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Republicans condemn Trump over feud with slain US soldier’s parents

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Donald Trump faced mounting criticism from leaders of his own party on Sunday as a confrontation between the Republican nominee and the Muslim American parents of a soldier killed in Iraq continued to consume the presidential race.

Khizr and Ghazala Khan denounced Trump in ever more forceful terms, asserting that Trump’s temperament and lack of empathy rendered him unfit for office, while Trump claimed that Khizr Khan “viciously attacked” him while speaking at the Democratic National Convention last week.

Khizr Khan also repeated his call for House Speaker Paul D. Ryan (R-Wis.) and Senate Majority Leader, Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), to repudiate Trump, saying they have a moral obligation to speak out against their party’s standard-bearer.

In separate statements, Ryan and McConnell expressed support for the Khans and reiterated their opposition to Trump’s proposed ban on Muslims, but neither mentioned Trump by name and neither abandoned his support for the Republican nominee, the Washington Post said.

Senator John McCain (R-Ariz.) had no such buffer. In a strongly worded statement yesterday, chairman of the Senate Armed Forces Committee took direct aim at Trump.

“In recent days, Donald Trump disparaged a fallen soldier’s parents,” wrote McCain. “He has suggested that the likes of their son should not be allowed in the United States – to say nothing of entering its service. I cannot emphasise enough how deeply I disagree with Mr. Trump’s statement. I hope Americans understand that the remarks do not represent the views of our Republican Party, its officers, or candidates.”

The clash between the Khans and Trump has largely taken over the presidential race following both major party conventions and with 99 days before Election Day.

Whether the fight with the Khans will ultimately hurt Trump among voters remains an open question. Some of Trump’s more controversial remarks, such as his attacks on a disabled reporter and a U.S.-born judge of Mexican descent, seem to have initially registered only to fade somewhat quickly.

For instance, Trump was roughly tied with Democrat Hillary Clinton in an average of polls before his saying that Judge Gonzalo Curiel’s Mexican heritage made him unfit to rule in a lawsuit involving Trump. In the ensuing weeks, Trump fell behind Clinton by a few points, but he regained his standing not long afterward.

It’s also possible that the controversy could help Trump, at least among those considering supporting him, if voters begin to see it as another example of elite-driven political correctness by the media and political establishment.

On Sunday, Khizr Khan said Trump disrespected his wife by insinuating that she wasn’t allowed to speak at the convention because of the family’s Muslim faith, and he called on Republican leaders and voters to reject the GOP nominee.

“I implore those patriotic Americans that would probably vote for Donald Trump in November, I appeal to them, not to vote for hatred, not to vote for fear-mongering,” Khan said on NBC’s “Meet the Press.”

In an op-ed published in The Washington Post, Ghazala Khan directly responded to Trump, saying that she was too distraught to speak at the convention and could barely control her emotions while walking on stage.

“Here is my answer to Donald Trump: Because without saying a thing, all the world, all America, felt my pain. I am a Gold Star mother. Whoever saw me felt me in their heart,” she wrote, using a term for the parents of fallen members of the military.

Trump and his campaign, meanwhile, sought to redirect the focus to the origins of the Iraq War and fears about Islamic terrorism.

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Nothing wrong having a Christian as Alaafin of Oyo, says Oladigbolu

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Rahman Oladigbolu, a Nigerian filmmaker, says he sees no reason why the Alaafin of Oyo cannot be a Christian.

Two years ago, Lamidi Adeyemi, Alaafin of Oyo, died at the Afe Babalola Teaching Hospital, Ado Ekiti, after battling an undisclosed illness.

He was 83 years old and had been on the throne for 52 years — the longest-reigning Nigerian monarch at the time.

Since his death, the throne has been vacant.

Speaking in an interview with Rudolf Okonkwo, Oladigbolu, a prince in the Oyo kingdom, said religion should not be a factor in the selection of the next Alaafin.

