You are motor-park analysts, BMO blasts The Economist (Punch)
The Buhari Media Organisation has accused “The Economist” magazine of engaging in specious and moribund analysis from an unabashed partisan point of view. The BMO in dismissing the latest of The Economist’s analysis of the state of poverty in Nigeria observed that the International magazine merely immersed itself in aggregating common-place and ill-sourced data. The Pro-Buhari group accused the magazine of engaging in frivolous election outcomes prediction, which it said had continued to fail. Read more
Amnesty’s support for IPOB, militants suspicious, says Tsav (Guardian)
Former Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Alh. Abubakar Tsav, has described Amnesty International (AI)’s alleged support for militants and insurgents as evidence to destabilise the country by the London-based orgnaisation. He advised the federal government to issue a “cease and desist” notice to the rights group. In a statement yesterday, the former Public Complaints Commissioner in charge of Benue State believes the apparent support for Niger Delta militants, Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) and even tolerance of Boko Haram were evidence that AI wanted to set the nation apart. Read more
Makinde orders ex-political office holders to return official vehicles (Punch)
Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has ordered all former political office holders to return government vehicles and other assets in their custody with immediate effect. This was contained in a statement signed by Chief Bisi Ilaka, his Chief of Staff and made available to newsmen in Ibadan on Wednesday. “It has been observed that some former political office holders are still in possession of official vehicles attached to their offices in spite of the fact that they are no longer in the service of Oyo state. Read more
Group kicks against electing a Speaker with alleged criminal past (Guardian)
A socio-cultural group, the North Central Inter-religious Inter-tribal Political Forum for Peace, Development and United Nigeria, has called on the members-elect not to elect any member with alleged criminal records as the Speaker. At a briefing in Abuja on Wednesday, the group’s Publicity Secretary, Hon. Aaron Ohimini, said information available to the public so far indicated that two of the aspirants for the exalted position were alleged to be having criminal records. According to him, the purportedly endorsed candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Femi Gbajabiamila, has been facing allegations of perjury for a long time. Read more
APC group, government disagree over alleged plan against LG autonomy in Akwa Ibom (Guardian)
The National Youth Caucus of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Akwa Ibom State has alleged that the state government, in collaboration with 31 local council chairmen, has concluded plans to sponsor street protest against the implementation of the local government autonomy. The state chairman of the APC youth group, Mr. Iniobong John, in a statement made available to journalists in Uyo yesterday, titled “Planned Protest Against Local Government Autonomy,” further alleged that the action was as a result of the state government’s failure to get court order to stop the implementation of the local government autonomy in the state. Read more
Sallah: Bandits kill 16 in Zamfara (Punch)
Bandits were said to have allegedly killed 16 persons in Kanoma District of Maru Local Government Area of Zamfara on Sallah day. Confirming the attack in a press statement in Gusau on Wednesday, the Director-General on Media to the state governor, Yusuf Idris, said, “the governor visited the community and sympathised with them”. “During the visit, the governor also directed security agencies to immediately “swing” into action and bring the perpetrators to book. Read more
Police arrest 2,175 for kidnapping, armed robbery, others (Guardian)
The Inspector General of Police (I-G), Mr Mohammed Adamu, said the police have arrested 2,175 suspects for armed robbery, kidnapping, cultism and banditry since the launch of the “Operation Puff Adder” A statement by the Force spokesman, Frank Mba, a Deputy Commissioner of Police, on Wednesday in Abuja, said Adamu disclosed this when a delegation of Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), Nasarawa State Chapter, paid him a visit. Adamu said that between April 5 when the operation was launched, 63 kidnap victims were rescued unhurt by the police operatives. Read more
