A Nigerian pilot becomes first African to fly solo around the world

Ademilola Odujinrin

A Nigerian born pilot for Air Djibouti Ademilola "Lola" Odujinrin has made history by becoming the first African pilot to fly solo around the world. 

In a statement, the Djibouti Ports and Free Zone Authority (DPFZA) said that Odujinrin had completed the final leg of his historic journey, landing safely at Washington Dulles International Airport. 

"The pilot has completed the entire circumnavigation in a Cirrus SR22, stopping in more than 15 countries on five continents, returning to Washington DC, where his journey began back in September," the statement said.

The flight was part of Project Transcend, a foundation, which aimed to inspire young people to achieve their goals regardless of their personal circumstances. 

Odujinrin, who has logged 4000 hours as a commercial Boeing 737 pilot since his pilot licence six years ago said: "Ever since I was a child, I dreamed of one day flying around the world. We have a responsibility to lead by example and follow our dreams. I want African children to think: 'I can do this too!'. 

Tor Tiv the 5th Successfully Coronated

The Tiv Nation remains an ethno-linguistic group and fourth largest tribe in the Federation. The Tiv Nation, over the years, has played a key role in the political, social, and economic affairs of our dear country.

Prof. Ayatse’s  victory was accepted by the entire Tiv Nation without demur.

As he braces up to assume the exalted office of Tor Tiv The Fifth today, Prof. Ayatse would be expected to draw on the boundless fund of goodwill that greeted his victory to tackle some of the challenges facing the Tiv Nation today, including the need to accelerate the resurgence of the Tiv Nation’s presence on the Nigerian scene; and also to work towards resuscitating the faltering ancestral friendly ties with our brothers and sisters in the Northern parts of the country.

The coronation was in grand style and successful as all hands were on deck to give it the aura needed. 

The event had in attendance top dignitaries from the Nation, including Audu Ogbe (representing the Ag. President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo), OCHI'IDOMA His Royal Highness-Agabaidu Elias Ikoyi Obekpa, Former Vice President of Nigeria Atiku Abubakar (Zege Mule U Tiv), APC National Chairman John Oyegun, Hon. Yakubu Dogara, Senator Bukola Saraki, Governor Rochas Okorocha, Governor Yari Abdulaziz, Governor Samuel Ortom, Senator George Akume, etc.

In response through goodwill message to Prof. James Ortese Ayatse, these few excerpts from leaders in all spheres of life flowed in:

Trump fires acting AG after she declines to defend travel ban

President Donald Trump fired acting Attorney General Sally Yates Monday night for "refusing to enforce a legal order designed to protect the citizens of the United States," the White House said.

"(Yates) has betrayed the Department of Justice," the White House statement said.

Dana Boente, US attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, was sworn in at 9 p.m. ET, per an administration official. A few hours later, Boente issued a statement rescinding Yates' order, instructing DOJ lawyers to "defend the lawful orders of our President."

Trump didn't call Yates to dismiss her, she was informed by hand-delivered letter, according to a different administration official.

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UK Refuses to Sign Paris ‘Peace’ Summit Declaration

In a dramatic development following the Paris Peace Summit on Sunday, the United Kingdom refused to sign a joint declaration calling for a two-state solution, saying the document may “harden” the Palestinian stance on negotiations.

The UK was notably absent from the conference, which convened representatives and foreign ministers from around 70 nations, including Secretary of State John Kerry; it sent only a junior delegation to act solely in an “observer status.” According to the Guardian, this was a deliberate decision in order to “stay close to Donald Trump’s administration.”

The confab did not include representatives from either the Palestinian or Israeli leaderships, prompting a British Foreign Office spokesman to say London had “particular reservations” about its outcome. He further added that London was opposed to the conference taking place against Israel’s expressed wishes and “just days before the transition to a new American President when the U.S. will be the ultimate guarantor of any agreement.”

“There are risks therefore that this conference hardens positions at a time when we need to be encouraging the conditions for peace,” he added, noting that the UK did not sign the conference’s final declaration issued Sunday evening.

“We will continue to support efforts to improve conditions on the ground to enable negotiations to resume and look forward to working with the parties, the new U.S. Administration and other countries represented in this conference to make progress in 2017 and beyond,” the spokesperson said.

Earlier on Sunday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu slammed the conference as “pointless” and the “final palpitations” of yesterday’s world.

“It also distances peace as it hardens Palestinians conditions and keeps them away from direct negotiations without preconditions. I have to say that this conference is among the last remnants of the world of yore. Tomorrow will look different, and tomorrow is very close,” he added.

As Oil Crunch Bites, Nigeria Chooses China’s $40B Over Taiwan

After China pledged US$40 billion in investments and projects in Nigeria, Taiwan has been ordered to move its representative office from the capital Abuja to Lagos, the commercial hub.

The Nigerian Foreign Minister said that Taiwan would have no diplomatic representation whatsoever in Nigeria and that "a trade mission with a skeletal staff" would operate in Lagos, state news agency NAN reported, as cited by Business Insider.

In desperate need of investment due to falling oil prices and lagging production, Nigeria is in no position to reject China’s demands to support Beijing’s One China policy and break off all official relations with Taiwan.

“The Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria recognizes that there is only one China in the world,” Nigeria’s Foreign Affairs Minister Geoffrey Onyeama said following a bilateral meeting with his Chinese counterpart.

Nigeria’s economic ties with China are much more important its ties with Taiwan, making the move to kick Taiwan to the curb a strategic one. Taiwan-Nigeria trade was just $800 million through all of 2016—a mere fraction of the $6.46 billion in trade with China for first six months of the same year.

Nigeria said Taiwan would no longer enjoy the privileges that are granted to other sovereign countries.