Saturday, January 5, 2019
Mrs Yemi Akindele was driving home from work at about 10:20pm last Wednesday evening when she ran into an unusual sight around Irawo bus stop along Ikorodu Road, Lagos. The sight of a young man looking distressed and holding a white jerrycan forced her to pull over to the side of the busy road.
The instinct to help a man in need overwhelmed her tendency to fear for her own safety. Boldly and damning the consequences, the mother of three got out of her car and walked towards the middle-aged man. Upon interrogation, the man claimed his vehicle ran out of petrol and that he had no cash on him to buy some fuel.
According to him, he left his wallet and mobile phone at a friend’s house where he claimed to have been that evening, thereby compounding his predicament. Without wasting too much time, Akindele ordered the young man to follow her to her car. She reached for her handbag and handed him N2,000 – enough to buy him about 14 litres of premium motor spirit to fuel his car and get him home. The ‘good Samaritan’ went away fulfilled. Read more
Ojikutu advocates removal of power of governors to appoint, sack traditional rulers (Tribune)
Former deputy governor of Lagos State, Alhaja Sinatu Aderoju Ojikutu, has advocated the removal of power to appoint traditional rulers by the government from the Constitution so that approval of the appointment of obas, emirs, Igwes, among others will revert to their inherited traditional approving authority in their locality.
Ojikutu made the call in a statement made available to Tribune Online, saying the call became necessary in order to ensure that the traditional rulers and chiefs were not subjected to the patronage of governors or fears that they could be removed from office if they refused to support for election unpopular candidates imposed by governors and political godfathers, who would always want to impose unpopular candidates on them during elections, failure of which to back such candidates might earn them. Read more
OPC endorses Sanwo-Olu for Lagos gubernatorial election (Guardian)
The subtle misunderstanding between the Yoruba socio-cultural organisation, Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC) and Lagos chapter of All progressives Congress (APC) has ended as the group recently pledged to support the party’s standard bearer, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, and his running mate, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, in the coming governorship election.
While speaking at a well-attended programme held at the Independent Campaign Organisation (ICG) in Ikeja yesterday, the group promised to mobilise support for Sanwo-Olu and Hamzat, and assured the candidates of victory. Read more
ASUU Strike: LASU urges students to disregard resumption notice (Tribune)
The Lagos State University (LASU) has urged its students to disregard any notice directing them to resume for lectures amidst the ongoing strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).
Spokesman of the university, Mr Ademola Adekoya told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that the information was a lie and handwork of mischief makers. Read more
Lagos slowly finds its groove after New Year holiday (Guardian)
Third day into the New Year, it is a slow gradual start to the hustle and bustle the city of Lagos is known for.
Workers in state’s civil service resumed work on Wednesday as businesses opened shop after the Christmas and New Year festive season, but the nation’s commercial nerve-centre is yet to come alive. Read more
Lagos not in bondage, Razak tackles Agbaje, others (Tribune)
A member of the Lagos State Governor’s Advisory Council (GAC), Chief Lanre Razak, has dismissed as diversionary and cheap blackmail recent claim by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Mr. Jimi Agbaje that the state is under the firm grip of a political godfather from whom Lagosians must be liberated.
Rather than resort to name calling and primordial sentiments, Razak challenged Agbaje to focus on issues-based campaign as doing otherwise would not give him victory at the poll, insisting that other political parties jostling to upstage the All Progressives Congress (APC) were only envious of the state’s strong economic and financial base and not genuinely committed to providing good governance to the people. Read more
Boko Haram: Fight to finish, Buratai orders troops (ThisDay)
The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Tukur Buratai has ordered troops battling Boko Haram in the North-east and bandits in the North-west to “fight to finish.”
The Army chief gave the order yesterday while inaugurating the Special Motor Cycle Section of 117 Task Force Battalion’s Quick Response Group in Chibok, Borno State. Read more
NANS denies N150m bribery allegations from presidency (Guardian)
The leadership of National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has distance itself from the purported allegations by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) claiming it received N150 million from the presidency.
The students Union body disclosed this in a statement signed by Mr Adeyemi Amoo, it’s National Public Relations Officer (PRO), and made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Saturday.
