Tinubu In Panic, Aso Rock Ignores Him As Buhari Endorses New APC

Former Lagos State governor, Bola Tinubu's ambition to become Nigeria's President has reportedly crumbling after President Muhammadu Buhari rejected former Edo State governor, Adams Oshiomhole, to support Victor Giadom as Acting National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress.

Tinubu, a two-term governor of Lagos State, had been courting President Buhari and the cabal -- a group of power brokers at the Aso Rock Villa led by late Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari -- with the hope of clinging the APC Presidential ticket come 2023.



Tinubu had strategically imposed his loyalist, Oshiomhole, a former labour movement leader in Nigeria, as APC Chairman hoping that he will pave the way for him to obtain the APC ticket for the 2023 presidential election.

Tinubu had also convinced himself that by surrendering his loyalty to President Buhari and the cabal he would be able to curry the favour of the Northern parts of Nigeria for his presidential ambition.

However, Tinubu's hope of becoming the President was absolutely dashed on Wednesday as Buhari rejected the Tinubu-Oshiomole political structure in the APC.

In a derisive statement issued via Twitter on Wednesday, Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to Buhari, Mallam Garba Shehu, said, “The President has received very convincing advice on the position of the law as far as the situation in the party is concerned and has determined that the law was on the side of Victor Giadom as Acting National Chairman.

“Because he will always act in accordance with the law, the President will be attending the virtual meeting Giadom called for tomorrow afternoon.

“We urge the media to stop promoting manufactured controversies and to not give any further room for mischievous interpretations of the law on this matter.

“In addition to the President, the Giadom meeting will, hopefully, be attended by our governors and leaders of the National Assembly.”

It was gathered by SR that on Tuesday, Tinubu made frantic efforts to visit President Buhari at the Aso Villa without luck.

Sources said Tinubu called the President on phone through the President's Personal Secretary, Yusuf 'Tunde' Sabiu, in order to book an appointment to see the President.

A source claimed that a jet was revving at the Lagos airport to convey the "National Leader" to Abuja at the time.

However, Yusuf did not allow the telephone conversation between Buhari and Tinubu to happen, making it impossible for the former Lagos State governor to travel to Abuja to see the President.

The root of the divide within the APC is about the party's choice of candidate for the 2023 presidential election.

SR sources revealed that Plateau State governor, Simon Lalung, Governor of Jigawa State, Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State, Governor Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna State, Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State as well as Senator Ibikunle Amosun and Transportation Minister, Rotimi Amaechi, all belong to a common bloc that has sworn to embarrass and ridicule Tinubu's presidential ambition and bury it permanently.

These politicians have teamed up with the Northern elite, who are close allies of President Buhari such as Mamman Daura, the APC Deputy National Chairman North, Lawal Shuaibu, Yobe governor, Mai Mala Buni, former Minister of External Affairs, Baba Gana Kinigbe, Isa Funtua and Muhammad Inuwa Yahaya, Gombe governor, just to mention a few.

Also, Governor Abubakar Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi State is opposed to Tinubu's emergence as the APC presidential candidate.

Sources say the political attack on Tinubu is aimed to first strip him of his national influence, after which his political influence would also be decimated in Lagos State, his perceived stronghold in a fashion similar to Senator Bukola Saraki's dethronement in Kwara known by the name "Otoge", which in Yoruba simply means "Enough is Enough".

Herdsmen Invade Ondi Farms, Amotekun Seizes 42 Cows

Heavily armed Fulani herdsmen chased away some local farmers in Alagbaka extension area of Ondo State after destroying their farmlands.

Adetunji Adeleye, Commander of the Ondo State Security Network Agency, codenamed "Amotekun Corps", disclosed in an interview on Tuesday.

Adeleye revealed that over eight separate farmlands with crops such as maize and cassava were destroyed by the Fulani herdsmen.



