Lagos gov ticket: Ambode’s wife fails to change Tinubu’s mind (Punch)
A last-minute effort by the wife of the Lagos State Governor, Bolanle Ambode, to save her husband’s job was said to have hit a brick wall on Tuesday. It was gathered that Bolanle, who followed Governor Akinwunmi Ambode to Osun State on Monday for the Tuesday’s All Progressives Congress’ mega rally for the state governorship candidate, Gboyega Oyetola, waylaid the National Leader of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, and tried to pacify him to change his mind. Read more
APC reviews timetable, presidential primary now September 25 (Punch)
The National Working Committee of the ruling party, the All Progressives Congress has reviewed the timetable for the conduct of its 2018 primary elections. Under the new arrangement, the primary election for the presidency will now hold on September 25, while the governorship primaries will follow on September 29. Read more
FG approves mandatory use of national ID number from Jan 1, 2019 (Punch)
The Federal Government has approved the mandatory use of the national identity number beginning January 1, 2019. The National Identity Management Commission made this known on Wednesday in a statement signed by its Head, Corporate Communications, Loveday Ogbonna. Read more
We must de-emphasise money in politics — Sonaiya (Vanguard)
A presidential aspirant, Prof. Oluremi Sonaiya, has called for the transformation of the nation’s politics, such that money will no longer play prominent roles. Sonaiya, who is seeking the presidential ticket of the KOWA Party, made the call while speaking with newsmen in Lagos on Wednesday. Read more
Yemeni children starve as food and fuel prices soar (Guardian)
More than five million children risk famine in war-torn Yemen as food and fuel prices soar, Save the Children said Wednesday, warning an entire generation may face death and “starvation on an unprecedented scale”. The three-year conflict between Yemen’s Saudi-backed government and Huthi rebels linked to Iran has pushed the already impoverished country to the brink of famine, leaving many unable to afford food and water. Read more
Zimbabwean President Mnangagwa approves $64m budget to fight cholera (Punch)
Zimbabwean President, Emmerson Mnangagwa, has approved 64 million dollars budget for immediate fight against cholera outbreak that killed at least 30 people in the capital Harare, a cabinet minister said. The funds will also be used to fight typhoid which has also hit the city and other parts of the country, Chairperson of the Cabinet Committee on Emergency Preparedness and Disaster Management, July Moyo, said. Read more
Trump inflames war on Justice Dept. by declassifying Russia docs (CNN)
President Donald Trump showed no signs of backing off his highly unprecedented order to declassify various documents and text messages related to the Russia investigation Tuesday, saying he wants it done for “transparency.” The move, which has prompted renewed unease about the increasing politicization of intelligence materials, is likely to further inflame tensions between the President and intelligence and law enforcement officials, who have been the target of presidential Twitter tirades and who have voiced concerns in the past about potentially jeopardizing sources and methods. Read more
EU warns Britain it must ‘rework’ Brexit plans (Guardian)
EU Council President Donald Tusk issued a stark warning to Britain on Wednesday that its Brexit position must be “reworked”, as Prime Minister Theresa May prepared to address European leaders at a key summit. Tusk said the negotiations on Britain’s withdrawal from the European Union were reaching a “decisive phase”, as he opened the first of three summits that Brussels hopes will end in a divorce deal. Read more
Trade War: China not afraid of extreme measures (Vanguard)
China is not afraid of “extreme-measures” the United States is taking in their trade war and will use it as an opportunity to replace imports, promote localisation and development of high-tech-products. The State media said on Wednesday in a publication by the ruling Communist Party. Read more
Michael Phelps demands more help for former Olympians (BBC)
Legendary US swimmer Michael Phelps says more must be done to support Olympians after they move out of the spotlight. Phelps, 33, said in January that he contemplated suicide during the worst periods of his own depression. “I don’t think there’s been much help for when an athlete retires,” he said. Read more
Rafael Nadal withdraws from China Open & Shanghai Masters (BBC)
World number one Rafael Nadal has pulled out of next month’s China Open and Shanghai Masters tournaments, to allow his knee injury to recover. The injury forced the 32-year-old to retire from his US Open semi-final earlier this month. He also missed Spain’s Davis Cup semi-final defeat by France at the weekend. Read more
Phone addiction: Nigerians blame trend for rising immorality (Vanguard)
Nigerians resident in some North-Central States have decried youths addiction to phone usage and blamed the trend for rising cases of fraud and immorality in the society. In separate interviews, some respondents in Plateau, Nasarawa, Benue, Niger and Kogi States also blamed the trend for most road accidents, especially in urban areas. Read more
Six final year students killed at graduation party (Nation)
Nine persons including six final year students of the Edo State own university, the Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, have been killed at a graduation party. The party was held at Ihimudun road, Ekpoma in Esan West local government. It was gathered that three of the dead persons were former students of the institution invited to the party while others just concluded their final examinations. Read more
How mentally ill man invaded A-Ibom community School (Vanguard)
A middle aged mentally ill man has taken over one MC’Intire Secondary School in Utu Abak, Abak Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom state, chasing away the staff and students with a matchet and destroying more than three vehicles belonging to staff. It was gathered that the ugly incident occurred on Monday as public schools in the state resumed for the new academic session. Read more
Man docked for defrauding bank of N60m (Vanguard)
A 54-year-old man, Tajudeen Oladega, was on Wednesday arraigned for allegedly obtaining the sum of N60 million from a new generation bank under the pretext of constructing a filling station. Oladega appeared before an Ebute-Meta Chief Magistrates’ Court, Lagos, facing a four-count charge bordering on obtaining under false pretext, fraud, and issuing a dud cheque. Read more
Man in prison custody for allegedly beating father (Punch)
A Karmo Grade 1 Area Court, Abuja, on Wednesday, ordered the remand of one Joseph Omonigho in prison custody for allegedly beating his father. The judge, Inuwa Maiwada, who gave the order, said he should be remanded until October 3 for hearing. Read more