History

History, Sports

Agnes Keleti, World’s Oldest Olympic Champion and Holocaust Survivor, Passes Away at 103

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Agnes Keleti, the world’s oldest Olympic champion and a Holocaust survivor, has passed away just days before her 104th birthday. Keleti, born Agnes Klein on January 9, 1921, in Budapest, later changed her surname to the more Hungarian-sounding Keleti. She died on Thursday at a hospital in Budapest, where she had been admitted the previous week due to pneumonia, as confirmed by her press representative, Tamas Roth. Keleti’s son, Rafael Biro-Keleti, shared a message of resilience and hope, saying, “We pray for her, she has great vitality,” and expressed the family’s wish to celebrate her 104th birthday together. They had planned to mark the milestone on January 9. Keleti’s extraordinary life, which included surviving the Holocaust and achieving Olympic glory, reads like a Hollywood script. Despite facing numerous challenges, her unwavering spirit remained intact. As Hungary’s most decorated gymnast, Keleti won ten Olympic medals, including five golds, during the 1952 Helsinki and 1956 Melbourne Olympics. Remarkably, she achieved all this after the age of 30, competing against much younger athletes. Her initial motivation for taking up sports was not to pursue fame but rather to travel beyond Hungary, which was under communist rule. She once explained, “I was competing not because I liked it, but I did it because I wanted to see the world,” in an interview with AFP in 2016. Keleti’s gymnastic journey began in 1939 when she was called up to Hungary’s national team, and she won her first Hungarian title the following year. However, in 1940, she was barred from participating in any sporting activities due to her Jewish heritage. During the 1956 Melbourne Olympics, shortly after Hungary’s failed anti-Soviet uprising, she chose not to return to her home country. Instead, she settled in Israel the following year, where she met and married Hungarian sports teacher Robert Biro in 1959, and together they had two children. After retiring from competitive gymnastics, Keleti worked as a physical education teacher and later coached the Israeli national gymnastics team. She was only able to return to her native Hungary for the 1983 World Gymnastics Championships, and she eventually moved back to Hungary in 2015. Reflecting on her life in 2020, just before turning 100, Keleti remarked, “It was worth doing something well in life, considering the attention I have received. I get the shivers when I see all the articles written about me.”

NNPC
History, Politics, Trending

NNPCL Invites Obasanjo to Tour Port Harcourt Refinery Following His Criticism

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The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has extended an invitation to former President Olusegun Obasanjo to visit the Port Harcourt Refinery. This follows Obasanjo’s recent comments questioning the refinery’s rehabilitation and its operational status. Obasanjo had previously claimed that NNPC misled the public by asserting that its refineries were functional. He also recalled that Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), which was once approached to take a stake in the refinery, raised concerns about corruption hindering the facility’s effectiveness. In response, NNPCL issued a statement on Thursday, January 2, inviting Obasanjo to visit the refinery and assess the progress made in its rehabilitation. Olufemi Soneye, the company’s spokesperson, shared the invitation, saying, “We extend an open invitation to President Obasanjo for a tour of the rehabilitated refineries to witness firsthand the progress made under the new NNPC Limited.” The NNPCL also highlighted its ongoing transformation into an integrated energy company and reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring energy security and delivering substantial benefits to the people of Nigeria. Soneye emphasized, “One of our notable achievements is the complete rehabilitation of the Port Harcourt Refining Company (PhRC) and Warri Refinery.” Acknowledging Obasanjo’s vast experience, the NNPCL emphasized the value of his insights in shaping the future of the nation’s energy sector. “We invite our esteemed former president to join us in this effort as we continue to deliver energy security for our nation and provide tangible benefits to Nigerians,” the spokesperson concluded. This development comes at a time when NNPCL’s operations are under increased scrutiny, particularly regarding transparency in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.

