Nigerian artistes, Grammy nominee Burna Boy and Mavin Records new sensation Rema have made former US President Barack Obamas list of Favourite Music of 2019.

Sixth on the 35-song list is Burna Boys Anybody and 26th is Remas Iron Man.

In listing his favourite songs for this year, Obama is continuing an annual tradition. He had earlier released his favourite books and movies for the year and a short list of TV shows that he enjoyed.

Obama took to Twitter today to unveil his songs of the year. From the list, the former president has a diversified taste, listening to music from various genres, such as pop, R

My Dear Compatriots,

Today marks a new decade. It is a time of hope, optimism and fresh possibilities. We look forward as a nation to the 2020s as the opportunity to build on the foundations we have laid together on security, diversification of our economy and taking on the curse of corruption. These are the pledges on which I have been twice elected President and remain the framework for a stable, sustainable and more prosperous future.

Elections are the cornerstone of our democracy. I salute the commitment of the millions who voted in peace last February and of those leaders who contested for office vigorously but fairly, submitting to the authority of the electorate, the Independent National Electoral Commission and judicial process. I understand very well the frustrations our system has in the past triggered. I will be standing down in 2023 and will not be available in any future elections. But I am determined to help strengthen the electoral process both in Nigeria and across the region, where several ECOWAS members go to the polls this year.

As Commander-in-Chief, my primary concern is the security of the nation and the safety of our citizens. When I assumed office in May 2015 my first task was to rally our neighbours so that we could confront Boko Haram on a coordinated regional basis. Chaos is not a neighbour any of us hope for.

We have been fighting on several fronts: violent extremists, cultists and organised criminal networks. It has not been easy. But as we are winning the war, we also look to the challenge of winning the peace, the reconstruction of lives, communities and markets. The North East Development Commission will work with local and international stakeholders to help create a new beginning for the North East.

The Federal Government will continue to work with State Governors, neighbouring states and our international partners to tackle the root causes of violent extremism and the networks that help finance and organise terror. Our security forces will receive the best training and modern weaponry, and in turn will be held to the highest standards of professionalism, and respect for human rights. We will use all the human and emerging technological resources available to tackle kidnapping, banditry and armed robbery.

The new Ministry of Police Affairs increased recruitment of officers and the security reforms being introduced will build on what we are already delivering. We will work tirelessly at home and with our allies in support of our policies to protect the security of life and property. Our actions at all times will be governed by the rule of law. At the same time, we shall look always to engage with all well-meaning leaders and citizens of goodwill to promote dialogue, partnership and understanding.

We need a democratic government that can guarantee peace and security to realise the full potential of our ingenious, entrepreneurial and hard-working people. Our policies are designed to promote genuine, balanced growth that delivers jobs and rewards industry. Our new Economic Advisory Council brings together respected and independent thinkers to advise me on a strategy that champions inclusive and balanced growth, and above all fight poverty and safeguard national economic interests.

As we have sat down to celebrate with friends and family over this holiday season, for the first time in a generation our food plates have not all been filled with imports of products we know can easily be produced here at home. The revolution in agriculture is already a reality in all corners of the country. New agreements with Morocco, Russia and others will help us access on attractive terms the inputs we need to accelerate the transformation in farming that is taking place.

A good example of commitment to this inclusive growth is the signing of the African Continental Free Trade Area and the creation of the National Action Committee to oversee its implementation and ensure the necessary safeguards are in place to allow us to fully capitalise on regional and continental markets.

The joint land border security exercise currently taking place is meant to safeguard Nigerias economy and security. No one can doubt that we have been good neighbours and good citizens. We have been the helpers and shock-absorbers of the sub-region but we cannot allow our well-planned economic regeneration plans to be sabotaged. As soon as we are satisfied that the safeguards are adequate, normal cross-border movements will be resumed.