Activists seek declaration of Nigeria as environmental disaster nation (Guardian)
Environmental activists have urged the Federal Government to urgently declare a state of emergency on the environment to check climate change, environmental degradation, diseases and deaths. They made the call on the sidelines of the World Environment Day, which is marked on June 5 every year. Speaking to newsmen during a public awareness campaign organised by Cleaner Neighbourhood Initiative (CNI) in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment and civil society groups in Awka, Anambra State yesterday, Gloria Obuekwe, described air pollution as a silent killer. Read more
The Queen praises the ‘courage and sacrifice’ of D-Day (BBC)
The Queen has paid tribute to the “heroism, courage and sacrifice” of those who died in the D-Day landings. She was joined by 16 world leaders, including US President Donald Trump, in Portsmouth to commemorate the 75th anniversary of history’s largest combined land, air and naval operation. Mr Trump, who was on the last day of his UK state visit, said D-Day “may have been the greatest battle ever”. Read more
Amazon to deliver by drone ‘within months’ (BBC)
Amazon has said it will use drones to deliver packages to customers “within months”. It unveiled its latest iteration at a conference in Las Vegas, touting the machine’s ability to spot obstacles such as people, dogs, and clotheslines. Amazon executive Jeff Wilke said the drone would be able to travel 15 miles to carry packages weighing 5lbs (2.3kg) or less. Read more
Tourist’s lucky guess cracks safe code on first try (BBC)
A Canadian man unlocked a safe that had sat unopened in a small museum for decades, cracking the code on his first try with a lucky guess. Stephen Mills was visiting the Vermilion Heritage Museum with his family when he had a go at opening the iron box “for a laugh”. The museum in the province of Alberta had previously tried numerous times to unlock the old safe – to no avail. Read more
Quentin Tarantino is working on a Django Unchained sequel which will feature Zorro (Metro)
A Django Unchained and Zorro crossover could be hitting cinemas very soon, and this is all very exciting. THIS IS NOT A DRILL! Director Quentin Tarantino is working on a script that would see the duo meet up on the big screen and we will be counting down the days till this becomes a reality. Read more
FIFA welcomes Super Falcons to France 2019 (Punch)
World football-ruling body FIFA on Wednesday in Reims formally welcomed African champions Nigeria to the 8th FIFA Women’s World Cup finals holding in France. Ademola Olajire, Director of Communications of Nigeria Football Federation, said in a statement on Wednesday that the team’s players officially performed the “Welcome’’ ritual. They were taken through the rules of the game by a FIFA official, Sandra Hunt, at their Hotel Mercure Reims Centre Cathedral. Read more
Falcons will survive group stage, Oshoala assures fans as World Cup begins in France (Guardian)
Since 1999, the Super Falcons of Nigeria have been struggling to move pass the group stage at the FIFA Women’s World Cup, but their effort have been unsuccessful. Another opportunity has come, and one of the players, FC Barcelona Ladies striker, Asisat Oshoala, is optimistic that Nigeria will break the 20-year old jinx in France. The 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup will kick off tomorrow with the host nation, France facing South Korea in the opening match. The Super Falcons will take their turn on Saturday with what looks like an uphill task against Norway. Read more
I can’t vouch for Eagles winning AFCON — Taribo (Punch)
Former Nigeria international Taribo West says he will not put his money on the Super Eagles winning the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt. In an interview with The PUNCH, the former Auxerre and Inter Milan strong man insisted that based on his assessment of some of the countries going to the tournament, it would be difficult to place his bet on the Eagles claiming a fourth African title in Egypt. The Eagles face debutants Madagascar, Burundi and Guinea in Group B of the tournament with Nigerians opening their campaign against Burundi in Alexandria on June 22. Read more
Rufai assures fans of Eagles goalkeepers (Guardian)
Super Eagles Former Goalkeeper, Peter Rufai believes Nigeria has quality goal minders to excel at the forthcoming African Nations Cup in Egypt. Rufai said the trio of Francis Uzoho, Ikechukwu Ezinwa and Daniel Akpeyi are capable of defending Nigeria’s post in Egypt and called on football fans to encourage them to give their best.He said the Super Eagles currently need to be united and in high spirit to excel at Africa’s prestigious championship, adding that criticizing players invited for national assignment could demoralize them. Read more