"On seeing the owners of the affected farmlands, the heavily armed herders attempted to kill them shocked but the farmers ran for their dear lives,” he said.

The Amotekun Corps got wind of the incident following the reports made by the helpless farmers.

He noted that the Corps, in a joint security network with the Agro-Rangers of the NSCDC, immediately swung into action by visiting the area.

Adeleye added that the herdsmen, upon seeing the security agencies, immediately launched an attack but were overpowered, and took to their heels.

He, however, disclosed that no fewer than 42 cows belonging to the herdsmen were later seized by the Corps.

While decrying the level of destruction to the farmlands, Adeleye vowed that the herdsmen would be made to pay for the crops destroyed and subsequently face prosecution.

One of the farmers, Olawale Aluko, lamented how the armed herdsmen had been destroying their crops. Aluko called for help to stop the incessant attacks and harassment.

APC Set To Sack Oshiomhole

As the fate of the embattled National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Adams Oshiomhole, continues to hang in the balance, the National Executive Committee of the party has reportedly perfected plans to remove him from the fold at a meeting slated for Thursday.

A reliable source disclosed that many APC governors had withdrawn their support for Oshiomhole considering the cracks in the party.



The crisis, which has already spread to some states the APC presently controls, is projected to have a negative impact on its quest to retain power at the federal level in 2023 if the problems are not immediately tackled.

Some of the misdemeanour of Oshiomhole, which the NEC may consider includes his inability to convene NEC meetings once in three months as stipulated by Article 35 of the party's constitution.

That Oshiomhole, it was gathered, had only convened NEC meetings twice since 2018 – a gross violation of the party’s laws.

It was also gathered that he had been paying every member of the National Working Committee N2m each monthly as against the dictates of the party's constitution.

The source also disclosed that Oshiomhole has not given a proper account of the funds realised during the 2019 general elections and this has angered some top members of the APC.

He said, “The annual budget of the party is to be approved by the NEC. He (Oshiomhole) has been running away not to give account of the proceeds of the nomination forms and expression of interest forms sold in 2019.

“He knows that NEC will ask about the finance and expenditure of the party and that is why he has refused to call for NEC meeting.

“We are due for NEC meeting for a long time and it is only the NEC that can resolve the crisis we have in the party.

“Since 2018 he has only called for NEC meeting two times.”

Findings by SR also revealed that Abiola Ajimobi, a former governor of Oyo State, who was favoured to act as National Chairman after a court ordered the removal of Oshiomhole recently, was not a product of convention.

He was nominated from South-West to replace Otunba Niyi Adebayo, who got a ministerial appointment.

“You cannot be an officer of the party without being elected even if there was no election, there must be affirmation from the members.

“Bringing Ajimobi from his zone is not the final, the entire APC members must assemble and adopt it.

“That was why the court recognised Victor Giadom because he is a product of a convention. Ajimobi is not an elected officer and nomination must be ratified.

“Giadom has vowed to go ahead with the NEC meeting slated for Thursday at the Villa insisting that he was reconvening the NEC meeting earlier billed to hold on the 17th of March, 2020 but was postponed.”

The source added that a caretaker committee may be set up with the mandate of piloting the affairs of the party and organising a convention.

649 New Cases Of Coronavirus In Nigeria, Total Now 22,020

In the last 24 hours, 649 new cases of COVID19 were reported in Nigeria; Lagos-250, Oyo-100, Plateau-40, Delta-40, Abia-28, Kaduna-27, Ogun-22, Edo-20, Akwa Ibom-18, Kwara-17, FCT-17, Enugu-14, Niger-13, Adamawa-13, Bayelsa-7, Osun-6, Bauchi-6, Anambra-4, Gombe-3, Sokoto-2, Imo-1, Kano-1.

A total of 22,020 confirned cases in Nigeria. The breakdown;

Man arrested for jumping into Ogun River

A 36-year-old father of five, Fatai Oyedele, was arrested on Wednesday after a failed suicide attempt.

