June 12: FG yet to fulfil promises, says MKO Abiola family (Punch)
Family of the acclaimed winner of June 12, 1993, Presidential election, late Chief MKO Abiola, on Saturday decried that the Federal Government has not fulfilled promises made to the family.
The family’s secretary, Rahaman Abiola, made this known in an interview with journalists when a delegation of the Ogun State government, led by the Deputy Governor, Mrs. Noimot Salako-Oyedele, visited the Abeokuta family house of the late Abiola to celebrate the June 12 democracy day.
Abiola was believed to have won the June 12 election which was adjudged the freest and fairest election in the history of the country.
The President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), had moved the country’s democracy day celebration from May 29 to June 12 to honour the late Abiola. Read more
Democracy Day: LCCI seeks more holistic approach to power sector’s challenges (Guardian)
The Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) has called for a more holistic approach to the challenges of the power sector as the nation marks the June 12 Democracy Day.
Mr Muda Yusuf, Director General, LCCI, who made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday in Lagos, noted that the power sector reform had not delivered the desired outcomes.
Yusuf said the entire experience had given privatisation a bad name.
He said: “There were issues of due diligence, technical capacity, financial capacity, political interference, metering issues, commercial losses, technical losses, tariff rigidities and the economics of the private sector investment in the sector. Read more
June 12: Makinde addresses protesters as residents desert Ibadan streets (Sun)
Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State on Saturday addressed some protesters in Ibadan when they stormed his residence at Agodi to demand better governance from President Muhammadu Buhari.
As gathered, the protesters went to his residence and they got there at a time Makinde wanted to go for an outing. He addressed them and they both moved from there to the frontage of the state government secretariat, Ibadan, where he also addressed them.
Sunday Sun learned that Governor Makinde personally drove himself and there were none of his media aides with him. A video clip that went viral on social media showed Makinde where he used a megaphone to address the protesters. But the video did not really capture his speech that could have been transcribed.
However, streets in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, were deserted on Saturday as Nigerians celebrate another anniversary of June 12, as residents stayed at home due to fear of violent protest by angry youths. Read more
June 12: Shi’ites join Sowore’s group for ‘Buhari Must Go’ protest in Abuja (Vanguard)
Members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, also known as Shi’ites, on Saturday joined #Take-it-Back protesters led by former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, to demonstrate against against “bad governance” under President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.
The protesters bearing placards with inscription such as “Buhari must go”, “Free Zakzaky”, “Police brutality has not stopped”, “Digital right is a human right” amongst others, had earlier been dispersed in Gudu district by the police who fired tear gas canisters at them.
They, however, converged again around Wuse Zone 4, demanding obedience to rule of law, good governance and an end to insecurity in the country.
Addressing journalists after the protesters re-converged, the Secretary of IMN’s Academic Forum, Abdullahi Musa, said: “We, the Shi’ites, joined the June 12 protest against bad governance, because what we have today in the country is not a democracy but a dictatorship. Read more
Insurgency: Thousands Of Soldiers Maimed -Army (DailyTrust)
The Nigerian Army, on Saturday, said thousands of military personnel have been maimed in the fight against the Boko Haram insurgency over the years.
This is as the Senate, in a show of empathy, donated N10million for the treatment of the wounded-in-action soldiers (WIA) at the 44 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital, Kaduna (44NARHK).
Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, led the Senate delegation to the military hospital to commiserate with wounded soldiers.
The sympathy visit was part of the activities to mark the second anniversary of the ninth Senate. Read more
2021 Hajj: Saudi Arabia bars travellers from Nigeria, others over COVID-19 (Punch)
Saudi Arabia has barred travellers from Nigeria and other countries from performing 2021 Hajj over coronavirus concerns.
This is as Saudi Arabia announced Saturday it will allow 60,000 vaccinated residents of the kingdom to perform the annual hajj.
The hajj ministry said this year’s pilgrimage would be “open for nationals and residents of the kingdom, limited to 60,000 pilgrims”, according to the official Saudi Press Agency.
With this, travellers from Nigeria have been barred from performing hajj for the second time in a row. Read more
2021 Democracy Day: CSOs assess, score 22 years of democratic journey (Vanguard)
it is another day to commemorate Democracy Day in Nigeria after 22 years of the return of democracy, Civil Society Organisations, CSOs, came up with their assessment and score about Nigeria’s democratic journey and spoke on their expectations ahead of 2023 general elections.
Nigerians should demand immediate passage of Electoral Act — CDNDC
The Convener, Coalition in Defence of Nigerian Democracy and Constitution, CDNDC, Ariyo-Dare Atoye, said, “Twenty-two years of the most extended civil rule in Nigeria, our failure on two major fronts have wholly undermined our democratic journey: allowing undemocratic elements to manipulate their ways into hijacking democratic structures and institutions, and the second, not being aware enough to make informed decisions and allowing our fault lines to trump rational decisions and the building of a nation that works.
