Why I dumped Ambode – Tinubu (Guardian)
A former governor of Lagos State and national leader of Nigeria’s ruling All Progressives Congress Bola Tinubu Sunday said he refused to back the current governor of the state, Akinwunmi Ambode, for a second term because he deviated from the master plan created for the development of the state. Tinubu also accused Ambode, whom he supported in 2015, of alienating those who ” contributed so much to our development”. Read more
Ambode lied about me, says Sanwo-Olu (Guardian)
An All Progressives Congress governorship aspirant in Lagos Babajide Sanwo-Olu has accused the state governor Akinwunmi Ambode of making false claims about him. Ambode told a world press conference on Sunday afternoon that Sanwo-Olu was unfit for the office governor having been arrested and detained in the United States for passing fake dollars as original. Read more
PDP accuses Buhari, APC of posting fake presidential primary results (Punch)
The Peoples Democratic Party has accused President Muhammadu Buhari and the All Progressives Congress of posting what it called fictitious figures as votes secured by the President at the APC Presidential primary. It said the plan behind the huge figure was to hoodwink Nigerians and create an impression of massive support for President Buhari ahead of the 2019 presidential election. Read more
Plateau: Five feared dead as violence mars PDP, APC primaries (Punch)
The endorsement of Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau State at the All Progressives Congress primary and the Peoples Democratic Party’s primary were almost disrupted on Sunday as tension pervaded the streets of Jos following gunshots. No fewer than five persons, including wedding guests in transit, were said to have been killed by some youths barely 24 hours after the state government reviewed its curfew from 10 pm to 6 am. Read more
Kwara PDP gov primary disrupted (Punch)
The governorship primary of the Peoples Democratic Party in Kwara State on Sunday was disrupted. Accreditation of delegates had commenced about 8.30am at Kwara Hotel amid a tight security. There was also a high presence of security operatives on major roads leading to the hotel. Vehicles were diverted while only a few were allowed close to the venue of the accreditations. Read more
FG must intensify fight against Boko Haram, herdsmen –Ortom (Punch)
The Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, on Sunday, enjoined Nigerians to sustain their faith in the corporate existence, unity and indivisibility of Nigeria even as the country faces so many challenges. In an Independence Day message signed by his Media Adviser, Tahav Agerzua, Ortom reiterated his belief that Nigerians have cause to celebrate, having gained independence from the colonialists and come a long way in spite of several threats to the corporate existence of the country. Read more
MASSOB opposes Bianca Ojukwu’s senatorial bid (Punch)
The Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra on Sunday asked Ambassador Bianca Ojukwu, the widow of the late Igbo leader, Dim Chukwuemeka Ojukwu to withdraw from the Anambra South Senatorial race. It enjoined delegates of the All Progressives Grand Alliance to vote against Bianca in the party’s primary scheduled for October 2 in the event she insisted on contesting. Read more
Floods: 22 IDPs camps spring up in Delta (Punch)
As a result of the ravaging flood wreaking havoc on different parts of the country, about 22 Internally Displaced Persons camps have been set up in Delta State. Twelve of the camps were created by the Delta State Government, while the 10 others were set up by communities and people that are not disposed to moving into the government holding camps which are not near their original places of abode. Read more
Akeredolu pardons 17 prisoners (Punch)
As part of the celebrations of the country’s 58th independence anniversary, the Ondo State Governor, Mr Rotimi Akeredolu, has pardoned no fewer than 17 prisoners serving various jail terms in the state. Governor Akeredolu pardoned the lucky beneficiaries of the prerogative of mercy in the exercise of his right as the chief executive of the state. Read more
Ghana’ll soon reopen 400 Nigerian-owned shops – Ekweremadu (Punch)
The Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, has said respite is coming the way of the Nigerian business community in Ghana as the government of the West African country has promised to reconsider its policy on foreign businesses, following his intervention. Ekweremadu said the implementation of the policy had led to the shutting of over 400 shops owned by Nigerians in the Ashanti Region of Ghana. Read more
White House ‘not limiting’ Kavanaugh probe (BBC)
The Trump administration has denied restricting an FBI inquiry into sexual misconduct allegations made against Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh. Democrats have been alarmed at reports in US media the White House was limiting who could be interviewed under the investigation. President Trump ordered the inquiry on Friday at the request of a Senate committee. Read more
