Protest: Oro festival, like other religious activities, Lagos not involved, says govt (Punch)
The Lagos State government has distanced itself from the rumoured upcoming Oro festival scheduled for August 1 to 15, coinciding with the #EndBadGovernance protest.
The government likened it to other religious activities held across the country.
Speaking in a telephone conversation with PUNCH Online, Gboyega Akosile, the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the state’s Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, said no one questions the government when other religions hold their activities. Read more
Tinubu, APC govs meet as FG moves to stop nationwide protest (DailyTrust)
President Bola Tinubu and Governors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) are presently holding a closed door meeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Daily Trust reliably gathered that the meeting is not unconnected with efforts by the government to stop the planned nationwide protest.
Since the news of the protest broke, government has been putting in place measures to pacify aggrieved Nigerians.
Recently, President Tinubu asked those planning to protest to shelve the idea and await his government’s response to their grievances. Read more
Ohanaeze President General, Iwuanyanwu is dead (Sun)
Elder statesman and President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu is dead.
He died Thursday at an undisclosed hospital in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital.
He was to be 82 by September 4, this year.
When the business mogul turned 81 last year, his New Owerri palatial home was a hive of activities as he marked the birthday. Read more
INEC Competent To Conduct LG Elections — Yakubu (Channels)
Two weeks after the Supreme Court granted financial autonomy to local governments (LGs) in Nigeria, the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mahmood Yakubu, has declared that the electoral umpire is capable of successfully conducting LG elections if saddled with the responsibility by law.
The INEC chief made this known when he appeared before a Joint National Assembly Committee on Electoral Matters to present the Ondo and Edo off-cycle elections budget on Thursday.
He, however, raised the question of funding for their by-elections in the country. Read more
Lagos community beg Sanwo-Olu to reinstate wrongfully dismissed LASU lecturers (Independent)
The Concerned Sons and Daughters of Ikoga-Zebbe, Badagry, Lagos State, have appealed to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to lift the embargo on the reinstatement of Dr. Tony Dansu and four other ASUU-LASU officers wrongfully dismissed from the Lagos State University (LASU) in 2017 and 2019.
The group, in a press statement, expressed their disappointment that despite their previous appeal and peaceful rally on May 18, 2024, the Lagos State Government has yet to reinstate the five lecturers. “We are yet to see any positive results! Hence, we have to cry for justice to the public through the press once again on this same issue,” said James Babatunde Avoseh, one of the signatories to the press statement. Read more
Monarch hails Tinubu, Umahi over Lagos-Calabar coastal road (Nation)
The Balogun of Ode-Omi Kingdom, High Chief Shittu Aliu Adeyemi has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Minister of Works, Sen. David Umahi over the construction of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road.
The community leader also appreciated the Lagos state government for the completion of the Ode Omi Master plan which is scheduled for presentation on the 25th July, 2024.
Speaking with reporters he expressed delight for the road which passes through their ancient community. Read more
Dialogue with us, APC governors tell protesters (Tribune)
The Progressives Governors Forum (PGF) has appealed to Nigerians to shelve the planned protest against President Bola Tinubu-led government slated for August 1 to August 10.
The PGF is a partisan organisation for Nigerian governors under the platform of All Progressive Congress (APC) with the mandate to drive policy suggestions and harmonise the activities of the Progressive Governors with the policies towards achieving a socio-democratic state.
Chairman of the Forum and Gov. Hope Uzodinma of Imo made the appeal after a closed-door meeting with the governors in Abuja on Wednesday. Read more
Okorie emerges APGA BoT Chairman (Leadership)
The founder and pioneer national chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) Chief Chekwas Okorie has emerged the party’s Board of Trustees (BOT) chairman, in Abuja, yesterday.
In his acceptance speech Chief Okorie said that he has with humility and honour accepted to serve in the exalted and prestigious office of the Board of Trustees of the All Progressives Grand Alliance as Chairman. He expressed unalloyed gratitude to the National Working Committee (NWC) of APGA under the leadership of Engr. Chief Edozie Njoku, as National Chairman of APGA, who rose in one accord in support of his appointment. Read more
Putin hosts Syria’s Assad in Kremlin as tensions rise in Middle East (VOA)
Russian President Vladimir Putin met President Bashar Assad of Syria in the Kremlin, video distributed by the Kremlin press service on Thursday showed.
Putin told Assad he was concerned that tensions are rising in the Middle East, but neither leader provided further details on their talks. Russia has waged a military campaign in Syria since September 2015, teaming up with Iran to allow Assad’s government to fight armed opposition groups and reclaim control over most of the country. While Russia now concentrates the bulk of its military resources in Ukraine, it has maintained a military foothold in Syria and keeps troops at its bases there. Read more
‘Inside Out 2’ blows past ‘Frozen 2’ to become the biggest animated movie of all time (People)
Inside Out 2 just achieved another incredible milestone.
The Pixar sequel exceeded box office expectations and officially became the biggest animated movie of all time, surpassing Disney’s Frozen 2.
As of July 24, Variety reported that Inside Out 2 earned $1.46 billion globally, six weeks after its theatrical release on June 14. For comparison, Frozen 2 earned $1.45 billion when it was in theaters back in 2019. Read more
‘I Approve This Message’: Kamala Harris instantly uses Trump’s own words against him (HuffPost)
Donald Trump’s own words on Wednesday were quickly turned back at him in a new video from Vice President Kamala Harris’s rapid response team.
Speaking at a rally in North Carolina, Trump claimed that President Joe Biden is trying to put him in jail and “she’s the one behind it” along with “radical left judges.”
