My generation has failed Nigerians, says Soyinka (Punch)
Nobel laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, says his generation has failed the country. Speaking on Hard Talk, a BBC programme, the professor said the dreams people of his generation had about the country had not materialised. The Cable reports that Zeinab Badawi, anchor of the programme, had asked the literary scholar, “Has your generation of older Nigerians failed the people?” The professor responded, “Yes, I believe so. I compare today with dreams and aspirations we had when we all rushed home after studies abroad. We considered ourselves the renaissance people that were going to lift the continent to world standards, competitors anywhere. It hasn’t happened.” Read more
FG vows to prosecute perpetrators of Kajuru attacks (Guardian)
The Federal Government has assured families of victims of last weekend’s attack on the Kajuru Castle Resort in Kaduna State of ensuring that the killers are prosecuted. In a statement yesterday in Abuja, Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, also assured that security agencies are doing everything possible to ensure that the three persons who were kidnapped in the attack are released unharmed. He noted that the dastardly attack that led to the death of Faye Mooney, a British aid worker and Matthew Oguche, a Nigerian, who were on a visit to the resort, was a setback to tourism in the country. Read more
We expect every state to pay minimum wage – Presidency (Punch)
Amid concerns over the ability of states and local governments to pay the new National Minimum Wage of N30,000, the Presidency said on Tuesday that it expected every state to comply with the payment. President Muhammadu Buhari had on Thursday signed the N30,000 National Minimum Wage Bill into law and directed that the implementation should commence immediately. It replaces the current N18,000 minimum wage, which had been in place since 2011. Read more
Buratai talks tough on terrorism, banditry (Guardian)
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Tukur Yusuf Buratai, has said that the Nigerian Army will deploy maximum intelligence to tackle the scourge of banditry and terrorism ravaging the nation. The COAS described the fight against terrorism as a complex one, adding that the phenomenon requires multiple efforts, including co-operation of all citizens, to combat. Buratai, who stated this yesterday at the opening of the second infantry conference in Jaji Military Cantonment, Kaduna State, said the Nigerian Armed Forces had performed creditably well and would continue to protect the territorial integrity of Nigeria. Read more
PDP, CUPP, CACOL attack Aisha over proposed Buhari university (Punch)
The Peoples Democratic Party, Coalition of United Political Parties, and The Centre for Anti-Corruption and Open Leadership have expressed opposition to a proposal by the wife of President Muhammadu Buhari, Aisha, to establish a private university to be known as Muhammadu Buhari University. The groups described the proposed university as misplaced. Aisha had, during a town hall meeting in Yola, Adamawa State organised by her in collaboration with Concerned Indigenes of Adamawa, disclosed her plan for the private university. Read more
Man confesses to killing seven persons, drying victims with chemicals in Ibadan (Guardian)
A car wash attendant identified as Ismaila Raji has confessed to killing seven persons, including pupils of Lagelu Grammar School, Ibadan whose bodies he dried with chemicals. Raji was arrested by a mob on April 20 at Olorunsogo area of Ibadan, Oyo State, while trying to dispose the body of his latest victim, Rasaki Musibau, who he allegedly strangled inside the deceased’s home. According to sources, Raji had been arrested twice for being in possession of human skeleton at Second Gate, University of Ibadan and Benjamin in Eleyele Road respectively. Read more
Sudan army chief says soldiers ‘will not attack protesters’ (BBC)
The head of Sudan’s military transitional council has told the BBC the army will not use force against protesters who want it to leave power. Lt-Gen Abdel Fattah Abdelrahman Burhan spoke as African leaders extended their ultimatum for the military to organise a return to civilian rule. The army had warned it would remove protesters camped outside its headquarters in the capital, Khartoum. President Omar al-Bashir was ousted from power on 11 April after 30 years. Protesters accuse the military of being “remnants” of the ousted long-time ruler. Read more
Sri Lanka attacks: Government vows to overhaul state security (BBC)
