Stop MC Oluomo from kingship, monarch’s family begs gov (Punch)
The Olushi Onigbesa royal family has appealed to the Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, to stop the Chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, Mr Musiliu Akinsanya (popularly known as MC Oluomo) from becoming the Oba of Oshodi.
The Head of the Olushi Onigbesa royal family, Kabiru Eyantan, said this on Wednesday during a press briefing.
He said, “The attention of the Olushi Onigbesa royal family of Oshodi Awori Kingdom has been drawn to the picture of Alhaji Musiliu Ayinde Akinsanya aka MC Oluomo, Chairman, NURTW in Lagos State circulated on numerous social media platform where he was dressed in traditional kingly attire intended for an Oba in Yorubaland.
“Our attention has also been drawn to the trending videos and news in social and conventional media with reference to the message delivered by a first class Oba in Ikorodu Division at the coronation anniversary of Oniba of Iba Kingdom in Iba Town, Ikeja Division on the issue of intended aspiration of Akinsanya to become Oba of Oshodi. Read more
Lagos Assembly honours outgoing CP Odumosu (Guardian)
The Lagos State House of Assembly has honoured the outgoing Commissioner of Police, Mr Hakeem Odumosu, who is due for retirement in January 2022.
The Speaker of the House, Mudashiru Obasa, made this known when the Commissioner of Police led a team of officers to the Assembly during plenary in Lagos on Wednesday.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the outgoing commissioner of police was promoted to the rank of Assistant Inspector-General of Police.
Obasa said Odumosu was honoured as the first commissioner of police to stand before the lawmakers and address the people of Lagos on his experience and issues with policing Lagos.
The speaker added that this was because he was considered to have effectively managed the security of the state. Read more
Lagos Assembly passes N1.7t budget for 2022 (Punch)
The Lagos State House of Assembly on Wednesday evening passed the year 2022 budget estimate with a slight increase of the grand total from the initial N1.38 trillion to N1.758 trillion.
The budget was passed at a sitting presided over by the Speaker of the House, Mudashiru Obasa, after a presentation of the report by Chairman of the Committee on Economic Planning and Budget, Gbolahan Yishawu.
Yishawu, after the plenary, explained that the total budget size passed has addition of left overs from the previous allocations in the 2021 budget.
He said the leftover was rolled into ‘contingency fund’ in the year 2022 budget.
He also put the Capital and Recurrent Expenditure ratio at 66:34. Read more
Rep urges FG to develop practical solution to end insecurity (Guardian)
Rep Dachung Bagos (PDP-Plateau) has advised the Federal Government to develop a practical and lasting solution to ending the lingering insecurity challenges facing the country.
Bagos, representing Jos South and Jos East Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), on Wednesday in Jos.
The lawmaker, who decried the rate of kidnapping, banditry, armed robbery, activities of insurgents, cultist activities, among others, called on the security agencies to device new strategies towards ending the menace.
“It is no longer news that the rate of insecurity in our nation is alarming; kidnapping, banditry, armed robbery, and all of that, are on the rise. Read more
President Buhari seeks more accountability from solid minerals fund (VON)
President Muhammadu Buhari has directed the Presidential Artisanal Gold Mining Development Initiative (PAGMI) to provide a six-month progress report on the Solid Minerals Development Fund, designed to capture accruals from investments.
The aim is to further ensure probity and best practice in the mining sector.
He gave the directive on Wednesday at a briefing by the Steering Committee and Management Team of PAGMI at the State House, Abuja.
The President charged the team to scale up operations in the mining sector by ensuring that investments go beyond artisanal and small-scale levels. Read more
Lassa fever case toll hits 92 (DailyTrust)
The death toll for Lassa fever in Nigeria from January 2021 has risen to 92 with Bauchi and Ebonyi States recording new deaths.
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) disclosed this on Tuesday in its latest situation report on the outbreak of the disease in the country.
According to the NCDC, week 50, which covered December 13 to 19, revealed that three more deaths were reported in the week under review.
While Bauchi reported two new fatalities; Ebonyi recorded one new death from the disease.
“Cumulatively from Week 1 to Week 50, 2021, 92 deaths have been reported with a Case Fatality Rate (CFR) of 20.3 per cent, which is lower than the CFR for the same period in 2020 (20.7 per cent),” it stated. Read more
Ramsey Nouah, Omoni Oboli, Etinosa win big at HAPAwards (Nation)
The 2021 edition of HAPAwards might have come and gone, Nollywood practitioners shone like bright stars by winning several awards.
Ramsey Nouah led the pack by winning the Best director and Best feature film categories for ‘Rattle Snake.’
