President Muhammadu Buhari is currently hosting some members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) national caucus at the State House, Abuja to a dinner.

The APC chieftains at the dinner include the party’s national chairman, Senator Abdullahi Adamu; former national chairmen, Bisi Akande and John Odigie-Oyegun; the party’s Secretary, Senator Iyiola Omisore, and some APC governors.

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LEADERSHIP gathered that the meeting was a follow-up to the earlier consultations the President had with various party stakeholders to elect a consensus presidential candidate at the Tuesday’s national convention of the party.

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Buhari Meets APC Caucus, Govs Over Consensus Candidate

Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, on Friday said he’s not an emperor by any chance, in what appeared to be a direct response to the presidential aspirant, Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s outburst in Abeokuta, the state capital.

Tinubu on Thursday angrily told Abiodun how he made him Governor in 2019.

He spoke at presidential lodge in Abeokuta, the state capital, while addressing the APC delegates ahead of the party’s primaries.

Tinubu was in company of Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo – Olu, his Kano counterpart, Umar Ganduje and former Borno State Governor, Kashim Shettima.

Governor Abiodun had openly endorsed the candidature of Osinbajo, who hails from Ikenne in Ikenne Local Government Area of the state.

Tinubu was apparently dissatisfied with Abiodun’s endorsement of Osinbajo.

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“It has been over 25 years now that I have been serving them. This one sitting behind me, Dapo, can he say he can be the Governor without me? We were together at the MKO Abiola stadium, he was intimated, they didn’t want to give the party’s flag, I was the one that handed the flag to him. He knows that he cannot be the governor without the help of God and my support.

“If he wants to meet God at the right place, he must know that without God and me, he would not have become Governor,” he said.

Abiodun did not give any response to Tinubu’s outburst at the event as he only assured that the party delegates would do the “right thing” at the convention.

However, less than twenty four hours after the drama, Abiodun on his social media platforms, declared that he was not an emperor by any chance.

He added that the position he occupies isn’t his family inheritance.

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Abiodun didn’t mention Tinubu’s name in his post, but his comments were seen as a subtle reply to the former governor’s remarks.

“I am not an emperor by any chance and this is not my family inheritance.

“I am holding this position in trust for all the people of this state and I have vowed to be fair, just and equitable and this is the solemn agreement I made between the Almighty God and myself,” he said.

APC Primaries: I’m Not Emperor, Says Dapo Abiodun 

Susan Pwajok, a Nollywood actress popular for her role as Blessing in ‘The Johnsons’ has sparked dating rumors with singer, Ruger.

The thespian took to her social media page to share a slideshow video of she and Ruger’s romantic moments with the accompaniment of Wiz Khalifa and Charlie Puth’s “See you again” playing in the background.

As could be observed from the video, there appears to be a serious thing going on between the two love birds as Ruger could be seen affectionately using his fingers to play with her cheeks.

Susan Pwajok Confirms Relationship With Singer, Ruger

Celebrations marking the Queen's Platinum Jubilee have kicked off in London and around the United Kingdom, with huge crowds lining the streets of the British capital to catch a glimpse of the festivities.

The Queen, 96, appeared on the balcony of Buckingham Palace with other working royals as the Royal Air Force performed a fly-over featuring the Red Arrows aerobatic flight team as well as historic military aircraft.

The Platinum Jubilee will feature four days of parties, parades and pomp to pay tribute to the 96-year-old monarch and her 70-year reign on the British throne.

The celebrations began on Thursday morning with Trooping the Colour, a military parade performed by members of the British Army which dates back to the 17th century.

Part of the parade was interrupted by several protesters, who jumped crowd barriers and ran out onto the Mall boulevard in front of Buckingham Palace and laid on the road in front of a marching band.

It comes as police warn people to stay away from the event, with viewing sites quickly filling up.

"The viewing areas in central London for the Queen's Platinum Jubilee celebrations are now full," the Metropolitan Police said in a statement.

"To avoid the disappointment of not being able to enter the viewing areas please avoid the area."

Earlier on Thursday, the Queen thanked those involved in the celebrations to mark her Platinum Jubilee.

