Trump zeroes in on Indiana

Donald Trump is predicting he can knock rival Ted Cruz out of the Republican presidential race by winning Tuesday's primary here, and recent polling shows he's in good shape.

Both Trump and Cruz are hitting the campaign trail hard in Indiana, making appearances Sunday and several more planned for Monday. Trump will hold two rallies the day ahead of the primary, in Carmel and South Bend. Cruz is holding five events, with Indiana Gov. Mike Pence -- who recently endorsed him -- joining him for at least two appearances.


The campaigning comes as recent polling shows Trump with a double-digit advantage over his competition in the Hoosier State, thought to be the last stand for Cruz, and Ohio Gov. John Kasich, to block the businessman's path to winning the 1,237 delegates needed to win the nomination outright and avoid a contested convention.
President Barack Obama, meanwhile, took aim at all the presidential candidates during his final White House Correspondents' Dinner in Washington.
Here's a look at the latest from a weekend in politics that included drama in Arizona and California and Malia Obama's college choice:

UN Secretary-General decries restrictive work environment for journalists

The UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-Moon, on Monday expressed serious concern over the increasingly restrictive environment in which media workers operate in many countries.

In his message on World Press Freedom Day observed across the globe on May 3, Ban urged governments, politicians, businesses and citizens to commit to nurturing and protecting an independent and free media.

He said that constraints on freedom of expression placed shackles on progress itself.

“Each year, we observe World Press Freedom Day to protect the independence of the media and to honour media workers who risk and have lost their lives in the exercise of their profession.

“On this World Press Freedom Day, without this fundamental right, people are less free and less empowered.

“With it, we can work together for a world of dignity and opportunity for all,” he said.

Ban stated that this year’s celebration coincided with three important milestones – the 250th anniversary of the world’s first Freedom of Information Law, “covering both modern-day Sweden and Finland’’.

The others are the 25th anniversary of the adoption of the Windhoek Declaration of Press Freedom Principles, and the first year of implementing the Sustainable Development Goals.

“Press freedom and the free flow of information are necessary not only to inform citizens about the Goals, but to enable them to hold their leaders accountable for fulfilling the pledges they have made.

“The media, including, and increasingly, new on-line media, serve as our eyes and ears.

“We all benefit from the information they provide. A free, independent and safe media environment is essential.

“Yet, all too often, journalists are threatened, harassed, obstructed or even killed in the pursuit of information.

“Many languish in detention, some in appalling conditions, for shedding light on governance failures, corporate malfeasance or societal problems,” he said.

He added that human rights, democratic societies and sustainable development depended on the free flow of information.

According to Ban, the right to information depends on press freedom.

Vokes sends Burnley back to the Premier League

Burnley returned to the Premier League at the first attempt as a 1-0 win over QPR at jubilant Turf Moor sealed promotion from the Championship on Monday.

Sean Dyche’s side kicked off knowing a lucrative place in the top-flight, worth an estimated £180 million ($264 million) was within touching distance after promotion rivals Brighton were held to a draw by Derby earlier in the day.

With Middlesbrough, the other of the three teams battling for automatic promotion, having drawn at Birmingham on Friday, the path to promotion was clear for Burnley and Sam Vokes ensured they completed the journey with his 61st minute winner.

Burnley are now two points clear at the top and, because second placed Middlesbrough play third placed Brighton on the final day of the season next Saturday, it is impossible for the Lancashire club to miss out on promotion.

“The resilience, belief and character got us through,” Dyche said.

“That was well off our performance level but the result was all that mattered. You can’t be brilliant every week.

“We don’t think we’re the real deal, but we’re a real group that sticks together.”

Just 12 months after they were relegated from the Premier League, there can be little doubt Burnley deserve to once again be rubbing shoulders with the elite after a tense victory against QPR extended their unbeaten run in the second tier to 22 matches.

The Clarets have now been promoted to the top-flight three times in the Premier League era and will hope to stay up for longer this time after being relegated after one season in 2010 and 2015.

“It’s magic, it’s a great feeling. We knew what we had to do and you could feel the anticipation,” Vokes said.

“Getting that goal sparked relief around the place. Magic scenes here today.”

Once news of Brighton’s 1-1 draw with Derby had filtered through, there was an expectant atmosphere at Turf Moor as Burnley fans arrived in anticipation of a promotion party.

The celebratory mood went a little flat as Dyche’s men struggled to establish control and it took good saves from Tom Heaton to stop Matt Phillips and then Junior Hoilett giving QPR a shock lead.