“A combination of these factors led us into the Buhari den, where life is nasty, brutish, callous, meaningless and short, and we do not know what will happen before we get to the electoral bridge crossing into 2023.
“It is sad, painful, and heart-wrenching that 22 years after, we are in this terrible mess, led by a dictator, who sometimes qualifies as an absentee landlord, threatening some parts of the country with the genocidal remark. Read more
Markets, shops shut as Yoruba nation agitators protest in Abeokuta (Punch)
Major markets and shops in many parts of Ogun State were on Saturday shut as traders and residents stayed back home for the fear of backlash by Yoruba nation agitators and youths.
Anxiety gripped the people of the state as the youths and agitators held June 12 protests in Abeokuta, Ijebu-Ode, Sango, and other parts of the state.
Our correspondent observed a handful of protesters armed with #BuhariMustGo and #YorubaNation placards on the streets of Abeokuta.
Our correspondent, who visited Itoku Adire/Kampala market, Kuto, Sapon, and Lafenwa, all in Abeokuta, observed that businesses were grounded. Read more
G7 summit: Spending plan to rival China adopted (BBC)
G7 leaders seeking to rival China have adopted a plan to support lower- and middle-income countries in building better infrastructure.
President Joe Biden said he wanted the US-backed Build Back Better World (B3W) plan to be a higher-quality alternative to a similar Chinese programme.
China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has helped finance trains, roads, and ports in many countries.
But it has been criticised for saddling some with debt. Read more
Helen Hunt says studios rejected her idea for Twister sequel starring ‘all Black and Brown storm chasers’ (Metro)
Helen Hunt has revealed her struggle to get a Twister sequel made because studios won’t get behind her idea to have ‘all Black and Brown’ storm chasers.
The star enjoyed box office success with the popular 1996 flick, which saw her star alongside the late Bill Paxton and Philip Seymour Hoffman.
Appearing on Thursday’s Watch What Happens Live, the 57-year-old told Andy Cohen she’d formulated the idea with Hamilton favorite Daveed Diggs and his producing partner Rafael Casal.
‘I tried to get it made,’ she explained. ‘With Daveed, and Rafael and me writing it, and all Black and Brown storm-chasers, and they wouldn’t do it. I was going to direct it.’ Read more
Porn star Dakota Skye found dead at 27 (RT)
Dakota Skye, the adult film star who stirred controversy after posing topless at a mural for George Floyd, has passed away at the age of 27, a family member has confirmed.
The actress, whose real name was Lauren Scott, was found dead at her Los Angeles home on Wednesday, the US Sun reported. While the exact cause of death remains unclear, a woman identifying herself as the performer’s aunt said substance abuse may have played a role.
“Lauren was a product of a highly dysfunctional family involving drugs, alcohol, physical, emotional, verbal and sexual abuse,” the woman, Linda Arden, told the Sun. “She died almost exactly two years after her mother’s – my baby sister’s – death, which was caused by addiction and alcoholism.”
In a Facebook post mourning her niece’s passing, Arden added: “If you are suffering from addiction, I beg you to get help!” She told the Sun that Scott had battled an addiction to fentanyl, a powerful synthetic opioid. Read more
Sri Lanka seeks initial $40M from cargo ship’s operator (NYPost)
Sri Lanka is seeking an interim claim of $40 million from the operator of a fire-ravaged cargo ship to cover part of the cost of fighting the blaze, officials said Saturday.
Sri Lanka’s attorney general has sent the claim to lawyers representing X-Press Feeders, the ship’s operating company, said Darshani Lahandapura, head of the state-run Marine Pollution Protection Authority.
She said authorities were still assessing the total damages, and the interim claim seeks compensation for expenses from May 20, when the ship caught fire, through June 1.
The fire broke out while the Singapore-flagged MV X-Press Pearl was anchored about 9.5 nautical miles (18 kilometers) northwest of the capital, Colombo, and waiting to enter the country’s main port. Read more
Covid: PM promises caution over 21 June lockdown end (BBC)
Boris Johnson has said the government must “be cautious” as it decides whether to end all Covid restrictions in England on 21 June.
Cases are rising as the Delta variant spreads, with details of the next step on the “roadmap” due on Monday.
The prime minister told the BBC it was important any easing of restrictions was “irreversible” and warned that hospital admissions were increasing.
The BBC has been told a delay of up to four weeks is being considered. Read more
Father dumps 80,000 pennies as last child support payment to mother and daughter (Metro)
A father allegedly dumped tens of thousands of pennies on the front lawn of his ex as the final child support payment. However, the mother and daughter turned the distasteful gesture into a good deed – by donating the funds to a domestic abuse center.
High school senior Avery Sanford said she had ‘just turned 18’ when her father came through with the unexpected surprise.
‘When I was in the middle of class, my dad came by. He had rented a trailer,’ Sanford told WTVR on Wednesday. ‘He pulled up in front of our house, turned the trailer on so it dumped out all the pennies in the street in front of our house, and my mom walked outside while it was happening.’