Amoo called on Nigerian students to discountenance the allegations by ASUU, saying that the association was ready to protect the interest of all the students. Read more
Election: Ooni Warns Politicians Against Violence (Tribune)
The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, has warned politicians against all forms of violence in the forthcoming general elections.
Oba Ogunwusi gave the warning at the Grand-finale of New Year Prayer Service organised by Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Ile- Ife Chapter, at Afenworo Park, Enuwa Square, Ile-Ife, on Saturday. Read more
LASU VC congratulates Abolarinwa, first Nigerian female urologist (Independent)
Prof. Olanrewaju Fagbohun, Vice -Chancellor, Lagos State University (LASU) has congratulated Dr Abimbola Abolarinwa of the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), who emerged the first female Urologist in Nigeria.
An official bulletin of LASU made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday noted that Abolarinwa bagged the award at the prestigious “Award for the First’’, popularly known as “Zakilo’’. Read more
FG inaugurates 5.5km road project in Ebonyi community (Guardian)
The Federal Government on Saturday inaugurated the construction of 5.5 kilometre road in Ekwetekwe, Ezza North local Government Area of Ebonyi.
Mr Uwem Use, Permanent Secretary, Ecological Fund Office of the Secretary to the Government of Federation (SGF) represented the Federal Government at the ceremony held in Ekewtekwe. Read more
Minimum Wage: FG, Labour meeting deadlocked again (ThisDay)
The meeting, yesterday in Abuja, between the Federal Government and organised labour, aimed at averting a nationwide strike next Tuesday, has ended without agreement on the key issue of when to transmit the new minimum wage bill to the National Assembly.
The meeting was, therefore, adjourned till Monday to allow for more consultations on both sides. Read more
Unicyclists emerge as winners of Lagos Grows Talents 2018 (Punch)
The 2018 edition of Lagos Grows Talent Competition finally came to an end with the Unicyclists group going home with the ultimate prize.
The Unicyclists clinched the top prize of N1m, the first runner-up, Brighttizzy who dazzled with his rap went away with the sum of N500,000 while the second runner-up, Johnkay rap group got N250,000. Read more
Manchester United beat Reading 2-0 (BBC)
Manchester United won their fifth straight game under caretaker manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as they beat Reading in the FA Cup – but there was VAR confusion in the first half.
Fred’s goal was ruled offside but United were awarded a penalty for a foul on Juan Mata in the build-up.
The Spaniard scored from the spot, before Romelu Lukaku doubled their lead just before half-time. Read more
Mikel quits Chinese team, may return to Europe (Guardian)
Super Eagles Captain, John Obi Mikel yesterday revealed that he has cancelled his contract with Chinese Super League club, Tianjin Teda, a year before the end of his current deal.
MIkel did not travel with Tianjin Teda for a pre-season training camp in Spain, as he is negotiating with the club to break his contract.
In an interview with Tianjin TV Sports New Vision programme, Mikel said: “I broke the contract with the club, which means I will leave Teda. As for my next stop, I am not sure yet, maybe I will return to Europe, maybe stay in China”. Read more
Bukayo Saka: Thrilled by premier league debut (ThisDay)
Arsenal winger Bukayo Saka of Nigerian descent became the subject of an interesting statistic when he made his Premier League debut on New Year’s Day and the 17-year-old – born September 5, became the first player born in the year 2001 to feature in the elite division
“I love them and will miss everyone at the club. I want them to know that any day and anytime, I still remain at Robo Queen and will always represent them well anywhere I find myself and will do my best to give back to the club. Read more
Naomi Osaka says she had ‘worst attitude’ in loss (BBC)
US Open champion Naomi Osaka said she had “the worst attitude” in her loss to Lesia Tsurenko in the Brisbane International semi-finals.
The Japanese second seed was visibly frustrated as she was beaten 6-2 6-4 by Ukraine’s Tsurenko in just 66 minutes.
Osaka, who won her maiden Grand Slam title in September, said the defeat had taught her “a valuable lesson”. Read more
Dark clouds over NPFL 2018/19 season kick-off date (DailyTrust)
There is uncertainty in the air over the kick off date for the 2018/2019 Nigeria Professional Football League season, as controversy still trails the date for the Nigeria National League (NNL) Super 8 playoff.
While the League Management Company (LMC) insists that the Nigeria Football Professional League (NPFL) would kick off on January 13, the Nigeria National League teams are still dragging their feet. Read more