News

Elon Musk Takes Control Of Twitter, Fires Executives

Elon Musk took control of Twitter and fired its top executives late Thursday in a deal that puts one of the leading platforms for global discourse in the hands of the world’s richest man.

Following the takeover, Musk tweeted that the “the bird is freed,” referencing the company’s iconic avian logo.

He wasted no time sacking chief executive Parag Agrawal, as well as the company’s chief financial officer and its head of safety, the Washington Post and CNBC reported citing unnamed sources.

Agrawal previously went to court to hold the Tesla chief to the terms of a deal he had tried to escape.

The takeover came hours before the court-appointed deadline for Musk to seal his on-again, off-again deal to purchase the social media network.

Musk tweeted earlier in the day that he was buying Twitter “because it is important to the future of civilization to have a common digital town square, where a wide range of beliefs can be debated in a healthy manner.”

Twitter did not immediately reply to a request for comment on the departure of its top executives, but the platform’s co-founder Biz Stone thanked the trio — Agrawal, Ned Segal and Vijaya Gadde — for their “collective contribution to Twitter.”

“Massive talents, all, and beautiful humans each.”

‘Chief Twit’

The closure of the deal marks the culmination of a long and drawn out back-and-forth between the billionaire and the social network.

Musk tried to step back from the Twitter deal soon after his unsolicited offer was accepted in April, and said in July he was canceling the contract because he was misled by Twitter over the number of fake “bot” accounts — allegations rejected by the company.

Twitter, in turn, sought to prove Musk was contriving excuses to walk away simply because he changed his mind.

After Musk sought to terminate the sale, Twitter filed a lawsuit to hold Musk to the agreement.

With a trial looming, the unpredictable billionaire capitulated and revived his takeover plan.

Musk signaled the deal was on track this week by changing his Twitter profile to “Chief Twit” and posting a video of himself walking into the company’s California headquarters carrying a sink.

“Let that sink in!” he quipped.

He even shared a picture of himself socializing at a coffee bar at Twitter headquarters earlier in the day Thursday.

Musk said during a recent Tesla earnings call that he was “excited” about the Twitter deal even though he and investors are “overpaying.”

Twitter free-for-all?

Some employees who would prefer not to work for Musk have already left, said a worker who asked to remain anonymous in order to speak more freely.

“But a portion of people, including me, are willing to give him the benefit of the doubt for now,” the employee said.

The idea of Musk running Twitter has alarmed activists who fear a surge in harassment and misinformation, with Musk himself known for trolling other Twitter users.

But Musk said he realizes Twitter “cannot become a free-for-all hellscape where anything can be said with no consequences.”

Musk has vowed to dial content moderation back to a bare minimum, and is expected to clear the way for former US president Donald Trump to return to the platform.

The then-president was blocked due to concerns he would ignite more violence like the deadly attack on the Capitol in Washington to overturn his election loss.

Far-right users were quick to rejoice on the network, posting comments such as “masks don’t work” and other taunts, under the belief that moderation rules will now be relaxed.

“Free speech will always prevail,” tweeted Republican Senator Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee, prompting replies including “says the party that bans books.”

News

LG poll: Niger declares 2-day public holidays

The Niger State Governor, Hon. Mohammed Bago has declared Thursday and Friday as public holidays ahead of the 1 November 2025 local government elections.

According to a directive on Tuesday by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Abubakar Usman, the work-free days would provide voters the opportunity to go to their respective polling units and cast their ballots.

The government said that markets, banks, financial institutions, and public offices would remain closed, while movement of persons and vehicles would be restricted, except for those on essential duties.

‘Niger State Governor, Mohammed Bago, has declared Thursday, 30th, and Friday, 31st October, 2025, as state-wide work-free days to enable citizens across the state to fully participate in the forthcoming Local Government Elections on Saturday, 1st November, 2025.

‘A statement issued by the Secretary to the State Government, Abubakar Usman, stated that the work-free days are intended to provide all eligible voters the opportunity to go to their respective polling units and cast their votes in the elections.

“The SSG further announced that markets, banks, financial institutions, and public offices will remain closed, while movement of persons and vehicles will be restricted, except for those on essential duties”, Lawal stated.

He quoted the SSG as saying that the government was encouraging residents to come out en masse and perform their civic responsibilities on Saturday.

‘Government is encouraging citizens to come out en masse and perform their civic responsibilities on Saturday, 1st November, 2025.

‘This election provides yet another opportunity for Nigerlites to elect capable leaders who will champion development and represent our collective interests at the grassroots level.

‘Bago has directed all security agencies in the State to ensure that the elections are conducted in a peaceful and orderly manner, reaffirming the government’s commitment to guaranteeing a safe and hitch-free electoral process’. Usman said.

News

Sowore condemns US revocation of Soyinka’s visa

Sowore claims APC stole his ideas from 2019

Human rights activist, Mr. Omoyele Sowore has condemned the revocation of Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka’s United States visa, describing the development as ‘sad’.

In a post on his Facebook page on Tuesday, the publisher of SaharaReporters expressed dismay over the incident.

He wrote: ‘Donald Trump reportedly revokes U.S. visa of Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka! Sad! What the U.S. has become’.

Soyinka had disclosed during a media parley at Kongi’s Harvest Gallery at Freedom Park, Lagos, that the United States government had revoked his visa, effectively barring him from entering the country.

‘It is necessary for me to hold this conference so that people in the United States who are expecting me for this event or that event do not waste their time’, Soyinka said.

‘I have no visa; I am banned, obviously, from the United States. And if you want to see me, you know where to find me’, he added.

According to Soyinka, the U.S. Consulate informed him of the revocation in a letter dated 23 October 2025.

The Nobel Laureate said he was unaware of any wrongdoing that might have warranted the action, describing it as puzzling.

He also urged people to continue standing against discrimination and injustice everywhere.

Soyinka noted that he had maintained a cordial relationship with the U.S. for many years, except for moments of tension that emerged during Trump’s first administration.

News

Senate Receives Tinubu’s Request To Confirm New Service Chiefs

The Nigerian Senate has received formal communication from President Bola Tinubu seeking confirmation of the newly appointed service chiefs.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio read the president’s letter during Tuesday’s plenary session.

According to the correspondence, President Tinubu nominated Major General Olufemi Oluyede as Chief of Defence Staff, Major General Waheedi Shaibu as Chief of Army Staff, Rear Admiral Idi Abbas as Chief of Naval Staff, Air Vice Marshal Kennedy Aneke as Chief of Air Staff, and Major General Emmanuel Undiendeye as Chief of Defence Intelligence.

The president urged the Senate to give what he described as “expeditious consideration” to the nominations.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio referred the request to the Committee of the Whole for screening and confirmation.

He told senators that the process should be conducted without delay to prevent gaps in the leadership of the armed forces.

He said, “I plead with distinguished senators to reconsider. If it is agreed by the Senate, I would like to do it tomorrow so that they can go straight and start work — so we don’t leave any gap in security.”

The motion was subjected to a voice vote, and the lawmakers unanimously agreed to proceed with the screening.

The confirmation exercise is also expected to take place on Wednesday.