Trump was convicted in May on 34 felony charges in his New York hush money case. Neither Biden nor Harris has anything to do with the prosecution, but Trump has falsely claimed otherwise for that and the other legal cases he’s facing. Read more
Harland Williams, Spencer Grammer, Harry Lennix lead voice cast for animated sci-fi movie ‘‘Isla Monstro’’ (THR)
Spencer Grammer, Harland Williams, Will Friedle, Harry Lennix, Juliana Harkavy and John DiMaggio are among the performers comprising the ensemble voice cast of the animated sci-fi comedy movie “Isla Monstro.”
Hailing from multimedia company Abyssmal Entertainment, the feature has completed production and launches promotion at San Diego Comic-Con with a booth and a panel taking place Saturday. The project is directed and animated by Steven Shea (Surviving Supercon), who co-wrote the script with James Schrader, and it is currently seeking distribution. Read more
Matthew Macfadyen felt “miscast” as Mr. Darcy in Pride & Prejudice: “I’m not dishy enough’’ (USAToday)
Matthew Macfadyen may be his own worst critic when it comes to one of his most iconic roles.
The Succession actor, 49, admitted in an interview on CBS Mornings that he “didn’t really” enjoy playing Mr. Darcy in the 2005 film version of Pride & Prejudice.
“I feel bad saying that,” he shared. “There were moments I had a good time, but I wish I’d enjoyed it more. I wish I was less worried about it.” Read more
Mick Fleetwood says John Mayall’s death is like “losing a musical father” (NME)
Mick Fleetwood has paid tribute to late English blues pioneer John Mayall – see what Fleetwood had to say below.
Yesterday (July 24), it was revealed that Mayall had died at the age of 90, shortly before he was due to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. During his lengthy and illustrious career, Mayall gave many young musicians such as Fleetwood, John McVie, Eric Clapton and more, a platform through his band the Blues Breakers.
Following Mayall’s death, Mick Fleetwood has now shared a post honouring and remembering his late musical collaborator. Fleetwood wrote on Instagram: “The news of John Mayall’s passing… in many ways hit me as losing a musical father!! John Mayall was a guiding light to so many of us young English players!” Read more
Winner of The Great British Sewing Bee 2024 revealed (Standard)
Sewer Luke has been revealed as the winner of The Great British Sewing Bee 2024 and has described their victory as “absolutely wild”.
Luke beat Pascha and Ailsa in Wednesday’s final, which saw contestants tasked with creating opera gloves for the red carpet, and transforming decorations into a party garment.
The Manchester-born contestant made it through 10 weeks of sewing challenges to be named Britain’s best amateur sewer, winning garment of the week for their loungewear in diva week. Read more
Paris 2024: Super Falcons poised to tackle Brazil in Bordeaux showdown (DailyTrust)
Nigeria’s Super Falcons make a triumphant return to the Women’s Olympic Football Tournament after 16 years absence, instilling fear in their opponents. Brazil will be the first to challenge the confident Nigerian team in what promises to be an explosive Group C opener in Bordeaux today.
In the past, pundits might have viewed this clash as an easy win for the South Americans, known for producing some of the world’s best players.
However, much has changed over the past year and a half. Based on their performance at last summer’s FIFA Women’s World Cup, any team that underestimates the nine-time African champions could be in for a rude awakening. Read more
Amapakabo resumes with Abia Warriors (Nation)
Abia Warriors new head coach Imama Amapakabo has commenced work at Abia Warriors ahead of the 2024/25 Nigeria Premier Football League season.
Imama met with players of the club on the opening day of training after Warriors embarked on a short break at the end of last season.
This is Imama’s second stint at the Umuahia based club who are expected to unveil their new signings later this week. Read more
Man Utd “discussing” swap deal for Wan-Bissaka and Dumfries (SportsMole)
Manchester United have reportedly entered talks with Inter Milan over a swap deal involving Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Denzel Dumfries.
Right-back Dumfries spent the first part of the summer at Euro 2024 with the Netherlands in Germany, where they were striving for continental glory.
The 28-year-old started five of his side’s six matches at the tournament, cementing himself as a first-choice defender for manager Ronald Koeman. Read more
Celtic pushing to sign Bueno on loan (BBC)
Celtic have made a renewed attempt to sign left-back Hugo Bueno on loan from Wolves.
The Scottish Premiership champions want to take the left-back on a season-long loan after failing to bring him to Glasgow in January.
The clubs are in talks over the move, but currently there is no agreement in place. Read more
Novak Djokovic made Olympics U-turn after tennis legend’s 4-word snub (Express)
Novak Djokovic is gunning for gold at the Paris Olympics – contradicting a four-word claim he made last year. As the record men’s Grand Slam winner with 24 singles titles, there’s little the Serbian hasn’t won in his legendary tennis career.
The Summer Games, however, haven’t been conquered by Djokovic. He won bronze in Beijing in 2008 – but that remains his only medal. At London 2012, he was defeated by eventual winner Andy Murray in the semi-finals before Juan Martín del Potro beat him to claim the final podium position. Read more
Russian appeal dismissed over Kamila Valieva case (ABC)
A Russian appeal against the decision to strip the country of the figure skating team gold medal at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics was dismissed by the Court of Arbitration for Sport on Thursday.
CAS banned teenage figure skater Kamila Valieva in January for four years for doping, effective from December 2021, a decision that also stripped the Russian Olympic Committee of its gold medal in the team event at the 2022 Games.
The ROC, the skaters involved in the team event and the country’s figure skating federation had appealed that ruling. Read more