Prince Charles, 73, Prince William, 39, and the Queen's daughter, Princess Anne, arrived on horseback. 

Charles and William will carry out other ceremonial duties on the Queen's behalf, although much attention will be focused on those who will not be present.

Second son Prince Andrew, 62, who settled a US lawsuit in February in which he was accused of sexually abusing American woman Virginia Roberts Giuffre when she 17, is not expected to attend.

Prince Harry, now living in Los Angeles with his wife Meghan, attended the parade but was absent when the royal family gathered on the palace balcony to watch the fly-past.

Queen of England celebrates 70 years on the throne

Queen Elizabeth Celebrates 70 Years on The Throne

A lot has been discussed and dissected since March when Will Smith walked up on stage and slapped comedian Chris Rock during the Oscar Awards over a joke that Rock made at Smith's wife, Jada Pinkett Smith's expense. 

Now, Jada has addressed the infamous incident for the first time in detail during the June 1 episode of her series 'Red Table Talk'. Prior to this Jada had only indirectly responded to the issue by posting a meme that read, "This is a season for healing. And I'm here for it."

The new episode of 'Red Table Talk' focused on alopecia, a disorder that Jada has been diagnosed with a few years back. Jada spoke about the slapping incident in the context of alopecia.

Smith had slapped Rock on the Oscars stage for joking about Pinkett Smith`s bald head, which she shaved because of her own battle with alopecia.

"This is a really important 'Red Table Talk' on alopecia. Considering what I've been through with my own health and what happened at the Oscars, thousands have reached out to me with their stories," Pinkett Smith said at the start of the episode.

She continued, "I'm using this moment to give our alopecia family an opportunity to talk about what it's like to have this condition and to inform people about what alopecia actually is."

"Now about Oscar night, my deepest hope is that these two intelligent, capable men have an opportunity to heal, talk this out and reconcile. In the state of the world today, we need them both. And we all actually need one another more than ever. Until then, Will and I are continuing to do what we have done for the last 28 years, and that keeps figuring out this thing called life together. Thank you for listening," Pinkett Smith added.

Days after the slapping incident, the Academy suspended Smith from its membership for 10 years because of his violent actions at the Oscars. 

Rock is yet to publicly address the slap in detail outside of making brief jokes about it on his current stand-up tour. Ahead of the suspension announcement, Will Smith had resigned from the Academy. Smith had issued a public apology to Rock a day after the incident.

Jada Pinkett Smith wants Will Smith and Chris Rock to make up

President Muhammadu Buhari has arrived in Spain on a state visit at the invitation of the country’s President, Pedro Sanchez, the first by the Nigerian leader.

Pictures released by the Presidency suggested that the President and his entourage arrived in Madrid, the Spanish capital city on Tuesday evening.

His Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, had hinted in a statement that President Buhari would hold separates with President Sanchez and the Head of State of the Spanish nation, King Felipe VI, during the visit.

During his engagements with both leaders, he is expected to discuss issues of mutual interest to Nigeria and Spain which would result in the signing of Agreements and Memoranda of Understanding on a wide range of topics geared towards further enhancing the bilateral relations between the two nations.

Such areas, Adesina stated, include extradition and transfer of convicted persons, mutual legal assistance, cultural matters, cooperation towards fighting crime and enhancing security, as well as issues affecting dependants of diplomatic staff.

Also on the agenda are cooperation on energy, trade and investment, transportation, public health, and sports development.

According to his spokesman, President Buhari will also be the Special Guest at an Investment Forum jointly organised by the Spanish Chamber of Commerce, the Ministry of Trade, and the Confederation of Employers (CEOE) where he will speak to the gathering of top members of the Spanish business community and their Nigerian counterparts on the investment opportunities in Nigeria and ways of expanding the volume of trade, as well as further collaborating for the development of the economies of both countries.

Ministers who accompanied him on the trip include Geoffrey Onyeama (Foreign Affairs), Abubakar Malami (Justice), Adeniyi Adebayo (Industry, Trade, and Investment), Lai Mohammed (Information and Culture), Rauf Aregbesola (Interior), Sunday Dare (Youth and Sports Development), and Olorunnimbe Mamora (Health – State).