Already, we are making key infrastructure investments to enhance our ease of doing business. On transportation, we are making significant progress on key roads such as the Second Niger Bridge, Lagos Ibadan Expressway and the Abuja Kano highway. 2020 will also see tangible progress on the Lagos to Kano Rail line. Through Executive Order 007, we are also using alternative funding programmes in collaboration with private sector partners to fix strategic roads such as the Apapa-Oworonshoki Express way. Abuja and Port Harcourt have new international airport terminals, as will Kano and Lagos in 2020. When completed, all these projects will positively impact business operations in the country. These projects are not small and do not come without some temporary disruption; we are doing now what should have been done a long time ago. I thank you for your patience and look forward to the dividends that we and future generations will long enjoy.

Power has been a problem for a generation. We know we need to pick up the pace of progress. We have solutions to help separate parts of the value chain to work better together. In the past few months, we have engaged extensively with stakeholders to develop a series of comprehensive solutions to improve the reliability and availability of electricity across the country. These solutions include ensuring fiscal sustainability for the sector, increasing both government and private sector investments in the power transmission and distribution segments, improving payment transparency through the deployment of smart meters and ensuring regulatory actions maximise service delivery.

We have in place a new deal with Siemens, supported by the German government after German Chancellor Angela Merkel visited us in Abuja, to invest in new capacity for generation, transmission and distribution. These projects will be under close scrutiny and transparency there will be no more extravagant claims that end only in waste, theft and mismanagement.

The next 12 months will witness the gradual implementation of these actions, after which Nigerians can expect to see significant improvement in electricity service supply reliability and delivery. Separately, we have plans to increase domestic gas consumption. In the first quarter of 2020, we will commence work on the AKK gas pipeline, OB3 Gas pipeline and the expansion of the Escravos Lagos Pipeline.

While we look to create new opportunities in agriculture, manufacturing and other long neglected sectors, in 2020 we will also realise increased value from oil and gas, delivering a more competitive, attractive and profitable industry, operating on commercial principles and free from political interference. Just last week, we were able to approve a fair framework for the USD10 billion expansion of Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas, which will increase exports by 35 percent, restore our position as a world leader in the sector and create thousands of jobs. The Amendment of the Deep Offshore Act in October signalled our intention to create a modern, forward-looking industry in Nigeria. I am confident that in 2020 we will be able to present a radical programme of reform for oil and gas that will excite investors, improve governance and strengthen protections for host communities and the environment.

We can expect the pace of change in technology only to accelerate in the decade ahead. Coupled with our young and vibrant population, this offers huge opportunities if we are able to harness the most productive trends and tame some of the wilder elements. This is a delicate balance with which many countries are struggling. We are seeking an informed and mature debate that reflects our rights and responsibilities as citizens in shaping the boundaries of how best to allow technology to benefit Nigeria.

During my Democracy Day speech on June 12, 2019, I promised to lay the enduring foundations for taking a hundred million Nigerians out of mass poverty over the next 10 years. Today I restate that commitment. We shall continue reforms in education, health care and water sanitation. I have met international partners such as GAVI, the vaccine alliance, and the Bill

By Ismaila Chafe
The Federal Government says it will complete 47 ongoing road projects, including those leading to the nation ports, and major bridges including substantial work on the Second Niger Bridge in 2020.

President Muhammadu Buhari disclosed this in a letter to Nigerians to commemorate the New Year, which was made available to newsmen on Wednesday in Abuja.

He also revealed that 13 housing estates under the National Housing Project Plan would be completed this year.

According to him, Lagos, Kano, Maiduguri and Enugu international airports will also be inaugurated in 2020.

The president said an agricultural rural mechanisation scheme that would cover 700 local governments over a period of three years would also be inaugurated this year.

Buhari revealed that his administration would be launching the Livestock Development Project Grazing Model in Gombe State where 200,000 hectares of land has been identified;

Training of 50,000 workers to complement the countrys 7,000 extension workers;

Commissioning of the LagosIbadan and ItakpeWarri rail lines in the first quarter;

Commencement of the IbadanAbuja and KanoKaduna rail lines also in the first quarter, the letter read in part.

He stated that the administration would also embark on further liberalisation of the power sector to allow businesses to generate and sell power, while the construction of the Mambilla Power project would commence by the first half of 2020.

According to the president, the construction of the AKK gas pipeline, OB3 gas pipeline and the expansion of the Escravos Lagos pipeline would commence in the first quarter of 2020.

