Archives August 2025

RYNI News | Blessing Isiuwa
4 August 2025

History was made under the floodlights of the Palais des Sports de Treichville on Sunday night as Nigeria’s women’s basketball juggernaut, D’Tigress, roared past Mali with a commanding 78–64 victory to clinch their fifth consecutive FIBA Women’s AfroBasket title—and seventh overall, solidifying their reign as the undisputed queens of African basketball.

With this win, D’Tigress not only defended their crown, but carved their name in golden ink—becoming the first team in tournament history to win five back-to-back championships. Their dominance was further underscored by their staggering 29-game winning streak, a run that has remained unbroken since 2017.

A Battle of Fire and Focus

The final was no cakewalk. Mali arrived with vengeance in their eyes and fire in their stride, seizing an early lead to end the first quarter 26–21. Sika Koné and Amina Dembele spearheaded Mali’s offensive charge, threatening to derail Nigeria’s march to history.

But champions are never rattled—they recalibrate. D’Tigress responded with poise, anchored by Murjanatu Musa’s physical presence and Victoria Macaulay’s reliable bench performance. By halftime, the game had evened out at 41–41, setting the stage for a second-half showdown.

Then came the Nigerian surge.

The Queens Strike Back

Amy Okonkwo lit up the scoreboard with 19 points, while floor general Ezinne Kalu delivered a clinic in composure, racking up 20 points and orchestrating the offense with surgical precision. Promise Amukamara and Macaulay provided crucial support, and Musa added timely rebounds and grit in the paint.

A game-defining third quarter saw Nigeria wrestle control with a 20–15 run, capped by a clutch three-point play from Okonkwo. By the fourth, D’Tigress had not only taken the lead but seized the moment—closing out the game with a decisive 17–8 burst that left Mali chasing shadows.

Coach Wakama’s Rising Legacy

At the helm of this relentless squad is Coach Rena Wakama, the trailblazing tactician who, in 2023, became the first woman to lead D’Tigress to a title. Now with back-to-back championships, her legacy is growing just as fast as her team’s legend.

A Nation Applauds

President Bola Tinubu, in a congratulatory message, hailed the team’s discipline, unity, and excellence, stating: “Once again, our daughters have brought glory to Nigeria. They are an inspiration to the continent and a beacon of what is possible through resilience and teamwork.”

As the curtain falls on the 2025 AfroBasket tournament, one thing is undeniable: D’Tigress are not just champions—they are a dynasty in motion.

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RYNI News | Blessing Isiuwa
3 August 2025

Buckingham Palace saw an explosion of rhythm and royalty this week as Nigeria’s own Burna Boy ignited the stage during the England Lionesses’ Euro 2025 championship celebration, blending football glory with Afrobeat fire in a historic cultural crescendo.

Fresh from their thrilling 3-1 penalty shootout victory over Spain — after a tense 1-1 draw in extra time — the Lionesses were honoured in a glittering parade held at the Palace grounds, where pomp and pageantry met the pulse of African sound.

In a moment that stunned fans and dignitaries alike, the Grammy-winning sensation emerged to perform his global hit “For My Hand”, originally featuring Ed Sheeran. As the first notes rang out, the 100,000-strong crowd erupted in cheers, with mobile phones raised and feet moving in rhythm. But it wasn’t just fans who were swept up — England’s head coach, Sarina Wiegman, herself couldn’t resist the magnetic pull of the music.

Wiegman, beaming from ear to ear, was spotted singing along and dancing with the players. She later joined Burna Boy on stage, wrapping the artist in a warm embrace that sent waves across social media and sealed the night as one of the most unexpected and iconic in English football celebration history.

Sources close to the team confirmed what many fans suspected — the Dutch-born coach is an avid Burna Boy fan. “She plays his music in the locker room before matches. It’s her way of bringing the team together,” one insider revealed. Former Lioness and BBC pundit Alex Scott confirmed, “Burna Boy is actually Sarina’s favourite artist — this was her dream moment.”

The celebration, though rooted in sport, quickly transformed into a multicultural showcase. Burna Boy’s powerful presence represented not only a musical performance, but a symbol of unity between cultures — and a nod to the growing global influence of African music. Social media buzzed with praise, with hashtags like #BurnaAtThePalace and #LionessesMeetAfrobeat trending across platforms.

For Burna Boy, the performance marked another crowning moment in a stellar year, as he continues to bridge continents and bring Afrobeat to iconic stages. But for the Lionesses, it was a night of gratitude, laughter, dancing — and a reminder that football, at its best, brings the world together in celebration.

With this unforgettable fusion of sport and sound, Euro 2025’s legacy won’t just be remembered for the goals scored, but for the beat that brought Buckingham Palace to life.

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RYNI News | Omotayo Stephen . O
3 August 2025

A thunderous celebration over Nigeria’s footballing triumph has given way to a thunderstorm of outrage, as President Bola Tinubu’s jaw-dropping gift of $100,000 (₦150 million) to each member of the victorious Super Falcons has opened old wounds among Nigeria’s forgotten heroes—retired police officers and military veterans.

