Top Headlines News Today Friday 19th Of June, 2020

1. Akeredolu’s deputy not qualified to be governor –Ex-HO




Former Head of Service in Ondo State , Mr Ajose Kudehinbu , has said that the incumbent Deputy Governor, Agboola Ajayi, is not qualified to succeed his principal, Rotimi Akeredolu .

There have been series of reactions and counter-reactions over Ajayi’s planned defection to the Peoples Democratic Party in order to contest the forthcoming governorship election on the platform of the party.

But while reacting to the planned move of the deputy governor, the former head of service said


Ajayi was the least qualified to lead the state or aspire to become governor of the state, going by the experience he had with him while in office as the HoS of the state.

Kudehinbu ’s views were contained in a comment on the Facebook page of a media aide to the deputy governor, Mr Allen Sowore .

PDP NWC considers waiver for Obaseki, postpones primary

The National Working Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party held a meeting in Abuja over the Edo State chapter of the party .

Our correspondent gathered that the meeting was in continuation of further consultations on how best to accommodate the Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, and his supporters expected to join the party’ s ranks before the governorship primary which has been shifted to June 23 from June 19 and 20.

It was learnt that the NWC agreed to grant the governor a waiver in line with the party’ s constitution to enable him to contest the primary

2. Burundi: Buhari congratulates new president




President , Major General Muhammadu Buhari ( retd.) , on Thursday, congratulated Evariste Ndayishimiye on his assumption of office as the President of Burundi .

Ndayishimiye was inaugurated earlier on Thursday in Gitega, the country’ s political capital.

In a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity , Garba Shehu , the President also felicitated with the government and people of Burundi on the peaceful transition to a democratically elected government after the sudden death of President Pierre Nkurunziza.

3. COVID-19: Our father is alive – Ajimobi’s daughter-in-law




She tweeted, “Thank you for all the messages but our father is still alive, alhamdulillah. When it is our time we will all die so wait first.”

Oyo State former Governor, Abiola Ajimobi, is not dead, says his daughter-in-law, Fatima .

She said this in a tweet to debunk rumours that the Ajimobi had died on Thursday.

4. ‘I’m proud of you’ – Buhari tells Gov. Yahaya Bello




President Muhammadu Buhari has described Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State, as “an epitome of loyalty and solid commitment to the growth of the All Progressives Congress (APC) from its infancy.’’

Buhari said in a congratulatory message to the Governor who turned 45 on June 18, 2020.

The President also said he was proud of the governor, describing him as a loyal party man.

In a statement signed by Garba Shehu, the President’s Spokesman, Buhari was quoted as saying, “I am proud of you and your active loyalty and services to our party at all times and you are a remarkable party man who deserves to be celebrated.

“You are serving your people at the prime of life; an energetic age that gives you a unique advantage to operate at maximum mental and physical capacity.

5. Police arrest CUPP spokesman over ‘NCDC Bill’ – Lawyer

The Nigeria Police Force has acted on a resolution of the House of Representatives by arresting the Spokesman for the Coalition of United Political Parties, Ikenga Ugochinyere , who had accused the leadership of the House of Representatives of collecting $ 10 m bribe from American billionaire, Bill Gates, to pass the Infectious Disease Control Bill also known as the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control Bill .


The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, NCDC has released 745 as the number of new Covid-19 infections recorded in the country with the total number of confirmed cases now 18,480.








1. ECOWAS recommends gradual reopening of regional borders




The ECOWAS Ministerial Coordination Committee on Transport, Logistics, and Trade has recommended a harmonised and gradual reopening of land, air, and sea borders for restoring cross border economic activities.

This recommendation was made known in a joint communiqué following a ministerial coordination meeting, on Thursday in Abuja, by the Directorate of communications, ECOWAS Commission.

2. Your best not good enough - Buhari tells Security Chiefs




President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed serious concern over the activities of bandits and insurgents in parts of the country, saying that the efforts of the security chiefs toward addressing the menace are not good enough

3. Alleged Cyber Crime: Hushpuppi Has A Case To Answer – EFCC




The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has said Instagram celebrity, Ramoni Igbalode better known as Hushpuppi is being investigated by the agency over alleged cyber crimes.

Nigeria’s anti-crime body stated this in a tweet on its official handle on Thursday where it explained that the agency has “grisly details of his money laundering transactions.”

4. How Nigeria Can Limit COVID-19 Death Rate – Health Minister




The Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, has explained how Nigeria can reduce the death rate as a result of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Addressing reporters on Thursday in Abuja, he urged Nigerians to see the increase in the number of confirmed cases as a warning that fatalities would increase too.

Ehanire, who spoke at the daily briefing of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, however, said there was no cause for alarm as certain measures could be taken to control the death toll

He noted that a majority of fatalities recorded were over 50 years and those with pre-existing ailments such as diabetes, cancer, and hypertension, among others.

The minister urged the people to specially protect those who fall in such groups, adding that they should be encouraged to stay at home to limit them from getting exposed to COVID-19

5. Uighur Muslim: China threatens to take action against the United States




China has threatened to take action against the United States after President Trump signed a new law authorizing elections to impose sanctions on senior Communist officials over policies aimed at Muslims.

the land of the minority. The law was enacted to punish officials and companies involved in detaining many Uighur people in detention centers, a move that Chinese authorities say is taking part in the war. 'religion.

6. WHO declares Nigeria polio-free
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared Nigeria free of wild polio.



The declaration followed the completion of documentation for the free status.

WHO regional office for Africa in Brazzaville, Congo, announced this Thursday.

“Today, Nigeria’s complete documentation for Wild Polio virus free status was accepted by the Africa Regional Certification Commission for polio eradication (ARCC).

“It is a historic day for Nigeria, Africa and the Global Polio Programme,’’ WHO said.

. FG to establish special courts for rape and gender-based violence






To tackle the menace of rape and gender-based violence in Nigeria, the Federal Government says it is currently engaging key players for the establishment of specialised courts to handle such cases.

This was made known during a joint media briefing by the Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission, NHRC and the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister for Justice at the Federal Ministry of Justice Headquarters in Abuja, the nation’s capital.

The number of rape cases committed in Nigeria is rising and this has been blamed on the Covid-19 lockdown. This has prompted the Federal Government to swing into action.

Solicitor General of the Federation, Dayo Akpata, who represented the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami said review of all existing laws and policy instruments relating to offences of rape, child defilement and gender-based violence in Nigeria will commence soon.

Furthermore, he said his Office has constituted an inter-ministerial committee on the eradication of gender-based violence made up of representatives of the Federal Ministry of Justice and other key players.