Ondo election: Akeredolu, Jegede, Ajayi win polling units (Punch)
The three major candidates in today’s governorship election in Ondo State won their individual polling units, The PUNCH can confirm.
Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, who is seeking reelection on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, won the election held in his Polling Unit 6, Ward 5, Isokun, Ijebu Owo. He scored 413 votes to defeat Peoples Democratic Party’s Eyitayo Jegede, who polled 12 votes; and the candidate of the Zenith Labour Party, Agboola Ajayi, who scored zero.
Also, Jegede won his Igbogin/Isikan Ward 2, unit 9, polling 220 votes against 60 recorded by Akeredolu while Ajayi got seven votes. Read more
Lagos unveils logo for Ehingbeti summit, gets stakeholders’ support (Thisday)
The Lagos Economic Summit Group (LESG) yesterday unveiled the logo for its upcoming ‘Ehingbeti 2020’ scheduled to hold from November 10th to 12th, 2020.
The summit with the theme: ‘For a Greater Lagos: Setting the Tone for the Next Decade,’ Ehingbeti 2020 is expected to provide a robust platform for deliberations on how to optimise opportunities in Africa’s fifth largest economy and offer perspectives on how to manage the peculiar socio-economic landscape of the state in the coming decade.
The three-day summit, which will be a hybrid of virtual and live events, will draw participation from various sectors of the economy and across the globe. Read more
Daughters of President Buhari, Osinbajo join #EndSARS protest
(Vanguard)
President Muhammadu Buhari’s daughter, Zahra, and Vice President Osinbajo’s daughter, Kiki have joined the ongoing #EndSARS protest against police brutality in the country.
Kiki Osinbajo had on Saturday shared a post on her Instagram page saying “Police brutality must end now” using the hashtags #endpolicebrutality and #endsars. Read more
Ondo election: Police arrests many for electoral offence (Guardian)
The Commissioner of Police in charge of Owo and Ose local government areas of Ondo State for the Ondo governorship election, Abutu Yaro, on Saturday disclosed that many people were arrested for electoral offences during the election.
Yaro said one of the suspects was arrested for inducing voters at Unit 15 Ward 4, Shagari Market along the Owo- Benin Highway.
The suspect, who was stripped half-naked and handcuffed was placed at the back of the police van. Read more
Burna Boy bows to pressure, joins #EndSARS (Punch)
Singer Damini Ogulu aka Burna Boy, has bowed to pressure from fans and critics and officially joined the #EndSARS movement which seeks the scrapping of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad of the Nigeria Police Force.
Burna Boy issued a statement on Saturday amid knocks from Nigerian youths who had expressed disappointment over the musician’s silence.
The self-acclaimed African giant said the protest should not be about him but about deeper issues. Read more
Buhari’s 2021 budget proposal contravenes Fiscal Responsibility Act, says Atiku (Guardian)
Former Nigerian vice president Atiku Abubakar has faulted the 2021 appropriation bill presented by President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday before a joint session of the National Assembly.
Abubakar said the bill clearly contravenes the Fiscal Responsibility Act.
The president proposed N13.08 trillion expenditure for 2021. Buhari announced that total federally distributable revenue is estimated at N8.433 trillion in 2021 while the total revenue available to fund the 2021 Federal Budget is estimated at N7.886 trillion. This includes Grants and Aid of N354.85 billion as well as the revenues of 60 Government-Owned Enterprises. Read more
Buhari condoles with Yar’Adua family (Thisday)
President Muhammadu Buhari has condoled with the family of Yar’Adua on the passing of Hajiya Rabi, mother-in-law of his late friend and classmate, General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua, describing her demise as a sad loss.
The President, who was in Kaduna on Saturday for the graduation ceremonies of the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) took time away from official schedule to visit the Yar’Adua family house where he was received by Hajiya Binta Yar’Adua, the late General’s widow and daughter of the deceased.
