Tinubu, Ambode alleged feud puts godfatherism in the spotlight (Punch)
The alleged rift between Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State and his political godfather and National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, over the latter’s refusal to support the governor’s second term bid, has brought the issue of political godfatherism to the fore, JESUSEGUN ALAGBE writes A scene played out on Monday at the launch of a book written by the Chairman of Zenith Bank Plc, Mr. Jim Ovia. Read more
Osun 2018: Politicians devise new tactics of vote-buying, woo PVC holders on WhatsApp (Punch)
As 48 governorship candidates from 48 political parties jostle for 1,246,915 votes in the Osun State governorship election holding on Saturday (today), some of the contestants and their political associates have devised new means and tactics to induce voters ahead of the poll. Investigation by Saturday PUNCH revealed that the representatives of at least one of the contestants were using the WhatsApp social media platform to woo Permanent Voter Card holders, who are residents of Osun State, to sell their votes. Read more
INEC raises fresh concerns over delayed 2019 poll budget (Nation)
A planned campaign by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) against vote buying in next year’s elections may be hampered by the continued delay in approving the commission’s budget for the polls by the National Assembly. The commission wants N143 billion for the conduct of the elections with voter education listed as a critical component of the preparation for the polls. Read more
They took back my crown when I refused to succumb – Pageant winner (Vanguard)
After emerging winner of a beauty pageant in Abuja (name withheld), Okolie Isioma Gift‘s crown was withdrawn because she turned down the demands of the organizers. Determined to alter the stereotypes and chauvinistic treatment meted to women in Nigeria, Isioma’s El-Beulah Development Foundation, which aims alleviates the lives of vulnerable young girls in the society sheds light on the need for resilience. Isioma In this interview, she also spoke on the necessity to save the girl-child from the dysfunctional and suffocating social norm of the streets, education, discipline, emulating Oprah Winfrey’s leadership academy for girls and other issues. Read more
After Adeosun, When Goes Obono-Obla? (Vanguard)
For several months, the presidency refused to speak up on the erstwhile Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun’s National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) exemption certificate forgery scandal. And when the Chairman, Presidential Anti-Corruption Advisory Committee, Prof. Itse Sagay, did speak, the constitutional lawyer blurted rather gleefully: “I do not see anything serious about it…. If I were President Buhari, I would never, ever touch that woman because she’s damn good”. Like the case of the former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal, who was caught in grass-cutting scandal, it took relentless screaming by Nigerians to ease Adeosun out. And like the cases of Babachir, Abdulrasheed Maina, Ikoyigate scandal, and a host of others, this is another proof that it is a tall order to expect President Muhammadu Buhari to bring his erring aides and friends to book. Read more
PDP Presidential Ticket: Between Saraki and Mark (Vanguard)
It is barely two weeks to the national convention of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, tentatively slated for Port-Harcourt, where the party’s Presidential candidate is expected to emerge. In the two weeks before the close of sale of forms, two leading politicians from the North Central zone, Senate President, Bukola Saraki and his immediate predecessor, David Mark shocked not a few Nigerians by declaring interest to run for the highest office in the land. Read more
2019: Don’t vote ethnic jingoist, religious bigot as president, Tambuwal tells Nigerians (Guardian)
A Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential aspirant and Governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Tambuwal, has cautioned Nigerians against voting an ethnic jigoist and religious bigot as President. Tambuwal, who spoke in Ado Ekiti on Friday while meeting with PDP delegates in advancement of his aspiration, also said that he would support restructuring of the country if elected the president of the country in 2019. Read more
Niger Delta group distances self from anti-Dokubo protest (Guardian)
A group of Niger Delta ex-agitators has distance itself from a protest against the Coordinator, Presidential Amnesty Programme, Prof. Charles Dokubo. Socio-economic activities were disrupted early in the week in Bayelsa State when some ex-agitators protested against Dokubo’s appointment. But a faction, comprising Salt Water and Sombreiro Voice groups, described the protesters as enemies of the region. Read more
Buhari, Saraki and caustic electioneering (Nation)
President Muhammadu Buhari, the presumptive All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate for the 2019 election is lucky to have to eventually face only one of the more than half a dozen presidential aspirants of the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). More than three years in the presidential saddle and three times as presidential candidate during very bitter and unrelenting campaigns have quite curiously not toughened him enough to make him develop thick skin to criticisms, especially from boisterous and flippant presidential aspirants. His aides’ reply to Senate President Bukola Saraki’s damning speech a few days ago gave no indication at all that the Buhari presidency had developed the temper and sophistication needed to checkmate unfavourable or even hostile views of his government and person. Read more
The fall, fall of our big prophets (Vanguard)
Our prophets are coming again. This is their season. The big one who is also called a Primate has given it to Saraki. He has a huge prophetic reputation but statistics show he is not better than a mere pundit. He gets it right not more than half of the time. He is sure Saraki would win in 2019, but would rule for four years only. We must give him credit for courage. Because in Nigeria, prophecies, when they are prophecies, are naturally vague. Often times we hear inanities like—many people will get married. Every December, we will get many lists from the big prophets. They will contain the coming of natural disasters like floods and wild fires. No one in their congregation has summoned the irreverence to tell them that these natural disasters have become part of the global calendar. After such a prediction, when the hurricane season comes, they will dust up their books of prophecies and wave them at us. And their fawning followers will sing alleluia to them and they will smile the smile of true prophets. So I doff my hat for the primate who reigns in Okeafa, Lagos. He has prophesied Saraki and prophesied his relatively short tenure. I don’t know if anyone mentioned to him the breadth of Saraki’s ambitions. Because even humble President Jonathan, who was born into shoelessness and who never aspired beyond being a commissioner in Bayelsa found the lure of a second term too irresistible. And not even ill health has dissuaded a seemingly self contented Buhari. I worry for the Primate. Read more
May faces new Brexit resistance in Northern Ireland (Guardian)
British Prime Minister Theresa May’s renewed pledge to deliver Brexit without dividing the UK was met with contradictory ultimatums Friday from Northern Ireland’s unionist and nationalist parties.May returned from a bruising EU summit in Salzburg to deliver an impassioned televised address in which she blamed Brussels for the impasse and demanded “respect” for the UK. Read more
Aguero signs new £220,000-a-week contract with Manchester City (Guardian)
Manchester City’s all-time leading goalscorer, Sergio Aguero, has committed his future through to a testimonial year. Aguero surpassed Eric Brook’s 78-year record last November and has signed a one-year contract extension worth in the region of £220,000 per week. The Argentina international’s former club Atletico Madrid were interested in re-signing him over the summer but Aguero has decided to prolong his stay at the Etihad Stadium until 2021. Read more
Lyon appeal after UEFA upholds Champions League stadium ban (Guardian)
Lyon reacted to a UEFA ruling on Friday that they must play their next Champions League match behind closed doors by saying they would appeal again, this time to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. The punishment was originally handed down in August following scenes of mob violence ahead of a Europa League home game against CSKA Moscow in March. Read more