Oyedele, who is a cloth seller, was rescued from the Ogun River in the Akin-Olugbade area of Abeokuta around 1.15pm.

He reportedly left his residence at the Tourist Estate, Obere, Atan Ota in the Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government Area of Ogun State for Abeokuta to commit suicide.

He was also caught with a bottle of an insecticide during the attempt to end his life.

The reason for his action was not known as of the time of filing this report, but Oyedele was taken to the Adigbe Police Station.

The Public Relations Officer of the Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Corps, Babatunde Akinbiyi, confirmed the incident.

Akinbiyi said in a statement that Oyedele was pulled out of the water by TRACE personnel with the support of some residents of the area.

He added that the man was later handed over to the personnel of the Adigbe Police Station.

Akinbiyi stated, “The victim is one Fatai Oyedele of the Tourist Estate, Obere, Atan Ota, Ogun State, who is 36 years old and has five children with Jumai Oyedele. He is a cloth seller.

“Around 1.15pm today (Wednesday) by the Ogun River en route Akin-Olugbade, the man attempted to commit suicide by jumping into the river with a bottle of insecticide in his hands.

“Our prompt intervention saved what would have been an eventual suicide and with the help of some civilians at the scene, he was rescued.



“He was pulled out of the water and was later taken to the Adigbe Police Station for further investigation.”

The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Abimbola Oyeyemi, described Oyedele as a psychiatric patient.

“We have released him to his family members, who came for him. They have taken him to the psychiatric hospital for treatment.”

source https://www.ladunliadinews.com/2020/06/man-arrested-for-jumping-into-ogun-river.html

BOWEN varsity sacks over 100 workers, says decision necessary to sustain school

Amidst growing concerned on the effect of ravaging coronavirus on the country’s economy, Bowen University, Iwo, Osun State has reportedly sacked over 100 staffs of the institution.

It was gathered that the sacked staffers received their letters of disengagement through email late on Tuesday.

One of the affected staffers, who pleaded anonymity disclosed that the institution claimed that the decision was due to COVID-19 induced economic crisis in the country.

According to the source, the situation is currently generating anxiety, as some staffers were threatening to protest the action.

“How can the university-owned by a church just wake up and lay off such number of staff at this time? Even the government at all levels are struggling to keep their staff and pay them.

The situation as it is may lead to violence as some affected staffers are insisting on protesting against the decision of the university”, the source added.

Responding to the incident, the Public Relation Officer of Bowen University, Mr Toba Adaramola confirmed that the institution sacked some staffs, including both academic and non-academic staffs due to change in the institution’s way of running its activities.

He said about 8-10% of the workforce was affected, adding that the decision to reduce workforce had been on for sometimes.

“The decision affected those in academics and non-academic staff.

“In August 2018, it was discovered that the university is heading toward inflection point and the management deliberated on the reasons for the inflection.

“It was discovered that change of culture was part of the problem. Hence we embraced technology and so many staffers were no longer needed to perform certain duties.

“Although it is a painful decision but one that is necessary to sustain the university since it is not public institution that can rely on any subvention apart from the fees it charged its students”, Adaramola said.

He added that the school has taken necessary measures to cater for all the affected members of staff to have a soft landing and ensure that they were not just relieved of their duty without adequate compensation.

source https://www.ladunliadinews.com/2020/06/bowen-varsity-sacks-over-100-workers.html

New York City Marathon cancelled over virus fears

The New York City Marathon, the world’s largest marathon and one of the city’s biggest annual spectacles, has been canceled this year as concerns about the spread of the coronavirus continue to dash hopes of holding large-scale events, organizers announced Wednesday.

The race, one of the most prestigious and lucrative events of its kind, would have celebrated its 50th anniversary in November. It is one of the highlights of fall in New York and on the endurance sports calendar, attracting more than 50,000 runners, 10,000 volunteers and roughly one million fans, who line nearly every accessible yard of the 26.2-mile course through the five boroughs.

