Donald Trump

Trump Renames Lake Ontario ‘Lake America’ Amid Tensions With Canada

By Sabiu Abdullahi

US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order changing the name of Lake Ontario to “Lake America”, in a move that has added a new dimension to the growing tensions between the United States and Canada.

Trump announced the change on Thursday after signing the order at the Oval Office.

“This is official, effective immediately,” Trump said.

The president also said he had completed the required procedures for the renaming.

Trump said he had “filed all the necessary papers, documents, everything else” for the name change and “notified all of the various people that we have to notify”.

Lake Ontario is one of North America’s five Great Lakes. It lies along the Canada-US border, with the Canadian province of Ontario located to its north and New York State in the United States to its south.

The other Great Lakes are Huron, Michigan, Erie and Superior. Together, the five freshwater bodies contain about one-fifth of the world’s surface freshwater.

The lake has been known as Lake Ontario for centuries. Its first known appearance under that name on a map dates to 1656, although historians believe the name was already in local use before then.

Trump’s executive order justified the new name on the grounds that most of the lake’s volume lies within US territory.

The order stated that “the deepest parts of the Lake’s waters lying within United States territory, the United States claims most of the Lake’s volume” and that the lake has “long been an integral asset to American exploration, settlement, commerce, and defense”.

However, it remains unclear whether the name change will be recognised outside the United States because geographical names are not governed by a single international authority.

Canada Rejects New Name

Canada has already indicated that it will continue to use the traditional name.

Earlier in the week, before Trump signed the order, Canadian Industry Minister Mélanie Joly said: “We’ll always call it Lake Ontario”.

Lake Ontario was formed after the last Ice Age from the earlier Lake Iroquois about 11,400 years ago.

By the mid-18th century, before the American Revolution and the eventual establishment of Canada and the United States, Lake Ontario had become the established name.

The name “Ontario” is believed to have Iroquoian origins. The Canadian Encyclopaedia says it may mean “beautiful lake” or “sparkling water”, while some historians interpret it as “vast body of water”.

French missionary records from around 1641 also referred to the body of water as Lake Ontario. The Canadian province of Ontario later adopted the name when it was created at Confederation in 1867.

Trump Links Move To Previous Renaming

The decision follows Trump’s earlier attempt to rename the Gulf of Mexico as the “Gulf of America”.

Trump referred to the two renaming decisions while speaking about Lake Ontario.

“We have a gulf and we have a lake. Now all we need is an ocean so maybe we’ll have to change the name of the Atlantic and/or the Pacific,” Trump said, referring to the bodies of water on either side of the US coastline.

The latest move comes amid renewed tensions between Washington and Ottawa after trade negotiations between the two countries broke down late Friday.

The United States subsequently imposed 50 percent tariffs on billions of dollars’ worth of Canadian exports, further straining relations between the neighbouring countries.

Trump Says US ‘Not in A Hurry’ as Iran War Negotiations Continue

By Sabiu Abdullahi

US President Donald Trump has said Washington is not under pressure to reach an immediate agreement with Tehran as efforts continue to end the US-Israel war on Iran.

According to Al Jazeera, Trump said both economic and military pressure remained effective, adding that he was “not in a hurry” to conclude negotiations with Iran.

Meanwhile, Iran says it has made considerable progress in restoring infrastructure damaged during the conflict and has strengthened its military capabilities.

Iranian army spokesperson Mohammad Akraminia said the country had rebuilt significant parts of the infrastructure destroyed during the war. He also said Iran had received new military equipment as part of efforts to reinforce its defence capacity.

On the diplomatic front, Iran’s deputy foreign minister for legal and international affairs, Kazem Gharibabadi, said the Strait of Hormuz remained closed despite a temporary transit arrangement reached with Oman.

Gharibabadi said the waterway would not be fully reopened until the United States returned to its obligations under a June 17 memorandum of understanding.

The Strait of Hormuz is a major international shipping route through which a substantial portion of the world’s oil supplies passes, making its continued closure a major concern for global energy markets.

The US State Department, meanwhile, told Al Jazeera that Washington was taking “concrete action to end” what it described as a long-standing threat from Iran.

According to the department, the US is targeting Tehran’s remaining sources of funding and preparing additional measures after imposing recent sanctions.

The developments come as tensions remain high across the region, with Israel also accused of continuing attacks in Gaza despite a ceasefire that was implemented last October.

