Akeredolu died of prostate cancer, says Ondo govt (Punch)
The Ondo State Government has confirmed the death of the state Governor, Mr Rotimi Akeredolu.
The confirmation of the governor’s death came several hours after news of his death went viral.
According to a statement issued by the state Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mrs Bamidele Ademola-Olateju, the governor died in Germany on Wednesday after battling prostate cancer. Read more
Tinubu mourns Gov Akeredolu (Leadership)
President Bola Tinubu has mourned the passing of Ondo State governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, who died on Wednesday at the age of 65.
In a personal statement, President Tinubu described Akeredolu as a “fearless brother, confidant, political soulmate,” and a tireless advocate for justice and security in Nigeria.
He highlighted Akeredolu’s accomplishments as governor, including building roads, schools and healthcare facilities across Ondo State. Read more
Aiyedatiwa to be sworn in as Ondo gov today (Vanguard)
Ondo State acting governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, will be sworn in as the substantive governor of the state today.
This development followed the death of governor Rotimi Akeredolu in Germany.
Vanguard gathered in Akure, that Aiyedatiwa would be sworn in by 4pm today. Read more
After 15 years, Apapa Mini-Water Works resumes distribution to residents (ThisDay)
After 15 years of disrupted operations, the Apapa Mini-Water Works has resumed distribution to Apapa Local Government Area (LGA) residents.
Addressing newsmen at the inauguration ceremony of the corporation, the Chairman Apapa LGA, Hon. Idowu Senbanjo noted that lack of portable water had been a burden and much work had been done with the support of the Nigeria Port Authority (NPA).
She said: “Not having water was a big issue for us here in Apapa. People sunk boreholes and yet were unable to get portable water. The cases of typhoid are on the rise and we investigated the cause down to water. It was becoming too expensive to buy water. Read more
Vote-buying allegation: Adebutu reports at Ogun police headquarters (Punch)
The governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in Ogun State, Ladi Adebutu, on Wednesday, visited the state police headquarters in Eleweran, Abeokuta, over allegations of vote-buying during the March 18 elections.
Adebutu, who returned to Nigeria after over six months in the United Kingdom, arrived at the police headquarters around 11 am to honour a police invite over allegations by the All Progressives Congress that he bought votes with preloaded ATM cards during the polls.
The Chairman of the APC in Ogun, Yemi Sanusi, had petitioned the police, accusing Adebutu and other PDP members of vote-buying. Read more
CAN urges recruitment of CRK teachers in Katsina (Independent)
The Katsina State chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), has called on the government to recruit Christian Religious Knowledge (CRK) teachers to imbibe morals in pupils in the state.
Dr Musa Daniel-Danladi, the state CAN Secretary made the call during an interactive session with some journalists in Katsina on Monday.
According to him, the call has become imperative to enhance teaching and instill sound morals in public schools, especially in the southern part of the state where there is an appreciable number of indigenous Christians. Read more
4 injured as fire guts filling station in Badagry (Vanguard)
Four persons on Wednesday sustained various injuries as fire gutted Fat Noble filling station, an independent marketing oil firm along Old Road, opposite Torikoh, Badagry, Lagos.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that attendants were dispensing petrol inside jerry cans and sacks around 1.00.a.m at the back of the station when the explosion occurred.
According to a source, those who sustained injury were quickly rushed to General Hospital in Badagry before the arrival of fire service men. Read more
Plateau killings: Mwadkon calls for rejig of security agency (Sun)
Former Senator representing Plateau North Simon Mwadkon has called for a complete reorganisation of securities agencies on the Plateau to make them responsive to the spate of killings in the state.
Mwadkon spoke as the ECWA President Worldwide and Head of Denominational Churches Leaders on the Plateau, Rev (Dr) Stephen Baba Panya, has described the killings on the Plateau, which have left over 160 people dead as reprehensible, ungodly, satanic, totally unacceptable and condemnable.