City officials and New York Road Runners, which owns and organizes the event, decided holding the race would be too risky.

Public health experts have said mass events, especially those that bring people together from across the globe, will remain a danger until a treatment or a vaccine for Covid-19, the disease caused by the virus, is widely available.

White House officials have issued warnings about another wave of infections this fall. And while infection rates in the New York metropolitan area are now among the lowest in the country, the virus is spreading at concerning rates in areas that have not heeded the advice of public health officials to continue to practice social distancing, avoid public gatherings and wear masks.

Cases were rising in 26 states on Tuesday night.

source https://www.ladunliadinews.com/2020/06/new-york-city-marathon-cancelled-over.html

Steve Babaeko allegedly running for President or just a stunt?

Popular Nigerian advertising and music executive, Steve Babaeko is allegedly running for President.

Steve Babaeko is the Group Chief Executive Officer of X3M Group, made up of X3M Ideas, X3M Music, Zero Degrees and Babaeko Farms Ltd.

Following a leak of what looks like a campaign site for an eventual announcement, Nigerians have taken to social media to express their pleasure and excitement in having a different type of leader.

In one of the tweets, a young Lagos based entrepreneur said, "This is how to announce your presidential ambition. Early. Pray this is true."

Babaeko who has remained silent on the issue since the news broke shared a tweet via his twitter account saying, “It is time”.

The advertising executive's website comes at a time when the country is battling gender based violence, to rising numbers of Covid-19 confirmed cases and related deaths and of course a fragile economy. Eager young Nigerians have hope again, with this newsm we guess.

In the words of a political commentator on twitter, “Maybe we need an announcement like this to spice things up. It won’t be an easy race if Steve is indeed running but I believe he will bring his marketing communications experience to fight a good fight”.

source https://www.ladunliadinews.com/2020/06/steve-babaeko-allegedly-running-for.html

Prince William and Harry inherited millions of pounds, treasures from mum Princess Diana

Princess Diana's sons Princes William and Harry were her entire world, and she ripped up the royal rulebook to give them the childhood she wanted.

So when she passed away, it was only right that her fortune and her most prized possessions would be passed onto them.

However they were just teenagers at the time, so their money was kept safe until they were old enough to know what to do with such a huge amount of cash.

She left £12,966,022 which was reduced to £8,502,330 after death duties.


But years of clever investments by royal advisors meant this had swelled to more than £20million by the time it came back to Harry and William when they were old enough.

The huge amount came from the ­settlement she got in her divorce from Prince Charles, shares, jewellery, cash, and personal items from her Kensington Palace home.

The money was shared equally between her two sons - even though though William will inherit his father’s money-spinning Duchy of Cornwall when he becomes Prince of Wales.

The princes got some of the money when they turned 25, but they had to wait until they were 30 for the full sum.

They both paid huge amounts of inheritance tax when they received the money, and William reportedly faced a 40 per cent bill.

Speaking just before Prince Harry's 30th in 2014, a royal insider told the Mirror : "There is no way Harry would dodge the tax.

"There are few similarities between the average person and Harry and William but when it comes to tax, they also have to pay their way.

"William got hit with a hefty bill when he turned 30 and so will Harry. His aides have to work out the most tax-efficient way for him to handle the money."

While the cash would have been important to the men, it's some of Diana's personal items which are far more special.

The most famous of these was her wedding dress, which the boys inherited when Prince Harry turned 30.

Until the landmark birthday, Diana's brother looked after the stunning David and Elizabeth Emanuel dress, which is one of the most iconic dresses in history.

After Diana's the boys were taken to choose a "keepsake" from her belongings in Kensington Palace, according to reports from a source 'close to the Royals'.

William picked her Cartier watch while Harry chose her sapphire and diamond engagement ring.

