Hello and welcome! In today’s trending news stories;
1. The leadership of Ohaneze Ndigbo and the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, have condemned the recent killings of security personnel in the South East by unknown armed men. Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, President General of Ohaneze Ndigbo Worldwide, stated this after a meeting with Kanu at the Department of State Services (DSS) Headquarters, emphasizing that these acts do not have the support of the Igbo community, Ohaneze leadership, or Kanu. Kanu also disapproved of the sit-at-home directive enforced by some groups in the South East. Iwuanyanwu called for President Ahmed Tinubu to find a political solution to Kanu’s detention, arguing that the issue is political rather than judicial. He highlighted the discrimination Kanu faces, noting that other regional self-determination advocates are not imprisoned.
2. Donald Trump has become the first former U.S. president to be criminally convicted, found guilty on 34 counts of falsifying business records related to a $130,000 payment to Stormy Daniels during the 2016 campaign. The trial included testimonies from 22 witnesses, including Michael Cohen and Stormy Daniels. Trump faces a possible maximum of four years in prison for each count but is more likely to receive a fine. Trump’s lawyers plan to appeal. Despite the conviction, Trump remains eligible to run for president in the 2024 election.
3. The African National Congress (ANC) is leading in the South African elections with just under 60% of votes counted but is falling short of a majority. The Democratic Alliance (DA) is in second place, followed by former President Zuma’s uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) party. The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research predicts the ANC will lose its majority in the National Assembly, with the DA and MK gaining seats. Zuma aims to challenge the ANC’s dominance, especially in KwaZulu-Natal. It is worthy of note that the ANC’s support for Palestine has influenced some voters.
4. Former Rangers player Ibrahim Olawoyin has been called up to the Nigeria Super Eagles squad for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers, replacing Bayer Leverkusen’s Nathan Tella, who withdrew for family reasons. Olawoyin, now with Çaykur Rizespor in the Turkish Super Lig, had an impressive season, scoring eight goals and providing three assists, helping his team to a ninth-place finish. His performances have earned him this national team opportunity as coach Finidi George aims to strengthen the squad for the crucial qualifiers.
5. RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko is reportedly eager to join Arsenal this summer. While Chelsea, Manchester United, and several Italian clubs have shown interest, Arsenal are currently leading the race to sign the £45 million-rated Slovenian forward. Sesko prefers a move to the Emirates, where manager Mikel Arteta is looking to add a young striker to complement Kai Havertz. Sesko’s agent, Elvis Basanovic, has attended Arsenal matches this season, further indicating a strong interest in the move.
6. Nigerian Afrobeat superstar Davido announced the launch of his cryptocurrency token, $DAVIDO, on May 29, 2024. The token, created on the Solana blockchain using the Platform Pump Fun, saw immediate attention and a rapid rise in market capitalization. Initially funded with 7.5 SOL (around $1,275), Davido managed to make a significant profit by selling a portion of the tokens. However, the excitement was short-lived as the token’s value plummeted by 93% the following day, causing widespread disappointment among investors and fans.
7. Still on Davido, the Coalition of Orphanages and Children’s Homes in Nigeria (COCHIN) expressed deep gratitude to the singer for his N300 million donation to orphanages. Davido pledged this amount on X in February as his yearly contribution. COCHIN’s president, Dr. Eze Ajoku, confirmed the receipt of the funds, which benefited 42 out of 52 orphanages under the coalition. COCHIN acknowledged Davido’s unparalleled support, highlighting its significant impact on the children’s lives and their dedication to using the funds effectively.