Sri Lanka’s president has vowed to overhaul state security after several bomb blasts on Sunday killed 359 people and wounded about 500. On Tuesday, Maithripala Sirisena said warnings had not been shared with him and promised “stern action”. The country’s Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said the Islamic State (IS) group may be linked to the blasts. Funerals are continuing across the country as people try to process last Sunday’s wave of terror. Read more
Donald Trump meets Twitter’s Jack Dorsey at White House (BBC)
US President Donald Trump has met Twitter’s co-founder Jack Dorsey at the White House to discuss social media. In a statement, Twitter said the pair spoke about “protecting the health of the public conversation” ahead of the US 2020 general election. Earlier Mr Trump had accused the platform of being “very discriminatory” towards him. Mr Trump tweeted a picture of Mr Dorsey and him in the Oval Office and called it a “great meeting”. Read more
Paedophile who microwaved man’s head and got girl, 12, to eat it dies by suicide (Metro)
A suspected paedophile cannibal has died while awaiting trial in Russia. Arkady Sverov, 22, was accused of killing Alexander Popovich, 21, then microwaving his head on the highest setting for three minutes. He then gouged out his eye, boiled it and ate it along with his heart and brain. Zverov also encouraged a girl, 12, who he called his girlfriend to eat it. The girl told police that she used a frying pan to cook and eat Alexander’s heart describing the taste as being ‘too sweet’ but ‘the brains turned to be much more tasty.’ Read more
Lee Daniels confirms Jussie Smollett’s Empire fate is ‘in conversation’ following dropped charges (Metro)
Lee Daniels has confirmed Jussie Smollett’s fate on Empire is still to be decided. Jussie was indicted on 16 charges after being accused of falsifying a police report and orchestrating a February racist homophobic attack himself, however in March all charges against him were dropped. Now the show creator for the FOX musical drama has opened up on whether the 36-year-old will be returning to set for the upcoming season, or if he will be cut from the show entirely following the controversy. Read more
Ben Affleck confirms his return to directing on WWII film Ghost Army (Metro)
Ben Affleck will return to directing on WWII film Ghost Army, produced by and starring himself. The 46-year-old is thought to have signed on for triple duties on the Universal Pictures film, four months after stepping down from Batman. Following his part in Netflix film Triple Frontier, Ghost Army will be the first project Ben will be directing since he returned to rehab for a third stint to treat alcohol issues in August 2018. Read more
Solskjaer warns United will have to wait for next Premier League title (Guardian)
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer admitted on Tuesday that Manchester United will not be capable of competing for the Premier League title next season in a stark assessment of the current gulf between his side and Wednesday’s opponents Manchester City. United take on City at Old Trafford on Wednesday 22 points behind the reigning champions and 24 adrift of leaders Liverpool, despite coach Solskjaer initially going a dozen league games unbeaten after succeeding the sacked Jose Mourinho. The weekend’s 4-0 hammering at Everton was their third defeat in their five matches since and the 46-year-old called for patience when asked if he thought his squad was capable of competing for the title next season. Read more
Late Eriksen goal gives Spurs vital win (BBC)
Christian Eriksen’s stunning late winner finally ended Brighton’s resistance to boost Tottenham’s hopes of a top-four finish in the Premier League. Brighton were on course to gain a point in their battle to avoid relegation before the Denmark playmaker – Spurs’ most effective attacking player throughout – shot low into the corner from 25 yards in the 88th minute. Spurs defender Toby Alderweireld had earlier hit the post while his team-mates Lucas Moura and Dele Alli both had efforts cleared off the goalline. Read more
Messi rested as win over Alaves edges Barca closer to the title (Guardian)
Barcelona will win La Liga on Wednesday if Atletico Madrid lose to Valencia after a 2-0 victory over Alaves gave them a 12-point lead at the top of the table. Lionel Messi started on the bench at Mendizorrotza on Tuesday in a move that made clear just how comfortable Barca are in this title race, its conclusion surely now only a matter of when rather than if. Should Atletico avoid defeat to Valencia at the Wanda Metropolitano, the Catalans will still be crowned champions on Saturday at the Camp Nou with a victory over Levante. Read more