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Video: Major News headlines in Nigeria today The Edo state chapter of the All Progressive Congress will hold its governorship election primary today. In this video, all the major players involved are discussed including the security situation in Edo state. Also, the political landscape in Ondo state is examined as well as the mood in the APC secretariat was captured in this video.

Eight years after shooting, Nobel prize winner, Malala, graduates Nobel Prize-winning activist Malala Yousafzai, who moved to Britain after being shot for campaigning for girls’ education in Pakistan, described her joy Friday at graduating from Oxford University. Almost eight years after she was attacked by the Taliban on her school bus in the Swat Valley, the Malala, 22-year-old, posted her photos on Twitter of her celebrations with her family. “Hard to express my joy and gratitude right now as I completed my Philosophy, Politics, and Economics degree at Oxford,” the new graduate, Malala said. “I don’t know what’s ahead. For now, it will be Netflix, reading, and sleep.”  The photos show Malala covered in brightly coloured bits of paper and foam — a student tradition — and having a cake with her family, decorated with the words “Happy Graduation Malala”. ALSO READ: Like Malala, Leah Sharibu deserves Nobel Prize — Ecwa Malala first rose to prominence aged just 11 with a blo...

Ajimobi getting better, health conditions improved ― Oyo APC Chairman By Ola Ajayi – Ibadan THERE was great apprehension in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, over the state of health of the immediate past governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi. Some minutes past 8pm on Thursday, there were rumours that his health had further deteriorated which prompted so many insinuations. ADVERTISING ADVERTISING Even though several mushroom online media had pasted the news of his death, his aides, close associates continued dismissing the rumour.  When asked about his health from the Oyo State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Chief Akin Oke, he simply said the former governor was getting better and that his condition had improved considerably. Some of his perceived political foes said they heard the news but could not confirm it. This scenario dragged on till midnight when his former Special Adviser on Communication, Mr Bolaji Tunji and one of his children confirmed that the acting Nationa...

Blood Transfusion Bill will ensure safe, affordable blood for patients — Lawmaker Mr. Nanbol Daniel, Member, Plateau House of Assembly, says the Blood Transfusion Bill before the Assembly, when passed, will ensure safe and affordable blood for patients. ADVERTISING ADVERTISING He, on Friday, in Jos, said that the bill would also address the challenges of safe blood. He said “we will establish safe, available, and affordable blood transfusion services in the state by encouraging adequate blood donor recruitment, donor blood screening, and collection. “It will develop strategies for the rational use of blood.  “This bill will promote continuous public enlightenment campaigns on blood donation and system improvement to drive current transfusion practices in the state toward safety and sustenance. READ ALSO: I’m alive, stop peddling rumours ― Ajimobi “It will also address the challenge of a supply deficit,” the member representing Langtang North Central Constituency explaine...

NEMA donates food items,mattresses to Abia IDPs By Ugochukwu Alaribe, Umuahia The National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, has donated relief materials to the Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs, at Isu Community in Arochukwu council area of Abia State. Presenting the items, Head of Operations, NEMA, Imo/Abia office, Owerri; Mr Evans Ugoh, explained that no amount of relief materials would be enough to cushion the effect of the sufferings of the Isu IDPs, and called for the quick resolution of the border conflict between the Community and their Utuma neighbours in Biase council area of Cross River State. He added that the donation of relief materials were necessary to save lives, even as properties worth millions of Naira had been lost in the conflict.  ALSO READ: Fight against COVID-19: USAID donates vehicle to Kaduna Items donated to the community include; bags of rice, bags of beans, bags of garri , cartons of noodles, mattresses and buckets The member representing A...

Parts of Beijing locked down as virus outbreak gathers fresh pace All indoor sports and entertainment venues were shut down in China’s capital on Monday as authorities raced to contain a coronavirus outbreak linked to a wholesale food market, with some neighbourhoods placed under complete lockdown. ADVERTISING ADVERTISING Tens of thousands of people were also targeted in a massive test and trace programme, as the number of cases from the new Beijing cluster increased to 79. The outbreak came after China had largely brought the virus under control following its emergence in a central Chinese city late last year, highlighting the enduring dangers for the rest of the world about a second wave of the pandemic. Indoor sports and entertainment venues across Beijing have been ordered to close, the municipal party committee said at a press conference Monday.  City official Xu Ying told reporters that all areas must “strengthen public space disinfection and temporarily close sports an...

