Lagos Governorship: Tinubu can never stop me – Sanwo-olu (Punch)
An All ProgressivesCongress (APC) governorship aspirant in Lagos State, Mr Jide Sanwo-Olu, on Friday said he did not believe national leader of the party, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, would ask him to back down on his ambition. Sanwo-Olu made the statement during an interactive session with newsmen in Lagos. A journalist had asked him whether he would step down his ambition or not if Tinubu asked him do so. Read more
FG defends appointment of Bichi (Nation)
The Federal Government has said that the appointments made by President Muhammadu Buhari into public offices are not lopsided and cannot be judged on the basis of the security sector alone. Information and Culture Minster, Lai Mohammed, said in Lagos that critics should stop focusing only on the security sector in their assessment of the President. He spoke when he paid a visit to Channels Television to drum up support for national campaign against fake news. The Channels’ management team had asked for his reactions to criticisms on alleged lopsided appointments in the security sector, especially the choice of Mr. Yusuf Bichi as the new Director-General of the Department of State Service (DSS). Read more
6 dead as Prophet makes congregants drink Jik in Church (PMNews)
South African Prophet Rufus Phala allegedly gave his members Jik, a household bleach to drink as a sign of faith during a church service. Six of them have been confirmed dead while four are in critical condition after drinking the bleach.Police are investigating the incident. Read more
Fayose signs controversial N10 bn supplementary budget (Punch)
Ekiti State Governor, Ayo Fayose, on yesterday signed the controversial N10 billion supplementary appropriation bill into law insisting no law was violated in the process. The supplementary budget was considered by 14 People’s Democratic Party (PDP) House of Assembly members passing through first, second and third reading before being passed at a sitting on Friday that was less than one hour. Read more
Evans shot me, pretended to be a doctor – Witness (Nation)
A prosecution witness, Chief James Uduji, yesterday told a Lagos High Court in Igbosere that suspected ‘billionaire’ kidnap kingpin, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike, a.k.a Evans, shot him during his kidnap and afterwards pretended to be a doctor. Uduji told Justice Adedayo Akintoye that Evans was the driver of the Lexus 470 SUV which he and three other members of his gang used during the operation. The witness testified at the commencement of the prosecution’s case against Evans and his co-defendants; Joseph Emeka, Linus Okpara and Victor Aduba. Read more
Trusted associates put me in NYSC trouble – Adeosun (Vanguard)
Mrs Kemi Adeosun, the finance minister until today, in her letter of resignation to President Muhammadu Buhari responded for the first time officially to the allegation of forging the NYSC exemption certificate, by expressing profound shock. In the letter dated today, the British-born Nigerian said she did not relocate to Nigeria until she was 34 years old, four years older than the 30-year limit for participation by corps members. Read more
PDP Ticket: Eight govs back Saraki (Vanguard)
Atiku, Saraki, Kwakwanso lead race the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has fixed October 5th and 6th for its Presidential primaries. No less than than 12 aspirants are vying for the sole ticket, with each assuring the party that victory is only inches away provided he is given the flag. Saraki In the week gone by, Wadata Plaza, the edifice housing the PDP secretariat, was a beehive of activities as aspirants made last minute effort to submit their expression of interest and nomination forms for the big test. However, the party which is aiming to reclaim the power it lost at the centre in 2015 is also aware today that the selection of its Presidential candidate may boost or scuttle the lofty aspiration of marching to Aso Rock. Read more
Ex-militant leaders fault planned protest against amnesty boss (Punnch)
Ex-militant leaders from states in the Niger Delta have faulted the planned protest by some aggrieved beneficiaries of the Amnesty programme against the Coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, Prof. Charles Dokubo, over alleged corrupt practices. The ex-militant leaders under the aegis of the Environmental Rights Advocates Organisation of Niger Delta, described the planned protest over unpaid stipends as uncalled for, misplaced, wicked and selfish. Read more
2019: Governors’ penchant for ‘retiring’ in Senate re-emerges (Punch)
At least five serving (two-term) state governors have declared their intention to contest the 2019 senatorial elections. With 15 ex-governors currently in the Senate already, JESUSEGUN ALAGBE writes about governors’ penchant for going to the Red Chamber soon after their tenure.In his 1870 book, Wanted, a Statesman!, an American theologian and author, James Freeman Clarke (1810-1888), posited that while a politician thinks (only) of the next election, a statesman thinks of the next generation. Read more
