Tinubu has become an emperor in Lagos —Bode George (Punch)
Former Deputy National Chairman (South) of the Peoples Democratic Party, Chief Bode George, speaks with TOBI AWORINDE on the 2019 Lagos governorship election. What is your take on the belief that Lagos State is in the firm grip of an individual? I have tried to resolve within my mind whether I was dreaming or in the realm of outer space. It is unbelievable. It is absolutely shambolic. When it started gradually, some of us were shouting. They said, ‘Don’t mind Bode. It is because he is in the opposition’. Now, the chickens have come home to roost. Read more
APC convention: Buhari polled 14.8m votes to emerge party candidate (Punch)
The All Progressives Congress has announced that President Muhammadu Buhari polled a total of 14, 842,072 across the 35 states and the Federal Capital Territory during the party’s direct Presidential Primary to emerge as its 2019 candidate. Governor-Elect of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi who served as returning officer announced this early Sunday morning during the National Convention of the party held at Eagle Square, Abuja. Read more
PDP govs split over support for Tambuwal, Atiku, Saraki (Nation)
State governors elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) were pulling in different directions last night on the party’s presidential choice as delegates prepared to commence voting at the Port Harcourt national convention. Intense horse-trading by the party’s 13 presidential aspirants pervaded the city ahead of voting, and for the last time, the 13 aspirants jostling for the PDP ticket rejected pressure to consider adopting a consensus candidate. Read more
Oshiomhole behind my disqualification, out to kill APC — Al-Hassan (Punch)
Former Minister of Women Affairs, Aisha Al-Hassan, tells JUSTIN TYOPUUSU that she resigned from the cabinet of President Muhammadu Buhari because she was unfairly treated by the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Mr. Adams Oshiomhole. You took the nation by surprise when you resigned as a minister and also dumped the All Progressives Congress almost simultaneously. What actually happened? I resigned my appointment and I have picked nomination form of the United Democratic Party to contest the governorship seat in Taraba State. Read more
Ezekwesili joins presidential race, unveils party today (Punch)
A former Vice President of the World Bank for Africa, Obiageli Ezekwesili, has formally declared her intention to run for the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Ezekwesili made the declaration in a statement titled, ‘Why I am running for the Office of President’ and exclusively obtained by SUNDAY PUNCH on Saturday. Read more
Akeredolu demands prosecution of model’s killers (Punch)
Ondo State Governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN) has asked the state police command to identify the killers of Ajila Seun, a model and graduate of Adeyemi College of Education in Ondo town. She was allegedly raped and stabbed to death around Sunday Bus Stop in Akure. Akeredolu gave the directive on Saturday through a press statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Segun Ajiboye. Read more
Delta communities count losses, as flood ravages farmlands (Guardian)
The unrelenting flood wreaking havoc on farmlands across the country portends food security crisis. Already, affected communities in Delta, one of the four affected states declared a national disaster by President Muhammadu Buhari, are counting their losses. The implication of this disaster, according to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, who was in the state for an on the spot assessment, is that Federal Government will be working with all of its agencies, states and local governments to ensure that lives are protected. Read more
19m living with disabilities in Nigeria —NPC (Punch)
The National Population Commission of Nigeria has estimated that no fewer than 19 million persons are living with disabilities in Nigeria, the News Agency of Nigeria reports. The Chairman of the Commission, Mr. Eze Duruiheoma (SAN), said this during the 73rd United Nations General Assembly General Discussion of Agenda 28 on Social Development at the UN headquarters in New York. Read more
States borrow N151.95bn from pension funds (Punch)
Pension fund operators have invested N151.95bn of the increasing pension funds under the Contributory Pension Scheme in State Governments’ securities as of the end of the second quarter of 2018. Figures obtained from the National Pension Commission revealed that this amounted to 1.8 per cent of the total pension funds, which stood at N8.23tn in the period under review. Read more
Bill Gates speaks on Nigeria’s childhood deaths: Still high (Vanguard)
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation recently launched its second annual Goalkeepers Data Report. The report pointed to demographic trends that could stall unprecedented progress in reducing global poverty. It said about one billion people may have lifted themselves out of poverty over the past 20 years, while there is rapid population growth in the poorest countries, particularly in Africa, a situation which “puts future progress at risk”. Read more