Ango Abdullahi hits back at Presidency, says his troops are millions of Nigerians *… as Danmusa, CAN, others charge FG on mass killings in the North *…Nigeria security overwhelmed, lack new tactics — CAN *…bandits displace Katsina Peasants in hundreds — Danmusa Barely twenty-five hours, the Special Adviser, Media and Publicity to President Muhammadu Buhari, Femi Adesina said, ‘NEF is just Ango Abdullahi, and Ango Abdullahi is NEF. It is a quasi-organization that boasts of no credible membership, and its leader is akin to a General without troops’, the Northern elders Forum through Prof Ango Abdullahi replied him saying,  ‘my troops are millions of Nigerians who acknowledge the blatant failure of the General who claims troops to secure the country’.  The former Vice Chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, sent his terse statement to Vanguard on Monday. ADVERTISING ADVERTISING Meanwhile, the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, in Kaduna state has alleged that Niger...

Yobo, Nkwocha join others in Africa’s fight against COVID-19 Nigerian football greats Joseph Yobo and Perpetua Nkwocha are among other African legends that have signed up in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. The campaign against the dreaded virus is speared-headed by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) in partnership with Speak Up Africa. A statement on the CAF website said, “CAF in partnership with Speak Up Africa have launched a social media challenge to further raise awareness on proven COVID-19 prevention methods as part of the Stay Safe Africa campaign. ALSO READ: Don’t gamble with Eagles’ keepers, Egbo tells Rohr, Agu “The new online challenge forms part of the Stay Safe Africa campaign, which seeks to empower communities and individuals to take simple and proven preventive measures to help stop the spread of COVID-19 in Africa.  “As part of the challenge, influential players are inviting their peers and everyone to participate in the challenge by re...

Battle of the Brits: Joshua, Fury reach financial agreement for 2 world-title fights Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury have agreed to face each other not once, but twice, after talks between both camps, promoter Eddie Hearn has revealed. Discussions over a mouthwatering Battle of Britain, which would see all four major world heavyweight titles on the line, have been ongoing for months. And now Hearn, who represents Joshua, has confirmed that the financial elements of a mega-money two-fight deal have finally been agreed. ‘We’re making great progress,’ Joshua’s promoter Hearn told Sky Sports News. ‘There is still a lot to overcome.  We are looking at venues and dates. ALSO READ: Yobo, Nkwocha join others in Africa’s fight against COVID-19 ‘We have the Dillian Whyte mandatory which is due before this fight. ‘It’s fair to say [Joshua and Fury] are in agreement regarding the financial terms of the fight. ‘We’ve been talking to [Fury’s management team] MTK, giving them the assurance...

Zimbabwe top security officials dismiss coup reports Zimbabwe’s National Security Council has dismissed reports of an impending coup and said the country is stable. The council accused allies of former President Robert Mugabe and some opposition leaders of peddling the rumours. Home Affairs Minister Kazembe Kazembe accused several groups of anti-government activism including foreign diplomats. He named opposition figures, who he accused of spreading the reports, and church leaders who he said were giving false prophesies. READ ALSO: Zimbabwe summons US ambassador over George Floyd comments The country had been in lockdown since March to prevent the spread of coronavirus but it was somewhat eased in May. After the easing of restrictions, people were blocked from accessing central Harare by armed police officers in what the opposition termed as attempts to inhibit opponents. A number of opposition figures were last week arrested for allegedly breaching lockdown rules.

Roger Federer’s season over after knee surgery Roger Federer will miss the rest of the 2020 season after having a further operation on his right knee. The 20-time Grand Slam winner had the initial arthroscopic surgery in February but said he suffered a “setback” with his rehabilitation. Professional tennis has been suspended since March because of the coronavirus pandemic. “I will look forward to seeing everyone back on tour at the start of the 2021 season,” the 38-year-old Swiss said. ALSO READ: Yobo, Nkwocha join others in Africa’s fight against COVID-19 Federer has not played since losing to Novak Djokovic in the Australian Open semi-finals in January.  He missed the majority of the 2016 season with a knee injury but returned the following year to win the Australian Open and Wimbledon. ALSO READ: Everton’s Goodison Park to host Merseyside derby in PL return “A few weeks ago, having experienced a setback during my initial rehabilitation, I had to have an additional ...

Don’t vilify Abacha, query those who stole the billions he left ― Al-Mustapha By Ibrahim Hassan – Wuyo In defence of Nigerian former head of state, General Sani Abacha, his former Chief Security Officer (COS), Major Hamza Al-Mustapha said instead of blaming the late military ruler for the billions looted during his regime, Nigerians should instead query those who pocketed the money he left. According to Al-Mustapha, Abacha met lesser than 2 billion dollars in the nation’s foreign reserve and within 4 years and 8 months, “he did what was possible to raise it to over 9 billion dollars”.  Speaking with the BBC Hausa Service monitored by Vanguard on Thursday, he said; “I am surprised because when he assumed leadership, Nigeria had less than 2 billion in the foreign reserve. Things were not organized. “. According to him, the 9 billion dollars left in the foreign reserve by the Abacha administration “vanished in 9 months.” Pointing accusing fingers at those who he alleged embezzle...