On Monday, the triumphant Super Falcons, having staged a sensational comeback to clinch their 10th Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) title, were hosted at the Presidential Villa. But the real kicker wasn’t the photo ops or the national honour of Officer of the Order of the Niger—it was the President’s staggering gift: $100,000 (N150m) to each player and $50,000 to technical crew members, plus a three-bedroom flat in the FCT’s Renewed Hope Estate.

While the glittering reward drew cheers from some quarters, it ignited a storm of criticism elsewhere—most notably from retired military and police personnel who feel abandoned by the country they bled for.

Human rights activist and politician Omoyele Sowore captured the national mood with a blistering reaction:

“Life is brutally unfair to Nigerian police officers. After 35 years of service, they receive just ₦2 million as gratuity. But athletes get ₦150 million for a single tournament? That’s beyond inequality—it’s state-sanctioned insult.”

His words have found resonance across barracks and retired officers’ associations, where bitterness now simmers beneath weary uniforms and hospital bills.

“A Game of Misplaced Priorities”

Punch gathered that among the loudest critics are ex-servicemen under the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS), who view the President’s gesture as a glaring indictment of government priorities.

Lukmon Aderibigbe, a retired army corporal who served in active combat against insurgents, struggled to conceal his grief:

“How do you reward a 90-minute football game with N150m, yet soldiers who risk their lives daily for 35 years retire into suffering?” he asked, his voice breaking. “My friend died from injuries the army refused to treat because NHIS said gunshot wounds weren’t covered.”

The bitterness runs deep. Aderibigbe claims his own gratuity was a mere N2m after 15 years of active duty, and that attempts to have his pension recalculated following the new minimum wage fell on deaf ears.

“I Took the Bullets, Got Peanuts”

Olumayowa Akogun-Abudu, a former Lance Corporal wounded by a suicide bomber in 2017, paints an equally bleak picture.

“N150m can’t replace what I lost,” he told PUNCH. “I paid for my treatment myself. Thirteen years of service, and all I got was a little over N2m. That’s the value of my sacrifice?”

He isn’t alone. In Yobe, ex-Corporal Abdullahi Idris, now walking with a limp from a service injury, said his N72,900 monthly pension barely keeps him alive. “The government has made us third-class citizens,” he said. “We sacrificed our youth. Now we are forgotten.”

Retired Police Officers: ‘Why Not Us?’

It’s not just the military. Retired police officers under the CPS are furious too. Mannir Lawal, a leader among them, lamented:

“We were told there’s no money. Then suddenly, N150m appears for footballers. That insult cuts deep.”

Another, Buba Danjuma, accused the government of favouring spectacle over service. “The girls played for 90 minutes. We served for decades, many of us dying in the line of duty. Yet we are rewarded with suffering and silence.”

Presidency Stands Firm

However, the Presidency is unmoved. Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, dismissed the criticisms as unrelated:

“You cannot link their reward to other sectors. Nigerians are proud of the Falcons’ achievement. The gesture is deserved,” he stated.

But for the thousands of retired soldiers and police officers facing unpaid entitlements, neglected injuries, and rising costs of living, the message is clear: their battles are long over—and so, it seems, is the nation’s gratitude.

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RYNI News | Omotayo Stephen . O
1 August 2025

In a bold and thunderous political maneuver, former Senator and fiery political crusader, Dino Melaye, has officially severed ties with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)—a party that once hoisted him to national prominence. The former Kogi West lawmaker has now pitched his tent with the African Democratic Congress (ADC), in what many analysts see as a defiant protest against Nigeria’s floundering political establishment.

The dramatic declaration came via Melaye’s verified X account (formerly Twitter), where he posted a signed resignation letter addressed to the PDP Ward Chairman in Aiyetoro Gbede, Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi State. Just hours later, a video surfaced showing him jubilantly receiving his ADC membership card—a symbolic handshake into a party he now sees as more aligned with his vision for a reimagined Nigeria.

“This is not just about leaving a party,” Melaye asserted in a follow-up statement. “It’s about reclaiming integrity, principle, and purpose in Nigerian politics.”

Melaye’s parting words, laced with frustration and moral reckoning, left no ambiguity. “I can no longer operate under a structure that has lost touch with the people’s pain and Nigeria’s pulse,” he wrote, calling out the PDP’s alleged inertia in addressing the “political termites eating away at the soul of the nation.”

The resignation letter, dated July 4, 2025, did more than announce an exit—it signaled a political rebirth. Melaye, known for his flamboyant persona and firebrand oratory, lamented that after years of political labor within the PDP, the party had failed to evolve into a credible alternative capable of confronting Nigeria’s deepening crises.

Political watchers see Melaye’s move as both strategic and symbolic. Having contested the Kogi State governorship under the PDP in 2023, his departure is already sending tremors through the state’s political terrain. The ADC, a party long hovering on the fringes, may now find itself thrust into the spotlight, armed with Melaye’s name recognition and loyal base.

While he expressed gratitude for his past with the PDP, Melaye made it clear that his decision was final. “I leave with no bitterness, but with a burning passion for national transformation,” he said.

As Nigeria inches closer to another electoral cycle, Dino Melaye’s political pivot may just be the first in a series of high-stakes realignments shaking the foundations of conventional party politics. One thing is certain—the man is not done yet.

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