SABINEWS EVENING NEWS UPDATE – MARCH 3, 2019
Those who describe last election as the worst in Nigeria are wrong —NBA chief
A former National Legal Adviser of the Nigerian Bar Association, Mr. Rafiu Balogun, said on Sunday that anyone who says the February 23, 2019 election was the worst in Nigeria’s history is incorrect. Balogun, who said that the presidential and National Assembly elections of February 23 were credible and fair, hinged his assessments on what he called “the barrage of accolades coming from foreign observers and international communities,” saying they “lent credence to the credibility of the poll.” The former NBA Ilorin chairman advised People’s Democratic Party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, to approach the court if he has genuine evidence of electoral infractions. He also cautioned opposition leaders against making “incendiary comments,” urging them to “shun any act capable of throwing the nation into chaos.”
Buhari’s victory, Igbo should prepare for 2023 – Imo monarch
The traditional ruler of Ihim autonomous community in Isiala Mbano local government area, Imo state, Eze Oliver Ohanwe, Sunday called on the Igbo political leaders to brace up for 2023 presidency. Ihim who spoke to newsmen in Owerri, said that he was justified in his call for Ndigbo to back Buhari’s second term, agenda. He also pleaded with Buhari to use his re-election for another four years to address the issues which Nigerians bitterly complained.
Lagos Governorship: Adebule urges residents to vote for APC
The Lagos State Deputy Governor, Dr Idiat Adebule, has urged electorate in the state to vote massively for the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidates in March 9 Governorship and House of Assembly Election. Adebule said their votes would guarantee dividends of democracy and impactful governance in the state. She made the call at a stakeholders’ meeting in Ojo, Lagos on Sunday. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the meeting was held to strategise on how to mobilise more people to vote during the elections.
Failed prophecies on Buhari, Atiku presidential poll contest
Many Nigerian pastors and prophecies are like Siamese twins. There is hardly any salient issue they don’t make prophesy on. But most times, the fabulous predictions, usually attributed to inspiration from God, are always inaccurate.
The last presidential election received several unsolicited prophecies which particularly targeted President Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress and Alhaji Atiku Abubakar of the People’s Democratic Party. Though the predictions appeared scary and laughable, they later turned out to be wide of the mark. One of the prophecy merchants is a Nigerian pastor based in South Africa, Samuel Akinbodunse. The dark-skinned cleric in a video, which circulated on the Internet weeks before electioneering, walked with a measured spring in his step as he spoke to the congregation inside the capacious Freedom For All Nations Outreach church.
Nigeria court says extradition of Cameroon separatists ‘illegal’
A Nigerian court has condemned as “illegal and unconstitutional” the arrest and deportation of Cameroonian separatists who had applied for asylum in Nigeria, the lawyers representing them said Sunday. In January 2018, Nigeria arrested and deported 47 anglophone separatists who had fled Cameroon following a crackdown by the authorities.The move was denounced by UNHCR, the UN refugee agency, which said most of them had filed asylum claims and accused Nigeria of breaching international agreements. “Justice Chikere declared the arrest and detention of the 12 applicants illegal,” said a statement from Nigerian law firm Falana & Falana, referring to a ruling issued this week in the capital Abuja.
Refineries post N114.3bn loss in 11 months
Nigeria’s refineries posted a cumulative loss of N114.3bn in the first 11 months of 2018, latest industry data have revealed. Figures obtained from the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation on Friday in Abuja showed that the Kaduna Refining and Petrochemical Company, Port Harcourt Refining Company and Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company made losses in the months under review. The KRPC made a deficit of N31.62bn, PHRC recorded N44.2bn loss, while WRPC lost N38.5bn. The losses were from January to November 2018. Further analysis of figures received from the national oil firm showed that the expenses incurred by the refineries were higher than the revenue they generated during the specified period.
Hundreds flee as pipeline explodes in Bayelsa
A major Nigerian oil pipeline has exploded, local police said Sunday, forcing nearby residents to flee and raising suspicions of possible sabotage. The Nembe Creek Trunk pipeline runs from an oil terminal in Bonny to the state of Bayelsa with capacity of 150,000 barrels per day. The explosion happened on Friday. “We have not been officially briefed on the incident, but it occurred,” Bayelsa State Police spokesman Asinim Butswat told AFP. “No lives were lost as a result of the explosion and we can’t confirm if it was an attack by militants or an equipment failure unless the people managing the facility go there” to determine the cause, he said.