Edo poll: Obaseki fears re-election bid under APC Edo State governor, Godwin Obaseki on Wednesday said his re-election bid under the platform of All Progressives Congress (APC) is narrowed because of the interest of the party’s National Chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, in the state. Obaseki expressed his fears at a news conference shortly after he was screened by the seven-member screening committee headed by Prof. Jonathan Ayuba at the party’s National Secretariat in Abuja. The governor alleged that some of the questions asked by the committee showed that Oshiomhole had not distanced himself from the process of conducting governorship primaries in the state.  “Like I said, as a party man I have gone through the screening process but I do not believe that I will get justice because Comrade Adams Oshiomhole is an interested party in the Edo process. “One of the questions that were asked was why did I issue a gazette that will prevent the party from performing direct electio...

Edo, Ondo: We won’t declare results if you disrupt polls, INEC warns The chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Professor Mahmood Yakubu has warned politicians in Edo and Ondo states against disrupting the elections, saying the commission would not make returns in such a situation. Professor Yakubu gave the warning at a virtual roundtable on Democracy and Elections in West Africa, organized by the Centre for Strategic and International Studies CSIS, Washington DC in collaboration with the Centre for Democracy and Development, CDD, Nigeria. While the election in Edo would hold on September 19, that of Ondo would hold on October 20, but the INEC boss said if the processes were disrupted, no returns would be made.  READ ALSO: Edo: Do not jeopardise our health, INEC warns parties ahead of Primaries “Where the election is disrupted and the Commission cannot vouch for the integrity of the process, we will not go ahead to make any declaration. You (politica...

UI dodged questions on Obaseki’s credentials – Oshioke A chieftain of All Progressive Congress, APC, Victor Oshioke, said the statement from the University of Ibadan did not answer the questions raised by those querying the academic credentials of Obaseki. He said: “As far as I know, nobody has said that Obaseki is not an alumnus of UI. What I have heard echoed by a lot of people recently, is that the O/Level grades of Obaseki in the public domain does not qualify him to be admitted into the University of Ibadan for a degree course.  “Also, some commentators have argued that the documents he attached to his expression of interest form in 2016 are different from those he attached to his 2020 form. It has also been argued that his UI degree certificate is different from the certificates of other UI alumni who graduated at the same time as the governor. “The fundamental issue here is not whether Obaseki attended the University of Ibadan or not, but about discrepancies in the inf...

Edo LG chairmen, stakeholders set to make Obaseki governorship candidate of APC Canvassing support for the second term ambition of Governor Obaseki, local government chairmen in Edo State said he has provided a clear focus on where the state should be and how the state can get there. Specifically, they praised Obaseki for growing the state’s economy, attracting investments and touching the lives of the people of the state. At a press conference in Fugar, Wednesday, Chairman, Etsako Central Local Government Area, Mr John Akhigbe, said local government chairmen and other stakeholders in Edo APC are set to make Obaseki governorship candidate of the APC.  He cited competence, achievements and humility as their principal reasons for endorsing the governor for a second term in office just as he dismissed the purported endorsement of Pastor Ize-Iyamu. Akhigbe said, those behind the endorsement of Ize-Iyamu are not members of the APC. “They claimed to be members of APC because they def...

If we continue borrowing, Nigeria will stop breathing — Secondus …We’re now on the same page —Abaribe By Henry Umoru THE national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, yesterday, lampooned the Federal Government over continued external borrowings, just as it warned that if the borrowings continued, it would get to a position where Nigeria would stop breathing, both politically and economically. Speaking with journalists in Abuja after a three hours reconciliatory meeting with PDP Senate Caucus, National Chairman of PDP, Prince Uche Secondus, urged Senators on the platform of the party, to henceforth, protest such a move by the Federal Government to embark on additional borrowing.  The meeting had in attendance members of the PDP National Working Committee, NWC and Senators led by the Senate Minority Leader, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe (PDP, Abia South l). Recall that the Senate had so far this year, approved $22.7 billion, $5.53 billion and N850 billion on different oc...

Opponents of restructuring are being mischievous ― Oyedele By Johnbosco Agbakwuru Engineer Ife Oyedele, the executive director of Niger Delta Power Holding Company, NDPHCN, is one of the governorship hopefuls in Ondo State on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC. In this interview, he says that he is ready to transform Ondo State if given the mandate, lamenting that the state is suffering from infrastructure decay. He also speaks on efforts to reposition the NDPHCN.  There have been lots of calls for restructuring the country, what is your take? I am sure you know that even right now restructuring is going on in various areas and the opinion of people on the issue of restructuring is as many as the number of Nigerians. Restructuring will always be an issue because even in countries like America, some sort of restructuring are going on. In Europe for instance, Great Britain just exited from Europe. That’s a form of restructuring. So, restructuring will always be ...

