If Buhari went to court thrice without reasonable cause, Atiku should go too — Obasanjo (Punch)
Obasanjo said this in a statement he personally signed, dated March 23, 2019 and titled ‘Statement by Olusegun Obasanjo on the judgement of the Osun governorship election petitions tribunal, Dubai.” The statement was made available to newsmen in Abeokuta on Saturday. The former president argued that if Buhari had challenged his defeat in three previous presidential contests before his 2015 victory, Atiku should not be dissuaded from contesting his loss at the election tribunal. Read more
My govt is committed to making education affordable to Nigerians – Buhari (Nation)
President Muhammadu Buhari has said the Federal Government is committed to making education affordable to youth of the country through the open and distance learning system (ODL). He said this at the 8th convocation ceremony of the National Open University of Nigeria, yesterday, in Abuja. The president also said his government would continue to deploy the necessary resources and facilities through direct budgetary funding and the tertiary education trust fund (TETFund) interventions in order to ensure that provision of quality tertiary education is guaranteed to the youth. Read more
Ogun gov-elect pledges better relationship with Lagos, FG (Punch)
Ogun State Governor-Elect, Mr. Dapo Abiodun, has pledged to pursue synergy with Lagos State and the Federal Government when he assumes office on May 29. Abiodun said this in a statement by his spokesperson, Remmy Hazzan, on Saturday. He also promised to promote equity and fairness in his developmental initiatives when he assumed office. The gov-elect stated that his plan to form synergy with both Lagos and the Federal Government would usher in uncommon growth on all fronts in Ogun State. Read more
Osun: I’m still governor, says Oyetola (Nation)
Osun State Governor Gboyega Oyetola at the weekend said he remained the duly elected governor regardless of Friday’s judgment of the Election Petition Tribunal. Oyetola enjoined the public to disregard the insinuations that he had been sacked, saying he was confident of retaining his mandate at the appellate court. He spoke yesterday while inspecting some on-going road and drainage projects in Osogbo, the state capital. The Governor said the outcome of the lower court didn’t in anyway affect the validity of the votes freely and willingly given to him by the people of the state. Read more
Thugs attack security agents, others burn materials in Benue (Punch)
No fewer than 10 people, comprising security operatives, officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission and drivers of some vehicles, escaped death on Saturday during the supplementary election in Benue State. Sources told one of our correspondents in Makurdi, the Benue State capital, that the armed security operatives, INEC officials and drivers were over 10. They stated that they were conveying electoral materials to Azendeshi registration area when the thugs attacked them along Zaki Biam in Ukum Local Government Area of the state. Read more
Onnoghen: No allegations of $3m, 55 houses before tribunal – Prosecutor (Nation)
Mr. Aliyu Umar (SAN), the lead prosecutor in the trial of the suspended Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen, said yesterday that the Federal Government did not table allegations of undeclared $3million against Onnoghen before the Code of Conduct Tribunal. He also said all the six charges against Onnoghen made no references to 55 houses. Government, he said, only accused Onnoghen of breaching the Code of Conduct Act with his failure to declare and disclose five Standard Chartered Bank’s Statement of Accounts in his Asset Declaration Form. Read more
IG orders probe into FCT’s civil defence officer’s death (Punch)
The acting Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, has ordered a comprehensive and speedy investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death of an Assistant Superintendent of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Ogar Jumbo. Jumbo was allegedly clubbed to death by two traffic wardens in the Nyanya area of Abuja last Wednesday during a confrontation with the police officers. His widow, Ada, had alleged that the deceased was dragged on the ground to the police station by the errant wardens, stressing that the policemen delayed in taking him to the hospital when it was obvious that he was dying. Read more
Lawan: Why I want to be Senate President (Nation)
The race for the Senate Presidency in the next dispensation is on and it is official. After weeks of speculations, Senate Leader, Dr. Ahmed Lawan threw his hat into the ring yesterday and gave reasons why he is seeking the post and why he is more suited than anyone else to go for it. Lawan who represents Yobe North told journalists in Abuja that the Senate under his watch would work in partnership with the executive arm of government to make Nigeria better through legislative engineering. Read more