Aina, Omeruo most improved Super Eagles players — CIES
Ola Aina and Kenneth Omeruo have been ranked the most in-form Nigerian players in Europe’s top five leagues for the month of February by CIES Football Observatory. The CIES Football Observatory has rated players on a match-by-match basis by taking into account the pitch production and efficiency at both individual and collective level to compile the list. The statistics suggest Ola Aina was the most outstanding Nigerian player last month, with a ranking of 78.8 ahead of CD Leganes defender Omeruo at 72.7. The wing-back is enjoying a fine season at Torino and played ninety minutes each in their four games against SPAL, Udinese, Napoli and Atalanta last month, scoring his maiden goal in the Serie A on February 10 and helping the team post four shutouts.
Nigeria’s Kamaru Usman makes history with first UFC title
Nigeria’s Kamaru Usman became first African-born fighter to win a UFC title after pummelling Tyron Woodley in a one-sided bout at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The 31-year-old Usman, a Nigerian-born Texan and former NCAA Division II wrestler, broke into the UFC in 2015 on its long-running competition reality show. He won his first eight UFC bouts and battered ex-champ Rafael Dos Anjos last November to earn his shot at Woodley’s belt.
Man City news: Pep Guardiola challenges Riyad Mahrez to take chance after winner vs Bournemouth
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has told record signing Riyad Mahrez he must be positive and ready to seize future first-team opportunities following his match-winning contribution at Bournemouth. Winger Mahrez ended a three-month Premier League goal drought at the Vitality Stadium by stepping off the bench to fire the champions back to the top of the table. The Algeria international has made only 11 top-flight starts since his £60 million switch to the Etihad Stadium last summer and been restricted to just 124 minutes of league action in 2019.
How Lionel Messi and Barcelona teammates were rewarded for Real Madrid win
Barcelona boss Ernesto Valverde has given his stars time off to celebrate their 1-0 victory over Real Madrid in El Clasico. In their second victory in the Bernabeu in four days, Barca claimed all three points thanks to Ivan Rakitic’s first-half strike. And, according to Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo, Valverde has cancelled a scheduled training session to allow his players time to bask in the victory. Rakitic decided a tempestuous affair which saw Sergio Ramos catch Lionel Messi with a stray elbow. The win came after Barca triumphed 3-0 at the same venue in midweek to reach a fifth successive Copa del Rey final. It leaves Real 12 points adrift in the title race, but Valverde is not counting out Los Blancos just yet.
In Hanoi and at home, the Trump show flops
What a big double bill it was — President Donald Trump taking the world stage for a nuclear summit with Kim Jong Un of North Korea, just as his former fixer-lawyer, Michael Cohen, was appearing before a Congressional committee for a one-man revue about schemes, lies and porn-star payoffs. Two shows, same theme, wrote Frida Ghitis: a President exposed. “A clear portrait of a morally hollow presidency.” “Cohen described a man devoid of principles and determined to win in pursuit of money, power and prestige,” Ghitis said. “And, in Hanoi, we saw the risks of having such a man as President.” She was referring, in part, to Trump’s “shameful” betrayal of an American citizen, Otto Warmbier, when Trump told the world that he accepted the dictator’s word that Kim didn’t know North Korea had fatally tortured Warmbier.
Google’s commitment not to renew its military contract for Project Maven comes with a caveat
Last year, when news broke that Google had been awarded a military contract to develop AI for Project Maven, it stirred up no shortage of controversy — some of which is still coming to light. This led to many employees questioning the ethical and moral implications of such work, spurring many to resign, and many more to protest. In the end, Google conceded to the demands of its employees and has grappled with something of an identity crisis since. Recently, in an email obtained by The Intercept, Google appeared to reiterate its commitment not to renew its contract with the Pentagon. The email was penned by Kent Walker, Google’s senior vice president for global affairs. “Last June, we announced we would not be renewing our image-recognition contract with the US Department of Defense connected with Project Maven,” Walker wrote.
Amazon has a $120 Logitech Harmony universal remote for just $35
The Logitech Harmony 665 10-Device Universal Remote is one of the most popular Logitech Harmony models around. It has all the great features you want without overcomplicated bells and whistles like touchscreens, so it makes sense that it’s so popular. It also costs about $120 new though, so it’s out of reach for many people… unless of course you follow the BGR Deals team, because we just found refurbs on Amazon for $35 each!