But when William decided it was time to pop the question to Kate Middleton, Harry made a touching sacrifice and gave it to his big brother so he could pass it onto his new bride-to-be.

source https://www.ladunliadinews.com/2020/06/prince-william-and-harry-inherited.html

Why I went to BBNaija reunion despite being disqualified – Tacha

A controversial housemate of 2019 Big Brother Naija Reality Show, Natasha Akide also known as Tacha has revealed why she went for BBNaija reunion show despite being disqualified from the show.

In a recent interview with Nigerian journalist, Chude Jideonwo, Tacha revealed that she wanted people to see her for who she really is and not the problematic person they presumed her to be.

Chude asked;

“Everybody has the image that you’re this troublesome, problematic person”


Tacha said, “That was the narrative that was portrayed while I was in the house. I would say this was the reason why I went for the reunion. I needed to let people see me not for any narrative being portrayed by any platform or anybody but you see me for me. I would go through everything, the process, the pain, the joy.”

Asked what the highlight of her life has been so far, she replied;

“I think the highlight will be the disqualification. God wanted that to happen and I trust God, I follow him”

source https://www.ladunliadinews.com/2020/06/why-i-went-to-bbnaija-reunion-despite.html

R.a.p.e allegations: United Nations denies D’banj as ambassador

The United Nations (UN) has debunked the report that Nigerian musician, Oladapo Daniel Oyebanjo, better known as D’banj, who is accused of raping a woman named Seyitan Babatayo, is one of its ambassadors.

Director of Information at the United Nations Information Centre for Nigeria, Joseph Kayanja, stated this in an interview with the Punch Newspapers published on Wednesday.

This is contrary to the claim made by the singer’s team in 2012, hailing him as the first Nigerian to be appointed a UN Youth Ambassador.


Following the rape allegation, over 15,000 people have signed an online petition calling on the United Nations and other organizations to strip  D’Banj of his appointment.

The UN has now distanced itself from the singer, claiming that position was conferred on him by a UN youth association and not the organisation itself.

“I would like to confirm that the said Mr. Oladapo Oyebanjo aka D’Banj is NOT a UN Ambassador. The title was accorded to him by an obscure UN youth association which has nothing to do with the United Nations. I hope this clarifies,” the statement by Kayanja reads in part.



source https://www.ladunliadinews.com/2020/06/rape-allegations-united-nations-denies.html

Pregnant Katy Perry and Orlando Bloom want baby daughter to choose her own name

Katy Perry says she and Orlando Bloom want their unborn baby to choose her own name.

The Fireworks hitmaker, 35, is expecting a little girl with her fiancé, Pirates of the Caribbean star Orlando, 43.

And while they've got a shortlist of name they like, the pregnant star said she won't know what her baby's called until she arrives in the world.

She told Karson and Kennedy on Boston's Mix 104.1 : "We have yet to decide specifically on her name because, I think, we've got options and she'll tell us.


"I'll look at her and go, 'Oh yeah, yeah, you are her, you are that'."

Katy also opened up about the emotional rollercoaster pregnancy has taken her on.

She said: "I've been every emotion under the sun. I've been overwhelmed, I've been anxious, I've been happy, I've been overjoyed, I've been depressed. I've been all of it."

She added: "The world is just a wild time and it's a wild time to bring life into the world

"People were already having those kinds of conversations years ago where it was like, 'Man, the world feels a little uncertain'... and now it really feels shaky boots!"

Despite everything, Katy said she and Orlando can't wait to become parents together.

She told the show: "He's really excited for a little girl. They say little girls are, you know, daddy's little girl, that's how it's gonna be, we'll see."






source https://www.ladunliadinews.com/2020/06/pregnant-katy-perry-and-orlando-bloom.html

APC May Not Have Governorship Candidate For Ondo - INEC Warns

As the crisis rocking the ruling All Progressives Congress in Edo State gets messier, the party is also in deep trouble over the conduct of its primary election in Ondo State.