In the same vein, Etinosa Idemudia won the Best Actress in a TV series category for her role in ‘Blood of Enogie,’ while Omoni Oboli won Best Actress in an independent film category for her role in ‘Charlie Charlie.’ Nse Ikpe-Etim also won a category for her role in ‘Quam’s money.’
Monica Omorodion Swaida, one of the executives of HAPAWARDS in Hollywood, was also very excited with the success of the international business round table in which she was a host.’ Read more
Ogun communities lament neglect of access road (Guardian)
Residents and property owners at Pakuro, Ijere-Worugundu, Ijere- Onigbedu, Tolotolo, Kara-Nla, Kara- Kekere, Magbon and other surrounding communities in Obafemi-Owode Local Council of Ogun State have lamented years of neglect and abandonment, which had left the only access road to these communities in deplorable condition.
The road, which connects Magbon River, a renowned sand excavation site passing through 10 communities to Lotto and Deeper Life camp along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, has over the years become a nightmare for residents.
Motorists, who include tipper drivers, are worried about long years of neglect for such an important road by the state, which benefits tremendously from activities on Magbon river and environs.
Apart from communal efforts, which are often not well supervised, there is no single presence of governance on the road, despite the large volume of vehicular movements, especially from tippers and heavy-duty vehicles, which ply the road to the excavation site at Magbon. Read more
We will lift ban on telecom services before January 2022 – Masari (DailyTrust)
The Katsina State Government says it will lift the ban on telecommunication services in the remaining seven affected local government areas (LGAs) before January 2021.
The governor, Aminu Bello Masari, who disclosed this during a media parley with journalists on Tuesday in Katsina, urged residents to do their best to protect their areas from bandit attacks.
The state government had cut off telecommunication services in the state to starve criminals of means of communication while the security agencies were carrying out operations in the state.
However, the state government recently lifted the ban on telecommunication services in 10 out of the 17 LGAs in the state which hitherto suffered from banditry. Read more
Ghislaine Maxwell found guilty of helping Jeffrey Epstein sexually abuse young girls (Metro)
Ghislaine Maxwell, the longtime associate of sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, was convicted on five of six counts around charges of sexual abuse and trafficking of underage girls.
Maxwell, who turned 60 behind bars on Christmas, faced a six-count indictment for allegedly conspiring with and aiding Epstein in his sexual abuse of underage girls between 1994 and 2004. She has been held without bail since her arrest in July 2020 and had pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The verdict announced Wednesday closed a monthlong trial featuring about 30 witnesses and powerful accounts of the sexual exploitation of girls as young as 14 years old.
After hearing the verdict, Maxwell poured a cup of water form a Fiji bottle and took a sip, then spoke with her lawyer, according to the New York Post. She displayed no emotion as authorities escorted her out of the federal courtroom in Manhattan with her siblings in the front row watching. Read more
Critics bemoan Rowling’s absence in Harry Potter reunion (BBC)
A TV special reuniting members of the Harry Potter cast has received mixed reviews from critics, with many noting the absence of author JK Rowling.
There has been speculation that the writer was shut out of the programme after her previous comments about trans people divided public opinion.
Rowling does not appear with the cast members in the special, and is only seen in archive video clips.
Harry Potter 20th Anniversary – Return To Hogwarts is released on 1 January. Read more
Olivia Colman gets honest about motherhood with Lost Daughter (USAToday)
There are movies that make you feel seen. For Olivia Colman, that’s The Lost Daughter.
In the feverish Netflix drama (now in theaters, streaming Friday), the Oscar winner plays a divorced, middle-aged literature professor named Leda on a solo vacation in Greece. Lounging on the beach one day, she encounters an arresting but anxious young mother (Dakota Johnson), and soon starts reflecting on her own supposed shortcomings as a mom: how she snapped at her children during playtime or felt quiet relief when she traveled out of town for work.
“It’s interesting to find out that you’re not alone,” says Colman, 47, who has three kids with writer Ed Sinclair, her husband of 20 years. “My family, I would die for them. But when they were smaller and I was exhausted, I had those moments of, ‘Just leave me alone for a minute’ or ‘Put the telly on’ – which I disagreed with, but (to hell with) it sometimes. And you felt bad, because you were that mummy who was trying to sleep on the floor.”
“You’re like the 10th person to say to me, ‘I used to fall asleep when I was playing with my little kids,'” says Maggie Gyllenhaal, the film’s writer and director, sitting with Colman at a Midtown hotel in October. “I was like, ‘Me, too! They’re OK, they’re right next to you.’ Sometimes you’re just like, ‘I need to close my eyes for a minute.’’ Read more
Trevor Noah posts first photo with Minka Kelly during South Africa trip (PageSix)
Trevor Noah and Minka Kelly’s relationship has taken a serious turn — he brought her home for Christmas.