Mr. President is not in charge of this nation – Wole Soyinka reveals By Nwafor Sunday President Muhammadu Buhari is not in charge of Nigeria, said Prof Wole Soyinka, Nobel laureate, on Thursday. Soyinka was reacting to the letter written to Buhari by the former military governor of Kaduna State, Col. Abubakar Dangiwa Umar(retd), wherein he advised Buhari to change his mode of appointments, noting that his skewed appointments into offices of the Federal Government, favouring some and frustrating others, would bring ruin and destruction to the country.  ADVERTISING ADVERTISING However, this is not the first time Soyinka is condemning Buhari’s actions and administrative modus operandi, since Mr President assumed office in 2015. Recall that the literary giant, had on April 2, 2020, criticised President Buhari’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic, saying the president had been conspicuously absent as the virus gained a foothold across the country. READ ALSO: Soyinka flays Balara...

ASUU accuses AGF, Finance Ministry of withholding members’ salaries THE Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), has accused the office of the Accountant General of the Federation and Ministry of Finance of allegedly withholding salaries of its members. The allegation was made by the President of the union, Professor Biodun Ogunyemi through  ASUU Chairman University of Ibadan, Professor Ayo Akinwole. The allegation was contained in the union’s bulletin made available to newsmen in Ibadan yesterday.  ASUU had resumed strike to force government to address issues of revitalisation fund, Earned Academic Allowances, proliferation of state universities and their governance, visitation panel to universities and conclusion of renegotiation of 2009 FGN-ASUU agreement which are outstanding in the 7th February 2019 Memorandum of Action (MOA). READ ALSORevenue: PMAN threatens to sue Telecom Operators According to the ASUU president, many ASUU members are yet to be paid more...

COVID-19: Messi’s enthusiasm contagious for Barcelona squad – Alba Lionel Messi’s enthusiasm is contagious as LaLiga leaders Barcelona prepare to return following the coronavirus pandemic, according to team-mate Jordi Alba. Suspended in March due to the COVID-19 crisis, LaLiga will get back underway with a derby clash between Sevilla and Real Betis on June 11. ADVERTISING ADVERTISING Barca, who were two points clear of bitter rivals Real Madrid through 27 rounds at the time of postponement, will return with a trip to Real Mallorca on June 13.  ALSO READ: Former Man City defender Onuoha says ‘fear and distrust’ US police Captain and six-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi has provided plenty of motivation ahead of the league’s resumption, with left-back Alba telling TVE: “He’s a vital player of us and we should enjoy having him all the time. “Seeing Leo with the enthusiasm he’s come back with is contagious for the rest of the group.” Messi had topped LaLiga’s goalscoring charts...

AGF takes over prosecution of alleged Taraba kidnap kingpin, Wadume The Attorney-General of the Federation, (AGF) and Minister of Justice Mr Abubakar Malami has taken over the prosecution of alleged Taraba kidnap kingpin, Bala Hamisu (aka Wadume), Capt. Tijjani Balarabe and 18 others. At the resumed hearing on Wednesday, Mr Shuaibu Labaran, a lawyer from the Ministry of Justice told the court that the AGF has taken over the prosecution of the matter. Labaran said that the AGF needed time to look at the case file before re-arraigning the defendants and prayed the court for a short adjournment.  READ ALSO COVID-19: Messi’s enthusiasm contagious for Barcelona squad – Alba The counsel  said the adjournment was to enable the prosecutors to put their house in order. “The AGF has taken over the prosecution of this case. We have received the file and noticed that there are about 20 defendants from the charge. ” So there is need for us to review the charge and also liaise wi...

Even Mild COVID-19 Illness May Confer Some Immunity – Study Even people with minor illness from the coronavirus can develop antibodies that could leave them immunised for several weeks or more, according to an early French study that tested hospital staff with mild infections. Researchers said the results, which have not yet been peer-reviewed, were “encouraging” since little is known about the mechanisms of immunity against the novel coronavirus, especially in people with minor forms of the disease. “We knew that people with severe forms of the disease developed antibodies within 15 days of the onset of symptoms,” said Arnaud Fontanet, head of the global health department at the Institut Pasteur, which conducted the research with the University Hospital in Strasbourg. “We now know that this is also true for those who develop minor forms, even if the rates of antibodies are probably weaker.” The study was carried out on 160 members of staff at two hospital sites in Strasbo...