Source: NAN

By Ismaila Chafe
President Muhammadu Buhari has enjoined Nigerians to be tolerant, law abiding and peace loving as the nation enters a decade of prosperity and promise for Nigeria and for Africa.

This is a new year and the beginning of a new decade the Nigerian Decade of prosperity and promise for Nigeria and for Africa, the president said in a letter to Nigerians to mark the beginning of 2020.

The letter was released by the Presidents Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina, in Abuja on Wednesday.

The Nigerian leader attributed the successes recorded by his administration to the support of Nigerians.

This is a joint initiative. Where our policies have worked best, it has been because of the support of ordinary Nigerians in their millions, numbers that even the most powerful of special interests cannot defy. I thank you for your support.

Transition by its very nature carries with it change and some uncertainty along the way, he added.

According to him, his administrations policies are working and the results will continue to show themselves more clearly by the day.

He said: Nigeria is the most tremendous, can-do market, offering extraordinary opportunities and returns. Investors can look forward with confidence not only to an increasing momentum of change but also to specific incentives, including our new visa-on-arrival policy.

On the ongoing crusade against corruption in the country, the president reiterated the determination of his administration to fight all forms of corrupt practices to a standstill

They can also be certain of our unshakeable commitment to tackle corruption.

As we create an environment that allows initiative, enterprise and hard work to thrive, it is more important than ever to call out those who find the rule of law an inconvenience, or independent regulation an irritation.

We are doing our part here in Nigeria. We will continue to press our partners abroad to help with the supply side of corruption and have received some encouragement.

We expect more funds stolen in the past to be returned to us and they will be ploughed back into development with all due transparency, he said.

Source: NAN

By Joan Nwagwu
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has directed state councils to await directive to engage state governors who fails to meet the Dec. 31 deadline implementation of the minimum wage.

The NLC President, Mr Ayuba Wabba said this in a New Year message on Tuesday in Abuja.

We use this medium to implore states that are yet to implement the new national minimum wage including the states that are yet to begin negotiation with labour on the consequential wage adjustment to speedily do the needful.

In tandem with our position as adopted and communicated after a stakeholders meeting on Dec. 11, 2019, organised labour will not guarantee industrial harmony in states that fail to implement the new national minimum wage by Dec. 31, 2019.

We direct our state councils to be on the standby to robustly engage state governments that fail to obey our laws.

We wish to remind State Governors that no excuse would be good enough for failure to pay.

The ongoing revelations on the monumental looting perpetrated by former governors prove that only an intent to loot and deadened conscience, not availability of resources, would be the reason any Governor would hesitate to pay workers the N30,000 new national minimum wage and the consequential adjustment in salaries.

The new national minimum wage is now a law and State Governors do not have the luxury to choose whether to pay or not, he said.

Wabba said in the year 2020, the NLC would mount a very robust campaign for the generation of mass jobs and for already existing jobs to be decent.

He disclosed that the NLC was perfecting plans for a National Job Summit in 2020.

Where it will get stakeholders, experts, policymakers, concerned demographics and workers on a roundtable to find answers and solutions to Nigerias burgeoning unemployment crisis.

We also commend the states already paying the new national minimum wage and consequential adjustment in salaries for assuming the pacesetter status, he added.

The NLC president said the congress have resolved to protect, promote and prioritize workers and pensioners welfare as it would be indefatigable.

He also said that the congress would continue to be the voice for the oppressed and downtrodden.

We will dare the enemies of Nigerian workers and people and we will triumph by the grace of God. Nigerian workers under the leadership of the NLC will continue to work assiduously towards the promotion of national security, peace and unity.

We will continue to put the needed weight on the things that unite us and hold in contempt the things that seek to divide us.

We encourage our political leaders to exemplify the same by their utterances and conduct. By so doing, we will be laying an enduring foundation for national peace, unity, and development, Wabba said.

Source: NAN

President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday in Abuja signed the 2020 appropriation bill of N10,594,362,364,830 into law.

News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the budget was increased from N10.33 trillion to N10.594billion by the National Assembly.

