George Foreman, the former heavyweight champion who famously lost to Muhammad Ali in the 1974 “Rumble in the Jungle” before regaining the title two decades later, passed away on Friday at the age of 76, his family confirmed.

Affectionately known as “Big George,” Foreman left school at a young age and went on to become an Olympic gold medalist and a legendary boxer.

Over his 81 professional bouts, he won 76, with 68 of those victories coming by knockout.

Besides boxing, Foreman became a household name with the “George Foreman Lean Mean Fat-Reducing Grilling Machine” and appeared in friendly TV ads, gaining fame beyond the sport.

Foreman’s family released a statement on Instagram announcing his peaceful passing on March 21, 2025, and requested privacy as they mourned his extraordinary life.

Legendary promoter Bob Arum praised Foreman as “one of the biggest punchers and personalities the sport has ever seen.” Born in Texas on January 10, 1949, Foreman grew up in Houston under difficult circumstances.

His stepfather was often absent and struggled with alcohol. Foreman later discovered that his biological father, a decorated WWII veteran, had not been part of his life until after he won the heavyweight title.

As a teenager, Foreman got involved with crime and dropped out of school at 16. His brother Roy recalled that George was a force in his neighborhood, standing 6-foot-2 and weighing 200 pounds by the age of 13.

Eventually, Foreman turned to boxing, initially to prove his courage to his peers.

After just 25 fights, he became an Olympic gold medalist at the 1968 Mexico Games, winning the super-heavyweight title.

In the aftermath, he celebrated by waving the American flag in the ring, just days after Tommie Smith and John Carlos made their black power salute.

Standing at 6-foot-4 and weighing in as one of the largest and strongest heavyweights of his era, Foreman fought his way to a championship bout with Joe Frazier, defeating him in just two rounds.

He remained undefeated in 40 bouts when he faced Ali in the 1974 “Rumble in the Jungle.”

However, Ali’s “rope-a-dope” strategy wore Foreman down, and he lost the fight in eight rounds, shattering his confidence.

After failing to earn another title shot following a loss to Jimmy Young in 1977, Foreman retired from boxing at 28, later becoming an ordained minister.

A decade later, he returned to the sport, now with a different physique and a new motivation to raise money for his youth center. Over the next three years, Foreman won 20 of 21 bouts, many by knockout.

In 1994, at 45, Foreman made a dramatic comeback, defeating Michael Moorer to reclaim the heavyweight title, becoming the oldest heavyweight champion at the time.

He held the “lineal” championship until 1997, when he lost to Shannon Briggs and retired again at 48.

Throughout his life, Foreman was also a media personality, hosting the show “Bad Dads” in 1996, and married four times, fathering 10 children and adopting two.

He named all five of his sons George Edward, emphasizing the importance of family unity, saying, “If one of us goes up, then we all go up together, and if one goes down, we all go down together.”

President Bola Tinubu has declared a state of emergency in Rivers State due to the ongoing political crisis there.

He made this announcement during a nationwide broadcast on Tuesday, in which he also suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy Ngozi Odu, and all members of the state House of Assembly for six months.

Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas (rtd) was appointed as the state administrator to oversee the state’s affairs for the next six months.

Tinubu’s decision was based on Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution, which allows for a state of emergency in cases of national danger, disaster, or terrorist activity, permitting the suspension of normal constitutional procedures to restore order.

This move grants the President the authority to implement regulations to ensure public safety and order.

In the past, similar declarations were made, such as in May 2013, when then-President Goodluck Jonathan declared a state of emergency in the northeastern states of Borno, Yobe, and Adamawa due to insurgency, and a limited state of emergency was declared in parts of several states in 2011.

Rivers State has experienced escalating tensions due to a power struggle between Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike and his former political ally, Governor Fubara, over control of the state’s political structure.

Reports of pipeline explosions and civil unrest have intensified the situation, with civil servants threatening mass protests against the group in the House of Assembly loyal to Wike.

Tinubu explained that security reports showed ongoing pipeline vandalism, with no action from the governor to address the issue.

