Akeredolu apologises to clerics over Muslim-Muslim ticket (Punch)
The Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, has apologised to Christian clerics over the Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket of the All Progressives Congress.
He also appealed to them to help talk to their followers about the need to forgive and give the party a chance.
This was contained in a statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr Richard Olatunde, on Monday
According to the statement, the Chairman of the Southern Governors’ Forum spoke on Sunday at the 40th Holy Ghost Convention Dinner of The Sword of the Spirit Ministries held at the International Conference Centre, University of Ibadan.
The governor hinged his call for understanding on the need for power to return to the southern part of the country after eight years in the northern part. Read more
Amid parents’ ordeal, Ekweremadu’s daughter begs public for kidney (DailyTrust)
Sonia, the daughter of Ike Ekweremadu, Nigeria’s former Deputy Senate President, has made a public appeal for kidney donation.
The lawmaker’s daughter made the appeal amid the ordeal of her parents who landed in trouble in the quest to save her.
He and his wife were arrested in June when they tried to get a kidney donor for Sonia, who is in mid 20s.
Prosecutors had arraigned the couple in court over alleged trafficking and attempt to harvest the organs of an underage.
Beatrice, the lawmaker’s wife, was later granted bail while he is currently in custody pending October when his case would be heard. Read more
Lagos police parade suspected vehicle parts thieves (Guardian)
Lagos State Police Command, yesterday, paraded four members of a syndicate that specialised in vandalising and selling vehicle parts.
Police operatives attached to Surulere Division arrested the suspects on Wednesday, September 7, after a report was received that three Mercedes Benz Sports Utility Vans (SUVs) brought in for repairs at a mechanic workshop were vandalised, while their brain boxes and oil pumps were stolen.
The Command’s spokesperson, Benjamin Hundeyin said the suspects, 21-year-old Ayinla Aliaminu; 20-year-old Sodiq Odugbade; 20-year-old Aliyu Yusufa and 18-year-old Ayomide Ogunshiyi, who were mechanic apprentices in the neighbourhood, have given useful information to the police. He added that efforts are on to arrest receivers of the stolen items while the suspects have since been arraigned.
The state’s Commissioner of Police, Abiodun Alabi, has also assured Lagosians of relentless efforts of officers and men of the Command to bring crime to the barest minimum. Read more
Gridlock traps Lagos-Ibadan motorists, passengers for 16 hours (Punch)
Travellers on the Lagos-Ibadan expressway on Monday experienced a traffic gridlock on the Magboro-Berger section of the road, with some lamenting that they spent almost 16 hours on the road.
PUNCH Metro had reported that the Berger construction company was conducting repairs on various parts of the road. However, traffic worsened on Monday.
Our correspondents observed that the gridlock started from Magboro, Ogun State inward Lagos State on Monday early hours.
A traveller, Oyinda Kazeem, regretted travelling, noting that she missed her appointment due to the traffic.
She said, “I had an appointment with a mentor I haven’t seen in a long time so I travelled from Ibadan. He is travelling overseas tomorrow. I don’t think I’ll see him.” Read more
We just renewed rent, have no place to go — Survivors of Lagos sinking building cry (Vanguard)
Survivors of the building that sank in Maryland, Lagos State, have said they do not have anywhere else to go, as they had just renewed their rent.
Recall that emergency workers rescued nine female occupants of a sinking storey building in Maryland, on Monday morning.
However, two of the victims, Tosin Ademuyiwa and Blessing Uzokah, told Vanguard that they have no place to go as they have spent all their income to renew their annual rent of N300,000.
The storey building is located at 47 Akinwunmi Street, Akinwunmi North Estate, Mende, Maryland, Ikeja. Read more
Lagos flooding: Rescuers recover two corpses, save nine (Punch)
Two persons lost their lives during the flood that submerged various communities in Alimosho Local Government Area of Lagos State on Monday.
The Lagos Territorial Coordinator, National Emergency Management Agency, Ibrahim Farinloye, in a statement, said the flood caused by the torrential rainfall, swept the victims away in the Iyana Ipaja and Command areas of the state.
He said one of the victims, identified simply as Alfa, had escaped with his wife and four children, adding that he returned to his house to pick some items when the flood that submerged his house swept him away.
Farinloye said, “Two adult men were swept away at Iyana Ipaja and Command areas of Lagos State. A man simply known as Alfa was swept away as a result of heavy downpour that caused flooding that took over the whole communities of Ajayi Street, Olubodun Ifesowapo, Olubodun, Fafunwa, Ipaja West, and Tioluwani, in Alimosho LGA. Read more
Sanwo-Olu orders removal of abandoned vehicles under bridges over security threat, gridlock (Guardian)
Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Monday ordered removal of all abandoned vehicles parked indiscriminately under bridges across the state.