NAN observed that N560.47 billion of the total budget is for statutory transfers while N2.7 trillion is for debt service.

Other breakdown of the budget include N4,842,974,600,640 for Recurrent Expenditure; Capital expenditure N2,465,418,006,955; Fiscal Deficit N2.28 trillion and Deficit/GDP N1.52 per cent.

The budget as passed by the National Assembly also maintained Nigeria’s daily oil production rate at 2.18 million per barrel, but increased the Oil Benchmark Price to 57 dollars per barrel against the 55 dollars proposed by the Executive.

The signed 2020 budget also retained inflation rate at 10.81 per cent and the exchange rate at N305 to a dollars as proposed by the executive.

Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo; Senate President Ahmad Lawan; the Speaker, House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila; Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr Boss Mustapha as well as presidential aides witnessed the signing of the budget at President’s mini-conference hall.

Miss Nigeria was so over the moon when the winner of the Miss World title was announced in London Saturday that it appeared she was the victor. But her delighted screams and happy dance were all for her pal, Miss Jamaica Toni-Ann Singh.

Singh, 23, seemed overwhelmed when her name was announced as the new Miss World, but all was well when Miss Nigeria Nyekachi Douglas, 21, pulled her and Miss Brazil Elis Coelho, 19, into a tight hug.

Douglas was generous again during an interview after the show ended.

It’s Singh who’s “amazing,” Douglas said. “She would be the one who would be like, ‘Listen, you’ve got this.’”

Singh’s win means that for the first time in history, Miss USA, Miss Teen USA, Miss America, Miss Universe and Miss World are all Black women.

Douglas’ joy for Singh struck a chord on social media:

Absolutely amazing in all my years of watching never seen another queen this excited about someone else's win. #MissNigeria you are simply the best. https://t.co/KwqstlFCGf

— Tє̲̣̣̣̥mptє̲̣̣̣̥d (@millibrown1) December 15, 2019

#MissWorld2019

Miss Jamaica :- Won the Miss World 2019 🙏

Miss Nigeria:- Won The World's heart ❤️❤️❤️
We need this type of friends and support in our life ...❣️ pic.twitter.com/4UI0HHUitL

— Satyendra (@SatyendraRajan7) December 15, 2019

Miss Nigeria really is a gem.. pic.twitter.com/ouPcVct5A9

— Rheem 🇯🇲🇰🇾 (@drheeme) December 14, 2019

Congratulations to Miss Jamaica for winning #MissWorld2019! Now I want to be BFFs with Miss Nigeria ❤️ pic.twitter.com/yhlgtYaWhi

— PGAG (@PGAG_PH) December 15, 2019

In 2020 when your friend starts a new business, podcast, therapy, anything that enhances their life.

Be her Miss Nigeria. 🇳🇬🇳🇬❤️❤️

pic.twitter.com/h6hPEhV7oB

— Marianne Sunshine (@MissMSunshine_) December 14, 2019

Miss Nigeria is so selfless. Love her reaction ❣️#MissWorld2019 pic.twitter.com/5pZmuqPTrJ

— ᴶᴴᴬ ; (@JhaDMabool) December 15, 2019

Douglas is a public health student who hopes to one day have her own fashion brand. Singh was born in St. Thomas and graduated from Florida State University with degrees in psychology and women’s studies, according to the Miss World web site. She plans to enter medical school in the future.

No regrets, I still believe in love

Popular Gospel artist Nikki Laoye has hinted at the end of her marriage to singer Alex Oturu several months after speculations on social media. The female singer recently shared a post pointing out her inability to mark her 8th wedding anniversary. Laoye noted that she has no regrets and still believes in the power of love.

It appears another celebrity marriage in the Nigerian entertainment industry has come to an inevitable end, and this time around, it involves a popular female gospel artist.

The gospel musician, Nikki Laoye, recently took to the Instastory channel of her page, pointing out that Wednesday, December 11, should have marked the occasion of her 8th wedding anniversary.

She, accompanied the sentence with a different paragraph that suggested that she is no longer with her husband, Alex Oturu.