Disability in Africa: ‘I’m no longer ashamed of my disabled daughter’ (BBC)
When Agnes Mutemi discovered that her first-born daughter Nambia was mentally ill at the age of two, her first reaction was to be ashamed. She remained in denial for several years until she found a school which specialised in caring for children with disabilities. The 38-year-old mother of three says that most of her discomfort was triggered by the gawping, stares and ill treatment she faced on a daily basis. Read more
Turkey probe into missing Saudi writer (BBC)
Turkish prosecutors have opened an investigation into the disappearance of a missing Saudi journalist. Jamal Khashoggi, a critic of Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, has not been seen since Tuesday, when he entered the Saudi consulate in Istanbul. Turkish sources quoted by Reuters and the Washington Post say they believe he has been killed inside the consulate. Read more
Brett Kavanaugh confirmation: Victory for Trump in Supreme Court battle (BBC)
President Donald Trump’s controversial nominee for the Supreme Court, Brett Kavanaugh, has been sworn in following weeks of rancorous debate. The Senate earlier backed his nomination by 50 votes to 48. Mr Kavanaugh had been embroiled in a bitter battle to stave off claims of sexual assault, which he denies. But after an 11th-hour investigation by the FBI into the allegations, enough wavering senators decided to support the nomination. Read more
Man finds million-dollar lottery ticket in old coat (Punch)
A Montreal man cleaning out a closet at his sister’s insistence received a shock when he found, in the lining of a jacket, a lottery ticket purchased 10 months earlier. The sisterly advice proved most profitable: The man, named as Gregorio De Santis, on Friday pocketed winnings of Can$1.75 million ($1.35 million). “When he went to have the ticket validated, he thought the number on the display screen was Can$1,750,” Loto-Quebec said in a statement about De Santis’s big day. Read more
Amapakabo quits El Kanemi (Vanguard)
Super Eagles’ assistant coach Imama Amapakabo and El Kanemi have parted ways, as the Maiduguri side is not about to renew his one-year contract. Amapakabo led Rangers to their first domestic title in many years in 2016, but afterwards fell out favour the the Enugu outfit. He joined El Kanemi in a deal that made him the highest paid Nigerian league coach, but feelers from the club indicated that a new deal will not be offered to the coach. Read more
2019 AFCON qualfier: Only God can save us in Uyo, says Libyan coach (Vanguard)
Ahead of the October 12 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier between Nigerian and Libya, the Mediterranean Knights coach, Adel Amrouche said points chasing Nigeria’s Super Eagles will be hard to beat, when they clash in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State. The Libyans are currently top the group E qualifier and against a resurgnt Super Eagles won their last game against Seychelles, he stated that his team’s chances of getting all three points to cement their qualification are slim. Read more
Sanchez saves Mourinho’s job in dramatic comeback (Guardian)
An under-pressure Jose Mourinho saw his Manchester United side fight back from two goals down to earn a dramatic 3-2 win against Newcastle at Old Trafford yesterday. Substitute Alexis Sanchez grabbed the winner with a dramatic 90th-minute header, giving the hosts what had seemed like an unlikely victory and sending Old Trafford wild. The pre-match talk was dominated by Mourinho’s future, with the club insisting they will remain patient with their manager, dismissing reports he would be sacked after the game. Read more
Dier strikes as Spurs beat 10-man Cardiff (BBC)
Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino said his side “need to improve a lot” despite edging to victory over Cardiff to equal their best start to a Premier League season. Eric Dier scored the only goal of the game in the eighth minute, tapping in a loose ball from inside the six-yard box from a corner. Cardiff, who had to play most of the second half with 10 men after Joe Ralls was sent off in the 58th minute, remain without a win this season and fall to bottom of the table. Read more
Ronaldo scores as Juve keep 100% record with win over Udinese (BBC)
Cristiano Ronaldo scored a brilliant goal as Juventus maintained their 100% winning start by beating Udinese. It comes during a week in which the Portugal forward “firmly” denied rape allegations. Rodrigo Bentancur had headed in the opener for Serie A champions Juve, while Antonin Barak struck the foot of the post for the home side. Udinese goalkeeper Simone Scuffet made a series of saves, the best of which was to keep out Joao Cancelo’s effort. Read more
Omotola, Davido, others honored by United Nations (Vanguard)
Topnotch Nigerian entertainers, Omotola Jalade-Ekehinde, Davido and others have been named among the most influential 100 people of African descent by the United Nations. The Most Influential People of African Descent (MIPAD) award distinguishes excellence in people of African descent from over 50 countries worldwide in support of the United Nations International Decade for People of African Descent (IDPAD). Read more