Other members of the delegation are the National Security Adviser, Babagana Monguno; Director-General of National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ahmed Abubakar, and Chairman of Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa.

The President is expected back in the country on Friday.

Buhari Arrives Madrid, To Meet With Spanish President

The recently imposed ban on the operation of commercial motorcycles, popularly called Okada, in six Local Governments and nine local council development areas of Lagos State by the state Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, takes effect from Wednesday (today).

Rports states that the Governr of the state, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, had on May 18, 2022, announced the ban at a meeting with the state Commissioner of Police, Area Commanders and Divisional Police Officers at the State House in Alausa.

Effective from June 1, 2022, the governor directed security operatives to enforce the proscription order across the councils: Eti-Osa, Ikeja, Surulere, Lagos Island, Lagos Mainland, and Apapa.

As the enforcement begins, the Lagos Ferry Services said it has deployed more boats and increased daily operational trips at terminals and jetties located within areas in the state where activities of commercial motorcyclists have been banned.

The Head, Public Affairs, LAGFERRY, Akeem Odusina, made this known in a statement made available to newsmen on Tuesday.

The terminal and jetties, according to the statement, include the Badore terminal, Badore; Ipakodo terminal, Ikorodu; Five Cowries terminal, Ikoyi; CMS/Victoria Island terminal; Liverpool terminal, Apapa and Ilaje Bariga terminal, Bariga.

In the statement, Odusina noted that “travelling by water is 100 per cent traffic-free and there are first-mile and last-mile buses available at the terminal/jetty parks to take passengers to their final destination.”

While assuring the commuting public of safe, fast, reliable and convenient experience on the waterways, the statement added that the terminals have secured ample car park spaces.

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Meanwhile, the Lagos State Government has said there is no need for any anxiety over the planned enforcement of the Okada ban.

Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotosho, in a statement, said measures have been put in place to forestall any disturbance, adding that the ban will be enforced without any compromise.

“There is no need for any anxiety over the enforcement of the ban, which has been hailed by the majority of Lagosians as a reinforcement of the Lagos Traffic Law 2012 (amended in 2018),” the statement read in part.

Okada ban begins today, Lagos deploys more boats

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Monday a proposed freeze on handgun ownership in Canada that would effectively ban their importation and sale, following recent mass shootings in the United States.

The bill must still be passed by Parliament, with the ruling Liberals holding only a minority of seats.

“We’re introducing legislation to implement a national freeze on handgun ownership,” Trudeau told a news conference, joined by dozens of families and friends of victims of gun violence.

“What this means is that it will no longer be possible to buy, sell, transfer or import handguns anywhere in Canada,” he said. “In other words, we’re capping the market for handguns.”

Days after Canada’s worst mass shooting left 23 dead in rural Nova Scotia in April 2020, the government banned 1,500 types of military-grade or assault-style firearms.

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But Trudeau acknowledged Monday that gun violence continues to rise.

The government statistical agency reported last week that firearms-related violent crimes account for less than three percent of all violent crimes in Canada.

But since 2009 the per capita rate of guns being pointed at someone has nearly tripled, while the rate at which a gun was fired with an intent to kill or wound is up five-fold.

Almost two-thirds of gun crimes in urban areas involved handguns.

Police often point to smuggling from the United States — which is reeling from recent shootings at a school in Texas and at a supermarket in New York state — as the main source of handguns.

Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino estimated there are about one million handguns in this country — up significantly from a decade ago.

“People should be free to go to the supermarket, their school or their place of worship without fear,” Trudeau said.

“People should be free to go to the park or to a birthday party without worrying about what might happen from a stray bullet.

“Gun violence is a complex problem,” he said. “But at the end of the day, the math is really quite simple: the fewer the guns in our communities, the safer everyone will be.”

New Democratic public safety critic, MP Alistair MacGregor, indicated his party would be willing to work with the Liberals to get the proposed law passed.

“We want to believe that today’s announcement on gun violence is an urgent priority and not just another political stunt from this government, but there is a pattern of behavior from the Liberals to only use gun violence as a means to score political points,” he said in a statement.