Sanford said her mother did not recognize him at first and asked, ‘What are you dumping on my lawn?’ Read more
Venezuela accuses US of blocking its access to Covax vaccines with sanctions (RT)
Venezuela’s Vice President Delcy Rodriguez has stated that US sanctions are preventing the South American nation from accessing Covid vaccines by blocking a $10 million payment to the global Covax scheme.
The statement made by the Venezuelan government official during a televised broadcast claimed that the US is blocking “resources that can be used to immunise the population of Venezuela” with sanctions that prohibit payments to the international Covax scheme.
President Nicolas Maduro’s government declared in March that it had paid almost the entire $120 million payment required to receive vaccines from the Covax scheme. However, on Thursday, Rodriguez said the remaining $10 million payment had been blocked.
Following the remarks from the country’s vice president, Venezuela’s foreign minister, Jorge Arreaza, took to social media to share a letter from Covax informing the nation that its payment had been prohibited. Read more
Oshoala, Onome Obi to join Super Falcons for Portuguese clash (Punch)
African champions Nigeria say they have put behind them the loss to Jamaica and are determined to earn victory against Portugal on Sunday, in the second of their three-match programme in the Summer Series in the United States of America.
Missing several key players who were held back by either delayed issuance of entry visa or injuries, the Super Falcons lost 0-1 to the Jamaicans on Thursday at the BBVA Stadium in Houston – the same venue where they confront the Portuguese on Sunday evening.
Deneisha Blackwood, who plays her professional club game for Houston Dash (the club that uses the BBVA ground), scored in the 54th minute to condemn the Super Falcons to their first defeat in eight games.
The nine-time African champions had won all three matches at the Turkish Women’s Cup Tournament in Antalya in February – the first account under American coach Randy Waldrum. Read more
French Open: Barbora Krejcikova wins first Grand Slam singles title in Paris (BBC)
Unseeded Czech Barbora Krejcikova sealed her rapid rise in the singles game by claiming a first major title in a hard-fought French Open final.
Krejcikova, 25, won 6-1 2-6 6-4 against Russian 31st seed Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova at Roland Garros.
The former doubles world number one has won the title on her fifth appearance in a Grand Slam singles draw.
On Sunday, Krejcikova has the chance to win the doubles when she plays in the final alongside Katerina Siniakova.
No player has won both the women’s singles and doubles titles at Roland Garros since France’s Mary Pierce in 2000. Read more
Wales were ‘brave’ in salvaging draw with Swiss, says Bale (Guardian)
Wales captain Gareth Bale said his side were “brave” in the 1-1 draw with Switzerland in their opening game of Euro 2020 in Baku on Saturday.
Striker Kieffer Moore, standing at 1.95m tall, equalised in the 74th minute after Breel Embolo opened the scoring just after the break.
“We’re not too disappointed with the draw, it could have been worse,” Bale told S4C.
“They’re a top 10 team in the world, they’re there for a reason so we knew in parts we would have to suffer and work hard as a team. Read more
UFC’s Kamaru Usman to build academy in Nigeria (Vanguard)
Nigeria’s Ambassador and multi-decked Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) fighter, Kamarudeen Usman (aka, Nigeria’s Nightmare) has made plans to give back to the country, by setting up a sporting academy.
He made this known during his visit to the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) in Abuja.
Usman, who have been away from Nigeria for over a decade, said he was happy to be home, despite discouragement from individuals.
The Auchi-born international sports celebrity, stated his intention of setting up an academy to train Nigerian youths on his expertise: kick-boxing, boxing and mixed martial arts. Read more
NBA play-offs: Phoenix Suns go 3-0 up on Denver Nuggets to move closer to finals (BBC)
The Phoenix Suns moved closer to the NBA’s Western Conference final after going 3-0 up on the Denver Nuggets in their semi-final series.
Devin Booker scored 28 points while Chris Paul had 27 in the 116-102 win.
The Suns have won six consecutive play-off games and are one victory from reaching the conference final for the first time since 2009-10.
Elsewhere the Philadelphia 76ers moved 2-1 ahead in their Eastern Conference semi-final series.
Joel Embiid had 27 points, nine rebounds and eight assists as the visitors beat the Atlanta Hawks 127-111. Read more
Tsitsipas hopes Djokovic prediction comes true at French Open (Guardian)
Stefanos Tsitsipas was once described by Novak Djokovic as having “the traits of a champion” and on Sunday he will hope to prove the Serb’s glowing reference was not a misjudgement.
The charismatic 22-year-old, one of the widely-touted ‘NextGen’ of the sport looks to land the first significant bodyblow on the old guard when he tackles the world number one for the French Open title.
“He is a hard worker, dedicated, nice guy,” said Djokovic.“He’s very smart and wise. I love the fact that he is more than just a tennis player and he’s always looking to learn from experience and to understand something new about himself. Read more