At least seven Palestinians were killed in Israeli attacks across Gaza on Tuesday, according to reports, raising fresh concerns over the durability of the ceasefire and the humanitarian situation in the territory.

Canada to Impose Retaliatory Tariffs on US Goods From September 8

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Canada has announced plans to impose fresh tariffs on selected goods from the United States after Washington introduced a 50 per cent levy on about $20 billion worth of Canadian products.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney announced the decision in Ottawa on Saturday, saying the new measures would affect US steel, dairy products, appliances, agricultural equipment, pulp and paper, electronics and other goods.

The tariffs are expected to take effect on September 8.

“Canada will match Washington’s new tariffs dollar for dollar in order to protect Canadian workers, farmers, families, and businesses,” Carney told reporters.

The decision followed the collapse of trade negotiations between the two countries after several days of discussions. Carney said the United States had presented conditions that Canada could not accept.

“In recent days, the United States proposed new terms that were uneconomic, unfair and undermined the net benefits for Canada, and called into question the reliability of any deal,” Carney said, adding these demands included curtailing Canada’s ability to forge new trade deals.

“We cannot accept what they’ve offered, and we will not give what they’ve asked.”

Carney also accused US negotiators of making unacceptable “threats” concerning the French language and “Quebec culture”.

The latest US tariffs affect several Canadian exports, including wine, furniture, dairy products, cement, clothing, fishing rods and hockey equipment. The affected goods represent about 5.5 per cent of Canada’s exports to the US.

Reacting to Carney’s announcement, US President Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social, “Canada wants the benefits of being a State, without being one!!!”

Trump also claimed that Canada had imposed “massive amounts” of tariffs on US farmers for years and added, “No more!!!”

Carney said Canada would also introduce support measures for industries affected by the new US duties. He said the government would provide more details on the retaliatory measures in the coming days.

The trade dispute is expected to put additional pressure on the Canadian economy. Al Jazeera correspondent David Mercer said the tariffs could lead to higher costs, increased prices and rising unemployment.

“Costs are going to go up, prices are going to go up, unemployment is going to go up as well,” Mercer said. “And it’s been warned that business owners – small [and] medium-sized businesses – some of those will have to declare bankruptcy.”

Mercer said Carney was also using the dispute as an opportunity to expand Canada’s economic links with countries outside the United States.

“He’s been around the world, he’s been talking to countries in Asia, in Europe, shoring up new trade relationships, wanting to diversify Canada’s economy and Canada’s trade relationships with other countries around the world just to get away from that dependency that Canada has traditionally had on the United States,” he said.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford supported the Canadian government’s decision to retaliate against the US tariffs.

“I’m glad he didn’t sign that deal because it was a bad deal. It was a bad deal for Ontario. It was a bad deal for the auto sector, the steel sector, and manufacturing sector,” Ford told reporters on Saturday.

Some Canadians have expressed concern about the possible impact of the trade dispute on household expenses.

“I think probably the gas will go up even more, and all products, from food to, I don’t know, wood, everything else,” said Pamela Coulis, a resident of Fort Erie.

Another resident, Stuart Edwards of Port Colborne, said the trade dispute would “hurt everybody” and described the situation as “just sad”.

“We have a bully in Washington, and he’s just hitting us all with the big stick all the time,” he said. “And we’re not going to put up with it; Canada isn’t. We’ll fight back.”

Diamond Isinger, a former special adviser to ex-Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, said both countries would face economic difficulties as the dispute continues.

“It’s going to cause pain and challenge for Canadians and Americans alike – in terms of the actions that, unfortunately, the US has taken as well as Canada’s retaliation. But ultimately this was the way forward; this was the only realistic next step,” she said.

“Because the US administration responds best, of all the responses that they could have, to all the actions that a government like Canada could take, to strength,” Isinger added.

“So, we could not simply accept 50 percent tariffs going forward. We had to move forward with our own retaliatory package.”

US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said no fresh negotiations had been scheduled with Canada.

“We’re moving forward with measures that respond to Canadian retaliation,” Greer said. “They’ve always had the best deal, and they still would have an even better deal, but they didn’t want that.”

The escalating dispute has also drawn criticism from some US Democratic lawmakers and governors, who accused Trump of increasing economic pressure on American businesses and families.