The former senator told newsmen in his Jos residence on Wednesday that the unprovoked attacks that have been going on for a long time had continued because nobody had been arrested and prosecuted since the killings started. And more often, it’s the aggrieved people that are being arrested instead of the perpetrators. Read more
Trina explains how Beyoncé helped open door for female rappers (HipHopDX)
Trina has given Beyoncé her flowers for what she’s been able to accomplish, even beyond the worlds of pop and R&B — specifically, for paving the way for the next generation of female rappers.
HipHopDX caught up with Trina earlier this month while backstage at One Music Fest 2023 in Atlanta, and she showed a ton of love to Queen Bey.
Yeah, Beyoncé. Because she is the No. 1 female rapper when she does rap. There’s no sleeping on the Queen,” Trina said. “It’s just one of those things, of course, it’s Queen Beyoncé, but when you hear a song and it’s rapping involved it’s like, oh my God — it’s more inspirational. Read more
Casey Kramer Dies: Actress, daughter of Stanley Kramer was 67 (Deadline)
Casey Kramer, the longtime actress and daughter of legendary director Stanley Kramer died on December 24, according to her sister Kat Kramer. She was 67.
Casey Kramer’s film and TV career spanned four decades, consisting of mostly smaller parts on shows like Falcon Crest, McBride, Criminal Minds, Dexter, Southland, The Young and the Restless, Transparent, Behind the Candelabra, Lethal Weapon and Baskets.
Her filmography begins with her father’s final film, The Runner Stumbles in 1979, which starred Dick Van Dyke and Kathleen Quinlan and featured sister Kat, as well. Her more recent films include Mississippi Requiem in 2018 and 2020’s Darkness in Tenement 45. Read more
Piers Morgan furious as he hits out at claims he played pigeon lady in Home Alone (DailyStar)
Piers Morgan has hit out at claims he played the pigeon lady in 1992 movie Home Alone – again.
The former Good Morning Britain host is hit by the same question every festive period, with fans sure that he has a cameo role in Home Alone 2: Lost In New York. In the movie, Macaulay Culkin reprises his role as young Kevin McCallister.
He gets separated from his family during a festive trip to New York and he survives in the city without them until they reunite. Macaulay stars alongside Brenda Fricker, who plays the pigeon lady. Read more
Todd Phillips shares new images from Joker sequel (NME)
Todd Phillips has shared new images from the forthcoming sequel to his 2019 DC Comics movie, Joker.
The sequel – titled Folie à Deux – will be released on October 4, 2024, the same date as the fifth anniversary of Joker.
Phillips shared two new stills on his Instagram account yesterday (December 25). “Wishing everyone a happy holiday and a beautiful new year,” he captioned the post. “October 2024 #Joker2.” Read more
Kamar de los Reyes: Call of Duty and One Life To Live star, dies aged 56 in Los Angeles after battle with cancer (Sky)
Kamar de los Reyes, a TV, movie and voice actor best known for playing a villain in the video game Call of Duty: Black Ops II, has died in Los Angeles aged 56, his family has said.
De los Reyes died on Christmas Eve following a short battle with cancer, Lisa Goldberg, a publicist for his wife, Sherri Saum, said in a statement.
As well as his work on the game popularly known as “COD”, he also appeared in a ground-breaking soap opera and in movies alongside Angelina Jolie and Jennifer Lopez. Read more
Kanye West apologises in Hebrew on Instagram for antisemitic comments (ITV)
Kanye West has apologised to the Jewish community in Hebrew for offensive comments he made in the past.
The US rapper, also known as Ye, took to Instagram and wrote in Hebrew: “I sincerely apologise to the Jewish community for my unappropriated outburst caused by my words or actions.
“I did not mean to hurt or disrespect and I regret the pain I may have caused. Read more
Ukraine strikes Russian naval landing warship in Crimea (NBC)
Ukraine struck a large Russian landing warship in Crimea with cruise missiles in an overnight attack that killed at least one person and could hinder any Russian attempt to seize more Ukrainian territory along the Black Sea coast.
The Russian defense ministry, cited by the Interfax news agency, said Ukraine had used air-launched missiles to attack the Crimean port of Feodosia and that the Novocherkassk large landing ship had been damaged.
