GIST OF THE DAY

Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Nigerian President-elect, made some promises to Nigerian students. One of which was that his administration would put an end to the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) incessant strike, has elicited mixed reactions from students. While some students doubt the promises, some hope for the best and its fulfilment. The President-elect Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, during his acceptance speech in Abuja, after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared him the winner of the February 25, 2023 presidential election, made some promises to students. Tinubu promised to work with youths, stressing that he would pay undivided attention to their education. “I will pay undivided attention to your education, four years course will be four years course, no more strike, your universities will have autonomy, no more selling of handouts, our lecturers must be authors. I know where it pains you and I believe you will see the reward of your election,” h...

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has accused, Professor Mahmood Yakubu Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission of manipulating the February 25 presidential election result. The party also called for the resignation, arrest and investigation of Yakubu over his role in the conduct of the controversial election. In a keen contest, PDP presidential candidate and former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar lost to Bola Tinubu of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). While Atiku polled 6,984,520 votes to come second in the race, Tinubu came out top in 12 of Nigeria’s 36 states and secured significant numbers in several other states to claim the highest number of votes — 8,794,726. Mr Peter Obi, the candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, who, in less than a year, galvanised young voters in a manner some have described as unprecedented finished the race with 6,101,533. Both Atiku and Obi have rejected the outcome of the election, vowing to challenge the result in co...

Claims that Labour Party’s (LP) governorship candidate in Lagos State, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour forged his certificate from Massachusetts Institute Technology (MIT) in the United States has been dismissed. This comes after Massachusetts Institute Technology (MIT) confirmed his certificate. Rhodes-Vivour has been at the centre of a certificate forgery allegation after an email that purportedly came from the office of MIT’s registrar appeared on social media claiming he was never a student of the institution. However, MIT has refuted the claim and confirmed that Rhodes-Vivour attended MIT between 2005 and 2008 and bagged a Master’s Degree in Architecture, a Premium Times report disclosed. Deputy Director, Media Relations, at MIT’s News Office, Sarah McDonnell, said Rhodes-Vivour indeed attended the school and earned a Master’s degree. “Thank you for reaching out. The MIT Registrar’s Office can confirm that Rhodes-Vivour attended MIT from 2005 to 2008 and earned a Master of Architecture degr...

Controversial Nigerian singer, Portable taken a drastic decision after he was attacked alongside his sister. He has now relocated his family following the ugly encounter with old friends. Recall that the singer had in his Instagram page narrated how his old friends attacked him and his sister. According to the management of the Zazu crooner, the attacks began in late February when some “street boys from Iyana Ilogbo community” vandalised his car. Narrating the ordeal in Pidgin English, the singer said, “As you can see. This life as you dey make am, make you dey run from people. The more you grow, run from people. Dem no want your success. Dem don shook me o. Na my nigga shook me. I no know wetin he use shook me o. We don gather dey back in the days. Base on say I make am, na me still dey help am. He later con nack me base on sey you dey beat my sister.” He also shared a photo of his sister receiving treatment, and said, “Olopa ma ko everybody, see wetin oke osa boiz do my big sister. A...

A 45-year-old man, Semiu Adegesin, has been arrested by men of the Ogun State Police Command. The man was arrested over the death of a three-year-old girl, Esther Samuel. Adegesin was arrested for what was described as contributory negligence, which led to the child’s death. The suspect, who owned a dane gun, was said to have left it loaded in an open space in the backyard of his house, where children played. A 13-year-old boy, Babalola, was said to have picked up the gun, pointed it at the girl and pulled the trigger. The state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Abimbola Oyeyemi, noted that the suspect was arrested following a report at the Imasayi police divisional headquarters. The report stated that Babalola shot and killed the deceased with the dane gun at Kukudi village, Imasayi. Oyeyemi said, “Upon arriving at the scene of the incident, the deceased was discovered in a pool of blood. “Preliminary investigations revealed that Semiu Adegesin, the owner of the dane gun, loaded hi...

Mr Peter Obi, the Labour Party presidential candidate, has a message for different candidates of the party in Anambra. He charged candidates of the party running for House of Assembly seats to brace up to victory. Obi, who held a closed door meeting with the house of assembly candidates in Awka. Speaking with journalists after the closed door meeting, Obi said he had charged the candidates to victory, while also charging them to ensure they work with the state governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo when they attain victory. Obi was reacting to a video where the Anambra State governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo had said that he will not work with members of other political parties, who emerge in the House of Assembly. “We are not urging anyone to impeach any other person. We held a meeting with our assembly members, and we are calling on Nigerians to vote for Labour Party. “We are not asking anyone to impeach anyone. People should not be afraid of impeachment. We only seek to get things right in Nig...