View this post on Instagram

#PrettyNikki in a @kikikamanu creation. Had an Awesome time, ministering our original inspirational piece, #WeBelieveByLMGC tonight at #TE14 #TheExperienceLagos . . We pray because We believe that our sun will rise and shine again in Nigeria, We will win every battle that concerns us as a Nation, as a people in Jesus name Amen. . . #NikkiLaoye #SoulSinger #GodLoveLife #TheNikkiLaoyeExperience #13YearsOfNikkiLaoye #NikkiLaoyeLive

A post shared by Nikki Laoye 🇳🇬 (@nikkilaoye) on Dec 6, 2019 at 6:40pm PST

Laoye noted that life happens, and she is grateful to God for the fact that everyone is alive and well.

"I just realised that today would have been my 8th year wedding anniversary, But hey, life happens.In everything, I still give God thanks because everyone is doing great.

Everyone is Alive and well and we will all find the happiness that we truly need in Jesus name Amen," her post read.

The songstress added that she does not have nay regret, and she still believes in the power of love.

Nikki's post comes after several months of widespread speculations about her divorce on social media.

At least one person lost her life when a trailer conveying an excavator, failed break and ran into several vehicles at the Manya interchange Wednesday morning.

A middle age lady was said to have lost her life while several others were badly injured in the accident.

The FCT Ministerial Task Team on Traffic Free Flow was commended for clearing traders off the road before 9:30am when the accident occurred.

The trailer conveying an excavator to a construction site fails break while descending Kugbo Hill. On getting to Nyanya it crushed several vehicles before smashing Golf Volkswagen saloon car which was totally crushed.

The remains of the dead woman has since been conveyed to the Nyanya General Hospital Mortuary while the injured were moved to the Asokoro District Hospital by the Federal Road Safety Corps.

The Chairman, FCT Ministerial Task Team on Traffic Free Flow, Ikharo Attah, who joined in the rescue believe it’s time for roadside trading to stop across the FCT to forestall such disasters in the future.

Attah also called on drivers of heavy duty vehicles to ensure their vehicles are always in good shape, particularly their breaks.

A giant 4m-long (13ft) king cobra was discovered in a housing estate in southern Thailand on Sunday - and catching it wasn't easy.

Rescuers later released it into the wild, and said it was one of the biggest they had ever encountered.

One AIbrahim Aremu has been arrested by the Ogun State Police Command for allegedly being in possession of about 300 wraps of Indian hemp.

He was arrested following information received by the police at Enugada division about his activities as a leader of a cult group terrorising Itun Seriki community, Totoro Abeokuta.

Information further revealed that the suspect is also a ‘big-time’ dealer in illicit drugs and that his cult group always uses his abode as their meeting point from where they plan how to carry out their notorious activities.

A passenger identified as Chukwuma Anthony Ezeh, on Wednesday slumped and died at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos.

An official source at the MMIA arrival terminal told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the passenger slumped on arrival from China and died while waiting to collect his luggage

Ezeh, according to information on his passport, was 47 years old at the time of the incident.

Spokesperson of the Police MMIA Command, DSP Joseph Alabi, who confirmed the incident to NAN at about 9.25p.m. on Wednesday, said the passenger came on board Ethiopian Airline.

According to him, the incident happened at about 3:15p.m. and the deceased was confirmed dead at the MMIA Clinic.

“While walking at the arrival hall the man slumped and died,” he said.

Alabi added that Ezeh’s corpse had been deposited at the Air Force Base Hospital mortuary. (NAN)

Following his untimely death on Sunday morning in Chicago, US rapper, Jarad Anthony Higgins widely known as Juice WRLD is now the most most-streamed artiste in the United States.

According to a report Rolling Stone, the Chicago rapper’s discography earned more than 38. 2 million streams on Sunday, which was the same day he died, nearly 24 million more than any other artist has received that day.

BuzzAngle Music’s numbers for project units, which is a measure that tallies digital and physical album sales, digital song sales, and audio streams, shows that Juice’s latest album, Deathrace for Love, sold 10,300 project units the day Juice Wrld died.

