Appointments: You are favouring Yorubas, Christians, MURIC knocks Tinubu (DailyTrust)
The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to ensure that all regions, faiths and sections benefit from political appointments made by his government while no ethnic group or faith is seen to be favoured above others.
Executive Director of MURIC, Prof Isiaq Akintola, made the plea in a statement on Monday.
According to him, the appointments made so far by President Tinubu are lopsided because they favour mainly Yorubas and Christians. Read more
Muri-Okunola resigns as Lagos head of service over Tinubu’s appointment (Vanguard)
The Head of Service in Lagos State, Hakeem Muri-Okunola has resigned following his recent appointment as President Bola Tinubu’s Principal Secretary.
In a Monday message to Lagos Civil Servants, Muri-Okunola said his civil service career will terminate on the 29th Of September, 2023.
According to him, he has informed Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of his voluntary retirement from the Lagos State Civil Service after nearly five years as the Head Of Service. Read more
Kukah wins 2023 Mundo Negro Fraternity Award (Sun)
The Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese and Founder of The Kukah Centre, Most Revd (Dr) Matthew Hassan Kukah, has won the 2023 Mundo Negro Fraternity Award.
The Executive Director, The Kukah Centre, Fr Atta Barkindo, in a statement issued in Abuja, said the news was conveyed to Kukah through a letter signed by Fr. Enrique Bayo Mata, a priest of the Comboni Missionaries and Director of the Madrid-based Spanish Magazine, Mundo Negro.
“According to the letter, Fr Bayo Mata said that: Every year, the Magazine organises the Encounter with Africa during which the Award is given to a chosen African personality or institution that has been characterised by their contribution to the construction of a better world and a better African continent. The letter further stated that: Our eyes have been opened to the excellent work of the Kukah Centre founded by you,” Barkindo said. Read more
MohBad: SDP warns aggrieved fans against violence (Nation)
Following the death of a Nigerian blooming artiste, Ilerioluwa Oladimeji Aloba aka MohBad, the Social Democratic Party (SDP) on Monday, September 18, cautioned fans of the deceased against fronting violent attacks.
Speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the Zonal Secretary of South-West, Femi Olaniyi had in Lagos revealed that the party paid a condolence visit to the bereaved family.
The Nation on September 12, 2023, reported the sudden death of the 27-year-old singer. Read more
Mohbad: Police inaugurates special investigation panel (Leadership)
A 13-man Special Investigation Panel has been inaugurated by the Lagos State Police Command to probe the sudden death of Nigerian singer, Ilerioluwa Oladimeji Aloba, popularly known as Mohbad.
Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Idowu Owohunwa, disclosed this on Monday.
“Do not forget, we have unique access with INTERPOL. Everybody linked to it (the death of Mohbad) will be identified and they will be brought to establish their level of involvement,” CP Owohunwa stated. Read more
Minister laments effects of strikes on economy as NLC meeting begins (Channels)
The Minister of Labour and Employment, Simon Lalong says that past industrial actions by labour unions have had adverse effects on the country’s economy.
The Minister stated this in Abuja on Monday as a scheduled meeting with the leaders of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) commenced in an effort to stop organised labour from embarking on another industrial action.
He promised to partner with labour to address the demands of the labour unions in a just and balanced way. Read more
Ondo APC to suspend party chairman for beating commissioner (Punch)
The Ondo State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress has declared that it would punish a ward chairman of the party in Akoko North-West Local Government Area of the state, Mr Olumide Awolumate, for allegedly beating the state Commissioner for Woman Affairs and Social Development, Mrs Juliana Osadahun.
The embattled chairman was seen in a video engaging in a free-for-all with the commissioner, allegedly inflicting injuries on the latter’s head during palliatives distribution in Arigidi Akoko, on Sunday.
Speaking with our correspondent on the incident, on Monday, the state chairman of the party, Mr Ade Adetimehin, expressed bitterness over the alleged attack on the commissioner and stated that the party would sit on the matter today (Monday). Read more
Gov Zulum appoints new Rector for Ramat polytechnic (Guardian)
Gov. Babagana Zulum of Borno has approved the appointment of Mr Bukar Abubakar as the new Rector of Ramat Polytechnic, Maiduguri.
A statement from the Special Adviser to the governor on Media and Strategy, Mallam Isa Gusau, said Abubakar was until his appointment, the Deputy Rector, Administration, of the polytechnic.