He emphasized that, given the gravity of the situation, it was necessary for him to act under constitutional authority to ensure governance, peace, and security in the state.

He noted that the governor and deputy had not formally requested a state of emergency, which prompted his intervention.

The declaration includes the suspension of the state’s elected officials but does not affect the judiciary, which will continue its duties as per the Constitution.

The appointed administrator will have the authority to formulate regulations but must seek approval from the Federal Executive Council and the President before implementing any new laws.

Tinubu expressed hope that this intervention would restore order in Rivers State and encourage all political players to respect constitutional processes.

The declaration has been published in the Federal Gazette, with copies forwarded to the National Assembly, as required by the Constitution.

On Monday, the World Health Organization (WHO) identified Nigeria as one of eight countries at risk of running out of HIV treatment supplies in the near future.

This comes in the wake of the Trump administration’s decision to pause U.S. foreign aid, which has significantly disrupted the distribution of HIV treatments in these nations.

According to WHO’s Director-General, Tedros Ghebreyesus, Nigeria, Haiti, Kenya, Lesotho, South Sudan, Burkina Faso, Mali, and Ukraine could face shortages in the coming months, as reported by Reuters.

Ghebreyesus warned that the disruptions could reverse two decades of progress in fighting HIV, potentially resulting in over 10 million new HIV cases and 3 million additional HIV-related deaths.

The U.S. foreign aid freeze, initiated by President Trump in January, has also affected efforts to combat HIV, polio, malaria, and tuberculosis.

Additionally, the WHO’s Global Measles and Rubella Laboratory Network, which has over 700 sites worldwide, is at risk of shutting down, coinciding with a resurgence of measles in the U.S.

Ghebreyesus emphasized that the U.S. has a responsibility to ensure that if it cuts aid, it does so in a way that allows countries to secure alternative funding.

Moreover, the WHO warned that funding shortages might force the closure of 80% of essential health services it supports in Afghanistan.

As of March 4, 167 health facilities had already closed due to a lack of funding, and without intervention, over 220 more could shut down by June.

The U.S. withdrawal from the WHO has also led the agency to freeze hiring and implement budget cuts.

For the 2026-2027 budget period, the WHO plans to reduce its funding target for emergency operations from $1.2 billion to $872 million.

Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has once again written to the Rivers State House of Assembly, proposing Wednesday, March 19, 2025, as the new date to present the 2025 state budget.

In a letter addressed to Speaker Rt. Hon. Martin Amaewhule, Governor Fubara recalled his previous attempt to present the budget on March 12, which was blocked when he was denied access to the Assembly premises.

He explained that despite sending a soft copy notice and making efforts to submit a hard copy through the clerk, he and his team were locked out of the complex.

The governor emphasized that his actions were in compliance with a Supreme Court ruling, which also directed the Assembly to carry out its duties within constitutional limits.

Fubara reminded the Speaker that the House had issued a 48-hour deadline for the budget presentation, even before he received a certified true copy of the judgment and its enrolled orders.

He reiterated his commitment to good governance despite the ongoing political tensions in the state and urged all branches of government to operate within legal and constitutional boundaries for the benefit of the people.

“No matter the depth of our differences, we believe the interests of the state and its citizens must take precedence over political disputes,” he stated.

The letter formally informed the Speaker of his intent to present the budget on March 19 at 11:00 a.m., or at any other time convenient for the House.

Governor Fubara concluded by expressing hope that the Assembly would positively respond to his request.

The ongoing back-and-forth between the governor and lawmakers follows a Supreme Court ruling requiring Fubara to present the 2025 budget to the Assembly led by Amaewhule.

The situation took a dramatic turn on Wednesday when Governor Fubara arrived at the Assembly Quarters, only to find the entrance gate locked.

Security personnel at the quarters had locked the gates, citing the lack of official communication from the governor to the Assembly, though the governor maintained he had informed them of his visit.

The former governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, stated that there would be no catastrophic consequences if the Martins Amaewhule-led House of Assembly impeaches his successor, Siminalayi Fubara.

