I’ll kill myself before May 29 if Buhari loses, man threatens in social media post (Punch)
An ardent follower of President Muhammadu Buhari has threatened to commit suicide should his preferred candidate fail in his re-election bid. Adamu Kabir Matazu, whose Facebook timeline describes as ‘public figure,’ had taken to his Facebook page with the threat: “If Buhari lose (sic) the February 16th Presidential election, I will commit suicide before May 29th because I can’t afford to live under Atiku Presidency. So help me God.” A flip through the Facebook posts of the Katsina indigene shows his unalloyed support for the All Progressives Congress candidate and incumbent President, Buhari. Read more
Why FG withheld salaries of health workers, by Ngige (Nation)
Minister of Labour and Employment Senator Chris Ngige has said the federal government withheld salaries of health workers who embarked on strike in 2018 because the International Labour Organisation (ILO) convention allowed employers to hold back salaries of workers on essential services anytime they withdraw their services. Ngige also said that by the oath of the medical profession, professionals are not supposed to embark on strike because the services they render have to do with human lives, which if lost cannot be regained. Read more
I would’ve escaped 11-year trial for N4.7bn fraud if I had joined APC —Ladoja (Punch)
A former Governor of Oyo State, Rashidi Ladoja, has said that he wouldn’t have had to undergo a trial that lasted 11 whopping years for alleged theft of N4.7bn public funds if he had joined the ruling All Progressives Congress. Ladoja, who was discharged and acquitted by Justice Mohammed Idris at a Federal High Court, Lagos Division last Friday, recalled his trial by the Economics and Financial Crimes Commission, saying he was under pressure by the ruling APC to join the party if his alleged sins must be forgiven. He did not mention the names of the APC leaders who wanted him to join the party. Read more
Police commence investigation on dead bodies inside car (Nation)
The police in Lagos have commenced forensic investigation into the death of a man and woman found inside a vehicle at Maryland. It was gathered that the deceased were discovered cold in the early hours of Saturday, causing pandemonium in the area. The pair were said to have been well dressed and appeared to have been discussing from the position they were found. Medical experts have attributed the cause of them to possible carbon monoxide suffocation but the police told The Nation on Sunday that all angles will be examined on the incident. Read more
FG debunks rumours of Leah Sharibu’s death (Punch)
The Federal Government says the social media report on the death of the abducted Dapchi school girl, Leah Sharibu, is fake and a ploy by political opposition to tarnish the administration’s image ahead of the general elections. The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, gave the government’s position at a media briefing on Sunday in Ilorin. He described as ‘absolute fake’ the report that Sharibu had died in captivity. The minister said the rumour of Sharibu’s death, which surfaced just a few days to the presidential election, was another ploy by the political opposition to exploit primordial sentiments ahead of the polls. Read more
PDP: We ‘ll moblise Nigerians to resist rigging, defend their votes (Nation)
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has vowed to mobilise Nigerians to resist rigging and defend their votes in Saturday’s presidential election. This, according to the main opposition party, is meant to counter alleged plots by the Presidency and the governing All Progressives Congress (APC) to rig the February 16 presidential election. At a media briefing in Abuja Sunday, spokesman for the PDP, Kola Ologbondiyan, the party said President Buhari and the APC have been uncomfortable with the consensus by Nigerians across the board, to vote in its candidate, Atiku Abubakar, as the next President of the country. Read more
Two dead as rival cult group clash in Imo (Nation)
Two suspected cultists were on Saturday shot dead during a rival cult clash at Ejemekwuru in Oguta Council Area of Imo State. The incident it was gathered, occurred close to the venue of a campaign rally which had the state governor, Rochas Okorocha, who is the Senatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for Imo West in attendance. The governor had gone to the LGA in continuation of his campaign when the incident occurred, resulting in stampede. According to eye witness account, the victims simply identified as Tochi and Ndukwe, were shot by soldiers who were drafted to quell the clash. Read more
Christian votes will make the difference, says Wike (Nation)
Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike has called on Christians to troop out and vote during the forthcoming elections because their votes will make the difference. Speaking during a special combined Sunday Worship Service at the Deeper Life Camp Ground, Rumudara, Port Harcourt, Wike said Christians can no longer stand aloof while the country slides into destruction. He said that Christians should not believe the false propaganda that they cannot influence the outcome of political contests in the country. “You must vote during the forthcoming elections. If you don’t vote and a bad leader emerges, you are part of those that brought that bad leadership. Read more
Ailing Algerian leader seeks fifth term (BBC)
Algeria’s 81-year-old President Abdelaziz Bouteflika will seek a fifth term in April’s elections, state media announced on Sunday. A message to the nation would be released later on Sunday, they said. Mr Bouteflika has been in office for 20 years but has rarely been seen in public since he had a stroke in 2013. He is confined to a wheelchair and has cancelled recent official meetings. Critics say this makes it difficult for him to carry out his duties. Read more
Spurs sink Leicester to stay in title hunt (Guardian)
Tottenham kept alive their bid to gate-crash the Premier League title race as Davinson Sanchez’s first goal for the club and Hugo Lloris’s penalty save inspired a 3-1 win over Leicester on Sunday. Mauricio Pochettino’s side took the lead through Sanchez’s first half header, but they were indebted to Lloris for keeping out Jamie Vardy’s spot-kick after the interval at Wembley. Christian Eriksen netted moments later and although Vardy got one back, Son Heung-min’s late strike ensured third-placed Tottenham clinched a fifth win in their last six league games. Read more
Man Utd can mount title challenge next year, says Matic (Guardian)
Nemanja Matic says Manchester United can mount a title challenge next season after they moved into the Premier League’s top four for the first time since the opening weekend of the campaign. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s superb start to life as caretaker manager continued with a comprehensive 3-0 victory for United at strugglers Fulham. Anthony Martial scored a superb solo effort in between two Paul Pogba goals at Craven Cottage, putting United back in the Champions League spots after a six-month absence. They had been 11 points off fourth when Jose Mourinho was sacked in December but Solskjaer’s side have dropped just two points since his December appointment and Matic was buoyed by the latest win. Read more