“Needlessly picking fights with our allies and raising prices here at home. That’s Trump’s economic policy in a nutshell,” New York Governor Kathy Hochul posted on X.

The Business Roundtable, which represents about 200 chief executives of major US companies, also warned that the new tariffs “risk raising costs for American businesses and families” and called on Canada and the United States to return to negotiations.

Trump Secretly Flown From Turkey To UK Amid Alleged Iran Assassination Threat

By Sabiu Abdullahi

US President Donald Trump was reportedly moved from Turkey to Britain aboard a smaller military aircraft last month after US authorities received what they considered a credible threat from Iran, The Washington Post and The New York Times reported on Tuesday.

The reported security operation occurred during Trump’s visit to Ankara for a NATO summit attended by several world leaders.

According to The Washington Post, Trump initially boarded the former Air Force One in front of television cameras. He was later transferred to another aircraft through an airport catering truck that is normally used to deliver meals and supplies to planes before departure.

A US official told the newspaper that the move was prompted by a credible threat linked to Iran.

The New York Times separately reported that the White House concealed Trump’s actual location from journalists and some members of his travelling staff.

The White House had earlier stated that Trump left Turkey on July 8 aboard the former Air Force One. Trump had also said on Truth Social that he intended to use the older Boeing 747 instead of the newer Boeing 747-8 aircraft donated by Qatar, which had taken him to Turkey.

The Qatar-donated aircraft was on its first international trip during the NATO visit. Its security features and planned modifications had previously attracted public attention.

Before departing Ankara, Trump said he would use the older blue-and-white presidential aircraft “for old time’s sake” to travel to RAF Mildenhall in Britain. He said the newer aircraft would also stop at the British airbase so US military personnel stationed there could inspect it.

However, The Washington Post reported that Trump was first taken aboard a third aircraft before being transferred to the older Air Force One shortly before departure.

The reported operation allowed Trump to enter the older presidential aircraft through a different entrance before later appearing on its stairs in public, creating the impression that he had travelled aboard the plane throughout the journey.

Members of the travelling press pool were reportedly told to keep the window shades in their section closed during the flight.

Some White House personnel travelling with Trump were also reportedly unaware that he was not aboard the aircraft they believed was carrying him.

Reporters later asked Trump why they had been instructed to keep the window shades closed. He responded jokingly that they were “probably on a dangerous flight.”

“But if I go, you go. Right?” Trump added.

The C-32A aircraft reportedly carrying Trump landed in Britain at about 10:20pm local time. The former Air Force One and the media aircraft arrived separately several minutes later.

Trump’s travelling press pool said he came out of the older Air Force One at about 10:56pm. He reportedly gave reporters a peace sign, greeted US service members and proceeded towards the aircraft donated by Qatar.

The reported security manoeuvre was similar to an operation carried out during former US President Bill Clinton’s 2000 visit to Pakistan. Clinton reportedly used an unmarked executive aircraft to enter the country while Air Force One served as a decoy.

White House Communications Director Steve Cheung, in response to questions about the reported operation, said the Qatar-donated aircraft had been fitted with high-level security measures to protect Trump and his staff.

“As the president has said recently, there are many enemies of America who have their sights on him, and we use every tool at our disposal to address those threats,” Cheung said.

Iran Dismisses Trump’s Claim, Says It Never Asked US To Halt Strikes

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Iran has dismissed United States President Donald Trump’s claim that Tehran asked Washington to refrain from launching fresh military strikes, describing the allegation as false.

According to Iran’s Mehr News Agency, which cited military officials, Trump’s statement “was nothing but a new lie.” The officials also said the country’s armed forces were “on high alert and ready for any eventuality.”

Trump had stated on Saturday that the United States was “ready to go against the Islamic Republic.” He also claimed that Iran and other Middle Eastern countries had urged him not to carry out additional attacks. He added that he agreed to delay any fresh military action on the condition that a deal could be reached with Tehran.

In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump wrote, “This would include the Immediate, Complete and Total OPENING OF THE HORMUZ STRAIT, and an end to Iran’s nuclear threat.”

Meanwhile, Iran’s Fars News Agency quoted a source close to the country’s negotiating team as saying “as long as the United States maintains its hostile actions, the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed.”

Iran has maintained restrictions in the Strait of Hormuz since the conflict began. Ships are now required to obtain permission and pay transit fees before passing through the strategic waterway.