Pre-AFCON friendly: Zimbabwe’s Warriors to arrive in Nigeria Thursday (Guardian)
A 26-man delegation of the senior national male football team of Zimbabwe, known as the Warriors, will arrive in Nigeria on Thursday night aboard a South African Airways flight. Ademola Olajire, the Director of Communications at Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), said in a statement on Wednesday that the team was being expected in Lagos. He said the team which would later be heading to Asaba was being expected ahead of Saturday’s pre-AFCON international friendly with the Super Eagles. Read more
Infantino re-elected FIFA president (Punch)
Gianni Infantino is set for a fresh four-year term as FIFA president following his re-election on Wednesday at the ongoing annual congress of the world football governing body. The 49-year-old, who was without any opposition at FIFA’s annual congress in Paris, will now be in charge until 2023. Infantino succeeded SeppBlatter in 2016 and, among other reforms, he has increased the number of teams at the 2026 World Cup and proposed key changes to the Club World Cup. Read more
Ronaldo hattrick guide Portugal into final (BBC)
Cristiano Ronaldo scored a superb hat-trick as Portugal reached the Nations League final with victory over Switzerland at the Estadio do Dragao. Ronaldo 34, had given the hosts the lead with a stunning first-half free-kick that flew into the bottom-right corner, wrong-footing Swiss keeper Yann Sommer. Switzerland levelled in the second period when Ricardo Rodriguez tucked away a video assistant referee-awarded penalty moments after referee Felix Brych had initially signalled for a penalty at the other end. Read more
Time to start winning tournaments, Sterling tells England (Punch)
Fresh from winning a historic domestic treble with Manchester City, Raheem Sterling wants to end a stellar season by winning England’s first trophy for 53 years at the Nations League. Sterling will win his 50th England cap in Thursday’s semi-final against the Netherlands and may even captain his country for the first time should Gareth Southgate decide to leave out Harry Kane. The 24-year-old endured plenty of criticism for his performances on the international stage early in his career, but that has all changed of late as six of his eight international goals have come in his last four outings. Read more
Wilfried Zaha drops Manchester United return hint (Metro)
Crystal Palace winger Wilfried Zaha has indicated he could be open to returning to Manchester United. Zaha was Sir Alex Ferguson’s final signing at United as he joined from Palace for £10 million in the summer of 2013. But the 26-year-old was unable to impress David Moyes and made just four first-team appearances during his time at Old Trafford before being loaned out to Cardiff City. Read more
Tyson Fury predicts Anthony Joshua will lose rematch with Andy Ruiz (Metro)
Tyson Fury believes Anthony Joshua will suffer humiliation a second time at the hands of Andy Ruiz when the heavyweights fight again. Joshua was stripped of his world titles by Ruiz in New York last weekend, but has already activated the immediate rematch clause to take on the new champion again. Fury urged Joshua to bounce back immediately after the shock defeat, but predicted Ruiz would beat AJ in the rematch. Read more
Dutee Chand: India’s first openly gay athlete faces family backlash (BBC)
Dutee Chand, India’s first openly gay athlete, is facing a barrage of criticism from her family after announcing she was in a same-sex relationship. The sprinter, 23, came out last month, revealing her “soulmate” was a 19-year-old woman from her village. India’s historic decision to decriminalise gay sex in 2018 inspired her decision, she said. Read more
Johanna Konta brushes off favourite tag after rain pushes semi-final back (Metro)
Johanna Konta will be forced to wait an extra day before her French Open semi-final as rain poured down at Roland Garros on Wednesday, but she brushed off the favourite tag for her semi-final with young Czech Marketa Vondrousova. Konta destroyed Sloane Stephens in Tuesday’s quarter-finals to set up a clash with the teenager, who grew up in the small town of Sokolov, which is two hours from Prague, and will contest a third Grand Slam semi-final of her career. Read more