Lagos warns against buying vehicles with mechanical faults (Punch)
The Lagos Vehicle Inspection Service has enjoined motorists and other people intending to buy used vehicles to allow qualified persons or professionals to carry out a thorough inspection of the vehicle before paying for the automobile. To avoid buying defective vehicles, especially those with mechanical faults, the VIS said people should use any of the state computerised vehicle inspection centres. These pieces of advice are contained in a statement by the Director, VIS, Mr Gbolahan Toriola, adding that there were many mechanical faults usually hidden by unscrupulous auto sellers. Read more
Ortom, security chiefs brainstorm on herdsmen attacks (Punch)
Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, and heads of security agencies in the state have mapped out new strategies to prevent further attacks on residents by suspected armed herdsmen and other criminals. The governor had summoned all security chiefs to a meeting following the Tuesday attack which resulted in the killing of 10 people in Tser Uoreleegeb in Ubabai council ward of the Guma Local Government Area of Benue State. The Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Terver Akase, told SUNDAY PUNCH in an interview in Lagos on Friday that the governor held a meeting with the security chiefs on how to prevent further attacks on the people. Read more
Police arrest 10 for electoral offences in Kano (Nation)
Police in Kano have arrested 10 people for various electoral offences during the Kano governorship supplementary election. Briefing reporters at the Bompai Police Headquarters yesterday, the Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG), Anthony Ogbizi, said that the suspects were arrested at various polling units where the elections were held. According to him, “we made some arrest at the early hours of this morning. I may not be able to give the exact number of the people arrested. I cannot tell you whether they are black or white in terms of identity; but I can tell you that some human beings were arrested and they are detained, being interrogated. They were arrested either found with sticks or in groups. We have arrested more than 10 of them. They are not party officials because you cannot identify them with PDP or APC membership cards.” Read more
I’m not dumping YPP yet – Ifeanyi Ubah (Punch)
Anambra South Senator-elect, Ifeanyi Ubah, has said he is not prepared to dump the Young Peoples Party for the ruling All Progressives Congress now. Ubah, who is currently in the camp of a leading aspirant for the Senate presidency, Ahmad Lawan, told journalists on Friday evening that there was nothing that could make him dump the YPP now. He, however, pledged to use his experience and influence to add value and glamour to the 9th Senate and provide quality representation for his people in Anambra South. Read more
Abuja-Kaduna rail to get more coaches, locos (Punch)
There are indications that the Federal Government plans to deploy more coaches and locomotives in the Abuja-Kaduna fast rail to decongest the trains along the route. The plan also coincides with the promise by the Minister of Transportation, Mr Rotimi Amaechi, to ensure the completion of the ongoing construction work on the Lagos-Ibadan standard gauge railway project in May this year. The spokesperson for the Nigerian Railway Corporation, Mr Yakub Mahmoud, gave the hint about the new rolling stock on the Abuja-Kaduna standard gauge rail line. Read more
Nigeria set to overtake India in open defecation rankings (Punch)
The Minister for Water Resources, Suleiman Adamu, has said Nigeria is set to become world’s leader in open defecation. Adamu stated this on Saturday while speaking on the theme:Water, Sanitation and Hygiene for Sustained Development at the 3rd Founder’s Day ceremony of Edo University, Iyamho. The minister, who was represented at the event by the Managing Director of Benin-Owena River Basin Development Authority, Ahmed Saliu, said Nigeria was unable to attain the Millennium Development Goals targets for water supply and sanitation because of poor investments, low capacity and other challenges. Read more
More than 100 Mali villagers killed by gunmen (BBC)
More than 100 people have been killed in an attack on a village in central Mali by armed men wearing traditional Dogon hunters’ clothing, reports say. Gunmen surrounded the village before attacking people in their homes in Ogossagou in the country’s Mopti region, a local official said. The attack on Saturday targeted members of the Fulani ethnic community. Ambassadors for the UN are currently in Mali addressing the increasing levels of ethnic and jihadist violence. The victims of Saturday’s deadly attack were “killed with guns and machetes”, a local security official told AFP news agency. Read more