Trump Cancels Planned Iran Strikes, Says Deal Is Within Reach

By Sabiu Abdullahi

US President Donald Trump has announced that he has cancelled planned military strikes against Iran, saying the decision depends on the swift conclusion of an agreement.

In a statement, Trump said he called off the attacks “subject to being able to rapidly make a deal”.

He also claimed that Iran and other Middle Eastern countries had urged him to suspend the planned operation because “the perimeters of a deal has been agreed to”, including the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.

Trump’s announcement followed fresh warnings from Iran over the possibility of military action.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told the foreign ministers of Turkiye, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia in separate telephone conversations that any “aggression” by the United States and Israel would be met with a “decisive ⁠and proportionate response”.

Meanwhile, the conflict in Gaza continued as Israeli forces reportedly killed at least eight Palestinians across the territory.

Reports also said Israeli attacks destroyed a medical warehouse in Deir el-Balah. The strike left a crater measuring about 20 metres (66 feet) wide and 10 metres (33 feet) deep.

Trump Warns UK’s New PM on Immigration Crisis

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

United States President Donald Trump has urged new British Prime Minister Andy Burnham to take immediate action against illegal migration, warning that the issue is “killing” the United Kingdom.

In an interview with GB News on Wednesday, Trump said Burnham would eventually be forced to address immigration despite initially avoiding the subject after taking office.

“He’s going to have to mention it because it’s killing your country,” Trump told the broadcaster.

The US president claimed migrants were arriving from multiple regions, including Africa, South America, and parts of Asia.

“They’re invading Europe,” Trump warned, adding that “the UK is a prime suspect.”

Trump’s comments came on the same day that more than 500 migrants crossed the English Channel into Britain, with people smugglers launching 11 small boats from various points along the French and Belgian coastline.

The remarks also come as Burnham’s government continues to face scrutiny over its plans for handling asylum seekers.

When asked earlier this week whether the Prime Minister wanted asylum hotels to be closed, a Downing Street spokesman said: “The work on that continues,” adding there was “no change in that work being carried out by the Home Secretary in her department.”

According to Home Office figures, 172 people crossed the Channel on the Wednesday of Burnham’s first week in office, followed by 366 on Thursday and another 103 on Friday.

Trump reflected on his early interactions with the British leader, saying Burnham had a “big job ahead of him” on his first day in Downing Street.

Describing a recent telephone conversation between them, Trump said it was “interesting, and went very well,” adding that he wished the Prime Minister “GOOD LUCK AND GODSPEED.”

While the two leaders have maintained relatively stable relations during Burnham’s opening weeks, North Sea oil drilling has emerged as a potential point of disagreement.

The day before Burnham succeeded former Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, Trump urged him to expand North Sea oil drilling, claiming it would transform the UK “from a poverty stricken disaster, to one of the richest countries anywhere in the world.”

Sources in Washington have reportedly expressed concern over Burnham’s appointment of Ed Miliband as Foreign Secretary, citing his previous criticisms of Trump.

Behind the scenes, efforts to strengthen UK-US relations are continuing, while Burnham has maintained Britain’s policy of allowing US forces to use British military bases for what the government describes as “defensive” strikes linked to the conflict involving Iran.

Iran Says It Hits US Assets in Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait After Fresh American Strikes

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Iran has claimed responsibility for missile attacks on United States military assets in Bahrain, Jordan and Kuwait. The development came after the US carried out its seventh consecutive night of air strikes on targets inside Iran, according to reports by Al Jazeera.

Iran’s military said it struck US facilities in response to the latest American attacks. Iranian state media reported that the targets in Bahrain included the Sheikh Isa Air Base.

According to a statement carried by the Tasnim news agency, Iran said it targeted the “aircraft hangar and parking lot” as well as “fuel tanks” at the Sheikh Isa airbase and several communication bridges in Bahrain.

The statement added that the United States had used the base to launch “operations against regional targets, especially our country.”

“We are proud of our military duty to defend this land,” the statement concluded.

Earlier, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced that it had completed its seventh straight night of military operations against Iran. The command said it used “fighter aircraft, aerial drones and warships” to strike Iran’s “surveillance sites, military logistics infrastructure, underground weapons storage, and maritime capabilities”.

Reports indicated that the attacks targeted Lar, Jask, Sirik, Bushehr, Bandar Abbas, Qeshm Island, Ahvaz and the central city of Yazd.