While his debut album Goodbye & Good Riddance sold 13,000 units,

His succesful single “Lucid Dreams” was the most-streamed song on the day of his death. The song was also the leader in digital sales after it racked up 3,000 digital downloads while his song “Legends” earned 1,700 downloads.

Other songs like “Robbery” and “All Girls Are The Same” all trailed behind “Legends” and “Lucid Dreams,” which samples Sting.

The 21-year-old rapper died after he suffered a seizure at Chicago’s Midway International Airport on Sunday, which caused him to bleed from the mouth.

He was pronounced dead shortly after the rapper arrived at the hospital.

His ex-girlfriend, Alexia Smith, in an interview with Daily Mail also claimed that she witnessed him abusing drugs while they dated in 2018.

A 60-year-old man, Taofeek Shotayo, is currently in police custody for allegedly having carnal knowledge of the 10-year-old stepdaughter of his neighbour, after luring the innocent girl with N600.

Abimbola Oyeyemi, Ogun State Police Public Relations Officer, said the incident happened at the Obantoko area of Abeokuta.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, Oyeyemi said the suspect was arrested on Monday following a complaint lodged at the Aregbe Police Station by the victim’s stepfather.

The PPRO explained that the suspect allegedly lured the victim into his room in the Abule Aro area of Obantoko, Abeokuta, with N600 and defiled her.

“The complainant stated that he got to know about the incident when he and the victim’s mother noticed a sudden change in her behaviour, which prompted them to question her intensively. The victim narrated how the randy old man slept with her after he had given her N600 and further stated that it was the second time he would defile her.

“Upon the report, the DPO, Aregbe Division, DSP Ope Olasunkanmi, detailed his detectives to the scene and the suspect was promptly arrested. He has made a confessional statement to the police, while the victim has been taken to hospital for medical attention.”

Commissioner of Police, Kenneth Ebrimson, has ordered that the suspect be transferred to the Anti-Human Trafficking and Child Labour Unit of the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department for further investigation and prosecution.

The Rivers State Police Command has assured that its homicide department would do everything within its powers to bring to book suspected rapists and murderers of a final year student of the Rivers State University identified as Miss. Itonyo Maltida Mark.

The 24-year old was said to have been raped and then brutally stabbed by her assailants inside her off campus apartment close to Eagle Island part of Port Harcourt.

Matilda’s body was found in pool of her blood in the early hours of Tuesday, December 10.

The Command’s Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Nnamdi Omoni, also a Lawyer, confirmed the incident and that the remains of the lady had been evacuated and deposited at the morgue.

Omoni also said the immediate family of the deceased had been contacted and that they were helping the police with information to unravel the mysterious murder.

There was outpouring of lamentations by people around when an ambulance, accompanied by security personnel, evacuated her lifeless body from her apartment in Eagle lsland, Port Harcourt.

American singer and actress, ‘Cassie’ Elizabeth Ventura has shared the first glimpse of her baby daughter, Frankie Stone Fine on social media.

The “Me & You” singer was pictured holding her daughter’s hand in the adorable black and white image posted to her Instagram page.

“She’s just different. Frankie Stone Fine. My BFF”, she captioned the photo.

View this post on Instagram

She’s just different. Frankie Stone Fine. My BFF.

A post shared by Casandra (@cassie) on Dec 11, 2019 at 9:10pm PST

The 32-year-old Cassie, parted ways with American rapper and businessman, P Diddy after 11 years together. Thereafter, she found love again in Alex Fine, her personal trainer.

According to TMZ, the couple christened the new baby born in L.A. County hospital on Friday, December 6 Frankie Stone Fine.

The baby girl weighed in at 8 lbs., 4 oz and measured a smidge over 21 inches long at birth.

PUNCH AND ITS SINISTER MOTIVES FOR ATTACKS ON PRESIDENT BUHARI

The reported new editorial policy of the Punch Newspapers to address President Muhammadu Buhari as Major General in his official title and refer to his government as a regime instead of administration, comes to us as totally curious and utterly incredible.

The paper claimed that it is changing President Buhari’s official title to General because of his government’s alleged disregard for the rule of law.