Speaking at a media briefing in Abuja on Wednesday, Wike, who is now the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), emphasized that there is nothing wrong with lawmakers deciding to remove Fubara over alleged impeachable offenses, such as withholding their salaries for months.

The influential member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) remarked, “If you’ve committed an offense worthy of impeachment, what’s the issue? Is it a criminal offense? It’s outlined in the constitution. Am I a member of the Assembly?”

He added, “If an infraction of the constitution has occurred and the Assembly believes it’s justified to impeach, then so be it.”

Wike also dismissed concerns about potential unrest following an impeachment, saying, “I’ve heard people claim that there will be a breakdown of law and order if they impeach him. That’s nonsense! Nothing will happen.”

A dramatic incident occurred at the Rivers State House of Assembly Complex on Wednesday when Governor Siminalayi Fubara arrived, only to find the entrance gate locked.

Security personnel at the complex had locked the gates when the governor’s convoy arrived, citing the absence of official communication between the governor and the Assembly as the reason for their actions.

However, Fubara stated that he had informed Speaker Martins Amaewhule of his visit through a letter and had attempted to contact him by phone since Tuesday.

Fubara had previously announced his intention to fully implement the Supreme Court’s judgment from February 28, 2025, and had directed the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) to prepare for a fresh election.

The RSIEC set the date for the local government election as August 9, 2025.

Additionally, the Secretary to the State Government, Tammy Danagogo, sent a letter dated March 7, 2025, requesting a meeting with lawmakers on March 10, 2025, to discuss the re-presentation of the 2025 budget and engage in peace talks.

The immediate-past Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir el-Rufa’i, has resigned from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and joined the Social Democratic Party (SDP).

In a statement released on Monday, El-Rufai expressed his dissatisfaction with the leadership of the APC, accusing it of deviating from the progressive values upheld by its founding members.

He revealed that over the past two years, he had raised concerns both privately and publicly about the direction of the party, but the current leadership showed no interest in addressing these issues.

El-Rufai stated, “In the last two years, the current leadership of the APC has failed to acknowledge, let alone resolve, the unhealthy state of the party.”

He continued, “At this point in my political journey, I have decided to seek a new political platform to pursue the progressive values that I hold dear.”

Reflecting on his tenure as Governor of Kaduna State, El-Rufai said, “My eight years in office were dedicated to implementing progressive policies for human development.

However, these achievements are now largely disregarded within the current APC, which has weakened its structures and shown disdain for its members over the past two years. This is no longer acceptable to me.”

El-Rufai confirmed that he had submitted his resignation letter to his ward in Kaduna North Local Government Area.

He described the SDP as the platform for his future political endeavors and urged his supporters, as well as other concerned Nigerians, to join him in the SDP, stressing the need for a united democratic platform to challenge the APC in future elections.

His defection followed discussions with prominent political figures, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former vice presidential candidate Tunde Bakare, and former President Muhammadu Buhari, among others.

The move also came after a series of disputes with the presidency. El-Rufai notably missed the APC national caucus and National Executive Committee (NEC) meetings last month.

The ongoing terrorism case against Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has been reassigned to a new judge. This decision was made by the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court in Abuja, John Tsoho, following months of pressure.

Kanu’s special counsel, Aloy Ejimakor, announced this development in a statement on Saturday. Previously, Justice Binta Nyako had been overseeing Kanu’s trial.

However, during a court hearing on September 24, 2024, Kanu requested that Nyako step down, accusing her of bias in the case.

Ejimakor’s statement said, “Before our routine visit to Mazi Nnamdi Kanu yesterday, we received two important letters about his case.

One letter came from the Honourable Chief Justice of Nigeria, responding to our recent request for administrative intervention to ensure the proper reassignment of the case after the judge’s recusal.

The other letter was from the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, notifying us that the case had been reassigned to another judge.”

As a result of these developments, Kanu instructed his legal team to publicly express gratitude to the Chief Justice of Nigeria for her prompt and sound administrative decision.

