I regret joining APC, says Atiku (Punch)
Former Vice President and presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar, has apologised for joining the groups, who came together to form the All Progressives Congress. He said the apology had become necessary because of the sufferings Nigerians had been subjected to in the last three and half years from a party he played a role in bringing to power. Read more
Buhari to corrupt leaders: You will not escape jail (Guardian)
President Muhammadu Buhari, says leaders who undermine the economy by denying workers their benefits, while stuffing personal accounts with public funds will not escape the current anti-corruption dragnet. The president stated this when he received All Progressives Congress (APC) delegation from Benue State, led by Sen. George Akume, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. Read more
Jonathan knocks Buhari, urges him to understudy PDP ex-Presidents’ success stories (Punch)
Former President Goodluck Jonathan on Friday faulted the Presidency and the Borno State Governor, Kashim Shettima, for their attacks of his personality based on parts of his book, “My Transition Hours,” they found uncomplimentary. Jonathan, had in the book which was presented to the public in Abuja on Tuesday, indicted Shettima for alleged negligence in the events leading to the abduction of Chibok schoolgirls in 2014 and also claimed that his administration fought corruption better than the present administration. Read more
Many trapped as five-storey building collapses in Rivers (Vanguard)
Scores of persons have been feared trapped in a five-storey building that collapsed yesterday evening in Port Harcourt. The building under construction is located on Woji, in the Government Reserved Area, GRA, phase II, Port Harcourt. The five storey building which is still under construction had collapsed around 5p.m, trapping many labourers at the site. Read more
Stop complaining, vote out bad leaders, Abdulsalami tells Nigerians (Punch)
Aformer Head of State, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar, on Friday in Jos, Plateau State, urged Nigerians to stop complaining about the present hardship in the country but instead vote out incompetent leaders during the 2019 elections. Abubakar spoke at the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, Kuru, during the 2018 Distinguished Annual Lecture for Senior Executive Course 40 participants, with the Vice-President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, as Special Guest of Honour. Read more
Our prayers made them angry and they brutalised us – Reverend fathers (Vanguard)
Father Emmanuel Obadjere , Director, JDPC of the Warri Diocese of the Catholic church was among the four Reverend fathers kidnapped penultimate Tuesday in Delta state on their way to Ekpoma, Edo state. The other Priests are Father Victor Adigboluja, Ijebu Ode Diocese, Father Anthony Otegbola of Abeokuta Diocese, and Father Joseph Edia, Benin diocese in this interview Obadjere narrated their traumatic experience they had the four days they were in the custody of the kidnappers. Read more
Two policemen, four others die in IPOB protest in Anambra (Punch)
Two policemen and four others believed to be members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra on Friday died during the group’s protest in Nnewi, Anambra State. But the Anambra State Police Command said only one policeman died in the protest while a Divisional Police Officer in the area was hospitalised after sustaining injuries in the clash that erupted when security agencies stormed the venue of the protest. Read more
Dire warning on US climate change impacts (BBC)
Unchecked climate change will cost the US hundreds of billions of dollars and damage human health and quality of life, a US government report warns. “Future risks from climate change depend… on decisions made today,” the 4th National Climate Assessment says. The report says climate change is “presenting growing challenges to human health and safety, quality of life, and the rate of economic growth”. Read more
Pope reveals team picked to organise anti-paedophilia summit (Guardian)
Pope Francis on Friday revealed the organising team for a special meeting on the protection of children to be held in February, in response to the paedophilia scandals that have rocked the Catholic Church worldwide. His hand-picked team are all close associates: the archbishop of Malta Charles Scicluna, Father Hans Zollner, US cardinal Blase Cupich and Indian cardinal Oswald Gracias. Read more
I didn’t want Moses to quit the Eagles – Rohr (Nation)
Super Eagles technical adviser Gernot Rohr has stated that he did his best to ensure that Chelsea winger Victor Moses did not quit the national team after Nigeria’s poor outing at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia but his efforts ended in futility. Victor Moses on August 15, 2018 called time on his Super Eagles career with reasons of focusing on his club, career and his young family as well as allowing the next generation of Super Eagles stars step up and florish in their various positions. Read more
Dortmund complete £22.7m Alcacer deal (BBC)
Borussia Dortmund have signed striker Paco Alcacer in a £22.7m deal from Barcelona after activating an option in his loan deal following his prolific start to the season. The Bundesliga leaders signed the Spain international, 25, on a season-long loan in August, with a purchase option. The ex-Valencia player has scored nine goals in eight games – but only four starts because of injury problems – at an average of a goal every 44 minutes. Read more
Sarri optimistic Hazard will sign new Chelsea deal (Guardian)
Maurizio Sarri said Friday that he is confident Eden Hazard will put pen to paper on a new deal with Chelsea after N’Golo Kante signed a five-year contract with the Blues. Hazard’s deal with unbeaten Chelsea runs until June 2020 and speculation over his future at the club has intensified since his impressive displays for Belgium at the World Cup in Russia. Read more
Neymar & Mbappe facing Reds ‘possible (BBC)
Paris St-Germain boss Thomas Tuchel says it is “possible” Neymar and Kylian Mbappe will be fit to face Liverpool in Wednesday’s home Champions League group fixture. Both forwards were injured during international friendlies on Tuesday. Neymar suffered an abductor muscle injury in Brazil’s win over Cameroon and Mbappe hurt his shoulder in France’s victory over Uruguay. Read more
Man butchers lover, roasts and eats her brain (Punch)
A cannibal, who butchered his lover, roasted and ate her brain then drank her blood and tried to summon the devil, has been jailed for 19 years in Russia. Dmitry Luchin brutally killed his older lover, Olga Budunova, 45, hitting her head with a wine bottle before dismembering her body with a meat cleaver. The 23-year-old went ahead to tear out her insides, a court in Novgorod was told. Read more
Man chops off rival’s hand over girlfriend (Nation)
A youth, Abubakar Yahaya, has chopped off the wrist of another youth, Mohammed Jafar, during a fight over a girlfriend. The incident happened on November 21,2018. According to a police report, Abubakar, 23, of Geriyu Junction in the Bypass area of Jimeta, Yola, and Mohammed Jafar from Demsawo, also in Jimeta, had engaged in a scuffle over a lady called Mariam Boni. Read more
‘I formed kidnapping gang to raise money for oversea trip’ (Nation)
A 27-year-old suspected kidnapper, Emmanuel Okemayin, has confessed that he formed a kidnapping gang in a bid to raise money to travel abroad and further his education, following the death of his father. Okemayin was arrested by operatives of the Federal Special Anti-Robbery (SARS), Lagos State Police Command, Ikeja, Lagos, following a botched kidnap attempt. Read more