervision and approval of the Iraqi government.”
“Iraq cannot accept this,” he said. “No foreign troops are allowed to conduct their own military actions inside Iraq.”
His statement followed an earlier announcement from the U.S.-led coalition saying it had paused its training mission in Iraq due to “repeated rocket attacks over the last two months” by the Iran-backed militia, Kataib Hezbollah. It would now focus on protecting its bases from attack, the coalition said. NATO announced Saturday its own suspension of training programs.
Iran meanwhile said Sunday it would limit its response to the attack to U.S. military targets.
“The response for sure will be military and against military sites,” Hossein Dehghan, the military adviser to Iran’s supreme leader, said in an interview with CNN. “The only thing that can end this period of war is for the Americans to receive a blow that is equal to the blow they have inflicted.
The United States has delivered military supplies to Nigerian security agencies in support of ongoing operations in the country.
The United States Africa Command, AFRICOM, announced the delivery in a post on X on Tuesday.
“US forces delivered critical military supplies to our Nigerian partners in Abuja. This delivery supports Nigeria’s ongoing operations and emphasizes our shared security partnership,” AFRICOM said on X.
Nigeria in recent times has faced an upsurge of insecurity, with hundreds being kidnapped.
US forces launched airstrikes on terrorist enclaves in North-West Nigeria on Christmas Day.
Chief (Mrs.) Lucia Onabowale Onabanjo, the widow of Ogun State’s first civilian governor, Chief Victor Olabisi Onabanjo, has passed away at the age of 100.
Her passing was announced by her daughter, Ms Olubukunola Onabanjo, on Tuesday.
According to Ms Onabanjo, the matriarch of the Onabanjo dynasty died at the age of 100.
She said in a statement: “The family of Chief Victor Olabisi Onabanjo, former Governor of Ogun State, announces with deep sorrow, yet with gratitude to Almighty God, the passing of our beloved mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.
“Chief (Mrs) Lucia Onabowale Onabanjo (1925–2026) was called to glory on Monday, January 11.
“We thank God for her long and fulfilled life, and for the enduring legacy of love, strength and faith she leaves behind.
“May her soul rest in perfect peace.”
News
Emulate Oyebanji’s Humility: Fayose Urges Fubara To Reconcile With Wike Following Impeachment Crisis
Amid the political rivalry with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Ayodele Fayose, on Tuesday, urged Governor Sim Fubara of Rivers State to emulate his counterpart from Ekiti State, Biodun Oyebanji.
Fayose said Fubara should be like Oyebanji who once begged him for support.
Speaking in an interview, Tuesday, on Arise Television, Fayose urged Fubara to be humble to Wike because the Minister gave him the platform.
He said: “May I say this to you and to Nigerians, you brought up, like the example I have given, you brought up your child, you trained her, and somebody says I want to marry this girl.
“The credit goes to you. If you have left that girl rotten, ordinary carpenters and people who have no capacity will be chasing her.
“He must have capacity at different levels of life. Life is about level by level. God has graduated this life like a pyramid, you have Asiwaju up there, the governors, the ministers, everybody is at a level.
“You can’t tell me, majority of times, you can’t tell me a man who is down the ladder wants to marry a queen somewhere. They will tell you, you don’t have the capacity.
“So let’s go back to the issues, everybody must have helped everybody in life. But God in himself, God says I hate ingratitude. I will only fight with what I have left.
“You can’t sack Wike from Rivers politics, you can’t sack me from Ekiti politics. I’m not supposed to say what I want to say to you now and I will say it to you.
“It’s about Ekiti politics. I was in this house three years ago. The current governor of Ekiti is of the APC extraction. I am of the PDP. He came to this house, he said, leader, I would want to visit with you. I said, you’re welcome, Your Excellency.
“He came here and sat on the chair and said, Your Excellency, I want to beg you, I want you to come to my support and my aid. I want you to stand by me in this government. I didn’t go to him. He’s the governor. He deserves all honour.”
Just In: U.S. Strengthens Nigeria’s Security With Major New Military Shipment
Chief (Mrs.) Lucia Onabanjo, Widow Of Bisi Onabanjo, Dies At 100
Emulate Oyebanji’s Humility: Fayose Urges Fubara To Reconcile With Wike Following Impeachment Crisis
Next Awujale To Emerge In Two Weeks As 85 Princes Finalize Nominations
Fidelity Bank Supports Quality Education Delivery In Makoko
SANWO-OLU MOURNS BADAGRY MONARCH, DESCRIBES OBA AKRAN’S DEPARTURE AS GREAT LOSS
Khartoum Reclaimed: Sudan’s Government Ends Three-Year Exile In Port Sudan
I Have Delivered On Yahaya Bello Prosecution Promise — EFCC Chairman Olukoyede
Atiku Issues Stern Warning To Tinubu Govt Over Detention Of Critic Abubakar Musa
Boko Haram Demands $300,000 Ransom For Abducted Borno Ex-LG Chair, Another Victim
-
News1 day agoI Have Delivered On Yahaya Bello Prosecution Promise — EFCC Chairman Olukoyede
-
News1 day agoAtiku Issues Stern Warning To Tinubu Govt Over Detention Of Critic Abubakar Musa
-
News20 hours agoFidelity Bank Supports Quality Education Delivery In Makoko
-
News22 hours agoKhartoum Reclaimed: Sudan’s Government Ends Three-Year Exile In Port Sudan
-
News22 hours agoSANWO-OLU MOURNS BADAGRY MONARCH, DESCRIBES OBA AKRAN’S DEPARTURE AS GREAT LOSS
-
News9 hours agoNext Awujale To Emerge In Two Weeks As 85 Princes Finalize Nominations
-
News4 hours agoChief (Mrs.) Lucia Onabanjo, Widow Of Bisi Onabanjo, Dies At 100
-
News4 hours agoEmulate Oyebanji’s Humility: Fayose Urges Fubara To Reconcile With Wike Following Impeachment Crisis