Justice Elvis Ngene, the Chief Judge of Ebonyi State, has issued a new order. The judge, on Friday ordered the Nigeria Police Force, especially the state Commissioner of Police, Faleye Olaleye to carry out a thorough and independent investigation on the murder of a traditional Ruler, HRH, Ezeogo Christopher Igboke Ewa. Justice Ngene, however, issued an order restraining the inspector general Police, IGP, Usman Alkali Baba, Olaleye and other security agencies in the state from arresting or harassing the gubernatorial candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, Prof Benard Odoh. Recall that Odoh, who is standing for election in the forthcoming governorship poll, was declared ‘wanted’ by the police in connection with alleged murder of Monarch, Ewa. DAILY POST reports that one of the sons of the slain monarch, Prince Igboke Collins Emeka dragged the former Secretary to the State Government, SSG, Prof. Odoh and nine others, who were allegedly fingered in the murder, to a state H...

The Presidential Transition Council has begun its work, reports have shown. The council has commenced preparations ahead of the transfer of power by President Muhammadu Buhari to his successor. The President-elect is Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress, APC, whose victory is being challenged by Labour Party’s Peter Obi and Peoples Democratic Party’s Atiku Abubakar. On Friday, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Defence, Dr. Ibrahim Kana said the council would make governance comfortable for the incoming president. Kana gave the assurance at a joint briefing between the officials of the ministry and members of the Transition Technical Task Team, TTTT. The official confirmed the roadmap had already been drawn for the next leader for a quick start of his administration. “The council is to look at the nine priority areas of the current administration in drafting the template. Security is among the areas,” he disclosed. Kana added that his ministry has the responsibility of the ma...

Amandla Ebeye, a popular Nigerian actress, who was formerly called Amanda Ebeye, has talked about why she changed her name. She says she changed her first name because she wanted something closer to her African roots. In an interview with Saturday Beats, she said, “I’ll attribute it (change of name) to knowledge of self. Amanda is a Latin name that means ‘loveable’. Obviously, I am not Latin; my dad is from Agbor in Delta State, while my mum is a Yoruba woman. “I truly had no business bearing Amanda, but for colonial reasons. There is no reason for me to bear a white man’s name. How many of them bear our names? I badly wanted to change to something close to my birth name, so it would be easy for people to adapt. “Then, I found Amandla, which is a Xhosa and Zulu (South African tribes) name, meaning ‘power’. It was a popular chant used during Nelson Mandela’s fight against apartheid.” The actress also stated that the name change would not affect her past productions. Speaking ...

The Lagos State Government has talked about the bus that collided with a train recently. The state government on Friday explained why the ill-fated staff bus, which collided with a train at the Shogunle axis of the state leading to the death of six persons, was overloaded. It said the bus had to take more than its capacity because the cash crisis forced many workers to opt for the free bus. Tragedy struck around 8am on Thursday when the driver of the staff bus ignored signals from the officials of the Nigerian Railway Corporation and drove into the rail track when a train was fast approaching. The bus driver overtook vehicles waiting for the train to pass and was hit by the passenger train before it could cross the track. No fewer than six persons were killed while scores had varying degrees of injuries. Saturday PUNCH gathered that the staff bus had a sitting capacity of about 85, but according to the statement issued by the Chief Medical Director of the Lagos State University Teachin...

Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, has reached out to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC. The PDP candidate has written to INEC, asking the commission to obey court order and allow him to inspect the election materials used for the February 25 elections. The letter was signed by his lead counsel, Joe-Kyari Gadzama on Thursday. The PUNCH reported earlier that the Court of Appeal directed INEC to allow Atiku and his representatives to inspect, scan, make copies, forensically audit and obtain Certified True Copies of all electoral materials used in the conduct of the presidential election. The court in order number six specifically allowed Atiku to carry out forensic examination/analysis of the BVAS machines/devices and all information stored in the server/IREV/backend/clouds, amongst others. According to the letter, Atiku’s representatives led by Adedamola Fanokun, (office of the PDP National Legal Adviser) returned to the commiss...