Major General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd), for that is his title, and he was indeed a Major General, but today retired from that position and now twice democratically elected president of Nigeria – is not the choice of Punch Newspaper’s editors and owners, that is clear.

He is, however, the two-time electoral choice of the voters of Nigeria, those very people who Punch Newspapers described this morning as “lethargic”: a disdaining epithet apportioned to decent, hard-working, everyday Nigerians for not agreeing with, and for not having voted in line with their publication’s editorial and political opinions.

Punch’s editorial today is, however, entirely in line with holding and exercising the right of free speech and freedom of the press, as my friend and colleague, Femi Adesina said earlier today.

Femi, Special Adviser, Media and Publicity said the fact the Punch can insult the President in a front page editorial and they go home to sleep, peacefully, is the best testimony to the prevalence of the freedom of the press and of expression in the country.

To quote him, “rather than being pejorative, addressing President Buhari by his military rank is another testimony to free speech and freedom of the press, which this administration (or regime, if anyone prefers: it is a matter of semantics) has pledged to uphold and preserve.”

In countries around the world where this right does not exist, newspapers do not publish articles such as the one Punch did today; nor do they get to express political opinions contrary to that of government. The exact freedoms Punch claims are missing are self-evident here – in print, on the internet – for all Nigerians and the whole world to see.

There is nothing wrong with expressing contrary opinions to this government – nor being in opposition to the president: this is the right of very Nigerian.

However, calling for the armed overthrow of the democratically elected administration is a different matter entirely: this Punch has in no way done – but others who they seek to defend, have.

There is the difference. Punch: oppose the government as much as you want to.

We welcome your contribution to the debate. But we ask you not to throw insults at the good voters of Nigeria for not agreeing to your choice at the last election.

Oppose in good humour: for that is the mark of the true democrat – that which you purport to be.

It is not within the power or rights of a newspaper to unilaterally and whimsically change the formal official title or the designation of the country’s President as it pleases.

It is unprecedented and absurd in our recent political history. The Punch never changed President Olusegun Obasanjo’s title from the President to General Obasanjo, despite the latter’s refusal to comply with Supreme Court judgment, ordering him to release N30 billion of Lagos State local councils funds.

When General Ibrahim Babangida who wasn’t democratically elected assumed the title of President, why didn’t the Punch challenge him or address him by any title it so desired?

In fact, IBB closed media houses for several months and years, including Punch.

But the paper didn’t stop addressing him as President, despite the fact that he wasn’t elected.

It is obvious that the Punch newspapers are playing partisan opposition politics which has nothing to do with journalism.

The Constitution of Nigeria recognises the President as the formal official title of the occupant of that office. Can the Punch newspapers, in their hubris address the President as Prime Minister as it pleases?

Is it within the paper’s responsibility or power to change the official title of the man who occupies the office of the President? Does that mean any newspaper is free to address the Comptroller General of Customs a Colonel rather than his official title?

The Punch newspaper should separate journalism from partisan politics. What it is embarking upon is purely political and it is designed to play to the gallery and cause confusion.

Punch Newspaper’s double standards in cuddling some of our past dictators and their open contempt for President Buhari clearly show that the paper has sinister motives for its current curious editorial judgment. Its personal hatred for and animus towards President Buhari should not be allowed to becloud its good judgment.

Garba Shehu is the Senior Special Assistant to the President.

Source: NAN

A 20-year-old man, Yusuf Umar, from the Kwami Local Government Area of Gombe State, and his 28-year-old accomplice, Nasiru Hassam, of the Barunde Quarter, Gombe, have been arrested by the police for criminal conspiracy, armed robbery and kidnapping.

The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, SP Mary Malum, said this while parading the suspects before journalists.

According to her, the suspects were arrested after the police received and acted on credible intelligence.

She said, “The suspects criminally conspired and robbed one Alhaji Abubakar Mohammed, 72, of the Yelwa Quarter, Dadinkowa, of the sum of N200,000, kidnapped and kept him in the Dukul hills in the Kwami Local Government Area of the state and collected a ransom of N9m before releasing him after 19 days.

