THISISLAGOS MORNING NEWS UPDATE AUGUST 3, 2018
Buhari tells Saraki, other defectors: you’re bad eggs (Nation)
President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday referred to defectors from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) as “bad eggs”. He said as the 2019 elections approach, “God will continue to fish out the bad eggs among us”. He reiterated his resolve to ensure that nobody is allowed to loot the treasury. Said Buhari: “What I will never exhibit is to allow selfish politicians loot public treasury and allow the masses be cheated. “All what we are doing is in the interest of the people and our dear country. “I pray to God to expose sycophants that are still within our party, who are bent on trying to loot our resources.” Read more
FG set to increase NYSC members’ allowance – DG (Punch)
The Federal Government has begun an upward review of the N19, 800 monthly allowance paid to members of the National Youth Service Corps, according to the Director-General of the scheme, Brig Gen Suleiman Kazaure. The DG stated this on Thursday, noting that the NYSC, through the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, received a letter from the Presidency, which confirmed that the process to review the allowance of corps members had started. Kazaure, who disclosed this while inspecting the NYSC Orientation Camp in Abuja, said the Presidency had also sent a copy of the letter to the Ministry of Finance for further consideration. Read more
Obasanjo not qualified to lead new movement for change, says Soyinka (Guardian)
Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, has advised Nigerians not to be carried away by former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s movement to save the country from corrupt politicians. He also noted that though President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration has not fared better, Obasanjo was only after his own gains to rescue the country. Soyinka stated this yesterday at the formal unveiling of his latest Interventions Series, Quis Custodiet Ipsos Custodes?: Gani’s Unfinished Business held at the Freedom Park (Kongi Art Gallery), Broad Street, Lagos Island. Read more
Saraki, Tambuwal, Ortom, others at PDP NEC meeting (Nation)
Defecting Senate President Bukola Saraki and two governors – Aminu Tambuwal (Sokoto) and Samuel Ortom (Benue)- attended yesterday’s National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) There were also Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso and Senator Barnabas Gemade, who returned to the PDP last week. Saraki attributed events of the past week to the “mercy of God”, saying that it was beyond human wisdom. He said: “Anybody that believed this could happen based on the wisdom of just human beings does not know or is not being realistic. It is by the mercy of Almighty God that this has happened. Read more
Ekiti workers issue strike threat to Fayose (Punch)
The Nigeria Labour Congress in Ekiti State on Thursday threatened to embark on strike, if Governor Ayodele Fayose failed to pay them two months’ salaries and pensions from July. The union berated a group under the auspices of Ekiti Workers’ Rescue Team led by former Chairmen of Nigeria Labour Congress, Ayo Aluko, and Trade Union Congress, Kolawole Olaiya, for issuing a strike threat to the state government over the backlog of salaries. The NLC said the two men lacked the power to make statements for workers as they were not recognised by the state and national executives of the union. Read more
Impeachment: My life in danger – Madumere (SUN)
Embattled Imo Deputy Governor, Prince Eze Madumere, yesterday raised the alarm that his life is in danger. He said the Commissioner of Police in the state, Dasuki Galandanchi, has withdrawn his security detail, thereby, making him susceptible to attacks. Madumere also said “strange looking police men without any recourse have sealed-off the entrance gate to his office with chain and padlock without any reason advanced for their action, claimed they were sent from Governor’s office,” even as his staff were humiliated and chased out of the Office. Read more
Why Nigeria is key to Africa’s growth, by World Bank (Guardian)
Unless Nigeria, the most populous country in Africa, experiences growth, development will continue to elude the continent, the World Bank has declared. The bank’s new Vice President for African Region, Mr. Hafez Ghanem, made the declaration in Abuja yesterday when he visited the Nigerian Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, in Abuja. Ghanem is a one- time Country Director of the bank in Nigeria. “The mandate of the World Bank is to foster growth around the world. That’s while as I assume duties as the new vice president of the African Region, after my former assignment as the Vice President in charge of the Middle East, I decided that Nigeria will be my first port of call to find out in what ways the World Bank can intervene to foster growth because you can’t talk of growth in Africa until Nigeria begins to grow, being the largest population on the continent,” he said. Read more
Asaba 2018: Falling stadium water tank crushes cars (Punch)
A big water tank at the Stephen Keshi Stadium, Asaba, venue for the 2018 African Senior Athletics Championships, on Thursday collapsed and crushed two cars parked outside the fence of the stadium. However, no one was injured in the incident. The water tank, which was mounted on iron stands, was meant to serve the swimming pool, which is still under construction, and some other parts of the stadium. While the athletes were competing, the tank crashed and destroyed parts of the stadium fence. The iron stands, on which the tank was mounted, tore the bonnet of a Sports Utility Vehicle while parts of the tank fell on another car. Read more