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu had briefed President Vladimir Putin in detail about the attack, the Kremlin said. Russia annexed Crimea from Ukraine in 2014 in a move Kyiv and the West condemned as an illegal seizure. Read more
World Cup Qualifier: FIFA shifts Nigeria, Burundi U20 Women’s Game to Tanzania (Leadership)
The world governing body for football, FIFA, has moved the first leg of the 2024 FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup final qualifying round encounter between Nigeria and Burundi from Bujumbura to Dar es Salaam in neighbouring Tanzania. The reason for the switch? The Bujumbura pitch has been deemed unfit to host the crucial match.
This announcement comes alongside confirmation that the FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup will expand to a 24-team tournament (up from 16 as seen in Costa Rica last year). Africa has been granted two additional slots, making the Nigeria-Burundi clash the final qualifying hurdle. The winner over two legs will earn a coveted ticket to Colombia. Read more
Aston Villa boss Unai Emery makes cheeky Man United dig with Premier League top-four claim (MEN)
Aston Villa manager Unai Emery believes his team deserves to be competing at the top of the Premier League.
Villa face Manchester United at Old Trafford on Boxing Day with Emery’s team sat third in the table, level on points with Liverpool and one point behind leaders Arsenal. But the Villains blew their chance to go top on Friday after Nicolo Zaniolo’s leveller in the seventh minute of stoppage time salvaged a 1-1 draw with Sheffield United.
They are 11 points ahead of United, and while Emery admits they still need to prove themselves, he insisted that Villa deserve to be above their opponents in the league. “Each team deserves their position in the Premier League. We demand a lot of ourselves, I’m happy and proud of the work we’ve done so far,” Emery said. Read more
Burnley 0-2 Liverpool: Darwin Nunez and Diogo Jota goals send Liverpool top on Boxing Day (Sky)
Liverpool moved top of the Premier League after Darwin Nunez ended his goal drought in a 2-0 win at Burnley on Boxing Day.
The Uruguay striker had gone over 600 minutes without a goal but scored early at Turf Moor, rifling an effort home from the edge of the box.
Despite registering eight shots on target in the first half, Liverpool struggled in front of goal with VAR coming to Burnley’s rescue just after half-time when Harvey Elliott’s effort was ruled out for Mohamed Salah standing in an offside position. Read more
Deontay Wilder produces yet another excuse following shock defeat to Joseph Parker (Express)
Deontay Wilder has blamed a single punch for his surprise defeat to Joseph Parker, despite rumours of an injury. The former WBC world heavyweight champion was beaten by Parker in Saudi Arabia, which could put a potential big-money fight with Anthony Joshua at risk.
“He caught me in a dazing moment,” Wilder said on his wobbly eighth round. “I f***ing zoned out for one minute, I don’t know what the f*** happened. The punch came but it wasn’t nothing that hurt, none of his punches fazed me at all.”
Boxing promoter Frank Warren suggested an injury might have been behind Wilder’s loss, claiming he had spent a long time in a cryo-chamber. Read more
Adrian Newey provides update on future as Red Bull design guru turns 65 (Express)
Red Bull boss Christian Horner managed to lure him away from McLaren. Red Bull went on to dominate the field between 2010 and 2013, and again with the introduction of the 2022 ground-effect cars.
Despite being less involved in daily design work, Newey remains a key asset to the team and has no plans to leave F1 after signing a new deal earlier this year. “Absolutely,” he responded when asked by Motorsport.com if he will continue in his role.
He added: “When I joined Williams and McLaren, then they were two great teams that had won races and championships way before I ever arrived, so there was very little required on the infrastructure side, it was really just hopefully just trying to bring a bit on the design side. Read more
Detroit Pistons set single-season losing record with 27th straight defeat (BBC)
The Detroit Pistons set a new record for the longest losing streak in an NBA season after the Brooklyn Nets inflicted their 27th straight defeat.
Detroit, who won two of their first three games of this campaign, were beaten 118-112 at home on Tuesday.
In the fourth quarter, the Pistons – led by Cade Cunningham who scored 41 points – held a 97-92 lead. Read more