“The new rector was head of department, mechanical engineering technology, from 2014 to 2019, acting director, school of engineering in 2016, principal lecturer from 2018 to 2021, deputy rector, admin, from 2020, chairman, staff development committee from 2020 to date and chief lecturer from 2022 to date. Read more
TLC teases TV show, says team behind ‘‘Hamilton’’ is involved with their Broadway musical (People)
TLC has some exciting projects in the works!
During a ’90s Con panel moderated by PEOPLE Senior Editor Breanne L. Heldman on Sunday, TLC’s Tionne “T-Boz” Watkins teased, “We’re working on a Broadway play.”
Rozonda “Chilli” Thomas jumped in and revealed that the duo has some Broadway heavyweights signed on for the musical. “The cool thing, we do have a lot of people that worked on ‘‘Hamilton’’ working with us for ours,” Thomas, 52, told the crowd at the Tampa Convention Center in Florida. Read more
Tiffany Haddish thanks haters for ‘‘making me more famous’’ over Shakira photobomb criticism (EW)
Tiffany Haddish was having a grand old time at the MTV Video Music Awards, hyping up Doja Cat from the audience, hyping up her just released Lil Jon-approved banger “Till the Club Closes,” and perhaps most hyped of all, photobombing Shakira.
Some may have thought Haddish was being extra and doing simply too much by violating Shakira’s personal photo space, but the Girls Trip star is apparently a firm believer in all press being good press.
In a video posted online, Haddish can be seen and heard (miles away) yelling Shakira’s name and sneaking into a selfie the 2023 Video Vanguard Award winner takes with a fan. Press photos of Haddish photobombing Shakira throughout the night also surfaced, including this hilarious portrait with Karol G. Read more
Congo denies claims of coup attempt (AfricaNews)
The Congo-Brazzaville government has refuted recent claims of a coup attempt against President Denis Nguesso, who has held office for an uninterrupted 39 years.
These allegations surfaced on social media, suggesting an orchestrated effort by the military to remove the 79-year-old leader from power. President Nguesso was at the time of these rumors in New York, participating in the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly.
In response to these allegations, Information Minister Thierry Moungalla took to X (formerly Twitter) on Sunday to unequivocally dismiss them, stating, “The government categorically denies the spread of false information. We wish to reassure the public of the prevailing tranquility and encourage everyone to carry on with their daily activities calmly.” Read more
Euphoria’s Sydney Sweeney marks birthday with ’80s style prom (DigitalSpy)
Sydney Sweeney recently celebrated her 26th birthday with a night of 1980s prom-inspired extravaganza.
The White Lotus and Euphoria star took to her Instagram Stories to share snaps of her birthday party, which saw several celebrities in attendance. Sweeney’s guests included Riverdale’s Camila Mendes and Barbie’s Alexandra Shipp and Ariana Greenblatt, as well as models Nicola Peltz Beckham and Amélie Tremblay.
Sweeney went big for her special day with a voluminous, wavy blonde hairdo, wearing a hot pink dress with balloon sleeves in the shape of a rose. She stuck to her colour scheme when accessorising her outfit, wearing a statement necklace in a rosy hue and matching pink pumps. Read more
Russell Brand episodes taken down from Channel 4 website following allegations (NME)
Episodes of shows involving Russell Brand have been removed from Channel 4’s website in the wake of rape and sexual assault allegations against the comedian.
Four women have come forward with allegations as part of a joint investigation by Channel 4, The Times and The Sunday Times, with claims ranging from a period between 2006 and 2013. Brand has denied the allegations.
A number of episodes of series that involve Brand are no longer available to watch on Channel 4, including a 2019 edition of The Great Celebrity Bake Off for SU2C as well as Big Brother’s Big Mouth, which Brand presented. Read more
Truck-bus collision kills 20 people in South Africa’s Limpopo province (AlJazeera)
A head-on collision between a truck and a bus ferrying workers to a mine in northern South Africa’s Limpopo province has killed 20 people, authorities say.
The construction company Murray & Roberts Cementation said on Monday that 17 of the dead were its workers who were being transported to the Venetia mine in Musina close to the Zimbabwe border. Four workers were injured in Sunday’s accident.
The company said it was offering support to the families of the dead. It is still unclear who the other three victims are. Read more
Opera singer Russell Watson writes song to be released for charity posthumously (BelfastTelegraph)
Opera singer Russell Watson, who has survived two brain tumours, has written an exclusive song for Worldwide Cancer Research to be released posthumously to help fund “pioneering work” into new cures.
