By Fabian Apechihin

Cristiano Ronaldo’s partner, Georgina Rodriguez, has explained why they chose to have a private wedding at home instead of hosting an extravagant ceremony.

Ronaldo and Rodriguez recently announced their marriage in a joint Instagram post, revealing that the ceremony was a modest affair held in the living room of their mansion in Cascais, Portugal.

The decision surprised many, particularly those who expected the high-profile couple to celebrate their union with a lavish wedding.

In an interview with Vogue, Rodriguez explained that her views about marriage and weddings had changed over the years. She said that although she once dreamed of a fairy-tale wedding as a child, she eventually came to prefer a more intimate celebration with her family.

“As a little girl, I envisioned the grandest castle, the most magnificent carriage, the longest gown and a crown adorned with diamonds,” she said.

“Now, I find myself saying: no. I desire something intimate, shared with my partner and our children, in the comfort of our home. We have access to castles, houses, islands, horses, and cars every day.

“However, an intimate gathering is something more unique for us,” she added.

Rodriguez also explained that holding the ceremony in their living room carried special emotional significance because it is where the family spends much of its everyday life.

“We chose to hold the ceremony in our living room, the place where we share breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and where we experience our daily lives,” she said.

“In 30 years, I want our children to remember that something wonderful occurred at this table, the wedding vows of their parents,” Rodriguez added.

By Fabian Apechihin

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has linked illegal mining in Nigeria to organised crime, terrorism and insecurity across West Africa.

The UN agency disclosed this in a statement on Monday following a meeting between its delegation and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) Mining Marshals.

The delegation was led by Tullio Santini, Chief of the Africa Section of the Terrorism Prevention Branch (TPB) at UNODC.

Santini described the NSCDC Mining Marshals’ enforcement unit as critical to efforts to combat illegal mining and its associated criminal activities in Nigeria.

The meeting focused on the UNODC Crime-Terrorism Nexus Initiative, led by Robert Haslinger, a law enforcement expert from the Swedish Police.

According to UNODC, the initiative is designed to strengthen cooperation among governments and law enforcement agencies in dismantling the financial and operational links between organised criminal networks and terrorist groups.

Speaking on behalf of the NSCDC Commandant General, Ahmed Abubakar Audi, Commander John Onoja Attah described UNODC as an important partner in the fight against illegal mining in Nigeria.

Attah noted that previous training programmes supported by UNODC had significantly improved collaboration between the Mining Marshals and the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU).

He said continued cooperation between relevant agencies would be crucial to addressing the security and financial challenges associated with illegal mining in the country.

By Fabian Apechihin

Former Kano State Governor, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has reflected on the transient nature of political relationships, noting that political associates can become distant despite having once worked closely together.

Kwankwaso made the remarks while recalling some of his former political associates.

“I told him that when I come here, I don’t see Bucknor. When I come here, I don’t see Ambode. I started counting the people,” he said.

According to him, his political experience has shown that relationships formed in politics can change over time, with former allies sometimes becoming strangers despite their previous collaborations.

However, Kwankwaso singled out former Osun State Governor, Chief Bisi Akande, as one of the few political associates he still considers a friend.

He likened political relationships to friendships formed in school, noting that former classmates can maintain strong bonds despite taking different paths in their political careers.

“It’s not very peculiar to Kano, but I think the Kano experience is special out of the general lots,” Kwankwaso said.