“In Oyo, where I came from, we are trying to select a new king. It has been the tradition for some decades that the Alaafin of Oyo will be a Muslim,” he said.

“Now, we have some Christians among the people vying for the position, and there are discussions about whether Oyo can have a Christian Oba. Of course, if you can have a Muslim Alaafin, I see no reason you can’t have a Christian Alaafin.

“The whole point should be to ensure that people would not be talking about religion in issues like this, but it is difficult because of the agenda of people wanting to impose their religion on others.

“So these are where all the problems still lie, and until we’re able to understand it, I don’t see how we can move forward.”

Oladigbolu said education and enlightenment are necessary to solve division caused by religion.

“It is only enlightenment that can carry people to the point where religious considerations no longer matter in societal affairs,” he said.

“When people are enlightened to the point where it doesn’t, then it won’t.

“But today, they still see each other from their religious prism because even the behavior of people that occupy positions in society gets influenced by religion.”

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Tinubu writes senate, seeks Oluyede’s confirmation as COAS

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President Bola Tinubu has sent a letter to the senate seeking confirmation of Olufemi Olatubosun Oluyede’s appointment as the substantive chief of army staff (COAS).

Bayo Onanuga, the presidential spokesperson, said Tinubu seeks Oluyede’s confirmation in accordance with the provision of section 218(2) of the 1999 Constitution as amended and section 18(1) of the Armed Forces Act.

On October 30, Tinubu appointed Oluyede as the acting COAS following the prolonged illness of the late Taoreed Lagbaja, the former army chief.

On November 5, Lagbaja died of an undisclosed illness.

Onanuga said Tinubu is “confident about the leadership qualities, professional integrity, and experience” of Oluyede for the leadership of the army.

Before his appointment, Oluyede served as the 56th commander of the infantry corps of the Nigerian Army, Kaduna.

He was commissioned a second lieutenant in 1992 and rose to the position of major general in September 2020.

Oluyede and Lagbaja were coursemates and members of the 39th regular course.

Recently, Oluyede was promoted to the rank of lieutenant-general.

He has participated in several operations, including the Economic Community of West African States Monitoring Group (ECOMOG) mission in Liberia, operation Harmony IV in Bakassi, and operation Hadin Kai in the north-east theatre of operations.

He was also the commander of the 27 task force brigade.

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Supreme court nullifies enforcement of National Lottery Act in 36 states

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The supreme court has nullified the enforcement of provisions of the National Lottery Act 2005 in the 36 states of the federation.

In a unanimous judgment delivered on Friday, the seven-member panel held that the national assembly lacks the powers to legislate on issues pertaining to lottery and gaming.

In March 2005, former President Olusegun Obasanjo signed the national lottery bill into law.

The legislation provides the framework for the operation of the national lottery and the establishment of the National Lottery Regulatory Commission.

The commission is charged with regulating the business of lottery in Nigeria as well as establishing the national lottery trust fund.

In 2008, the Lagos state government filed a suit against the federal government on whether the control and regulation of gaming and lottery businesses in each state is under the exclusive list.

In October 2020, the Ekiti government joined Lagos as co-plaintiff in the suit.

In November 2022, the supreme court joined 33 state governments as co-defendants in the suit.

In the judgment, the apex court ruled that only state assemblies have the powers to legislate on lottery and gaming businesses.

The supreme court ruled that legislation cannot be enforced in all states, except the federal capital territory (FCT), since the national assembly is empowered to make laws for the country’s capital.

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Bodex F. Hungbo, SPMIIM is a multiple award-winning Nigerian Digital Media Practitioner, Digital Strategist, PR consultant, Brand and Event Expert, Tv Presenter, Tier-A Blogger/Influencer, and a top cobbler in Nigeria.

She has widespread experiences across different professions and skills, which includes experiences in; Marketing, Media, Broadcasting, Brand and Event Management, Administration and Management with prior stints at MTN, NAPIMS-NNPC, GLOBAL FLEET OIL AND GAS, LTV, Silverbird and a host of others

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