“The Daily Show” host also used the couple’s trip to South Africa to post his first Instagram photo with the “Just Go With It” actress while attending a birthday trip for his pal Xolisa Dyeshana, who works in Johannesburg.
“Happy Birthday @xolisadyeshana . May your laugh always be loud, maybe your stories always be long, and may your friends always be good-looking,” he captioned the group photo that included Kelly.
“Do you see what I’m seeing,” commented a fan.
“Awww, Minka” commented another.
Noah, 37, and Kelly, 41, began dating in 2020 but broke up in May after nine months of dating. The two appeared to reconcile quickly, as they were subsequently spotted on vacation in St. Barts and then walking together through New York City in June. Read more
French-Swiss photographer Sabine Weiss dies at 97 (France24)
Swiss-French photographer Sabine Weiss, who chronicled social change in her pictures for nearly eight decades, has died aged 97 in her Paris home, her family said Wednesday.
Weiss was the last of the French humanist photography school that included Robert Doisneau, Willy Ronis and Brassai.
A pioneer of what later became known as street photography, Weiss captured the condition of ordinary people, often outdoors, in a body of work that has been shown in major retrospectives around the world.
She was also in high demand as a portrait photographer of artists, including composers Benjamin Britten and Igor Stravinsky, renowned cellist Pablo Casals and French painter Fernand Leger. Read more
Mutant goat born with the face ‘of a human baby’ (Metro)
An incredulous farmer has witnessed one of his goats give birth to a kid with the ‘face of a human’.
Shankar Das, 46, owns a farm in Gangapur village in the northeastern Indian state of Assam.
After one of his goats gave birth to the ‘human baby-like offspring’, word spread around the village and photos started to be shared online.
Locals said it had the face of a human baby.
Shakar said: ‘The neighbours rushed to our house.
‘Everyone was left shocked by its appearance resembling a human baby.’ Read more
Joburg mayor Mpho Phalatse hopes Tutu’s ‘rainbow nation’ dream will come true in 2024 (TimesLive)
Johannesburg mayor Mpho Phalatse says the failure of political parties to secure an outright majority in the local government elections was a “gift” she hoped the late Archbishop Desmond Tutu had prayed for.
The city of gold was forced into a multiparty government two months ago, a move Phalatse believes brought closer the ideal of the “rainbow nation” envisaged by Tutu.
Phalatse made the remarks while leading a candlelight ceremony outside Tutu’s home in Orlando West, Soweto, on Wednesday. Tutu died on Sunday, aged 90.
We have been forced to stretch outside our comfort zones. We have been forced to speak to those we would have otherwise not spoken to and to seek consensus and to work together. Read more
NFF appoints Portuguese manager, Jose Peseiro, Super Eagles coach (DailyTrust)
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) have appointed 61-year-old Portuguese manager, Jose Peseiro as the new coach for the Super Eagles.
This was contained in a communique issued at the end of the NFF executive meeting held yesterday.
“After careful consideration of a memo presented by Chairman of the Technical and Development Sub-Committee, the Executive Committee endorsed a proposal for the appointment of Mr Jose Peseiro as the new Head Coach of the Super Eagles, following the end to the relationship with Mr Gernot Rohr.
“However, the Committee resolved that Mr Augustine Eguavoen, named the interim Head Coach, will lead the Super Eagles to the AFCON 2021 in Cameroon with Mr Peseiro only playing the role of Observer.
“It was unanimously agreed that the AFCON is a good avenue for Mr Peseiro to launch a working relationship with Mr Eguavoen, who will revert to his role as Technical Director (hence Mr Peseiro’s immediate boss) after the AFCON,” the communique said. Read more
Oduwole wins 2021 Janet Adowie Memorial Scrabble Championship (Guardian)
Reigning king of Scrabble Champion, Tunde Oduwole, yesterday, won the second edition of the late Janet Adowei Memorial Invitational Scrabble Championship held at the Blu Atlantic Hotel, Lekki, Lagos.
The championship, which featured top players from across the country, was filled with fanfare and high level of competition in the board game.
After 12 rounds of matches, Oduwole beat 30 other participants with 11 points and +1065 spread. Hakeem Olaribigbe scored 9+539 to place second, while Nsikak Etim scored 8+649 to take the third position.
Attractive cash prizes were awarded to the top 10 players, while others got consolation prizes. Bukunmi Afolayan was crowned the best women player of the tourney.
