Wike questions Fubara’s commitment to peace in Rivers (Sun)
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and former Rivers state governor, Nyesom Wike, on Monday, May 12, revealed details of a recent reconciliation meeting with suspended Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara in Abuja. Fubara was accompanied by two unidentified governors from the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Speaking at a media briefing, Wike expressed doubts about Fubara’s ability to foster genuine peace amid the ongoing Rivers political crisis. “I told him I don’t think you really have the capacity to make this peace,” Wike said, noting that Fubara’s calls for reconciliation are undermined by his supporters’ public attacks on television and social media.
Wike emphasised that true peace requires more than private meetings or rhetoric. He urged Fubara to engage key stakeholders, including the Rivers State House of Assembly, party leaders, and community figures, for sincere and collective action. “If you are making peace, your people are demonstrating every day. If you are making peace, your people are busy on television insulting people,” he stated. Read more
LASTMA hunts for fleeing truck driver after fatal collision (Punch)
The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority has said that it is on the trail of the driver of one of the trucks that collided on the Eko Bridge, leaving two persons dead on Sunday.
PUNCH Metro learnt in a statement by the LASTMA spokesperson, Adebayo Taofiq, that the accident occurred when one of the truck drivers allegedly fell asleep and rammed into another truck.
The impact of the collision, according to Taofiq, led to the dislodgement of a 20-foot container, which fell and crushed two dispatch riders. Read more
JAMB orders review of 2025 UTME after outrage, complaints (Channels)
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has ordered an immediate review of the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) following a wave of public complaints alleging technical glitches, incomplete questions, and unusually low scores.
The Board, in a statement issued by its Public Communication Advisor, Fabian Benjamin, acknowledged what it described as an “unusual volume of complaints” since the release of the UTME results last Friday.
It said the development had prompted it to fast-track its annual post-examination review process, which typically takes place months after the exercise. Read more
Lagos paid N5.28b in insurance premiums in 1 year – Commissioner (Guardian)
Lagos State Government on Monday revealed that in the last one year it has paid ₦5.283 billion in insurance premiums statewide to cover staff, infrastructure, and assets, aside from disbursing ₦1.19 billion in group life and personal accident claims to injured staff and families of deceased staff.
The Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Abayomi Oluyomi, stated this at the ongoing ministerial press briefing to mark the second year of the second term of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
According to Oluyomi, the state within the same period received ₦290.43 million from insurers for damages to public infrastructure, reinforcing insurance as a key financial risk transfer tool. Read more
Ex-MILAD of Bayelsa State, Olubolade dies at 70 (Vanguard)
Former Military Administrator (MILAD) of Bayelsa State, Navy Captain Caleb Olubolade (retd), has passed away. The Ipoti-Ekiti-born retired naval officer died on Sunday, May 11, in Apapa, Lagos.
He had celebrated his 70th birthday on November 30, 2024.
In a statement released by his first daughter, Mrs. Oluwayemisi Akinadewo, and his first son, Mr. Dayo Olubolade, it was revealed that he left his house to play lawn tennis at a nearby facility, where he tragically collapsed. Read more
Piwuna emerges new ASUU president (Leadership)
Professor Chris Piwuna has emerged as the new President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).
Piwuna, a consultant psychiatrist at the University of Jos Teaching Hospital (JUTH) and current Dean of Student Affairs at the University of Jos, Plateau State, succeeds Professor Victor Osodeke, a soil science expert from Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia State.
According to verified sources familiar with the development, Piwuna contested the position alongside Professor Adamu Babayo of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU), Bauchi. Read more
Okowa’s defection to APC is smart move — Wike (Tribune)
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has described the defection of former Delta State Governor and 2023 PDP vice presidential candidate, Ifeanyi Okowa, to the All Progressives Congress (APC) as a “smart move,” praising it as a bold and principled political decision.
Wike, speaking at a media parley in Abuja on Monday, said Okowa’s defection to APC demonstrated clarity and political courage, contrasting it with what he called the duplicity of other politicians who support one party in public but align with others in private.
“I’m surprised that PDP said they didn’t see it coming,” Wike stated. “I warned them. I said the way things are going, you’ll see what happens. Okowa took a principled stand instead of pretending.” Read more
Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs trial begins with opening statements (CNN)
Flurry of civil cases await Sean Combs after his criminal trial
03:48
What you need to know
• Combs on trial: Opening statements are underway in the federal criminal trial of Sean “Diddy” Combs in New York City. A jury of eight men and four women were seated and sworn in this morning.
• Federal charges: Combs has pleaded not guilty to charges that include racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution. If convicted on all counts, he could face up to life in prison.
• Graphic allegations: Prosecutors claim Combs coerced at least three women into engaging in sex acts with him and, at times, with male prostitutes, during occasions known as “Freak Offs,” where the women were allegedly drugged and forced to engage in sex for days. Read more
90s pop star slams fans for taking toilet break during show (Metro)
Tina Arena has taken aim at fans who left their seats at her concert to go to the toilet.
The Australian singer-songwriter rose to fame as a child on the variety programme Young Talent Time, then beginning her career as a solo singer aged 17.
Her second album Don’t Ask, which was released in 1994 reached number one on the Australian charts, while it also peaked at number 11 in the UK. Read more
Cannes 2025 lineup shines in the shadow of Trump tariffs (DW)
Wes Anderson, Diane Kruger, Spike Lee: These are just some big names featured at the world’s most important film festival. But while celebrating cinema, attendees will also grapple with an uncertain future to come.