But many in the Conservative Party criticized the proposal as unhelpful.

“The real problem in this country is not the law-abiding firearms owners, who are heavily regulated, heavily licensed,” John Brassard, minority leader in the House of Commons, told the CBC.

“The real problem in this country has to do with gangs and criminals who are importing firearms, mostly from the United States, using illegal guns on our streets,” he said.

And Conservative MP Raquel Dancho, her party’s parliamentary critic for public safety, echoed the same sentiment.

“Today’s announcement fails to focus on the root cause of gun violence in our cities: illegal guns smuggled into Canada by criminal gangs,” she tweeted.

The proposed law would also strip anyone involved in domestic violence or stalking of their firearms license, and take away guns from those deemed to be a risk to themselves or others, as well as strengthen border security and criminal penalties for gun trafficking.

It would also ban long-gun magazines capable of holding more than five bullets.

Canada’s Coalition for Gun Control, founded after 14 women were killed at a university in Montreal in 1989, praised Trudeau’s proposal.

“The proposed phasing out of private handgun ownership, is a major step forward and shows that the Government has been listening to the voices of victims,” organization president Wendy Cukier said in a statement.

Trudeau Announces Canada Handgun ‘Freeze’

Nollywood stars have been thrown into mourning following the death of a Yoruba movie actor, Gbadebo Osmond.

Yoruba actress, Fausat Abeni, popularly known as Madam Saje, was among the first mourners late Monday.

The veteran actress shared an image of a burning candle on her Instagram page with the caption, “Goodnight Osmond,” accompanied with crying emojis.

Other Nollywood stars such as Yomi Fabiyi, Adeniyi Johnson, and others took to their Instagram pages to mourn the late actor.

Fabiyi wrote, “So so sad and a deep painful loss, Osmond Gbadebo. You are a fighter and safe to say you have gone to rest. Ever jovial, ever supportive and ever friendly. Rest in peace and power.”

Johnson wrote on his Instagram page, “This hits differently that I can’t even post your picture. Every soul around us knows I love you. How I wish…”

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Ibironke Ojo-Anthony, popularly known as Ronke Oshodi Oke wrote, “It’s very hard for me to say goodnight, Gbadebo Osunmo, but God knows the best. RIP my darling friend.”

Nollywood stars mourn Yoruba actor, Gbadebo Osmond

Robert Lewandowski said Monday that his time with Bayern Munich was over, without specifying his future plans, amid reports that Barcelona have made him an offer. 

“Today it is certain that my story with Bayern has come to an end,” the Polish star striker told reporters in Warsaw.

“I can’t imagine further cooperation, after what has happened over the last few months,” he added.

“A transfer will be the best solution. I trust that Bayern won’t stop me, just because they can.”

With a year left on Lewandowski’s contract, Barcelona have reportedly made an offer of 32 million euros ($34.5 million) to sign him.

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In an interview with Polish broadcaster Eleven Sports PL, Lewandowski dropped a teaser about how he would enjoy living in Spain.

“I think it’s a really good place — not just to go on holiday there,” he said, adding that he has a house in Mallorca.

Bayern CEO Oliver Khan and director of sports Hasan Salihamidzic have both publically stated the club will not let Lewandowski leave before 2023.

Earlier this month, Lewandowski’s agent Pini Zahavi warned Bayern against insisting on the contract.

“Of course they can keep Robert for another year, to be fair he has a contract until 2023, but I wouldn’t recommend that to them,” Zahavi told German daily Bild.

He added that the issue for Lewandowski is not about extra money.

“He has felt disrespected by those in charge (at Bayern) for months, that’s the truth.

“FC Bayern has not lost Lewandowski the player, but Robert the person.”

Zahavi said he hopes Bayern’s senior figures “will think about it again” and allow Lewandowski the opportunity “to fulfil a lifelong dream and move to the club (Barcelona) he has always dreamed of.”

A back-to-back winner of FIFA’s best male player award, Lewandowski has won every title available since joining Bayern in 2014, including eight Bundesliga trophies for a total of 10 having won two with ex-club Dortmund.

