The football world has been thrown into mourning following the tragic death of former Arsenal goalkeeper Alex Manninger, who reportedly died at the age of 48 after his car was struck by a train. According to multiple international media reports, the incident occurred at a railway crossing in Austria, where Manninger’s vehicle was hit in a devastating collision. Emergency responders arrived swiftly at the scene, but efforts to revive him proved unsuccessful. Manninger, a former Austrian international, enjoyed a distinguished career across Europe, featuring for top clubs including Arsenal and Juventus. He was part of the Arsenal squad under Arsène Wenger during the late 1990s, contributing to the club’s domestic successes and earning admiration for his composure and professionalism. Tributes have begun pouring in from across the football community, with former teammates, clubs, and fans expressing shock and grief over the sudden loss. Wenger, who managed Manninger during his time in Nort...
Ogo-Oluwa, Osogbo – July 14, 2025
Former state executives
of the Accord Party in Osun State have sounded the alarm over what they describe as an illegitimate power grab within the party. At a press briefing held today in Ogo-Oluwa, Osogbo, the former State Secretary of the party, Alhaji Nasiru Bolarinwa, declared that Osun Accord has been without a constitutionally recognized executive body since March 2025, when the tenure of the last executives expired.
“Ladies and gentlemen,” Bolarinwa began, “I am here to brief the general public and party faithful about the current leadership vacuum in our respected political party, Accord Osun. Since March this year, our tenure ended, and for over three months now, no executive has been appointed or elected to oversee the affairs of the party in the state.”
The former secretary stressed that their presence was not an act of defiance but a necessary intervention to halt the activities of impostors attempting to hijack the party's structure for personal gain. He specifically called out Pastor Victor Akande, whom he accused of illegally parading himself as the state chairman despite the expiration of his tenure.
“We want to use this medium to formally notify the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), INEC, the Department of State Services (DSS), and the Nigeria Police that Pastor Victor Akande is no longer the state chairman of the Accord Party. Any such claim or activity should be regarded as null and void.”
Also speaking at the briefing, Hon. Yakub Olayinka, the party’s former Organizing Secretary, emphasized that the state chapter is awaiting directives from the national headquarters, including an official timetable for the forthcoming congress. He reiterated that no one has the authority to negotiate or act on behalf of the party until further notice.
“We are all members of the party, and as it stands, no one should parade himself as state chairman. We urge all stakeholders to wait patiently for the green light from Abuja,” Olayinka said.
On the party’s political ambitions, Olayinka maintained that the Accord Party in Osun remains committed to repositioning itself as a credible force in the state’s political landscape.
“We are gathering strength. We believe strongly that Accord is poised for victory in the next Osun elections once we resolve these internal issues,” he affirmed.
Adding his voice, Mr. Oladapo Joseph, the party’s former treasurer, lamented the internal divisions that marred the previous leadership under Pastor Akande. He accused the former chairman of adopting a “divide and rule” approach that weakened grassroots cohesion.
“Under Pastor Akande, the party was run without unity or transparency. But we are not discouraged. We’re already working to rebuild trust and structure from the grassroots all the way to the national level,” Oladapo stated.
The former executives jointly appealed for calm among party members and supporters, urging everyone to stay focused and avoid being misled by individuals seeking personal political gain under the party’s banner.
Closing Note:
As Osun Accord awaits direction from its national leadership, today's warning from its former executive council may prove critical in preventing a constitutional crisis and keeping
the party’s internal democracy intact.
Comments
Post a Comment
Join the conversation!
Have insights, corrections, or questions about this news story? Drop your comment below. We value civil, fact-based discussion.