Iranian state media said at least 3 people were killed and 8 others sustained injuries in Hormozgan Province, which borders the Strait of Hormuz.

The US military also dismissed claims by Iran’s Revolutionary Guards that two oil tankers exploded after hitting mines in the Strait of Hormuz. CENTCOM described the allegation as “false”.

Meanwhile, Kuwait said its armed forces were responding to Iranian missile and drone attacks for the third time. The country’s military urged residents to “adhere to the authorities’ safety and security instructions”.

Bahrain also activated warning sirens for the fourth time within a few hours. The country’s Ministry of Interior advised residents to “remain calm and head to the nearest safe place”.

The US State Department also issued a travel advisory as tensions continued to rise across the Middle East.

In a statement posted on X, the department warned that “due to high tensions in the Middle East, the security environment remains complex with the potential for unforeseen escalation”. It also advised that “Americans should reconsider travel to/through the Middle East”.

The department urged US citizens already in the region to exercise caution, monitor developments closely and confirm flight schedules with their airlines.

Report: White House Contacted FIFA President Over Balogun’s Red Card Ban

By Sabiu Abdullahi

A report by the Associated Press has claimed that a senior official at the White House contacted FIFA president Gianni Infantino over the suspension handed to United States forward Folarin Balogun at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The development followed FIFA’s decision to suspend Balogun’s one-match ban for one year, a move that cleared the striker to feature in the United States’ round-of-16 clash against Belgium.

According to TheCable, which cited the Associated Press report, a person familiar with the matter disclosed that a top US government official reached out to Infantino concerning the disciplinary action.

However, the source did not reveal the identity of the official or when the call took place.

Balogun had received a red card in the 64th minute of the United States’ round-of-32 encounter against Bosnia and Herzegovina after a dangerous challenge. The striker was initially expected to miss the next match because of the suspension.

FIFA’s disciplinary committee later invoked Article 27 of its code and suspended the ban for one year. The decision made Balogun available for Tuesday’s encounter against Belgium. The forward has scored three goals in the tournament.

US President Donald Trump reacted to the decision on Truth Social. He thanked FIFA for reversing what he described as an unfair punishment against the player.

The decision has, however, sparked criticism from the Belgian Football Association, which expressed shock over FIFA’s action.

The federation said it is “astonished” by the FIFA ruling, adding that the decision contravenes the provisions of the FIFA World Cup 2026 competition regulations.

The Belgian FA added that it is examining “all potential options” to protect the integrity of the competition.

“Furthermore, and irrespective of the above, the decision is in direct contradiction with the provisions of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Competition Regulations, as set out in Article 10.5,” the statement read.

“‘If a player or team official is sent off as a result of a direct or indirect red card (second caution), they will automatically be suspended from their team’s subsequent match. In addition, further sanctions may be imposed.’

“The automatic nature of such a suspension was also explicitly reaffirmed in FIFA World Cup 2026 Circular No. 16, which was distributed to all participating member associations on 12 May 2026.”

That Obama Presidential Centre

By Nura Jibo MRICS

The man, President Barack Hussein Obama, will never cease to amaze me. In 2008, when Obama was campaigning for his presidential bid against John McCain, I was in the Sudan Savanna region of Northern Nigeria, managing a N6 billion redevelopment of the Yankari Animal Game Reserve Holiday Resort and Safari Project in Bauchi State.

At that time, the 2i/c in my office, Dr Aminu Bashir, was scheduled to visit the United States. He asked me if there was anything that I needed him to buy in America. I humbly requested two (2) books: The Audacity of Hope and Dreams from My Father, both written by Barack Obama.

Indeed, it was a joyous moment for me the very day I laid my hands on the two of Obama’s international bestseller books. 

For those who are not aware of what qualifies a book to be labelled a bestseller, any book that its publishers sell an average of more than 10,000 copies within a week is automatically considered a bestseller under US standards. Obama’s “Audacity of Hope” immediately qualified for the New York Times bestseller list because of its profundity.

Today marks exactly 18 years since Barack Obama made history in the United States of America. And today, which marks the day of another victory with the launch of the Obama Presidential Centre on Juneteenth 2026, is not only a win for the US Democrats and democracy, but also a day when consistency meets sincerity and the ability to reemerge.

