Tea, bread, bean-cake sellers in Yola give delicacies for free to celebrate Buhari’s victory (Guardian)
Tea and bread sellers on Wednesday in Yola treated ‘almajiri ‘pupils to a free breakfast as part of activities to celebrate the re-election of President Muhammadu Buhari of the APC. A News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) correspondent who went round the town, reports seeing the pupils queuing up in different tea and bread selling spots, most of them beaming with smiles while waiting for their turn to collect their share. One of the sellers, Umaru Ali, told NAN that their joy knew no bound, adding that their gesture was aimed at ensuring the participation of the less privileged in the celebration. Read more
We won’t recognise Buhari as president beyond May 29 – Opposition parties (Punch)
Opposition political parties under the aegis of the Coalition of United Political Parties have vowed not to recognise Muhammadu Buhari as Nigeria’s President beyond May 29, 2019. They said they would ensure, within civil means, that Buhari did not enjoy what they called a stolen mandate based on his declaration as the winner of last Saturday’s presidential election. The coalition’s national spokesman, Imo Ugochinyere, made the political parties’ position known in a statement made available to journalists in Abuja on Wednesday. Read more
Accept defeat in good faith, Agbakoba tells Atiku (Nation)
Popular lawyer Olisa Agbakoba has urged presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in last Saturday’s election, Atiku Abubakar to accept his defeat in good faith. He told him not to contest the results in the court but cement his place as a statesman by working to galvanise the PDP and third forces for the political struggles ahead. In a paper titled ‘2019 Presidential Election: Ethnic Consideration vs Governance Consideration’ on Wednesday, the Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) said: “I understand the PDP is aggrieved at the outcome of the election and alleged massive irregularities. Read more
Fayose commends courage of Nigerians, as Buhari wins election (Punch)
Former governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, has said that Nigerians were the ones who deserved to be praised for the courage they exhibited during the February 23rd presidential and National Assembly elections. Fayose said this in a statement on Wednesday, issued by his media aide, Lere Olayinka. He said, “Rather than a word of congratulation to President Buhari, who will be leading our country against our wish as a nation, Nigerians are the ones who deserve to be praised for their courage.” Read more
International observers decry alleged ballot snatching in Akwa Ibom (Guardian)
The International Election Observers, Pan African Women (PAN) Projects that monitored the 2019 Presidential and National Assembly elections in Akwa Ibom on Saturday, decried have alleged snatching of ballot boxes in polling units across the state. Ms Mphoentie Keitseng, the Publicity Secretary of PAN Projects, made the remarks during an interactive session with newsmen in Uyo on Wednesday. “There were lots of ballot box snatching in lots of polling units and thump printing was on going at the opposition party office in the state. Read more
We won’t repeat past mistakes, says Senate spokesman (Punch)
The Chairman, Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Senator Sabi Abdullahi, says the Senate has learnt from its mistakes and the incoming ninth Senate will not repeat the errors of the past. Abdullahi, who represents Niger-North District, said this during an interview on NTA on Wednesday shortly after President Muhammadu Buhari received his Certificate of Return from the Independent National Electoral Commission. The lawmaker admitted that the current Senate had some issues with the ruling All Progressives Congress and the executive arm of government. Read more
Excavator operator ‘absconds’ with N126.8m Swamp Buggy (Nation)
An excavator operator, Samuel Okon, who allegedly absconded with a Swamp Buggy Machine valued at N126, 800,000 was on Wednesday brought before an Igbosere Magistrates’ Court in Lagos. Okon, 36, was arraigned by the Force Intelligence Bureau (FIB) Force Headquarters, Obalende, Lagos before Mr Y. O. Aro-Lambo on a three-count charge of conspiracy, stealing and obstruction of policemen on lawful duty. Prosecuting Sergeant Friday Mameh said Okon committed the offences on December 31, 2016 at May Fair Garden, Ibeju Lekki Local Government Area of Lagos State. Read more
African presidents congratulate Buhari (Guardian)
Nigeria President Muhammadu Buhari has been congratulated on his re-election for the second term by three African presidents, President Nana Koffi-Addo of Ghana, Mahamadou Issoufou of Niger, and Macky Sall of Senegal, who himself just won re-election for a second term. Special Adviser to the President on Media & Publicity, Femi Adesina made this known in a statement. In the statement, Adesina disclosed that the presidents from the West African sub-region congratulated the president, wishing him greater exploits after he was declared a winner. Read more
China congratulates Buhari on re-election (Guardian)
China on Wednesday congratulated Muhammadu Buhari on his re-election as President of Nigeria. Nigeria is China’s strategic partner of cooperation in Africa Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lu Kang said at a daily news conference in Beijing. “China always attaches high importance to bilateral ties and stands ready to work with the new Nigerian government to strengthen exchanges and cooperation in various fields and bring more benefits to the two peoples,” Lu said. Read more
25 dead in explosion at Cairo’s main station (CNN)