“Subsequently, suspects were arrested in the Keandon Liji area of the Yamaltu Deba Local Government Area. The suspects confessed to the crime and will soon be charged. Exhibits recovered from them included two mobile telephones.”

Malum also said police personnel and local hunters arrested one Saleh Usman, alias Nagombe, 30, and Abdullahi Dangwamna, 35, from the Balanga Local Government Area, for alleged criminal conspiracy and armed robbery.

Their accomplices, Lawan Boda, Babangida, Iro and Niga, are however still at large and have been declared wanted by the police in connection with the case.

The PPRO said, “The suspects kidnapped one 53-year-old Pastor Husseini Umar, took him to an unknown destination after stealing some valuables from him, which amounted to N60,000; thereafter, they collected N6m as ransom from his family before he was released.

“The modus operandi of the hoodlums is using a member of the syndicate to trail and identify the house of their victims before they strike late in the night.”

She said the command was determined to rid the state of criminal elements.

Towards this end, Malum appealed to members of the public to assist the police with credible information about criminals and their hideouts to enable the command to act accordingly.

Ocholi Edicha, the principal suspect in the killing of Kogi Peoples Democratic Party woman leader, late Salome Abuh, has confessed to slapping her on the day of the state governorship election in the state over what he termed, “party issues.”

Ocholi Edicha said this at the Kogi State police command headquarters, Lokoja, while he was being paraded.

The suspect, however, denied having a hand in the incident that led to her death.

Edicha, who claimed to be a member of the ruling All Progressives Congress, said, “It is true that we had issues on the day of the election, and I slapped her, but I did not participate in her killing.”

Earlier, the state police commissioner, Hakeem Busari, had told journalists how the suspects were arrested.

He said that “On 18th November, at about 1630 hours, one Musa Etu of Ochadamu, Ofu Local Government Area of Kogi State reported at Ofu police Station that at about 1030hours of the same date, there was a misunderstanding between one Awolu Zekeri ( late) and Gowon Simeon both of Ochadamu.

“In the process, Gowon Simeon stabbed Awolu Zekeri with a knife on his lap and (he) died on his way to the hospital.”

He said that angry youths in the area mobilised to the house of one Simeon Abuh, who is an uncle to the suspect and set the house ablaze thereby burning Mrs Salome Abuh, aged 60, to death.

The commissioner said the police launched a manhunt for the suspects and arrested six in connection with the killing.

Those arrested include Edicha, Adamu Haruna, Onu Egbunu, Musa Alidu, Atai Haruna Egwu and Attach Ejeh

The commissioner said that all the suspects have confessed to their involvement in the killing of Abuh and would be charged to court as soon as investigation is concluded.

Actress Eniola Badmus recently launched a media platform which she calls Eniola Badmus TV and seemed to be enjoying every moment of the beginning of her dream come through until she was reminded to 'work harder'.

It turns out that in a recent interview, top actress Omotola Jalade was asked to send a shout out to Eniola Badmus TV and her response didn't quite sit well with Badmus who insinuated that it was condescending.

In the clip which Eniola shared on her Instagram with a caption in which she promises to 'work harder till she needs no introduction', Jalade who was asked to send a shout out to the actress' media fit responded saying "oh Eniola Badmus, she's an actress, isn't she.."

View this post on Instagram

I WILL WORK HARDER TO THE POINT THAT I WILL NEED NO INTRODUCTION THANK YOU FOR REMINDING ME TO PUT IN MORE WORK #SavageAnswer #SomedayIwillbeGreat #WorkHarder #EniolaBadmustv #EniolaBadmus

A post shared by ENIOLABADMUS On Snapchat 🇳🇬 (@eniola_badmus) on Dec 10, 2019 at 7:00am PST

It can be argued that Jalade meant nothing by it and was just acknowledging that she knew the name and the person but in life, perception is everything and Badmus' perception of the moment appears to be that Jalade was being 'snubbish'.

Jalade is yet to clear the air on what she meant by her comment.

Omotola recently also bagged a honorary degree from the Igbinedion University, Okada.

Omotola was honored for her outstanding and immense contribution to driving the art sector of the country.