2019: Opposition parties kick as Buhari gets attestation of result from WAEC (Punch)
Opposition political parties under the aegis of the Coalition of United Political Parties have described as suspicious the Friday’s presentation of the attestation of result to President Muhammadu Buhari by the West African Examinations Council at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. The CUPP, which comprises about 42 political parties including the Peoples Democratic Party and the African Democratic Congress, alleged that there were indications that the result was hurriedly released to stall the commencement of the suit seeking to disqualify the President from contesting the 2019 presidential election. Read more
Fayemi moves to reposition education in Ekiti (Guardian)
Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, yesterday, inaugurated visitation panels for three state-owned institutions in its drive to reposition tertiary education in the state. Also inaugurated was a Fact Finding Committee for the state’s Broadcasting Service.The visitation panels, which were set up through executive orders signed by the Governor, are for Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti; College of Education, Ikere-Ekiti; and College of Health Sciences and Technology, Ijero Ekiti respectively. Read more
Drama as protesting priests block Anambra Govt House (Nation)
Tempers rose yesterday in Anambra State as over 300 Anglican priests barricaded the government house to protest against the seizure of Bishop Crowther Memorial School, Onitsha allegedly belonging to the church by the state government. The priests stormed the government house gate as early as 9am yesterday carrying placards with different inscriptions. The clergymen who were not allowed access into the government house by security operatives, barricaded the government house gate, to stop the governor, Willie Obiano from entering the premises. Read more
Buhari blames National Assembly for delayed projects (Guardian)
President Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday blamed tardiness in the passage of budgets by the National Assembly, sometimes lasting seven months, for the delay in the completion of projects across the country, urging more effort to speed up the process. The President, who received a delegation of Eminent and Respected citizens of Niger State led by Lt. Gen. Garba Duba (Rtd) at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, said the government’s achievements in ensuring better roads, rails, power and repositioning of the airports was in spite of the delays, praying for more understanding and commitment to infrastructural development. Read more
Convoy shoots at corps members in front of police station (Punch)
Security operatives in a convoy went haywire on Thursday shooting at a car conveying five corps members serving in the Obafemi Owode Local Government Area of Ogun State. It was learnt that the incident happened around 1pm in the Mowe end of Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, in front of the Mowe Police Division. The convoy was reportedly en route to Lagos to pick a governor at the airport. Read more
Osun closes two forest reserves over illegal activities (Nation)
The Government of Osun says it has closed two forest reserves in Irewole and Isokan communities over illegal activities of plank dealers. Prince Tunde Ajilore, the Special Adviser to Governor Rauf Aregbesola on Forestry, Natural and Mineral Reserves, made this known to newsmen on Friday in Osogbo. Ajilore said the closure was to ensure the state’s resources were not siphoned through illegal means. He said before the closure, the state government had held series of meetings with the plant dealers associations to put an end to such activities, but to no avail. Read more
US to reinstate all Iran sanctions (BBC)
The Trump administration is to reinstate all US sanctions on Iran removed under the 2015 nuclear deal. The White House said it was “the toughest sanctions regime ever imposed on Iran” and targeted Iran’s energy, shipping and banking sectors. However, eight countries will not be penalised by the US for continuing to import Iranian oil. Read more
Asia Bibi: Deal to end Pakistan protests over blasphemy case (BBC)
Pakistan’s authorities have struck a deal with a hard-line Islamist party to end a protest over the acquittal of a Christian woman convicted of blasphemy. As part of the deal, Asia Bibi will be barred from leaving the country, though it is unclear for how long. The protesters will also be able to file an appeal to the Supreme Court over its decision to release her. Read more
Mikel shouldn’t be forced out of Eagles – Coaches (Punch)
Coaches Duke Udi and Godfrey Esu believe Super Eagles captain Mikel Obi is still relevant to the team despite not featuring for the national team in recent games. Mikel has yet to play for the Eagles since the 2018 World Cup – missing the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Seychelles and the double-header against Libya. The 31-year-old was also excluded from the 23-man list for the crucial 2019 AFCON qualifier against South Africa in Johannesburg on November 17 and the friendly against Uganda in Asaba three days later. Read more
Djokovic to meet Federer in Paris semi-final (BBC)
Second seed Novak Djokovic will face third seed Roger Federer in the semi-finals of the Paris Masters. Djokovic fought back from a set down to beat Croat Marin Cilic 4-6 6-2 6-3 in two hours and 12 minutes. The Serb lost the opening set and went 2-1 down in the third before immediately breaking back and then moving ahead at 5-3. Read more
Man rapes mother, former in-law, blames act on idleness (Punch)
A 32-year-old man in the Kaura Local Government Area of Kaduna State, David Shakari, has been arrested by operatives of the Inspector-General of Police Intelligence Response Team for rape. The 32-year-old father of one reportedly raped his mother and ex-wife’s mother who are in their 50s and 60s respectively. Read more
Wife seeks divorce over husband’s poor sexual performance (Punch)
A 27-year-old housewife in Akwa Ibom State, Iniobong Edem, has asked an Uyo High Court to dissolve her marriage over the alleged inability of her 41- year-old husband, Mr. Edem Bassey, to satisfy her sexually. She told the court on Friday that her husband was so bad sexually that he usually slept off during intercourse with her. Read more