AFR Business

FC Cincinnati have signed midfielder Obinna Nwobodo to a contract extension through the 2027 season, with a club option for 2028, the club announced today. The deal keeps Nwobodo with the Orange and Blue, where he has been a mainstay in FC Cincinnati’s midfield since joining the club in 2022.

Nwobodo, 28, has made 117 appearances with FC Cincinnati since joining the club in April 2022 from Turkish Süper Lig side Göztepe SK. 109 of his 117 appearances have been starts, and since debuting for the club on April 30, 2022 at Toronto FC, Nwobodo’s 91 MLS Regular Season appearances are the fourth-most of any FC Cincinnati player.

“Since arriving three years ago, Obi has been a fundamental part of our success,” said Chris Albright, FC Cincinnati General Manager. “He’s relentless in how he approaches the game, on and off the field, and he’s an exceptional teammate and leader for our group. We’re delighted to have Obi and his family stay in Cincinnati.”

Nwobodo has made more appearances for FC Cincinnati than any other club in his professional career, which dates back to his professional debut with Nigeria’s Rangers FC in 2015.

The Nigerian midfielder has scored two goals and added 11 assists in all competitions with FC Cincinnati. Both of his goals served as game winners, with his July 12, 2023 goal at 90’+3 at New York Red Bulls remaining as the third-latest game-winning goal in the club’s MLS history.

In 2023, Nwobodo led MLS in tackles with 62, four more than any player across the league.

TRANSACTION: On May 15, 2025, FC Cincinnati sign midfielder Obinna Nwobodo to a contract extension through the 2027 season, with a club option for 2028.

The family of Asoluka in Ihiagwa, Owerri-West LGA of Imo State, has announced the death of Dr Chris Asoluka fondly called Okwuruoha.

His son, Jamachi Chris-Asoluka, announced this in a statement made available to newsmen yesterday.

Jamachi said: “With deep sorrow, but grateful hearts, we announce the peaceful passing of our beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, cousin, in-law, friend, and patriarch, Dr. Chris Asoluka (Okwuruoha).

“Surrounded by love and held in grace, daddy transitioned from this world just before midnight on Friday May 9th 2025 with the calm dignity that defined his life. A man of unwavering principles, strength, generosity, rare intellect, and profound wisdom, he lived a life rooted in service, compassion, and an unshakable commitment to family, community, and country.

“Though our hearts sag heavy, we take comfort in the fullness of his legacy — the values he instilled, the lives he touched, and the unmatched example he set. He was our anchor, our counsellor, our lifetime inspiration. His earthly absence is profound, but his spirit remains — in every lesson, every memory, every story told, and every life shaped by his presence.

“We are thankful for the glorious gift of his life and for the grace with which he completed his earthly journey. As we begin this season of remembrance, thanksgiving, and celebration, we ask for your prayers, support, and love as we honour a man who meant so much to so many.”

Jamachi also disclosed that the service of songs and night of tributes will be held for the late Asoluka in Lagos on July 17 to herald other funeral activities lined up until his obsequies on July 24 at Ihiagwa, Imo State.

The late Dr Asoluka was a polymath with two Bachelor’s degrees in Political Science and Law (Universities of Ibadan and London), multiple Masters degrees in International Economic Relations (University of Lagos), Shipping Economics/Finance and International Trade (CASS Business School) and a Ph.D. degree in Policy Analysis (University of Ibadan).

He was a respected management, development, and legislative strategy consultant (FIMC), who has played very important roles in various sectors of the Nigerian economy and politics.

He was the Executive Vice Chairman/CEO, Nipal Consulting Network, a multidisciplinary firm, which has successfully handled significant assignments for clients, including Federal and State Governments/Agencies, National Assemblies/States’ legislative Assemblies and multilateral/non-governmental institutions within and outside Nigeria, among numerous other feats.

In the 1980s, a photograph was taken during the traditional wedding ceremony of Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Oluremi Tinubu. The event marked the beginning of their marital journey, a union that would eventually become part of Nigeria’s political history.

The couple had three children together: Zainab Abisola Tinubu, Habibat Tinubu, and Olayinka Tinubu.