Speaking after the competition, Oduwole commended the organisers for giving more scrabble players the platform to sharpen their skills. Read more
NFF boss Pinnick reveals real reason Leicester winger wasn’t named in Nigeria (AllNigeriaSoccer)
Nigeria Football Federation President Amaju Pinnick has dismissed speculation in a section of the local media which had erroneously claimed that Leicester City winger Ademola Lookman was now eligible to represent the Super Eagles after completing the necessary paperwork.
Erstwhile Nigeria manager Gernot Rohr revealed last month that Lookman and another U20 World Cup winner with England in the shape of Reading’s Ovie Ejaria
had been named in Nigeria’s 40-man provisional squad list for the Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon.
Lookman has caught the eye in his last five matches in the Premier League, finding the back of the net against Watford, Manchester City and most recently against Liverpool.
Based on his form for the Foxes, many Super Eagles fans expected the RB Leipzig-owned player to be named on the finalized roster for the AFCON but Pinnick has clarified that he wasn’t considered by interim coach Augustine Eguavoen because a change of association request from England to Nigeria has not yet been approved by FIFA. Read more
Late Brighton equaliser dents Chelsea title hopes (BBC)
Substitute Danny Welbeck scored a dramatic stoppage-time equaliser for Brighton to deny Chelsea victory and deal a blow to their hopes of keeping pace with Manchester City at the top of the Premier League.
Chelsea looked set to move three points clear of fellow title contenders Liverpool when Romelu Lukaku marked his first top-flight start for two months by giving his side a lead, which they held until the 91st minute.
Brighton carved out 18 chances in total at Stamford Bridge but looked set for disappointment before Welbeck met Marc Cucurella’s chipped cross.
On a bad night for Chelsea, they also lost defenders Reece James and Andreas Christensen to injury.
They head into 2022 second in the table – one point above third-placed Liverpool, who they face on Sunday at Stamford Bridge (16:30 GMT).
But they trail Manchester City by eight points after Pep Guardiola’s side won 1-0 at Brentford. Read more
Pep Guardiola heaps praise on Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal after Manchester City win again (Metro)
Pep Guardiola attempted to play down Manchester City’s dominance in the Premier League after his side beat Brentford to pull further clear and described their next opponents Arsenal as ‘one of the top teams right now’.
The defending champions rounded off a brilliant 2021 with a 1-0 victory in west London on Wednesday night to move eight points clear at the top of the table.
European champions Chelsea were held to a 1-1 draw by Brighton earlier in the evening and as Liverpool lost 1-0 to Leicester the day before, City now find themselves in a dominant position in the title race.
Phil Foden’s first-half goal settled the encounter with his fifth league goal of the season but Guardiola insisted Liverpool and Chelsea could still catch Manchester City after the hard-fought win. Read more
Ex-England boss Fabio Capello tips Robert Lewandowski to join Ronaldo at Man Utd (DailyStar)
Fabio Capello has called Robert Lewandowski the best striker playing today and tipped the Poland international with a move to Manchester United.
The former England boss admitted that in the future, the likes of Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe will certainly catch up to the Bayern Munich striker but right now he remains the greatest in his position, while he would be perfectly suited to the Red Devils.
Capello, 75, was asked by Sky Sports [via ilposticipo.it] during the Globe Soccer Awards who he felt should pick up the main award.
He responded: “I hope Lewandowski wins. I’m a Messi fan but I would not have voted him. I think the Pole deserves the award. I think he is still the best striker even if Neymar, Haaland, and Mbappe will be his competitors in the future.” Read more
Yves Ulysse (Elbow) forced to withdraw from January 22 show in Montreal (BoxingScene)
An untimely injury has forced Yves Ulysse Jr. to delay his 2022 ring campaign.
The Montreal-bred junior welterweight suffered an elbow injury during training camp and has been pulled from a planned clash with veteran Antonio Moran, Eye of The Tiger Management representatives announced Wednesday. The fight was due to take place January 22 at Cabaret du Casino de Montréal, though it was deemed a risk for Ulysse to push through the rest of training camp with the injury.
“Following the recommendations of his medical team, we made the decision to cancel Ulysse’s fight by precautionary measure. He will also undergo surgery,” Marc Ramsay, Ulysse’s trainer and Director of Development for EOTTM confirmed Wednesday.
The rest of the show will move forward as planned. Headlining the card, rising heavyweight Arslanbek Makhmudov (13-0, 13KOs) faces Poland’s Mariusz Wach (36-7, 19KOs) in a scheduled 10-round regional title fight. Read more