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Hamas accepts Gaza truce proposal .

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Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh has informed mediators, Qatar and Egypt, that his Palestinian militant group had accepted their Gaza truce proposal after nearly seven months of war.

The group in a statement published on its official website, said Haniyeh had spoken on the phone with Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani and with Egyptian Intelligence Minister Abbas Kamel, informing them of Hamas’s approval of their proposal regarding a ceasefire agreement.

According to a senior Hamas official, this does not mean that the ceasefire has come into effect yet, pointing out that the Israeli side has not yet communicated its position.

Another senior official told AFP on condition of anonymity, because he was not authorised to speak publicly about the negotiations that: “The ball is now in the court of the Israeli occupation, whether it will agree to the ceasefire agreement or obstruct it.”

The Hamas announcement came after Israel on Monday called on Palestinians to leave eastern Rafah ahead of a ground invasion of the southern Gaza city, amid increasing global alarm about the consequences of such a move.

An AFP correspondent reported that in Rafah, where civilians had voiced fear and confusion over the evacuation order, crowds cheered and fired in the air in the streets following Hamas’s announcement.

The correspondent added that people were crying tears of happiness, chanting “Allahu Akbar” (God is Greatest) and shooting in the air in celebration of the news.

Despite months of shuttle diplomacy, mediators have failed to broker a new truce like the week-long ceasefire that saw 105 hostages released last November, the Israelis among them in exchange for Palestinians held by Israel.

Previous negotiation efforts had stalled in part because of Hamas’s demand for a lasting ceasefire and Netanyahu’s vows to crush its remaining fighters in Rafah.

Gaza’s bloodiest-ever war began following Hamas’s unprecedented October 7 attack on Israel that resulted in the deaths of more than 1,170 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally of Israeli official figures.

Israel estimates that 128 of the hostages abducted by militants on October 7 remain in Gaza, including 35 who the military says are dead.

According to the Hamas-run territory’s health ministry, vowing to destroy Hamas, Israel has conducted a retaliatory offensive that has killed at least 34,735 people in Gaza, mostly women and children.

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President Tinubu Leads Tributes at Former President Muhammadu Buhari’s Burial

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Abuja, Nigeria – President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, along with prominent dignitaries, paid their respects at the burial of former President Muhammadu Buhari in Katsina.

The ceremony was attended by:
– Members of the National Assembly
– Former and serving governors
– Service chiefs
– Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun

Ekwutosblog reports that attendees gathered to bid farewell to the late statesman, who served as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

The burial ceremony marked a solemn occasion, with leaders from various spheres of Nigerian society coming together to pay their last respects to the former Head of State.

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Buhari: Nigerians mourn as ex-president set for burial in Daura

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It was a tearful moment for Nigerians on Sunday following the announcement of the unfortunate death of former President, Muhammadu Buhari.

Ekwutosblog reports that President Bola Tinubu’s media aide Bayo Onanuga, who announced the sad development on Sunday evening, disclosed that the former Nigerian leader died in London, United Kingdom after a brief illness.

Although Buhari’s family failed to reveal the cause of his unfortunate demise, there are reports indicating that the former president battled blood cancer, leukemia, before he bowed.

 

The media has since been flooded with eulogies as leaders across the world and Nigerian politicians from both the ruling and the opposition parties continue to rain tribute for the foremost elder statesman.

Some socio-political organizations, including Afenifere and Arewa Youths in an exclusive chat with Ekwutosblog on Sunday, expressed utmost sadness over his death.

Buhari left legacies that cannot be forgotten easily – Afenifere

 

In a chat with Ekwutosblog, the National Publicity Secretary of the pan-Yoruba socio-political organization, Afenifere, Comrade Jare Ajayi expressed condolences.

According to Ajayi, the former president left legacies that cannot be forgotten easily.

“Among the things for which people will continue to remember him was how the administration he led, with the support of late General Tunde Idiagbon, made it known that Nigerians can lead a disciplined life.