He also thanked the public for their support in advocating for the case to be reassigned, as the law requires.

The statement further explained, “Mazi Nnamdi Kanu has always been prepared to face trial because he firmly believes in his innocence.

However, the events of the past six months, starting from the judge’s recusal in September 2024, presented significant challenges to his constitutional rights, particularly his right to a fair and speedy trial.”

The statement concluded, “Given these issues, we had no choice but to take extraordinary measures to ensure that the case is reassigned and conducted in accordance with the law.

Now that the authorities have taken the first step to do the right thing, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and his legal team will focus on diligently preparing his defense.”

Former presidential aide Doyin Okupe has passed away at the age of 72.

His death was confirmed by family sources on Friday, with reports stating he died in the early hours of the day. Okupe was from Ogun State.

Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun expressed his sorrow, calling the death a “personal loss.” In a statement, Governor Abiodun said, “The news of my elder brother Dr. Doyin Okupe’s passing has left me with a profound sense of personal loss, especially following the recent transition of the Alaperu of Iperu Remo, Oba Adeleke Idowu-Basibo. Dr. Okupe’s departure has created a void that will not be easily filled.”

He further praised Okupe for his significant role in Nigeria’s struggle against military rule, highlighting that Okupe was a principled individual who, despite never flaunting his credentials, endured persecution and detention under military regimes.

Governor Abiodun extended his condolences to the Okupe family, praying for strength for them in the face of this irreparable loss.

Last year, Okupe spoke publicly about his battle with cancer, which he said caused significant weight loss. He shared his experience during an appearance on Channels Television’s *Political Paradigm*, explaining that chemotherapy had led to a loss of appetite and nausea, causing him to drop from 127kg to 97kg. After completing the chemotherapy, he regained some weight, reaching 103kg.

Okupe, a trained medical doctor, worked in healthcare before entering politics. He was a key member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and served as Senior Special Assistant on Public Affairs to former President Goodluck Jonathan in 2012.

He later became the Director-General of the Labour Party’s presidential campaign in 2023 but left the party due to ideological differences.

Born in Iperu, Ogun State, Okupe attended St. Jude’s School and Igbobi College in Lagos, later studying medicine at the University of Ibadan.

Bismarck Rewane, the Managing Director of Financial Derivatives Company Limited, has forecasted that the price of premium motor spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol, will continue to decrease until June 2025.

Recently, both Dangote Refinery and the Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) have lowered the cost of petrol, providing relief to millions of Nigerians who rely on fuel for energy.

Rewane stated that the current reduction in fuel prices is expected to persist until mid-2025.

“So, generally, we’ll see prices continue to drop until June. After that, as things stabilize, depending on what happens in the global oil and currency markets, we might see some stabilization,” Rewane explained on Tuesday’s edition of Channels Television’s *Business Morning*.

He noted that the price competition between Dangote Refinery and NNPCL will ultimately benefit consumers in the short term.

“In a price war, the consumers win in the short run, but eventually, the market will settle back to its usual position. However, by June, the price leadership will be clearly established,” he added.

Rewane attributed Dangote Refinery’s price reduction to factors such as production cost efficiency.

Recently, Dangote Refinery lowered its gantry price from ₦890 to ₦825 per litre and pledged to refund customers who purchased fuel at higher prices from its key partners.

“For MRS Holdings stations, petrol will be sold at ₦860 per litre in Lagos, ₦870 per litre in the South-West, ₦880 per litre in the North, and ₦890 per litre in the South-South and South-East,” stated the management of Dangote Refinery.

The product will also be available at the following prices in AP (Ardova Petroleum) and Heyden stations: ₦865 per litre in Lagos, ₦875 per litre in the South-West, ₦885 per litre in the North, and ₦895 per litre in the South-South and South-East.

The NNPCL also lowered its pump price to ₦860 per litre across its Lagos stations on Monday, though it has yet to officially announce the change.

The removal of the fuel subsidy was announced by President Bola Tinubu during his inauguration in May 2023, leading to an initial spike in petrol prices, which were previously under ₦200 per litre.