As a result, the Lagos State Traffic Management Agency (LASTMA), has issued a-7- day removal and compliance notice to owners of trucks and vehicles parked under Costain Bridge and other areas of the state or risk being impounded and prosecution.
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Transportation, Sola Giwa and General Manager LASTMA, Bolaji Oregba, disclosed these on Monday, during an emergency meeting with stakeholders and management of the agency, held at Alausa, Ikeja Lagos.
According to Giwa, “Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s had declared zero tolerance for environmental abuse, illegal and indiscriminate dumping of refuse and defacing of the environment when he signed ‘Executive Order’ on traffic and sanitation.
“I can assure you that government will enforce this notice after the expiration of the seven days ultimatum beginning from today (Monday).” Read more
Oba of Benin lauds Buhari’s commitment to return of stolen artefacts (ThisDay)
The Oba of Benin, His Royal Majesty, Oba Ewuare II, has commended President Muhammadu Buhari’s stance on preserving the cultural ethos and traditional institution in Nigeria.
He however expressed thanks to God and his forebears that some of the artefacts the invaders took away had started returning to their original abode.
The traditional ruler also acknowledged the role of the president, and the support of stakeholders in preserving the traditional institution, which he said has remained intact.
Oba Ewuare said: “When the white man came and tried to disrupt our traditional institution, you will all agree with me that they failed. So, they left our traditional institution intact. That is why we are still here. Read more
Alumni empowers ex-LAUTECH student who returned certificate, demanded fees refund (Vanguard)
Osunleke Oludare Alaba, an ex-student of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, LAUTECH, Ogbomoso, who returned his certificate to the school and demanded refund of his tuition fees, has received help from the school’s alumni.
The Global Alumni President of LAUTECH, Solomon Onilede, on Sunday, presented a cheque of N500,000 to Alaba.
He also presented a cheque of N1 million to a physically-challenged ex-student of the institute, Babatunde Kewejo, to support his business as a commercial driver, while his first child was also given scholarship up to university level.
Recall that Alaba had, last week, visited his alma mater to demand refund of his school fees and returned the certificate because he considered it worthless and added no value to his life. Read more
South East Coalition: Attack on Ubah shows national security architecture collapse (Guardian)
Members of an indigenous South East coalition have condemned Sunday’s gruesome attack on the convoy of Senator representing Anambra South Senatorial District, Ifeanyi Ubah, saying the development was a sponsored assassination attempt on the philanthropist’s life.
While thanking God for sparing the life of Ubah, who was said to have escaped in a bullet-ridden vehicle, the group commiserated with the families, the government of Anambra State, as well as the police command, over the death of some policemen and aides of the traumatised former Governorship candidate of the Young Peoples Party (YPP) in last year’s gubernatorial election.
Ubah’s convoy came under a deadly attack by assailants at the Enugwu-Ukwu community in Njikoka Local Government Area of Anambra State.
Confirming the fatal incident, the spokesperson for the state police command, DSP Toochukwu Ikenga,, said: “The Commissioner of Police Anambra State Command, CP Echeng Echeng, has today(Sunday), led police operatives to the scene where sporadic shootings took place in Enugu-Ukwu. Read more
Naomi Ackie recalls Whitney Houston biopic audition (NME)
Naomi Ackie has opened up about auditioning for the role of Whitney Houston in the new biopic I Wanna Dance With Somebody.
The Star Wars actress will take on the role of the music icon in the upcoming film, and revealed in a new interview with NME that she was going for the role while making new film The Score.
Asked whether the latter film helped get her in shape for playing Houston, Ackie replied: “I guess so. I remember being told about the audition, around the time we were shooting.
“I remember being in a trailer with Will [Poulter] and saying ‘That is insane! There is no way that’s going to happen. I’m not even sure if I should try.’ And then lo and behold it happened. Read more
Ana de Armas wows as Marilyn Monroe in photo recreations following Blonde’s triumphant premiere (Metro)
Stunning new pictures of Ana de Armas as Marilyn Monroe in Netflix biopic Blonde have been released after the movie’s triumphant world premiere at Venice Film Festival.
Blonde reportedly received a 14-minute standing ovation from its audience following the screening on Thursday, causing the actress to break down in tears as she blew kisses to those nearest her.
Described as a ‘fictionalized chronicle of the inner life of Marilyn Monroe’, the film follows the late Hollywood icon – born Norma Jeane Mortenson – as she deals with the pressures of universal fame.