In a statement issued Saturday by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media & Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, Buhari said the late Hajiya Rabi lived a useful life worthy of emulation, leaving behind an indelible mark in the lives of the many who came close to her. Read more
#ENDSARS Protests: Okowa condemns killing of policeman (Guardian)
Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State has condemned the alleged killing of a policeman and injuring of another during the #ENDSARS protest in Ughelli on Thursday.
Okowa said this in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Olisa Ifeajika, in Asaba on Saturday.
He said that it was disheartening that the unfortunate incident occurred while the policemen were carrying out their lawful duties. Read more
Archbishop burns altar after priest has sex in church (TMZ)
The Archbishop of New Orleans is outraged that a priest allegedly had sex inside a church, so he’s doing an exorcism of sorts by having the altar removed and burned!!!
Archbishop Gregory Aymond called the act “demonic.” As for how it went down someone called the cops after allegedly seeing the priest at the Saints Peter and Paul Roman Catholic Church, saying they saw the man of the cloth with 2 high-heeled women wearing corsets.
He was dressed in his priestly issue well, only partially. The witness shot video of the encounter and went to cops.
The priest and the 2 women were arrested for allegedly violating an obscenity law that prohibits people from having sex in public view. What’s bizarre here, the only way the witness could have seen it was to peer through the windows. Read more
Africa ‘needs $1.2tn’ to recover coronavirus losses (BBC)
The economic damage as well as the health costs caused by coronavirus has left Africa needing $1.2tn (£920bn) over the next three years, the International Monetary Fund has said.
IMF chief Kristalina Georgieva said the world “must do more to support Africa to [recover]… from this crisis”.
Africa has had fewer Covid infections and deaths than most other continents.
But the World Bank says 43 million more Africans are at risk of extreme poverty as a result of the pandemic. Read more
China classical music festival to feature Wuhan musicians (USAToday)
China is holding its first classical music festival since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, featuring musicians from the outbreak’s initial epicenter in an attempt to aid in the psychological and emotional healing process.
Zou Ye, a composer from Wuhan, the central Chinese city where the virus was first detected late last year, said that Saturday night’s concert is part of an effort to work through frustration and helplessness on the way toward love and tolerance and, hopefully, some meaning to what he calls “nature’s tremendous revenge.”
Musicians from the Wuhan Philharmonic Orchestra will present a choral symphony “To 2020” dedicated to the victims of COVID-19, co-written by Zou and two partners. Read more
North Korea holds military parade with missiles (BBC)
North Korea held a rare night time military parade on Saturday, attended by leader Kim Jong-un.
The parade marked the 75th anniversary of the Worker’s Party.
North Korea typically uses its parades to show off new missiles and weaponry. Experts say intercontinental ballistic missiles were evident during Saturday morning’s event.
It is the country’s first parade in two years and comes just weeks ahead of the US presidential election. Read more
Sacha Baron Cohen ‘surrounded by angry crowd with semi-automatic weapons’ while filming Borat 2 (Metro)
Sacha Baron Cohen feared for his life while filming the sequel to Borat. The comedian is set to release the long-awaited sequel to his 2006 mockumentary – titled Borat Subsequent Moviefilm: Delivery of Prodigious Bribe to American Regime for Make Benefit Once Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan – later this month. Baron Cohen filmed the project around the US during lockdown, and some scenes were so controversial that he had to wear a bulletproof vest while filming. Writing for Time magazine, the 48-year-old said: ‘While filming my latest Borat film, I showed up as a right-wing singer at a gun-rights rally in Washington State. When organisers finally stormed the stage, I rushed to a nearby get-away vehicle. Read more
Why Trump wants Sudan to befriend Israel (BBC)
With Sudan in desperate straits – a collapsing economy, hyperinflation looming and a nationwide food crisis – the administration of US President Donald Trump and the Israeli government have seen an opportunity.
The country’s democratic hopes hang by a thread 18 months after non-violent protests overthrew their long-term ruler Omar al-Bashir.
But if Sudan recognises Israel then the US will strike it off the state sponsors of terror list, opening the door to essential economic stabilisation measures. Read more
U2’s “The Joshua Tree” voted the best album of the 1980s (Metro)
U2’s The Joshua Tree is the best album of the 1980s, according to a new poll by the BBC, and, as is to be expected, music fans have been sharing their opinions on the matter. The vote was conducted as part of BBC Radio 2’s Sound of the 80s ahead of National Album Day this Saturday.