The Salford-born classical singer, 56, is the first musician to write an unreleased track into his will, leaving it as a gift for the UK-based charity to help others “overcome a life-threatening diagnosis” just as he did.
Watson was told he had a brain tumour in 2006 and was successfully treated – before overcoming a second diagnosis a year later. Read more
Real Madrid eyes Super Eagles Moffi as Mbappe alternative (Sun)
Real Madrid might pursue 24-year-old OGC Nice striker Terem Moffi in the 2024 summer transfer window if they fail to sign Kylian Mbappe.
According to a report by Spanish outlet Defensa Central, Terem Moffi is the subject of interest from Real Madrid. The Merengues are scouring the market for alternatives to Kylian Mbappe. While the Paris Saint-Germain talisman is their priority target, there are concerns that he might sign a new contract with Paris Saint-Germain.
Moffi has established himself as one of the best strikers in Ligue 1 since joining OGC NIce. The Nigerian international has been in France for three years while being in the shadow of Victor Osimhen on the international stage. But the move to Nice in the January transfer window has brought the best out of him. Read more
Aruna retains ITTF Africa title (Punch)
Nigeria table tennis star, Quadri Aruna, has successfully defended his ITTF Africa Senior Championships crown, defeating Egypt’s Ahmed Saleh 4-0 (11-2, 12-10, 11-6, 11-6) in the men’s singles final in Tunisia on Sunday.
Aruna entered the final in style as he left no stone unturned to defeat his compatriot Olajide Omotayo 4-0 (12-10, 11-6, 11-9, 11-2) in the semi-finals.
Saleh also recovered from a two sets deficit to outclass Congo’s Idowu Saheed 4-2 (12-14, 8-11, 11-8, 11-8, 11-8, 11-7) in the second men’s singles semi-final to book the final showdown with Aruna. Read more
Sports Minister Enoh to join industry experts at World Football Summit in Spain (Leadership)
Nigeria’s sports development minister, Senator John Owan Enoh, will on Monday, September 18, depart the country for Spain where he will join industry experts at the World Football Summit (WFS), holding between September 20-21, 2023.
The gathering of global football aficionados will take place in Seville, in the Andalusian region of Spain.
Enoh will be participating in the event to further open up Nigeria to better footballing and sporting opportunities, as well as collaborate with other countries in a bid to reposition Nigeria’s sports industry. Read more
Lionel Messi and Inter Miami brutally mocked by MLS opponents after defeat (Mirror)
Atlanta United have mocked MLS opponents Inter Miami and their absentee captain Lionel Messi after coming from behind to beat them 5-2.
Messi, 36, did not travel to Atlanta this weekend despite returning to training on Thursday and Friday after representing Argentina over the international break. It meant the World Cup winner did not play on the opposition’s artificial turf pitch. However, Inter Miami head coach Tata Martino explained that the decision to rest Messi was “because he has muscular fatigue and it was prudent to leave him”.
Despite winning against Sporting Kansas City last weekend without their talisman, Inter Miami did miss their skipper a week later. Fellow summer signing Jordi Alba also did not play, but Sergio Busquets did feature for the full 90 minutes in midfield. Read more
Classy Trossard strike helps Arsenal beat Everton (BBC)
Arsenal dug deep to secure a narrow but well-deserved win over struggling Everton at Goodison Park.
The Gunners – who replaced England goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale with David Raya – have suffered away at Everton in recent years, losing on four of their past five visits.
But the Toffees, still without a Premier League win this season, were desperately short of quality and Arsenal substitute Leandro Trossard broke the deadlock with a classy side-foot finish after 69 minutes. Read more
Lewis Hamilton offers theory for Red Bull’s poor Singapore performance (PlanetF1)
Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton doubts Red Bull have slipped away from F1’s pinnacle, despite their poor showing in Singapore.
Red Bull’s failure to trouble the leaders for the win in Singapore hasn’t convinced Lewis Hamilton that the runaway championship leaders are no longer the standard-setters in Formula 1.
Having won every race so far in 2023, neither Max Verstappen nor Sergio Perez were ever in contention for the win, or even a podium, at Marina Bay – any chance of a recovery to the podium being ruined by an early Safety Car that scuppered their alternative strategy gamble. Read more