Ambode accepted defeat to avert impeachment –Sources (Punch)
There were indications on Wednesday that the Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, conceded victory to Babajide Sanwo-Olu, his main opponent for the All Progressives Congress governorship ticket in Lagos, to calm frayed nerves and avert impeachment. There had been expectation that the governor would fight the declaration of Sanwo-Olu as the winner of the state’s Tuesday governorship primary, which was initially cancelled by the APC National Working Committee panel that had promised to announce a new date for the primary. Read more
‘APC no longer fit to rule Lagos’ (Guardian)
Following the debacle between the Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode and the national leader of All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Ahmed Tinubu, over the incumbent’s scuttled second term bid, the standard bearer of the state’s chapter of Abundant Nigeria Renewal Party (ANRP), Mr. Abiodun Dabiri, has urged the electorate to vote the ruling party out of power in the coming election. Dabiri, who was reacting to the controversial primary organised by the Lagos chapter of APC yesterday, said the ruling party and the incumbent have not only demonstrated a lack of focus and commitment to the common good of the people of Lagos but have also shown in character that the interest of the masses does not take priority in their thinking. Read more
Obesere, Kwam 1 in war of words over Ambode (PremiumTimes)
Fuji music exponents, Wasiu Ayinde, popularly called Kwam 1, and Abass Akande, popularly called Obesere, have engaged in a war of words over Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos. The bone of contention is a recent viral video wherein Kwam 1 shared his opinion on the ‘best governors’ Lagos State has ever produced in an apparent criticism of Mr Ambode. Read more
Sanwo-Olu, the coming of Tinubu’s boy (Punch)
With Asiwaju Bola Tinubu’s endorsement of his preferred candidate, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, as the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, it was a given that Governor Akinwumi Ambode had not only lost the second term governorship ticket, he was also on his way out of political relevance. I do not feel sorry for him, neither should anyone. He does not need anyone’s pity either. He knew what he was doing when he struck a Faustian bargain to become governor in 2015. It is no surprise he has been thoroughly chewed up and spat out. Read more
2019: Tambuwal in closed-door meeting with Obasanjo (PremiumTimes)
Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State on Wednesday night held a closed- door meeting with former President Olusegun Obasanjo in his Abeokuta residence. Mr Tambuwal seeks to be president in 2019 on the platform of the opposition party, PDP. Mr Tambuwal who addressed journalists after the meeting which lasted for about 50 minutes and ended few minutes to 9.p.m. said he was in Abeokuta to consult with Mr Obasanjo in respect of the 2019 polls. Read more
Osun poll: Parties accuse INEC of compromise (Punch)
About 30 political parties that participated in the recent governorship election in Osun State have accused the Independent National Electoral Commission of conniving with the All Progressives Congress to subvert the wish of the majority of the electorate during the election. The parties that are operating on the platform of Council of Political Parties with Integrity said at a press conference in Osogbo on Wednesday that INEC awarded unearned votes to the APC candidate, Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola, at the collation stage, thereby giving him undue advantage over other candidates. Read more
SDP Primary: Pearse picks Lagos governorship ticket (Punch)
The Chairman, Strategy and Mobilisation, Social Democratic Party, South-West Zone, Dr Adetokunbo Pearse, on Wednesday emerged the consensus governorship candidate of the party in Lagos State. The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the exercise, held at the National Stadium, Lagos, was supervised by the party’s national officials and officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission. Read more
Kwara PDP Primary: Saraki Did Not Betray Me, Says Bolaji Abdullahi (ThisDay)
A former spokesman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Malam Bolaji Abdullahi has said he was not betrayed by the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki over the gubernatorial primary election of the Kwara State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Abdullahi who was a gubernatorial aspirant in the state, was reacting to reports that indicated that the Senate President worked against his governorship ambition. Read more
Dankwambo is the best choice for the nation in 2019 – ex Jonathan aide (Nation)
Ex-President Jonathan aid on Youths and Students Affairs, Comrade Jude Imagwe has said Alhaji Ibrahim Dankwambo is the best leader that has the quality to rule the country in 2019. In a statement issued in Jos yesterday, Imagwe said out of the list of northerners aspiring to be president of the country in 2019, non of them posses the leadership quality of Dankwambo. Read more
Oyetola gets certificate of return (Guardian)
Osun State governor-elect, Gboyega Oyetola, has promised to run an inclusive administration that would place premium on development and enhancement of citizens’ welfare. He gave the assurance yesterday shortly after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) presented him with certificate of return as the governor-elect.Electoral commissioner in charge of Oyo, Ekiti and Osun states, Adedeji Soyebi, presented Oyetola with the certificate during a ceremony at the INEC office in Osogbo, the state capital. Read more
Buhari calls Leah Sharibu’s mother, promises safe return of teenager (Guardian)
President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday spoke with the mother of the last kidnapped Dapchi schoolgirl, Mrs. Rebecca Sharibu, assuring her of the safe return of her daughter, Leah, from Boko Haram captivity. The Guardian editorial of yesterday had highlighted the inherent danger in the prolonged stay of the teenager in the den of the terrorist sect and called on the president to act quickly. The piece was the third on the matter.It had noted: “It is time to warn the authorities in Abuja again about the danger of allowing terrorists who have been threatening to kill Leah Sharibu to carry out their threats. Read more
Ambode: MSMES Must Target Globally Competitive Products (Thisday)
Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, has tasked operators of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises to maintain relevance in the ever-dynamic market by producing qualitative globally, competitive consumables and exportable products and services. He noted that globalisation and changing consumer experiences, make it imperative that MSMEs keep abreast of competition and maintain relevance. Read more
Tanker explosion kills four, toddler in Ondo (Guardian)
Tragedy occurred yesterday evening in Akure, the capital city of Ondo State as a petrol tanker carrying 33,000 litres of petrol fell at Shagari Village junction on Akure-Owo expressway, killing four people and a toddler. The incident occurred few metres to an NNPC petrol station as the tanker spilled its content on the road and later caught fire, burning no fewer than seven vehicles.The Guardian gathered that a commercial bus and six private cars, as well as many motorcycles, two residential houses and many shops along the road were also affected. Read more
Students call for 26% budgetary allocation to education (Vanguard)
The National Union of Nigerian Students ,NUNS, has called on the Federal Government to implement the 26% budgetary requirement for education approved by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, UNESCO, or risk being sanctioned. This is as the body which comprises students in Nigeria and in the diaspora lamented the decay in the nation’s education system which they say was due to inadequate funding among others things. Read more
Fijabi goes on ‘sex strike’ ahead of ABU title defence in Senegal (Guardian)
To prepare himself mentally, physically and psychologically for the defence of his Africa Boxing Union (ABU) Super Lightweight title in Senegal, Nigeria’s rising star, Olaide Fijabi has embarked on what he describes as ‘sex strike’. Fijabi, one of the regular faces on the GOtv Boxing Night, will meet 31-year-old Senegalese, Abderrazak Houya, on October 20 at the Canal Olympia arena in Dakar.While Fijabi has a record of 11 straight wins without defeat, which includes five knockouts, his Senegalese challenger, Houya, has 11 fights, 10 wins and one defeat. Read more
Oil price jumps to $86, Putin blames Trump (Punch)
The international oil benchmark, Brent crude, rose above $86 per barrel on Wednesday, as traders considered reported declines in Iranian exports due to pending United States’ sanctions. The upturn in oil prices follows US Secretary Mike Pompeo’s announcement on Wednesday that the US was terminating the 1955 Treaty of Amity, its economic agreement with Iran. Read more