Dire Straits’ Brother in Arms came second with The Stone Roses titular album coming in third.
Perhaps most controversially, Michael Jackson’s Thriller and Guns N’ Roses’s Appetite for Destruction came in fourth and fifth respectively. Read more
Iga Swiatek becomes first Polish Grand Slam champion after winning French Open (Metro)
Iga Swiatek has become the first Polish player to win a Grand Slam after beating Sofia Kenin in straight sets in the French Open final.
The 19-year-old beat Australian Open champion Kenin 6-4 6-1, lifting the trophy without losing a set in the tournament. At 54th in the world, Swiatek was the lowest-ranked woman finalist in 43 years.
But she showed few nerves as she swept past her American opponent to become the youngest woman since Monica Seles in 1992 to win the French Open and the first woman to win the title without dropping a set since Justine Henin in 2007. Read more
“Joshua fastest puncher since Tyson” (Punch)
Tony Bellew has declared that he believes Anthony Joshua is the fastest combination puncher the heavyweight division has seen since Mike Tyson.
The former WBC cruiserweight champion is backing AJ to beat Tyson Fury should they meet as planned next year, and explained his reasoning on talkSPORT.
Bellew told White and Jordan on talkSPORT, “Styles make fights.
“It’s crazy the way the heavyweight division’s working at the minute because I think there’s a couple of guys who do have a chance against Tyson Fury. Read more
Lewis Hamilton beaten to Eifel Grand Prix pole by Valtteri Bottas (BBC)
Valtteri Bottas took pole position for the Eifel Grand Prix in a fight with Mercedes team-mate Lewis Hamilton and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen.
Bottas grabbed top spot with his final lap to take pole by 0.256 seconds after Verstappen set the pace on the first runs in final qualifying.
It was the closest Mercedes have come to being beaten in qualifying this year but Verstappen slipped back to third. Read more
Rafael Nadal says he’ll have to summon his best form to defeat Novak Djokovic (RT)
Twelve-time French Open champion Rafael Nadal is targeting his 20th career Grand Slam title at Roland Garros on Sunday, but says he’ll face his toughest test on court against world No. 1 Novak Djokovic.
Nadal has been the world’s top clay-court player for more than a decade, including two French Open final victories and four other Roland Garros wins over Djokovic, but says that nothing less than his very best play will be enough to stop the in-form Serb in Sunday’s final.
“Different circumstances, different kind of tournament and different situation,” Nadal told reporters ahead of the final. Read more
NBA Finals: Miami Heat beat Los Angeles Lakers in game-five thriller (BBC)
The Miami Heat beat the Los Angeles Lakers 111-108 to win a thrilling game five in the NBA Finals and take the series into a sixth game.
The Lakers led by a point with 21.8 seconds left, before two foul shots by Jimmy Butler nudged the Heat in front.
Danny Green missed a late three-pointer to win the game for the Lakers, as the Heat kept the best-of-seven match series alive at 3-2. Read more
Ibrahimovic ‘cured’ of coronavirus (Nation)
AC Milan striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic has been given the all-clear to end his quarantine period and return to action after testing negative for coronavirus, the Serie A club announced on Friday.
Milan confirmed in a statement that the Swedish striker had “tested negative” twice in a row, as stipulated in the protocol to be able to lift the quarantine procedure. Read more
Fashanu to sponsor 13 Kano footballers to Europe (DailyTrust)
A former England international, John Fashanu has arrived in Kano to scout and sponsor 13 talented football players to Europe for a career in professional football.
He told Daily Trust that through the project tagged ‘Find a player, change a life initiative’, he intends to collaborate with the state government with the aim of uncovering top talents from across the 44 LGAs in the state.
According to him, six FIFA agents shall be involved to ensure all international best practices are adhered to saying that Kano abounds with talented youths waiting to be discovered and nurtured to stardom. Read more