A source at the party's headquarters disclosed that they may not have a candidate for the Ondo governorship election scheduled for October 10, 2020.



A document seen by SR indicated that the party notified INEC that it had fixed July 20, 2020 for its primary election in the state and invited the commission to monitor the exercise.

However, the letter with Ref. No. APC/NHDQ/INEC/19/020/013 dated June 17, 2020 was only signed by the Acting National Secretary of the party, Waziri Bulama.

INEC replied the party that the letter violates the provision of Article 4.4 of the commission's regulations and guidelines for the conduct of party primaries, which requires that such notices must be jointly signed by the National Chairman and National Secretary of a political party.

Consequently, INEC rejected the letter and advised the party to do the needful. The letter is signed by the Secretary to the commission, Mrs Rose Oriaran-Anthony.

As a result of the development, Governor Rotimi Akeredolu faces disqualification from the Ondo governorship election as the APC crisis may prevent the submission of names of contestants for the party's primary.

By provision of Section 85 (1) of the Electoral Act, political parties are required to give INEC 21 days notice for the conduct of their primaries for governorship elections.

According to the timetable released by INEC on February 6, 2020, party primaries for the Ondo governorship election begins on July 2 and end on July 25 while the last day for submission of names of candidates is July 28.

France closes two Paris schools as precaution after COVID-19 cases

French authorities have closed two schools in Paris as a precautionary measure after the discovery of coronavirus cases but they have not been classed as potentially dangerous clusters, authorities said Wednesday.

France, unlike some other European countries which have taken a much more cautious approach, on Monday resumed obligatory schooling for all pupils after the coronavirus shutdown.

Some schools had already been open at least partially for several weeks after the initial easing of the lockdown.

But a school in the 12th district of Paris with 180 pupils has been closed until the end of the week after three cases were discovered, the local health authority told AFP.

However the timescale of the infections spread over the start of June to Monday indicates that this is not a cluster, it added.

Another Paris school, in the 4th district and with 200 pupils, has been closed until July 7 after one case was discovered.

However, the local authority said there were no other schools closed in Paris due to COVID-19 cases.

Life across France has now returned to a semblance of normality after the lockdown, albeit with many people still working from home and wearing masks on the street.

Officials are wary of a second wave but say there has been no evidence of this yet despite the relaxation measures.

According to the latest figures published late Tuesday, 29,720 people in France have died from the virus with 161,267 positive cases registered.

source https://www.ladunliadinews.com/2020/06/france-closes-two-paris-schools-as.html

Donald Trump calls coronavirus 'kung flu' again as White House rejects racism complaints

Donald Trump again referred to the coronavirus as 'kung flu' today as he faces fresh accusations of making racist comments.

He was speaking during his campaign rally inside a church in Phoenix, Arizona, on Tuesday, despite not wearing a mask.

More than 120,000 Americans have died from the outbreak, which he has also labelled the 'China virus'.

Chinese officials are angry at the use of the term but their protests have fallen on deaf ears.


Addressing thousands of cheering supporters, he yelled: "I said the other night, there's never been anything where they have so many names.

"I could give you 19 or 20 names for that right?

"It's got all different names. Wuhan. Wuhan is catching on. Coronavirus, right? Kung flu?"

Trump went on: "Some people call it the Chinese flu. The China flu, right?

"They call it the China, as opposed to China. The China. I've never seen anything like it. But here's the story, we are going to be stronger than ever before, and it's going to be soon."

White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany defended his use of the term.

"The president does not believe that it is offensive to note that this virus came from China," she said.

Trump says he asked officials to conduct fewer coronavirus tests to reduce the number of confirmed cases in the US.

The President made the staggering statement at a re-election rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma on Saturday night.

He called testing a "double-edged sword" that leads to more cases being discovered.

In his speech, he blamed the country's soaring number of Covid-19 cases on the fact 25 million people have been tested for the virus.