Also in the cast are Adrien Brody and Bobby Cannavale, who play the star’s third and second husbands, playwright Arthur Miller and baseball star Joe DiMaggio – or ‘The Playwright’ and ‘The Ex-Athlete’. Read more
French director receives 2 awards for debut film at Venice festival (RFI)
French filmmaker Alice Diop won the Grand Jury Prize and the First Film Award for her drama, “Saint Omer”, at the 79th Venice Film Festival awards ceremony on Saturday.
The jury, led by US actress Julianne Moore, awarded the Silver Lion to “Saint Omer”, a film inspired by a true story.
Directed by French woman Alice Diop, it was also awarded “Best First Film”.
“I’m speechless,” Diop said, when she received her award on Saturday evening, going on to highlight her feminist struggle, particularly that of “women of colour”. Read more
Sir Elton John’s final US show to be live-streamed on Disney+ (MusicNews)
Sir Elton John’s final-ever US show will be live-streamed on Disney+.
The music legend’s ‘Farewell Yellow Brick Road’ jaunt will stop at the Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on November 20, and the performance will be available to watch live on the streaming service.
In May, it was announced that the ‘Tiny Dancer’ hitmaker’s extraordinary life and career will be documented in an upcoming Disney+ documentary.
‘Goodbye Yellow Brick Road: The Final Elton John Performances and the Years that Made His Legend’ will feature never-before-seen archival footage and new interviews. Read more
Megan Thee Stallion responds to claim she told Nicki Minaj to get an abortion (HipHopDX)
Megan Thee Stallion has denied she once told Nicki Minaj to get an abortion.
The Young Money superstar hosted a new episode of her Queen Radio show on Amazon’s Amp app dubbed “Tea Party” on Sunday night (September 11), where she spilled the tea about her rap rivals, among other topics.
At one point during the almost hour-long episode, Nicki claimed an unnamed individual suggested she terminate her pregnancy at the abortion clinic after declining their offer for an alcoholic drink.
“Imagine telling someone you didn’t want a drink… you know, because you were, at the time, possibly pregnant, because you were actively trying to have a baby,” she said. “Imagine that person saying, ‘Oh girl, you can go to the clinic!’” Read more
Ukraine war: We retook 6,000 sq km from Russia in September, says Zelensky (BBC)
Ukrainian forces have seized even more territory from Russia as they continue their counter-offensive, the country’s president has said.
Volodymyr Zelensky said troops have now retaken more than 6,000 sq km (2,317 sq miles) from Russian control in September, in the east and the south.
The BBC cannot verify these figures.
Russia has admitted losing key cities in the north-eastern Kharkiv region, in what is seen by some military experts as a potential breakthrough in the war.
Moscow describes its troop withdrawal from the region in recent days as a “regrouping” with the aim of focusing on the Luhansk and Donetsk regions in Ukraine’s east. Read more
Ukraine troops ‘outnumbered Russia’s 8 times’ in counterattack (AlJazeera)
Ukrainian forces outnumbered Russian troops by eight times during the rapid Ukrainian counteroffensive in the northeastern Kharkiv region, a Russian-installed official said.
Vitaly Ganchev said Ukrainian soldiers captured previously Russian-held settlements in the region’s north, breaking through to the border with Russia, and “about 5,000” civilians had been evacuated to Russia.
Ganchev told the state-owned Rossiya-24 television channel on Monday “the situation is becoming more difficult by the hour”, adding the border with Russia’s Belgorod region was now closed.
During the weekend, Ukrainian forces overran the key Russian supply hubs of Izyum and Kupiansk, where the Kharkiv region’s Russian-appointed administration had been based. Read more
Origi injury more serious than Milan feared (Guardian)
Milan will be without Divock Origi for their upcoming two games against Dinamo Zagreb and Napoli, as the Belgian’s injury is more serious than initially expected, reports suggest.
The 27-year-old Belgian forward has not started a match yet for the Rossoneri, but has already been sent to the sidelines with a muscle injury, forcing him to miss out on the 2-1 win over Sampdoria on the weekend. Milan had hoped to have Origi back in time for their vital game against Napoli, but things have not panned out as planned.
As reported by Calciomercato.com, Origi is set to fly to Belgium in the coming days to meet with the Belgian national team doctors, who had already treated him during the period between his Liverpool departure and Milan arrival.
The 27-year-old’s injury initially seemed to be localised in his thigh muscles, but now indications suggest that the root of the issue is deeper and is related to his tendons, more serious than first predicted. Read more
Liverpool v Ajax: Jurgen Klopp confident fans will honour minute’s silence for Queen Elizabeth II (BBC)
Jurgen Klopp is confident Liverpool fans will respect a minute’s silence for Queen Elizabeth II before Tuesday’s Champions League match against Ajax.