Obasanjo
History, Politics

Obasanjo Reveals Yar’Adua Rejected Dangote’s $750 Million Offer for Refineries

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Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has revealed that his successor, Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, turned down a $750 million offer from Aliko Dangote, the chairman of Dangote Group, to manage the Port Harcourt and Kaduna refineries in 2007. In an interview with Channels Television on Thursday, January 2, Obasanjo reflected on the challenges faced with Nigeria’s refineries, specifically the ones in Port Harcourt, Warri, and Kaduna, during his administration. Obasanjo explained that although the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited knew it was unable to effectively manage the country’s refineries, it still assured Yar’Adua that it could take on the task. This led to the rejection of Dangote’s proposal. He said, “When I was president, I wanted to do something about the three refineries we have: Port Harcourt, Warri, and Kaduna. Aliko got a team together after I asked Shell to come and run it for us. And Shell said they wouldn’t.” Obasanjo went on to share his conversations with the Shell boss, who listed several issues that prevented the company from managing the refineries. These included the small size of the refineries, poor maintenance, and widespread corruption surrounding their operations. The Shell boss also mentioned that the company made more profit from upstream operations than from the downstream sector. Obasanjo continued, “After that, Aliko got a team together and they paid $750m to take part in PPP (Public–Private Partnership) in running the refineries. My successor refunded their money and I went to my successor and told him what transpired. He said NNPC said they wanted the refineries and they could run it. I now said but you know they cannot run it.” The former president also expressed disappointment with the ongoing inefficiency in refinery management, noting that over $2 billion had been spent without improving the situation. He expressed his confidence in Dangote’s ability to run his privately owned refinery effectively, comparing that to the failure of the state-owned refineries. “I was told not too long ago that since that time, more than $2 billion have been squandered on the refinery and they still will not work,” he said. “If a company like Shell tells me what they told me, I will believe them. But here we are, over $2 billion squandered, and the refineries still won’t work.” In recent updates, on December 31, 2024, Mele Kyari, the group chief executive officer (GCEO) of NNPC, announced that the Warri Refining & Petrochemicals Company (WRPC) in Delta State had resumed operations. Similarly, the NNPC announced on November 26 that the Port Harcourt refinery had officially started processing crude oil.

Peter Obi
History, Politics

Peter Obi Dismisses Merger Talks Ahead of 2027 Election, Calls for Unity Against APC

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Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s (LP) 2023 presidential candidate, has clarified that no merger agreements are in place with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), or any other political party in preparation for the 2027 election. Obi made this statement during a press conference in Abuja on January 2, 2025. The former governor of Anambra emphasized that no formal collaboration or deal had been reached with other political groups. He urged all Nigerians who are committed to the country’s future to unite ahead of the 2027 election in order to challenge the All Progressives Congress (APC), which he accused of mismanaging national resources. He also expressed deep concern over the country’s security situation, describing it as “unfortunate” and lamenting the needless loss of life due to banditry, terrorism, and kidnappings for ransom. Additionally, Obi highlighted the persistent corruption in Nigeria and criticized the high cost of governance, which he claims has contributed to an alarming rise in public debt under the current administration of President Bola Tinubu. Obi also noted that government officials have exacerbated the nation’s financial woes by engaging in frequent foreign travels, misusing public funds in 2024. In the 2023 presidential election, Tinubu triumphed in 12 of Nigeria’s 36 states, securing a total of 8,794,726 votes—nearly two million more than his closest rival, Atiku Abubakar of the PDP. Atiku, who has run for president six times, garnered 6,984,520 votes, while Obi, a first-time candidate, achieved 6,101,533 votes.

History, Politics

Nigeria and the British Monarchy: A Legacy of Visits and Diplomatic Ties

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Throughout history, Nigeria has enjoyed a unique relationship with the British Monarchy, marked by mutual visits that reflect shared historical, cultural, and diplomatic ties. Only three Nigerian leaders have been accorded the honor of state visits to Buckingham Palace: General Yakubu Gowon and his wife, Victoria (June 12–15, 1973), President Shehu Shagari (March 17–20, 1981), and General Ibrahim Babangida with his wife, Maryam (May 9–12, 1989). This distinction underscores Nigeria’s prominent place among African nations in royal diplomacy. The British Monarch’s Visits to Nigeria   The late Queen Elizabeth II visited Nigeria twice, beginning in 1956 during her tour of the Commonwealth. Accompanied by her husband, Prince Philip, she traveled to Kaduna, Kano, Port Harcourt, Ibadan, and Lagos, and worshipped at the Cathedral Church of Christ in Marina, Lagos. She also commissioned celebrated Nigerian artist Ben Enwonwu to sculpt her bronze statue, a masterpiece completed in 1957. Her second visit was in December 2003 for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Abuja, hosted by President Olusegun Obasanjo. She also toured Nasarawa State during the trip. King Charles III: A Regular Visitor to Nigeria   Before his ascension to the throne, King Charles III, then Prince of Wales, visited Nigeria four times—in 1990, 1999, 2006, and 2018. His visits have been marked by significant events, including attending President Olusegun Obasanjo’s inauguration in 1999 and engaging with Nigerian leaders, traditional rulers, and creative talents during his 2018 tour. The 1990 visit saw him and Princess Diana hosted by General Babangida in Lagos, where they stayed aboard the Royal Yacht Britannia. In 2006, Charles toured Abuja, Kaduna, and Kano to support Nigeria’s democratization efforts. His 2018 visit, alongside Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, focused on fostering ties with Nigerian youths, traditional rulers, and creatives, reflecting a modernized royal diplomacy. A Legacy of Friendship   These interactions underscore the enduring relationship between Nigeria and the British Monarchy. Through shared history and frequent visits, both nations continue to strengthen their cultural and diplomatic bonds.

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