"When you do testing to that extent, you're gonna find more people you're gonna find more cases. So I said to my people slow the testing down, please," he said.

A White House official has since said Trump was joking.

source https://www.ladunliadinews.com/2020/06/donald-trump-calls-coronavirus-kung-flu.html

Zimbabwe increases fuel price by 150 per cent

Zimbabwe on Wednesday announced a 150 per cent rise in the price of fuel following the launch of a forex auction system which eroded the value of the local currency.

The price of a litre of diesel jumped 152 per cent to ZW$62.77 ($1.12) from ZW$24.93 while petrol shot up 147 per cent to ZW$71.62, the country’s Energy Regulatory Authority said in a notice.

The central bank re-introduced forex auctioning on Tuesday, the first in 16 years after a long battle to stabilise its currency and fight hyperinflation.

The auction saw the local currency losing more than half of its value from 1:25 to 1:57 to the greenback by the end of trading.

Zimbabwe has been facing fuel shortages since October 2018.

The scarcity prompted President Emmerson Mnangagwa to increase the price of fuel by 150 per cent in January 2019, sparking countrywide demonstrations.

At least 17 people were killed and scores injured after soldiers deployed to quell the strike opened fire on protesters.

The government said at the time the prices were lower than in other countries in the region, and that some foreigners were buying fuel in bulk in Zimbabwe for resale in neighbouring countries.

Despite the price increase which was aimed at ending shortages, the scarcity persisted with motorists sometimes spending nights in queues for fuel pumps, stretching for kilometres.

After years in international isolation, Zimbabwe’s economy has been on a downturn for more than a decade.

Mnangagwa, who took over from long-time leader Robert Mugabe at the back of a military coup in 2017, pledged to mend the economy but things have only got worse with shops running short of basic commodities like bank notes, sugar and the staple cornmeal.

source https://www.ladunliadinews.com/2020/06/zimbabwe-increases-fuel-price-by-150.html

FG submits school reopening proposal to National Assembly

The Federal Ministry of Education has presented to the National Assembly a detailed proposal on its plan to reopen schools across the country.

The Minister of State for Education, Mr Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba, stated this on Tuesday when he appeared before the Senate Committee on Basic and Secondary Education.

He was in the upper chamber to brief the federal lawmakers about his ministry’s plans for pupils who had been forced to stay at home following the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Nwajiuba refused to give details of the proposal, saying some people would misconstrue it as the ministry’s guidelines for schools reopening.


He said, “Children are asymptomatic carriers. Nobody can prove whether they can infect each others. Not even the health experts. Everything we know about it is what we read. There is nothing we discovered on our own.

“In the document we have provided, we have suggested how we can move our education sector forward in this pandemic period.

“We don’t want to make it (proposal) known at this period so that some people will not take our proposal for the guidelines for schools reopening.

“The documents were presented to you so that you can criticise and make inputs as major stakeholders”

The Minister, however, expressed concern over the decision of the Oyo State Government to reopen its primary and secondary schools despite the current rising cases of coronavirus infection in the state.

He said, “Why is Oyo State talking of reopening schools when it has just started recording an increase in cases of coronavirus infection?

“Just beside Oyo is Ogun State which was part of the three states under the FG’s lockdown since April and it’s not talking about schools reopening.

“As we speak, Kogi and Cross River states are not on the same page with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control on the issue of testing while all their neighbouring states are conducting tests.”

The vice-chairman of the panel, Senator Akon Eyakenyi, who presided over the meeting, expressed the fears that the academic calendar could be distorted in public schools where no visible arrangement was being made to teach the children at home unlike their counterparts in private schools.

source https://www.ladunliadinews.com/2020/06/fg-submits-school-reopening-proposal-to.html

Rivers court strikes out suit against Obaseki

A Federal High Court in Port Harcourt on Wednesday has struck out a suit seeking to bar Governor Godwin Obaseki from contesting the Edo State Peoples Democratic Party’s governorship primary scheduled for Thursday.