Full Text: Kemi Adeosun’s resignation letter to Buhari (Punch)
Let me commence by thanking you profusely for the honour and privilege of serving under your inspirational leadership. It has been a truly rewarding experience to learn from you and to observe at close quarters your integrity and sense of duty. I have, today, become privy to the findings of the investigation into the allegation made in an online medium that the Certificate of Exemption from National Youth Service Corp (NYSC) that I had presented was not genuine. This has come as a shock to me and I believe that in line with this administration’s focus on integrity, I must do the honourable thing and resign. Read more
Buhari greets Alake of Egbaland at 75 (Nation)
President Muhammadu Buhari has sent warm greetings to the Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo III, on his 75th birthday. President Buhari, in a statement by the Special Adviser on Media and publicity, Femi Adesina, joined the entire Egbaland in celebrating the joyous and historical milestone for the royal father, whose ascension to the throne of his forefathers took place in 2005. The President noted that he has brought peace, unity and prosperity to the people. Read more
Intensify efforts on single currency, Buhari tells ECOWAS countries (Punch)
President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday called on member countries of the Economic Community of West African States to intensify efforts at achieving the single currency programme by 2020. He said that the Federal Government was committed to providing a leadership role in assisting ECOWAS to achieve the single currency programme. He explained that Nigeria would continue to play the leadership role in moving the ECOWAS integration agenda forward. Read more
Inflation rises for first time in 18 months (Punch)
The National Bureau of Statistics on Friday released the Consumer Price Index, which measures inflation, with the rate rising from 11.14 per cent in July to 11.23 per cent in August. The bureau, in the report that was made available to our correspondent, stated that this was the first year-on-year rise in headline inflation following 18 consecutive declines in the inflation rate. The report stated, “The Consumer Price Index, which measures inflation, increased by 11.23 per cent (year-on-year) in August 2018. This is 0.09 per cent points higher than the rate recorded in July 2018 (11.14 per cent) and represents the first year-on-year rise in headline inflation following eighteenth consecutive disinflation in headline inflation. Read more
Mourinho plans £100m spending spree on key target (Vanguard)
Manchester United will renew their pursuit of Leicester’s Harry Maguire next summer but could be forced to pay up to £100m for his services, it’s been claimed. Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho desperately wanted to sign a centre-back during the recent window with Maguire and Tottenham’s Toby Alderweireld at the top of his list. Mourinho However, executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward refused to break the bank and Mourinho was left with just three new additions to his current squad. Maguire went on to sign a new long-term deal with the Foxes but that has not deterred United. Read more
Osun: Why solid education and competence matter (Nation)
The race to succeed Governor Rauf Aregbesola in Osun State is now getting to the wire with barely a week to the all-important election. The September 22 poll is important in more ways than one. Coming after the Ekiti July 14 election, the Osun poll is one of those elections that would herald the 2019 general election. As one of the forerunners of the 2019 election, it would serve as an indicator, giving us an idea of what to expect at the general election, particularly in terms of the preparedness and actual performance of the Independent National Electoral Commission and security agencies and the likely voter turnout given the seeming voter apathy in the land. It was just the same way the 2014 elections in Ekiti and Osun, with its varied electoral tales in the two states, foretold then of what was to come in 2015, leaving a sour taste in the mouth. In that ensuing 2015 election, however, the then newly-cobbled rainbow coalition that is the All Progressives Congress eventually uprooted a sitting incumbent at the centre for the first time in Nigeria’s political history. Read more
Does your husband know your character? (Punch)
Life comes with many setbacks; behind every smile are more than a thousand pains, sometimes too deep to comprehend. Every woman has certain characters which are capable of ruining her marriage when not exposed to her husband. I’m insecure… Insecurity is a common disorder which many women suffer from due to lack of self-confidence or emotional intelligence. Insecurity can be attributed to the traumas from the past; either from a failed relationship or desire for perfection. When you know that you are insecure, identify the reasons why you feel apprehensive and begin to have a conversation with your husband about your fears. Read more