The 78th edition of the Cannes Film Festival, which takes place from May 13-24, was shaping up to be the hottest one in years, with the creme de la creme of Hollywood and international movie-making set to descend on the French Riviera for two weeks of cinema celebration.
Leave it to Donald Trump to spoil the party. Read more
1st white South Africans flying to US under Trump refugee plan (BBC)
The first set of 49 white South Africans to be granted refugee status by President Donald Trump’s administration are on their way to the US.
On Sunday they boarded a flight from Johannesburg which is due to land in Washington DC later on Monday.
This comes after a weekend of speculation about when the Afrikaners would leave for America, amid criticism from the South African government who described the US resettlement scheme as “politically motivated”. Read more
Aggressive immigration enforcement makes musicians rethink US tours (NPR)
Bells Larsen’s new album had been four years in the making, and he was preparing for his first US tour when his plans came to an abrupt halt.
The Canadian singer-songwriter began writing Blurring Time in 2021 as a way to process questions about his gender identity. Once he decided to transition, he recorded the tracks in his pre-testosterone voice and again after his voice deepened, harmonizing with the past version of himself.
Blurring Time puts words to a trans experience rarely represented in the media, of the vulnerability of facing the unknown in the quest to live authentically. It resonated with fans, and Larsen began to plan his headlining tour, with dates in New York, Boston, Los Angeles and San Francisco, among other US cities. Read more
John Legend Says It’s ‘Shocking’ to Watch Kanye West’s ‘Descent’ into ‘Antisemitism’ and ‘Anti-Blackness’ (Variety)
John Legend is sharing his thoughts about his former friend and business partner, Kanye West.
In a recent sitdown with The Times of London, Legend said it’s “shocking” to see what has become of the once prolific artist and mourned the days of friendship and shared passion he had with West back in the mid-2000s.
“Back then Kanye was very passionate, very gifted, and he had big dreams not only for himself but also for all the people around him,” Legend recalled. “He had so much optimism, so much creativity. It does feel sad, sometimes shocking, to see where he is now.” Read more
U-20 AFCON: F’Eagles battle Senegal for semi-final spot (Punch)
Nigeria and Senegal are set to renew their rivalry in the quarter-finals of the U-20 Africa Cup of Nations at the Suez Canal Stadium in Ismailia on Monday (today), PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
This will be the fourth encounter between the two sides at the tournament, with Nigeria having won two of the previous encounters, while Senegal had one victory. Their history at the competition has been filled with high stakes, with the winner of each previous match between them going on to lift the trophy.
In 2015, Nigeria defeated Senegal 3-1 in the group stage, before earning a 1-0 win in the final, with Bernard Bulbwa’s 17th-minute goal claiming Nigeria’s seventh title. In contrast, Senegal triumphed over Nigeria 1-0 in their opening match in 2023, with Souleymane Faye scoring the only goal of the game as the Senegalese ultimately won the tournament that year. Read more
Italy offers Nigeria technical support for African Fencing Championships (Nation)
To kick-start their four-year partnership, the Italian Fencing Federation (Federazione Italiana Scherma, FIS) will provide technical support to the Nigerian Fencing Federation in preparation for the 2025 African Senior Championships, scheduled to take place in Lagos between June 25 and 29.
Italy signed a four-year partnership agreement in December 2024 to advance the development of fencing in Nigeria through technical support and knowledge transfer. As part of this plan, a top Italian fencing coach is expected to arrive in Nigeria next month to train coaches and athletes ahead of the continental showpiece.
The coach will lead a training camp focused on coach development, complemented by athlete training, in preparation for the Senior African Fencing Championships. This camp will precede the tournament. Read more
India great Kohli retires from Test cricket (BBC)
Legendary India batter Virat Kohli has announced his immediate retirement from Test cricket.
His decision comes before this summer’s five-Test tour of England, which starts on 20 June, and follows captain Rohit Sharma’s retirement on Wednesday.
Kohli, 36, has played 123 Tests for India and scored 9,230 runs at an average of 46.85. Read more
Astros’ Lance McCullers Jr. says disgruntled fans directing death threats at him & his children (NBC)
Houston Astros pitcher Lance McCullers Jr. said he’s been receiving death threats directed at both himself and his children after Saturday’s loss against the Cincinnati Reds.
McCullers, who says he became a target of harassment from baseball fans after he allowed seven runs during a 10-run first inning, told reporters after the game that people have been sending threats to him about his performance, with some implying that they would seek to harm his two young daughters.
“I understand people are very passionate and people love the Astros and love sports, but threatening to find my kids and murder them is a little bit tough to deal with just as a father, I think,” McCullers said. Read more
Rory McIlroy sends ominous warning to rivals ahead of US PGA Championship (Metro)
Rory McIlroy believes last month’s major triumph at the Masters has freed him up as he returns to a happy hunting ground for this week’s US PGA Championship.
McIlroy ended a decade-long drought in majors at Augusta National last month with a thrilling playoff victory over Justin Rose to become only the sixth golfer in history to complete the career Grand Slam.The major championships come thick and fast during golf’s busy season, and attention now turns to the PGA Championship at Quail Hollow, which gets underway on Thursday. Read more