He also won the Champions League with Bayern in 2020.

Lewandowski was top-scorer in the Bundesliga last season for the fifth year running after netting 35 goals in Germany’s top flight.

On Monday, Bayern also confirmed the exit of France midfielder Corentin Tolisso whose contract has expired after five years in Munich.

‘My Bayern Story Has Come To An End’ – Lewandowski 

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has met with Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State. 

Monday’s meeting was held at Wike’s residence in Abuja, hours after Atiku beat him to the party’s presidential ticket.

“In continuation of my commitment to bring everyone on board in ensuring that the @OfficialPDPNig stands as one united party, earlier today, I visited His Excellency Gov Nyseom Wike at his Abuja residence,” Atiku tweeted. “This is a continuous process.

Further details about the meeting were still sketchy as of the time of publishing this report. It is, however, believed to be part of moves to reconcile the duo ahead of the presidential election billed for next year.

The meeting also had several PDP chieftains in attendance including a former governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, who was one of the contenders in the election held on Saturday.

Atiku, 75, scored 371 votes to see off Wike, who polled 237 votes. A former Senate President and Kwara State governor, Bukola Saraki, had 70 votes.

Governor Emmanuel Udom of Akwa Ibom (38), Bala Mohammed of  Bauchi (38), a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Anyim Pius Anyim (14), Mrs Tari Diana Oliver (1), and Sam Ohuabunwa (1) shared the rest of the votes.

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Minutes before the commencement of the election at the Moshood Abiola Stadium in Abuja, Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State had withdrawn from the race, asking his supporters to back the former Nigerian vice president.

He said the move followed consultations with his associates and described it as a “patriotic conclusion”, just the same day another aspirant, Mohammed Hayatu-Deen, backed down from the poll.

Following his victory on Saturday, Atiku berated the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), claiming the party ruined the gains made by the PDP.

While he said insecurity is on the rise, the Adamawa politician also lamented the state of the economy.

He, however, promised to unite Nigerians and give every part of the country a sense of belonging.

“I pledge to unify this country,” he said in his victory speech. “That’s why I refer to myself as a unifier.

“The reason why I feel that unity is important is because APC has disunited Nigerians completely.

“I will work to restore unity and bring a sense of belonging to all Nigerians.”

Atiku Meets Wike After Winning PDP Presidential Primary

The Taliban on Friday rejected the UN Security Council’s call to reverse heavy restrictions imposed on Afghan women, dismissing their concerns as “unfounded”.

The Security Council unanimously adopted a resolution on Tuesday that criticised the Taliban for limiting girls’ and women’s access to education, government jobs and freedom of movement since seizing power last year.

Afghanistan’s supreme leader Hibatullah Akhundzada has also ordered women to cover up — including their faces — when in public, triggering international outrage.

The Security Council’s 15 member states called on the Taliban “to swiftly reverse the policies and practices which are currently restricting the human rights and fundamental freedoms of Afghan women and girls”.

It also demanded the hardliners reopen all schools to female students.

Afghanistan’s foreign ministry said the government considers the Security Council’s concerns as “unfounded and reaffirms its commitment” to rights of Afghan women.

“Since the people of Afghanistan are predominantly Muslim, the Afghan government considers the observance of Islamic hijab to be in line with the religious and cultural practices of society,” the ministry said in a statement.

The Taliban adhere to an austere interpretation of Islam.

Their last stint in power between 1996 and 2001 was marked by human rights violations, and, despite promising a softer rule this time around, they have increasingly trampled over the freedoms of Afghans.

In the two decades of US military intervention that followed the ousting of the Taliban in 2001, Afghan women and girls made marginal gains in restoring their rights.

UN special rapporteur on human rights in Afghanistan Richard Bennett on Thursday said the Taliban’s restrictions were aimed at making women “invisible in society”, at the end of a visit to Kabul.

No country has recognised the new Taliban government, and the authorities have so far failed in their efforts to assume Afghanistan’s seat at the world body.

Taliban Dismiss UN Concerns On Women’s Rights In Afghanistan

Nigerian newspapers,on one page.