Trump hails fall of Islamic State ‘caliphate’ in Syria (BBC)
US President Donald Trump welcomed the fall of the Islamic State group’s five-year “caliphate”, but warned that the terror group remained a threat. Mr Trump’s remarks came after Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) raised victory flags in the Syrian town of Baghuz, IS’s last stronghold. He said the US would “remain vigilant until [IS] is finally defeated”. Despite losing territory in Syria and Iraq, IS remains active in countries from Nigeria to the Philippines. At its height, the group controlled 88,000 sq km (34,000 sq miles) across Syria and Iraq. Read more
Brexit march: Million joined Brexit protest, organisers say (BBC)
Hundreds of thousands of people have marched in central London calling for another EU referendum, as MPs search for a way out of the Brexit impasse. Organisers of the “Put It To The People” campaign say more than a million people joined the march before rallying in front of Parliament. Protesters carrying EU flags and placards called for any Brexit deal be put to another public vote. On Thursday, European leaders agreed to delay the UK’s departure from the EU. PM Theresa May is coming under pressure to quit after saying she might not put her Brexit deal to a third vote by MPs. Read more
We’ll secure three points against Sunshine Stars, Abd’Allah assures fans (Guardian)
Coach Usman Abd’Allah of Enyimba International Football Club of Aba is confident his team will do well today against their counterpart, the Sunshine Stars Football Club of Akure, as the ‘Oriental’ boys try to close the gap between them and league leaders, the MFM FC. The encounter, a Match Day 12 of the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL), is slated for the Enyimba International Stadium, Aba. However, fans of the former African champions will hope their club defeats the ‘Owena Waves’, who the ‘People’s Elephants’ played a goalless draw with in the first round game at the Akure Township Stadium. Read more
Jadon Sancho & Callum Hudson-Odoi: Gareth Southgate wary of pressure on teenagers (BBC)
England manager Gareth Southgate says he will take inspiration from Sir Alex Ferguson as he attempts to get the best out of teenagers Jadon Sancho and Callum Hudson-Odoi. The 18-year-olds impressed in Friday’s 5-0 European Championship qualifying win over the Czech Republic. Ferguson handled young players at Manchester United with care, limiting their game time and public exposure. “I always think of Sir Alex with Ryan Giggs,” said Southgate. “He did that so well and they had sustained success because of that. Read more
Ramos ‘Panenka’ gives Spain victory (BBC)
Captain Sergio Ramos scored his 16th goal of the season – and his fifth chipped penalty – as Spain edged past Norway in their opening Euro 2020 qualifying game. Defender Ramos converted a ‘Panenka’ style spot-kick for the winning goal. Former Bolton loanee Rodrigo scored the opener on his home ground in Valencia before Bournemouth’s Joshua King equalised with a penalty for Norway. Spain won the European Championship in 1964, 2008 and 2012. They dominated the contest with 75% possession and 26 shots, with Atletico Madrid striker Alvaro Morata, who is on loan from Chelsea, missing a number of chances for the hosts. Read more
Brazil held to draw by Panama (BBC)
Five-time world champions Brazil were held to a surprise friendly draw by Panama, ranked just 76th in the world. Brazil gave starts to Premier League players Ederson, Roberto Firmino and Richarlison, but it was AC Milan’s Lucas Paqueta who scored the opener. The lead only lasted four minutes, however, as Panama defender Adolfo Machado levelled in the first half. Brazil, ranked third, hit the woodwork twice in the second half through Richarlison and Casemiro. Manchester City’s Gabriel Jesus and West Ham winger Felipe Anderson both came on in the second half, but were unable to make an impact in the game, which was played in the Portuguese city of Porto. Read more
Serena Williams pulls out of Miami Open, Naomi Osaka knocked out, Petra Kvitova wins (BBC)
Eight-time champion Serena Williams has withdrawn from the Miami Open because of a knee injury. American Williams reached round three on Friday with victory over Sweden’s Rebecca Peterson, only the seventh match she has completed in 2019. The 23-time Grand Slam winner was set to face Wang Qiang in the last 32 but the Chinese 27-year-old now gets a bye. World number one Naomi Osaka suffered a shock three-set defeat by Taiwan’s Hsieh Su-wei in their third-round tie. Read more