NFF congress backs Pinnick, woos Giwa (Punch)
The Nigeria Football Federation Congress on Thursday passed a vote of confidence in the Amaju Pinnick NFF board, insisting that they remain the duly elected body recognised by FIFA. The congress resolved that any member of the football family who takes any football matter to “the ordinary courts of law would be automatically expelled from all football activities with immediate effect from the date of filing such proceedings or law suit”. The decision came 24 hours after a Federal High Court in Jos, refused to grant Pinnick’s request to stop Chris Giwa, who won a parallel NFF poll on August 26, 2014, from taking over as the NFF President. Read more
Asaba 2018: Amusan, Enekwechi win gold, Ogunlewe fails (Punch)
Tobi Amusan on Thursday got Nigeria their first medal at the 2018 African Senior Athletics Championships in Asaba, after winning the women’s 100m hurdles in 12.86secs. South Africa’s Rikennette Steenkamp won silver in the event in 13.18secs while Ivory Coast’s Rosvitha Okou won bronze in 13.39secs. Also, 2018 Commonwealth Games gold medallist Chukwuebuka Enekwechi won the second gold for the hosts in the men’s shot put after throwing 21.08m. Egypt’s Mohamed Khalifa came second with a 19.33m while Kyle Bignaut of South Africa won bronze with 19.05m. Kalu Eke of Nigeria finished fourth. Read more
Kelechi Iheanacho aims to continue goal scoring run (Guardian)
Kelechi Iheanacho wants to continue in his rich goal scoring form after netting yet again in the Leicester City’s 1-1 draw with Valencia on Wednesday, reports goal.com. The Super Eagles star has netted two goals in two games and hopes to stretch the run having delivered in Leicester City’s previous two pre-season games, Iheanacho hopes to ‘keep it going’. On Wednesday, the striker scored to give his side the lead against Valencia before Daniel Parejo’s response ensured the game ended 1-1. The effort against the Spanish side was the 21-year-old’s second in as many games since returning from holiday, having participated at the World Cup with Nigeria. Read more
Art Briles, fired by Baylor in 2016, to coach in Italy (Kwese.Espn)
Former Baylor coach Art Briles, who was fired in the wake of the university’s sexual assault scandal in 2016, has been hired to coach an American football team in Italy. “It’s a chance to get back on the field,” he told ESPN by phone. “I’m excited. I really am. I’m grateful for the opportunity.” Briles will coach the Guelfi Firenze American football team in Florence, Italy. The story was first reported by the Star-Telegram. Briles said he finalized his one-year contract within the past 24 hours, and he needs to be in Italy by October. The season for the 12-team league that plays under NCAA rules begins in March. Read more
Manchester United confirm signings of left-back Devine and right-winger Stanley (Sportslens)
Manchester United have confirmed two signings in Reece Devine and Connor Stanley. The two players are 17 years of age and will be first-year scholars in the u18s. Left-back Devine and right-winger Stanley will be coached by Neil Ryan who was impressed from what he saw of the pair. The u18s’ first game of the new season is against Derby County on Friday, August 10, with Devine and Stanley to compete to make the matchday squad. The side finished top of the North Division last season with 48 points from 22 games, six points ahead of runners-up Manchester City. Read more
Death Valley sets record for hottest month ever recorded on Earth (Independent)
California’s Death Valley has smashed its own record for the hottest month ever recorded anywhere. Preliminary results suggest the month’s average temperature was 108.1F (42.28C). This edges out the previous record, set in the valley at the same time last year, when the average was 107.4F (41.89C). “It eclipsed the record by quite a bit,” said Todd Lericos, a meteorologist who leads the Las Vegas National Weather Service, noting the new average will need to be reviewed before entering official record books. Read more
US religious orders overwhelmingly back women deacons (Abcnews)
A new survey has found that the majority of U.S. Catholic religious orders believe women should be allowed to serve as ordained deacons, lending support to an issue currently under study at the Vatican amid pressure for women to be given greater roles in the church. Seventy-seven percent of both male and female superiors in the U.S. believe such ordination is theoretically possible, and 72 percent think the church should go ahead and authorize it, according to the study released Thursday by the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate at Georgetown University in Washington. Only 45 percent, however, believe the church will actually do it, the study found. Read more
Chinese professor cut off mid-interview after authorities burst into his house (CNN)
Chinese security forces broke into the home of an academic while he was giving a live phone interview with a US broadcaster Wednesday night, abruptly forcing him off-air. Speaking with Voice of America from his home in the eastern province of Shandong, retired professor Wenguang Sun was discussing Chinese President Xi Jinping’s recent visit to Africa when security forces cut him off. “It’s illegal for you to come into my place. I have my freedom of speech,” Sun shouted, before the line went dead. Read more