Liverpool fans booed ‘Abide With Me’ and ‘God Save the Queen’ before last season’s FA Cup final at Wembley.
Boris Johnson, Prime Minister at that time, condemned those who booed.
Klopp said a minute’s silence is “the right thing to do” adding: “I don’t think our people need any kind of advice from me for showing respect,” Read more
UEFA Champions League matches go ahead this week (Guardian)
The English Premier League announced last Friday that fixtures would be postponed over the weekend following the death of Queen Elizabeth II, reports metro.co.uk. But the postponement does not affect UEFA Champions League matches.
Manchester City, Liverpool, Chelsea, Tottenham, Celtic and Rangers are all in this season’s Champions League, with the second round of group games scheduled to take place across Europe this week.
And discussions have been held between UEFA and the British clubs to determine if their fixtures will indeed go ahead this week.
The Champions League group stage matches involving the British clubs are expected to go ahead largely as planned this week.
However, Rangers’ home match with Napoli has been put back by 24 hours to tomorrow. UEFA said the decision was made ‘due to the severe limitations on police resources and organisational issues related to the ongoing events surrounding the national mourning for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.’ Read more
Graham Potter makes Chelsea promise as he explains how he will handle big egos (Mirror)
Graham Potter is determined to write his own piece of Chelsea history after promising to compete for trophies.
Potter, 47, will take charge of his first Chelsea game against Red Bull Salzburg on Wednesday night after his “whirlwind” arrival at Stamford Bridge.
Birmingham-born Potter, who has signed a five year deal worth in excess of £50m, is Chelsea’s first full time English boss since Glenn Hoddle in the 1990s and is a major departure from some of the big names like Jose Mourinho or Thomas Tuchel.
But Potter has no doubt that he can be successful in his own way and bring a new era of success to the club as he spoke ambitiously about the future. Read more
Alex Albon out of intensive care following appendicitis surgery complications (ESPN)
Williams driver Alex Albon is recovering in hospital after suffering a respiratory failure following surgery for appendicitis.
Albon missed the Italian Grand Prix at the weekend for surgery on Saturday.
The Thai driver experienced “unexpected post-operative anaesthetic complications” after his procedure and was sent to intensive care at Monza’s Osperdale San Gerardo, Williams confirmed in a statement on Monday.
Albon was removed from a ventilator and moved back to a general ward after making good progress on Sunday. Read more
Anthony Joshua receives brutal warning from Tyson Fury promoter Bob Arum (MEN)
Top Rank boxing promoter Bob Arum has suggested that Anthony Joshua should avoid a fight against Tyson Fury, predicting a ‘massacre’ should the pair enter the ring against each other.
Talks are continuing between the pair, but have been suspended following the passing of Queen Elizabeth II. However, Arum has warned Anthony Joshua against a potential bout, explaining that it would be the wrong time to fight Fury, with the ‘Gypsy King’ keen on a fight before the end of the year.
Currently Joshua, who has lost three of his last five fights, is stalling in negotiations having only just lost to Oleksandr Usyk. He is thought to want a fight taking place on December 17th, but Fury is hoping for a bout to take place on either November 26th or December 3rd.
Arum represents Fury’s interests in the US and was key in the promotion of his trilogy against Deontay Wilder, he has claimed that Joshua is unlikely to accept the fight. Arum explained: “I don’t think it’s gonna happen because, while Fury would want it to happen, I put myself in the shoes of Eddie Hearn and Joshu,.” he told Boxing Social. Read more
‘Rafael Nadal gave me a good beating in Roland Garros final,’ Casper Ruud says (TennisWorld)
Rafael Nadal and Casper Ruud are the only players with two Major finals in 2022! The Norwegian became one of the players to beat in 2022, playing in the title clash in Paris and New York and entering the top-2 for the first time in a career.
However, Casper is yet to win a Major, losing both finals against the Spaniards. Carlos Alcaraz toppled Ruud in four sets in New York to deliver the Norwegian’s second loss in the most notable matches. The first came against Rafael Nadal at Roland Garros in June.
Competing for his 14th Roland Garros crown, Rafa earned a 6-3, 6-3, 6-0 triumph in two hours and 18 minutes. The Norwegian used a favorable draw to achieve a career-best result and become the first Major finalist from his country.
Still, he stood no chance against the king of clay, who broke him eight times from 16 opportunities. Rafa fired 37 winners and 18 unforced errors and pushed the rival’s backhand to the limits in one of his most one-sided Roland Garros finals. Read more