 

“Unfortunately, the spirit of discipline his administration instilled in Nigerians was not sustained by successive administrations.

“Also, the noble image that his government as military Head of State would have earned was stained by some of the draconian steps that the administration took, including scant regard for human rights,” he said.

Ajayi added that Buhari’s second coming when he served as civilian President between 2015 and 2023 sort of demystified the public image he had as a ‘no-nonsense man’.

He noted that there is “one important lesson in his conduct towards winning the election that brought him in as President.

“This was the ‘never-say-die’ spirit that he demonstrated. After previous attempts that failed, some faint-hearted people would have given up, but he did not.

“The lesson here is that anyone pursuing a noble goal should not give up even if the initial attempts did not bear the desired result,” he added.

Ajayi stated that although his eight-year tenure as civilian president can be described as a ‘mix-grill’, “the man certainly did his best, given the challenges that he had.

Afenifere commiserated with President Ahmed Bola Tinubu, Buhari’s immediate family and the country “over the death of a man who had the fortune of leading the country first as a military head of state and as a civilian president. May the Almighty Allah forgive his sins and grant him Aljonnah Firdaos”.

Buhari’s death marks end of an era in Nigerian politics – Arewa Youths

On his part, Yerima Shettima, President General, Arewa Youth Consultative Forum, AYCF told Ekwutosblog hat the passing of Buhari “marks the end of an era in Nigerian politics, and we take this moment to reflect on his life, legacy, and the profound impact he had on our nation.

Shettima described the sad incident as “immeasurable”, stating that the organization stands with the family of the former president “in this time of grief”.

He called on all Nigerians to honour Buhari’s “memory by continuing to work towards the unity and progress of our beloved country.

“We call on all citizens to reflect on the lessons learned from President Buhari’s life and to strive for a Nigeria that embodies his vision of integrity, unity, and progress.

“Let us come together as a nation to ensure that his legacy lives on through our collective efforts to build a better future for all Nigerians,” he stated.

Buhari set for burial today in Daura

The former president, whose remains are being accompanied back to Nigeria by Vice president Kashim Shettima and other government officials, will be laid to rest on Monday (today) at his home town, Daura.

Recall that when Buhari vacated Aso Rock on May 29 following the completion of his second tenure, he moved to his hometown, Daura, where he was reportedly taking care of his cattle.

However, Buhari on February 25, 2025 relocated back to his Kaduna residence, a move some Nigerians attributed to the build up of 2027 general elections.

Shortly after his demise on Sunday, hundreds of Nigerians gathered at his residence in Kaduna to mourn and pay their last respects.

Former Minister of Water Resources, Alhaji Suleiman Adamu, was said to be among the early visitors to the ex-president’s residence.

Security around the area has been reinforced as two military gun trucks were stationed at key points near the house, while armed soldiers patrolled the street.

Vehicular movement was restricted, and loitering around the narrow residential area was firmly discouraged by security operatives.

Our correspondent gathered that the situation was not different in Daura as security was beefed-up ahead of the burial.

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Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie Meets Nkem Owoh At Things Fall Apart Festival 2025

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Renowned Nigerian novelist, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, and beloved Nollywood actor, Nkem Owoh, aka Osuofia, recently graced the Things Fall Apart Festival 2025 with their presence. The festival, held in Enugu, Nigeria, from June 29 to July 5, 2025, was a tribute to Chinua Achebe’s timeless classic, “Things Fall Apart”.

During the festival, Chimamanda Adichie delivered a keynote speech, where she invited Nkem Owoh to the stage, praising him as a “cultural icon” whose work has profoundly impacted Nigerians. She gushed, “This man is an icon for us. I’m his biggest fan,” as the audience erupted in applause. The duo shared a warm hug, and Nkem Owoh reciprocated with words of admiration for Chimamanda’s literary prowess.

Photo source: Instagram

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