Mr Bolaji Oreagba, the General Manager of the Lagos State Traffic Management Agency, has made a new revelation. Oreagba, said on Friday alone, the agency recorded five container truck accidents in the state. The accidents were reported to have happened in different parts of the state. Oreagba appealed to motorists, particularly truck owners and drivers, to always ensure that their vehicles were in good condition before embarking on any journey. This was revealed in a statement by the Director, Public Affairs and Enlightenment Department, LASTMA, Adebayo Taofiq. “Today (Friday) alone, the agency recorded five different container truck accidents at Ketu inward Mile 12; Ojuelegba bridge inward stadium; under the bridge by the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja; Ago Palace Road; and Oke-Alfa Bridge inward Jakande Estate,” he said. Giving details of the Ago Palace crash, Taofiq said a fully-loaded 40-foot containerised truck fell on a sport utility vehicle with the number plate...

Owie Osadebamen, a Nigerian man who happens to be the husband of Elizabeth Osadebamwen, a woman who was shot dead during the February 25 presidential and National Assembly elections in Edo State, has talked about the sad incident. In this interview with The PUNCH, he shares his grief with ADEYINKA ADEDIPE. What is your relationship with the deceased? My name is Owie Osadebamen. The late Elizabeth Owie Osadebamwen was my wife. We met over 10 years ago when I was working in a bank. She was a customer at that time and was very lively whenever she came into the banking hall. We got talking and started a relationship. We got married on September 14, 2013. How will you describe her? She was a family person who placed importance on the family as an institution. She was nice, caring, lively and fun to be with. She always exhibited joy. Before I met her, I thought I was generous, but when I met her, I found out that she was more generous than me. She put people first and she was always availabl...

Mr Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, has visited the fmaily of Oyibo Chukwu. Obi, on Friday, assured the family of Oyibo Chukwu, the slain senatorial candidate for the Enugu East district, that those behind his death would be prosecuted. Peter Obi, who led the national leadership of the LP to Amurri in Nkanu West Local Government Area of Enugu to commiserate with the family of the murdered senatorial candidate, urged them to remain prayerful and look up to God who can never fail. Chukwu was murdered alongside his personal assistant on February 22, 72 hours to the February 25 presidential and National Assembly elections. Speaking during the visit, Obi urged the people of Enugu East to ensure that they supported Kelvin, the younger brother of late Chukwu, who had been chosen to replace him. “That is the only way we can ensure that whatever dreams Chukwu had will be achieved,” he said. While noting that those behind the murder would not go unpunished, he asked the...

Charity Nnaji, a popular Nigerian actress, has explained that her love for a man is influenced by money. In an interview with Saturday Beats, she said, “Money is my major priority. Even if I don’t love the person and he has money, I would start loving the person with time. “However, if the person does not have money, I would start hating the person with time. The love will fade.” On women who are described as beggarly because they depend on men to take care of their needs, she said, “I don’t understand why a man would just walk up to a lady like that. Does the man think the lady just woke up one day and became beautiful? Someone went out of his way to buy those things that made her look beautiful. If the man feels that he can get to her without contributing to her needs, how does that sound? “Even the Bible says that God so loved the world and gave out His son. God did not receive but He gave. That means that if one loves another, that person must give. The only way to prove love ...

The Katsina State chapter of the New Nigeria Peoples Party has sacked its deputy governorship candidate, Muttaqa Rabe-Darma, the state party chairman, Sani Liti, and other top executives. The Director, media and publicity of the NNPP, Nasiru Usman-Kankia, disclosed this while briefing newsmen on the decision of the party on Friday in Katsina, saying they were sacked for anti-party activities, including Thursday’s endorsement of the All Progressive Congress candidate, Dr Dikko Radda. “As you are already aware, a section of the state executive leadership of the party convened an unauthorised meeting on Thursday, March 9, the decision of which almost rocked the party. “An emergency exco meeting comprising 19 out of 29 members was conveyed to discuss the immediate and remote causes of the illegal meeting. “Facts have emerged that the illegal meeting was unconstitutionally convened without the consent of the state executive committee. “It was also discovered that even when invitations were ...

Some state governments are planning to initiate contempt proceedings against the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, and Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele, over their refusal to implement the Supreme Court judgment on the naira redesign policy of the Federal Government. It was gathered on Friday that the Federal Government was served with the enrolled order and Certified True Copy of last week’s Supreme Court judgment, which also ordered that the old N1,000, N500 and N200 should be in circulation alongside the new notes till December 31, 2023. Saturday PUNCH gathered that the non-service of the enrolled order and the CTC of the judgment was responsible for the failure of the Federal Government to direct Emefiele to roll out the old notes already withdrawn from circulation. The silence of the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), on the judgment of the apex court had fuelled the rejection of the remaining ...