Chicago has been home to Obama, his wife Michelle, and their children, Sasha and Malia.

The lessons I learned from the Obamas are not only about courage and conviction but also about inspiring me to rise and do more with my life.

1. Personally, Obama’s personality (behaviours and appearance), as defined in simple psychology, inspired me to write my first book that debuted in 2010, which I sent to him and his wife, Michelle, one copy each-in 2010, via the US Embassy in Nigeria. At that time, my aim was not really to practice quantity surveying as a meal ticket. My dream was to immerse myself in the study of global literature and novels by renowned authors, such as the Russian Fyodor Mikhailovich Dostoevsky and the Chinese Sun Tzu’s The Art of War. I sincerely cared less about studying physics and chemistry books because I believed they offered less to humanity, as they contributed more to inflicting havoc on the scientific world via bombs, drones, and missiles. 

I deeply thought that science was never favourable for me. I was quite surprised when I see myself today practicing a segment of it and excelling in quantity surveying at an appreciable speed and awe, because my thinking was to one day appear in a global debate with world leaders such as Barack Obama to discuss the West and Africa and seek an explanation from my Kanoonline super writer friend, Dave McEwan Hill’s candid observation, who averred that: “If we want to keep our best people at home we have to provide a better country for them to operate in. If Nigerian leaders were honest, progressive, and ambitious, they would have rewarded high achievers rather than multibillion-dollar thieves.” McEwan Hill believes that many of our best brains would have stayed at home to build the nation.

However, most of them have gone overseas to be in more satisfying and more remunerative employment in better-run communities.

While I can’t agree with Dave as little as he does, his double-decker challenge was just like the way the Obamas challenged the late McCain and Trump, with his trumpeting of our cosmopolitan world in a George Galloway manner. Indeed, Dave McEwan Hill acknowledged what he described as my impressive contributions that nonetheless read like special pleading to ignite curiosity that the “blacks” are any less intelligent than the “whites. ” To which the question is more complex than that, as he asserted elsewhere that all members of all races function just as well as each other when placed equally in advanced environments. The key question is why some environments get so far ahead of others. 

So far, I have repeatedly featured and succeeded in debating the world at the United Nations Conference of the Parties level for umpteenth times.

2. Hence, anytime I listen to Obama, I come away with something new and extraordinary, not in my professional field, but outside my constituency. For example, before the birth of Obama’s Presidential Centre, I established a 3-hectare tree shelterbelt and two high-powered solar boreholes as a community organiser and climate change advocate in Nigeria. In my shelterbelt, biodiversity has already been restored for the people of Asayaya village across a comprehensive 3-hectare area, with a grant of no less than £70,000 from the BCDA.

3. After succeeding in biodiversity restoration, I looked up to the United States of America to leverage the establishment and registration of a segment of my NGO: the African Climate Change Research Centre (ACCREC), which I affiliated with the UNFCCC Secretariat in Bonn, Germany, as its climate observer organisation for well over sixteen years now. Prof. Bello Makama–an African American Chemist of all time, painstakingly registered ACCREC in New York and became its first US Country Director at SUNY-ERIE, courtesy of following the Obama legacy.

4. Now that Obama has launched his Presidential Centre in Chicago, with Presidents George Bush Jr., Biden, and Clinton in attendance, only God knows what is going on in my mind regarding what I will come up with in a couple of months. I will not digress, but I take a huge lesson from the veracity of Obama’s amazing construction, which cost well over $850 million, with Tod Williams Billie Tsien Architects and Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates as its landscape architects; the centre is designed to receive an average of 1,666 visitors every week. They will enjoy learning, sports, entertainment and music to the zenith.

5. Indeed, anytime I read and watch the Obamas, rest assured I will come up with something new, especially when I reflect on their times as a husband and wife in perfect harmony.

6. The time they spent in Chicago, with Michelle as an Associate Dean and Obama as a professor of law, often reminds me of the days I traversed and visited nearly fifty countries for my international career. I lived in Europe, North Africa, South America, West Africa and the Arabian Peninsula, sharing ideas and presenting my case studies to the international community, my immediate community and African neighbourhoods.

7. Anyone who wants to know more about what I am up to in a couple of days can watch this space for my open letter to President Obama. This letter is certainly going to be different and very unique from the one I wrote and sent to President Donald John Trump at his house in Mar-a-Lago!