At least 25 people were killed and 40 others injured Wednesday morning in a fire at Egypt’s busiest railway station, the country’s health ministry said, according to state media. The Ramses station in central Cairo was set ablaze after a train collided with the platform and its fuel tank exploded, state-run news site Al-Ahram reported, citing security sources. The deadly incident prompted Egypt’s Transportation Minister Hisham Arafat to resign, according to Al-Ahram. Read more
Donald Trump ‘trashed his own son Don Jr for having terrible judgement’ (Metro)
Donald Trump condemned his own son Don Jr for having ‘the worst judgement of anyone in the world,’ his former personal lawyer claimed. Trump’s disgraced ex-fixer Michael Cohen said Trump ‘frequently told me and others’ about the poor choices his eldest son, 41, made. He made the claim about the president’s attack on his son as a means of alleging that Trump Sr knew all about an alleged June 2016 meeting between Don Jr and a Russian government official at Trump Tower in New York. Read more
Decathlon abandons sports hijab launch (CNN)
Sporting goods retailer Decathlon has abandoned plans to sell a sports hijab in France, following a backlash from politicians and the public. Decathlon said Tuesday that it was halting plans to sell the product in the face of “violent debate” and “threats” made against some of the company’s employees in its French stores, which a spokesperson noted were “sometimes physical. The company instead called for “calm and respect.” The garment, which covers women’s hair but not their faces, is already on sale in Decathlon’s Moroccan branches, and was due to be rolled out to stores worldwide. The company said it was halting the rollout in France “in the interests of guaranteeing the security of our teammates.” Read more
Netanyahu to talk Iran with Putin in Moscow (Guardian)
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday was set to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss how to prevent Iran from “entrenching in Syria”. “From our point-of-view, the focus of the talks will be preventing Iran from entrenching in Syria, the entrenchment of a country which explicitly says that its goal is to wipe us out,” Netanyahu said before his trip, according to his press-service. Iran, Hezbollah and Russia are allies of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Netanyahu has stressed that he will not let Israel’s arch-foe Iran use Syrian territory as a base for its military. Read more
Donald Trump ‘threatened to sue his old schools if they ever released his grades’ (Metro)
Donald Trump threatened to sue his old schools and colleges if they ever released his grades, his disgraced ex-fixer has claimed. Michael Cohen made the allegation after declaring Trump a ‘conman,’ and said: ‘I’m talking about a man who declares himself brilliant but directed me to threaten his high school, his colleges, and the College Board to never release his grades or SAT scores.’ His statement, released in advance of his testimony before the US Congress today, also includes letters ‘sent at Trump’s direction’ which threatened the educational establishments ‘with civil and criminal actions if (his) grades or SAT scores were ever disclosed without his permission.’ Read more
You could be paid £10.75 an hour to taste Cadbury and Oreo products (Metro)
If you love chocolate, this could be your dream job. Mondelēz International, the company that owns Cadbury, Oreo, Green & Blacks and Milka, is looking for chocolate tasters. Four successful applicants will be paid £10.75 to eat chocolate all day at their base in Wokingham, Berkshire. The job advertisement, posted on their website, says candidates must have a few essential skills. Read more
Backlash as man tweets ‘12-step guide to being a beautiful woman’ (Punch)
A man who describes himself as a personal trainer, dancer, writer and motivational speaker has attracted controversies on Twitter as men and women react to his 12-step guide on how to be a beautiful woman. 29-year-old Alexander J.A. Cortes had tweeted a list titled, How to be a Beautiful Woman. The admonitions are as follow: Read more
FIFA to hand Russia N21.7billion for World Cup legacy fund (Nation)
FIFA will allocate $60 million (about N21.7billion) to a Russia 2018 World Cup legacy fund to help develop the sport in the country, following last summer’s tournament which was widely praised as among the best ever editions of the event. Meeting for the last time on Wednesday, Russia’s Local Organizing Committee (LOC) summarized the financial aspects of the tournament, which was held between June 14 and July 15 across 12 stadiums in 11 host cities. “FIFA will allocate at least $60 million for the legacy program. The amount will be used to support and develop children’s, women’s football and infrastructure,” said LOC chairman Arkady Dvorkovich, TASS reported. Read more
Nantes take Sala transfer dispute to FIFA (Guardian)
French club Nantes have referred their dispute with Cardiff City over the transfer fee of Emiliano Sala to FIFA, football’s governing body confirmed on Wednesday. The clubs are wrangling over payment of the fee following the tragic death of Argentinian Sala in an airplane accident in January. Nantes referred the matter to the sport’s global body after the Welsh side declined to pay an initial six million euros ($6.8 million) of the 17 million euros ($19.4 million) total fee. Read more
Wayne Rooney sends message to Miguel Almiron after Newcastle transfer (Metro)
Wayne Rooney believes Miguel Almiron’s start at Newcastle United has alerted European football to the quality in Major League Soccer. Almiron, 25, became Newcastle’s record signing when he completed a £20million move from Atlanta United in January. The deal was a record outgoing fee for a MLS player and the Paraguayan has looked a bargain in his three performances for the Magpies so far. Rooney made the move stateside in 2018 and says Almiron’s move is a ringing endorsement of league. Read more