The leadership of the All Progressives Congress will meet with the party’s senators-elect and members of the House of Representatives-elect on Monday. The meeting, which is scheduled to be held at the State House Banquet Hall, Abuja, will start at 2pm. According to an invitation signed by the National Secretary of the party, Iyiola Omisore, senators-elect and members of House of Representatives-elect are to attend the meeting with their Independent National Electoral Commission Certificates of Return. The invitation read in part, “This is to inform all Senators-Elect and members of the House of Representatives-Elect of the All Progressives Congress (APC), that they are invited to a parley with the Party’s National Leadership. “The meeting which will be attended by the President-Elect and Vice President-Elect, will be held at the State House Banquet Hall, Aso Rock Villa, Abuja. “Senators/House of Representatives-Elect must come to the meeting with their Independent National Electoral Co...

The number of people believed missing in a ferry disaster off the coast of Gabon has climbed to 34 following a reassessment, with the death toll also rising from two to three. At least one child and two adults have been found dead since the Esther Miracle — a mixed-use freight and passenger vessel that travelled between the capital Libreville and the oil town of Port-Gentil — sank in the wee hours of Thursday not far from the coast, according to authorities. The number of passengers and crew aboard the ship was initially believed to be 151, but that figure was revised upwards to 161 on Friday evening. “One hundred twenty-four people have been rescued (and) three lifeless bodies have been found, while 34 people are still missing and the search continues,” Libreville deputy public prosecutor Loic Mangongo told public television channel Gabon Premiere. Mangongo did not explain how the 10 other missing people had been left out of the initial count. Three more people have also been rescued ...

Chairman of the Emuoha Local Government Area of Rivers State and former majority leader of the state House of Assembly, Chidi Lloyd, talks to DENNIS NAKU about on the March 3, 2023 explosion in Rumuekpe community which left at least 15 residents killed and several others injured, and efforts by the council and the state government to address pipeline vandalism How did you receive news of the explosion at the Rumuekpe community on March 3, 2023, and how exactly did it happen? It was around 5.30am when I got the information from the internal security outfit, EMOVIS, which the local government set up, that there had been a very serious explosion that claimed lives. Around 9am, I arrived at the scene of the explosion and to my chagrin, I noticed that many lives had been lost. About six vehicles were burnt. There were corpses of human beings who had been burnt beyond recognition. So, naturally, as a human being, one will receive that kind of information with a lot of trepidation. So, I felt...

Your body is fully yours, so you need to take control of it. This is why it is necessary to continue to raise awareness, especially among young girls, to understand what the condition known as endometriosis is all about. Endometriosis is a condition that arises from misplaced/displaced endometrium (the inner lining of the uterus). The endometrium or endometrial tissue grows outside the uterus. The breakdown of this tissue and inflammation each month can cause scar tissue to form and even make the internal organs stick together, leading to chronic pelvic pain in reproductive-aged women as well as other symptoms. March is Endometriosis Awareness Month globally. In Nigeria, the campaign against endometriosis has been on consistently since 2005, thanks to the Endometriosis Support Group Nigeria. Over the years, more and more people, particularly young women and married ladies, are taking real interest in endometriosis. Continuous enlightenment is necessary because doctors often miss the di...

Unseeded Australian Jordan Thompson grabbed one of the biggest wins of his career on Friday, ousting third-ranked Stefanos Tsitsipas 7-6 (7/0), 4-6, 7-6 (7/5) to reach the third round of the Indian Wells WTA and ATP Masters. “It’s unreal at a Masters 1000 … to have a win like that is incredible,” said Thompson, the world number 87 whose only prior victory over a top-10 player came back in 2017 against Andy Murray at Queen’s Club. He admitted he felt a little lucky when a stinging forehand from Tsitsipas on match point was ruled a hair wide. “I’m thankful that last ball was out — I thought it was in,” Thompson told fans on court. While Tsitsipas led the third-set tiebreaker 2-1 and 4-3, Thompson’s coolness under pressure paid off as Tsitsipas belted a forehand into the net to give the Aussie a match point before succumbing with the near miss. Thompson next faces Chilean qualifier Alejandro Tabilo, who hung on to beat American Maxime Cressy 7-6 (7/3), 7-6 (15/13). For Tsitsipas it was an...