Before this marriage, Bola Tinubu had three children from earlier relationships: Kazeem Olajide Tinubu, born on 12 October 1974; Folashade Tinubu, born on 17 June 1976; and Oluwaseyi Tinubu, born on 13 October 1985.

On 31 October 2017, Kazeem Olajide Tinubu, also known as Jide Tinubu, died in London.

The argument that governments should not be involved in governance conflates evolutionary biology with economic and political responsibility.

Evolution through randomness and natural selection explains biodiversity, not human governance.

The fact that species evolve by chance doesn’t mean societies must operate without intentional structure, planning, or compassion.

In fact, the entire concept of civilization is built on rising above the randomness of nature — through cooperation, shared resources, and ethical progress.

As for the $300 trillion example: it’s a false dichotomy.
The issue is not a one-time redistribution but the systems that keep wealth concentrated and opportunities unequal.

No one is suggesting that everyone receive a $37,500 check and call it a day.
The point is to invest in systems — healthcare, education, housing, and equitable markets — that give people a fair shot sustainably.

Even if that money “runs out” in 2 years, those years could include education, healthcare, and business support that could lift millions out of generational poverty.

And it’s worth noting that trillions are hoarded or lost to tax evasion, inefficiency, and unproductive speculation by the top 1%.

We don’t lack resources — we lack systems of fair distribution.

Regarding Scandinavia: yes, they don’t invest in military at U.S. levels — because their model is built on diplomacy, social cohesion, and economic resilience.

It’s not that they’re freeloading; they’re choosing different national priorities.

The U.S. spends over $800 billion annually on defense — more than the next 10 countries combined — yet millions remain uninsured, homeless, and under-educated. That’s not leadership, it’s misalignment.

A government doesn’t need to solve every problem to address the most pressing ones.

Public healthcare isn’t utopian — it’s standard in Canada, the UK, and across Europe.

Functional safety nets and smart investments in people don’t distract from governance — they define it.

A more balanced view acknowledges that governments do have core responsibilities — but those responsibilities evolve with time.

The modern role of government includes not just security and infrastructure, but the well-being of its people.

That’s not “mission creep” — that’s progress.
• South Korea and Finland invested heavily in public education post-war and became innovation powerhouses.
• Germany runs a universal healthcare system and still maintains one of the strongest economies and militaries in the world.

• The U.S. spends ~17% of its GDP on healthcare — more than any other country — yet ranks below 30* in health outcomes like infant mortality and life expectancy.

• The Nordic countries invest in people and rank consistently high in quality of life, innovation, happiness, and economic competitiveness.

Governments can — and must — walk and chew gum. Security matters. So does compassion.

The best governments balance strength with humanity. That’s not weakness. That’s wisdom.

Government isn’t just a rulebook — it’s a reflection of our values. Compassion isn’t charity, it’s policy when done right.

Constitutions evolve, and the best states don’t just build roads and courts — they build dignity, safety, and opportunity for all.

While it’s true that governments have specific, constitutionally defined functions, it’s overly rigid to treat those functions as static or divorced from moral imperatives like compassion.

Constitutions are not sacred relics — they evolve over time to reflect societal growth, shifts in values, and expanding needs.

Slavery, for instance, was once legal under many constitutions. That didn’t make it right or untouchable.

The idea that compassion is somehow separate from governance assumes that the state is only a mechanical manager of logistics — roads, courts, and borders.

But people don’t live mechanical lives. They get sick, they get hungry, they fall through cracks — and if a government exists to serve its citizens, then it must also respond to those human realities.

Take education and healthcare. These are infrastructure, yes — but they are also tools of compassion.
A nation that builds schools but lets kids starve misses the point.

A country that builds hospitals but denies access based on income isn’t failing at charity — it’s failing at justice.

The best governance isn’t one that sticks to a minimal checklist of duties. It’s one that adapts to protect the dignity and well-being of its people.

Compassion isn’t extra — it’s embedded in justice, fairness, and infrastructure when they’re done well.

A more balanced approach recognizes that:
• Government functions should evolve when new needs arise.
• Compassion is not charity; it’s often the foundation of fair and equitable policy.
• Constitutions are frameworks, not cages — and representing “all the people” sometimes means expanding protections to those long ignored.

So yes, good deeds and government duties aren’t always the same — but the best governments know when they should be.