US Navy sails past contested islands in South China Sea amid U.S.-China tensions (CNN)
The United States sailed a warship close to disputed islands in the South China Sea on Sunday, a move that is bound to draw the ire of Beijing and comes amid heightened US-China tensions over a broad range of issues. Two US officials told CNN that the guided-missile destroyer USS Decatur sailed within 12 nautical miles of Gaven and Johnson reefs in the Spratly Islands as part of what the US Navy calls “freedom of navigation operations,” which are meant to enforce the right of free passage in international waters. Read more
US and Canada ‘agree new trade deal’ (BBC)
The US and Canada are reported to have reached a deal to reform the North American Free Trade Agreement (Nafta) after last minute negotiations. The deal is said to involve more US access to Canada’s dairy market and a cap on Canada’s car exports to the US. Nafta governs more than $1tr (£767 bn) in trade between the two and Mexico. Read more
Women’s World Cup: FIBA President thumbs up D’Tigress (Vanguard)
The steady progress of women’s basketball in Nigeria and the above moderate performance of Nigeria’s D’Tigress have not gone unnoticed by FIBA president, Horacio Muratore. In an interview granted to the official FIBA blog, Muratore spoke among others, on the performance of Nigeria and Senegal, paying glowing tributes to the D’Tigress, especially. Read more
NSA congratulates NFF on successful conduct of election (Vanguard)
Unmissable Incentive, organisers of the Nigerian Sports Award, NSA has congratulated Nigerian football fraternity on the successful conduct of Nigeria Football Federation, NFF’s election held recently in Katsina which culminated in the formation of a new board. It was an election that saw history being made as the President of NFF, Amaju Pinnick, got re-elected for another four-year term in office. Read more
Nigerian sports have not grown since Independence – Onigbinde (Punch)
Nigeria got Independence in 1960. What is your opinion on Nigerian sports since Independence? The Nigerian sports sector has not grown since Independence. This is because we have not been building it – and what you don’t build cannot grow. The country is currently where it is because there has not been a conscious effort to develop things and sports can’t be in isolation. It is a part of a system, which has not been working effectively. Read more
Rohr to invite Success for Libya (Vanguard)
ISAAC Success has been handed a recall to the Super Eagles by coach Gernot Rohr for their upcoming back to back AFCON 2019 Qualifiers tie against Libya. Success last played for Nigeria in 2017 in a friendly game against Senegal and despite impressing after coming on as a second half substitute, injuries, fitness and poor form have kept him out of the Nigerian team. Read more
Africa backs Infantino re-election bid (Punch)
African nations would support Gianni Infantino for re-election as FIFA president, the head of the continental football federation Ahmad Ahmad said on Sunday, AFP reports. “I feel it is my duty… to announce this support from Africa,” Ahmad said at a special meeting of the Confederation of African Football Executive Committee, which Infantino attended, in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt. Read more
Gerrard warns Rangers (Punch)
Rangers manager Steven Gerrard warned his side could forget about winning the Scottish Premiership title if they suffered many more repeats of Sunday’s shock 1-0 loss away to Livingston, AFP reports. Defeat left Rangers in sixth place and meant they were now eight points adrift of leaders Hearts just seven games into the season. Read more
Gunmen raid Delta Police stations, kill 2 officers, cart off ammunition (Vanguard)
Gunmen suspected to be pirates dressed in Army uniform, weekend, invaded the Aboh Police Divisional Headquarters, Ndokwa East Local Government Area, Delta State, and shot dead two police officers. It was gathered that another police officer was left in critical condition and receiving treatment in the hospital, while others escaped with bullet wounds. Read more
Gunmen kill 14, injure scores in Benue (Vanguard)
It was a bloody weekend in Benue State, following the murder of 14 persons by unknown gunmen in two separate attacks on communities in Ukum and Okpokwu local government areas of the state. This came as Boko Haram reportedly killed one of its prominent commanders, Ali Gaga, for planning to surrender to the military with 300 of its captives. Read more
Baby factory: Cleric, 16 pregnant women arrested in Rivers (Punch)
A cleric and 16 pregnant women have been arrested by operatives of the Rivers State Police Command. The suspects were arrested after operatives of the Command raided a suspected baby factory in Port Harcourt belonging to the cleric identified as Glory Raphael. Apart from the 16 pregnant girls, three other persons helping the cleric to run the baby factory were also apprehended. Read more