The Court took the decision after parties to the suit agreed out-of-court settlement and withdrew the matter which was before Justice E. O Obile.

Counsel for the plaintiff in the matter had earlier sought for leave of the court to settle with the defendants, which counsels for the defendants did not object.

The court took a recess in the morning to allow parties in the suit amicably settle their contentions out of court.

But the court upon resuming on the matter in the afternoon, struck out the suit after the plaintiff’s lead counsel, D. C. Denwigwe (SAN), withdrew the suit on the grounds that all parties had settled amicably.

Justice Obile commended the parties for settling out of court, adding that it was the proper thing to do.

source https://www.ladunliadinews.com/2020/06/rivers-court-strikes-out-suit-against.html

Black boy turned away from restaurant over clothing as white child dines in similar top

A furious mother has posted a video online after her black son was denied entry to a restaurant because of how he dressed - as a white boy enjoyed a meal wearing similar clothing.

Baltimore eatery Ouzo Bay have apologised and suspended its manager after the family were denied service.

Angry Marcia Grant took to Facebook to share footage taken in Dallas on Monday.

Staff told her the nine-year-old's outfit wasn't suitable as they were turned away at the door.


But in the video, she shows a white boy dining in almost identical clothes yards away.

Her son is seen wearing wearing shorts, trainers and an Air Jordan T-shirt as they stand at the front of the queue to get in.

She can be heard saying: "They're telling me my kid can't eat here because he's wearing athletic wear, but there's kids out there with tennis shoes on?"

The employee replies "Unfortunately, that's my boss".

The parent then demands to speak with the manager.

He tells her: "Unfortunately we do have a dress code, if you have some non-athletic shorts?"

Then she bites back, panning the camera to the white child who is sitting on the patio.

"But that white kid out there can eat here with his tennis shoes on and his athletic shirt?"

She is told by the manager that they "allow tennis shoes, but not athletic shirts or shorts".

"You're telling me that's not an athletic shirt?' Mrs Grant replies.

The boss adds: "The t-shirt that that kid was wearing, we don't consider that to be an athletic t-shirt."

Sharing the video on Facebook, she writes: "I have faced racism time and time again, but it’s hard AF, when you have to see your child (9yo) upset because he knows he’s being treated different that a white child!!!"

Atlas Restaurant Group, which owns Ouzo Bay, said they are 'incredibly disturbed' by the incident.

The manager was placed on 'indefinite leave' according to a statement.

"This should have never happened," they said.

"We sincerely apologize to Marcia Grant, her son and everyone impacted by this painful incident. This situation does not represent who or what Atlas stands for."

Atlas also said the dress code wasn't 'intended to be discriminatory.'

source https://www.ladunliadinews.com/2020/06/black-boy-turned-away-from-restaurant.html

Judge orders Brazil's President to wear face mask in public

A judge in Brazil has ordered President Jair Bolsonaro to wear a protective mask when he is in public spaces in the capital, Brasilia, and the surrounding federal district.

The far-right president has been criticised for belittling the risk posed by coronavirus.

He dismissed it as "a little cold" at the start of the pandemic.

Brazil has the second-highest number of coronavirus cases and Covid-related fatalities in the world after the US.


There are more than 1.1m confirmed cases of coronavirus in Brazil and more than 51,000 coronavirus-related deaths have been recorded, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University.

Despite these high figures, President Bolsonaro has repeatedly appeared in public without a mask while greeting his supporters.

At one rally, he was filmed coughing without covering his mouth and on another occasion he was seen sneezing into his hand and shaking the hand of an elderly woman immediately afterwards.

The requirement to wear masks in the federal district came into force on 30 April.



source https://www.ladunliadinews.com/2020/06/judge-orders-brazils-president-to-wear.html