– Raucous celebrations –

But those first half nerves were erased by a more convincing display after the interval and Burnley threatened when Scott Arfield looped a volley narrowly wide.

Not for the first time this season, former Manchester City and Newcastle midfielder Joey Barton was an influential presence for Burnley as he underlined his status as one the Championship’s best players.


The hosts’ pressure was rewarded just after the hour mark when Wales forward Vokes timed his run perfectly to meet David Jones’ free-kick with a glancing header into the far corner.

Vokes’ 15th goal of the season was extra special for the 26-year-old, who missed the finale to Burnley’s promotion two years ago after suffering a knee ligament injury that also ruled him out for five months of their top-flight campaign.

The raucous celebrations were nearly silenced when QPR’s Alejandro Faurlin hit a post in the 68th minute, but Burnley held on through the anxious final minutes before supporters flooded the pitch in delight.

With promotion sealed, Burnley will travel to relegated Charlton for their final match on Saturday knowing a win would secure the Championship title.

The second automatic promotion place will be decided in a dramatic shoot-out at the Riverside Stadium when Middlesbrough host Brighton.

Middlesbrough, level on points with Brighton but with a superior goal difference, will go up with a draw or win, while only a victory will be enough for the Seagulls.

FG to pay subsidy on PMS

The Federal Government said it would pay subsidy on Premium Motor Spirit from the recoveries made in the first quarter of 2016.


This is contained in the latest Petroleum Product Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) template released in Abuja.

It said that between January and March, the Federal Government was able to save about N10 billion as a result of selling the product above the Expected Open Market Price.

According to the new template, the expected open market price of the Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) has risen to N99.38 per litre for independent and major oil marketers and N98.62 per litre for NNPC retail outlets.

It added that the expected open market price was the actual price of the product without subsidy and it was based on the current exchange rate of N197 to a dollar.

It said that at the current price of N86 per litre at NNPC retail outlets, the Federal Government was paying N12.62 per litre as subsidy on the product and N12.88 per litre as subsidy for other oil marketers’ price of N86.50.

A breakdown of the template revealed that for NNPC retail outlets and independent and major oil marketers, the Landing Cost of PMS imported into the country was N84.32 and N85.08 per litre respectively,

It stated that the distribution margin, which include retailers, transportation, bridging fund and dealers margin among others stood at N14.30 for both the NNPC and other marketers.

According to the statement, this brings the current Expected Open Market Price to N98.62 and N99.38 for NNPC retail outlets and other marketers respectively.

Chelsea Vs Tottenham: Costa starts, Hazard benched

John Terry and Gary Cahill make their come backs from injury and illness with Branislav Ivanovic and Cesar Azpilicueta returning to right-back and left-back respectively.

Cesc Fabregas is set to play in the no.10 role, flanked by Pedro and Willian with Diego Costa up front. Eden Hazard is on the bench.

Asmir Begovic continues in goal as Thibaut Courtois completes his suspension.

Tottenham make one change with Heung-Min Son coming in for suspended Dele Alli. Midfielder Eric Dier has been passed fit to start.

Chelsea are expected to line up in the following 4-2-3-1:

Begovic; Ivanovic, Cahill, Terry (c), Azpilicueta; Mikel, Matic; Willian, Fabregas, Pedro; Diego Costa.

Subs: Amelia, Baba, Loftus-Cheek, Kenedy, Oscar, Hazard, Traore.

Tottenham are expected to line-up in the following 4-2-3-1 formation:

Lloris (c); Walker, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Rose; Dier, Dembele; Lamela, Eriksen, Son; Kane.

Subs: Vorm, Davies, Wimmer, Carroll, Chadli, Mason, Clinton.

The referee is Mark Clattenburg.

How I became running mate to Buhari — Osinbajo

Three weeks to first anniversary of the present government, the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, has revealed that how be became the running mate to President Mohammadu Buhari, saying his disposition to fight corruption in Nigeria was the motivating factor.

Osinbajo spoke at a non-denominational conference organized by the Covenant Christian Centre in Abuja on Saturday.


   

He recalled that he had co-founded a professional a group in 1995 that upheld integrity as a hallmark to fighting corruption and upholding good governance.

He also recalled that he was 24 years when his boss became the Military Head of State, stressing that providence brought them together.

He said:   “Permit me to begin (the speech) with a story about myself. All my adult life, I have always believed that our country was performing far below its potentialities, in practically every aspect of life.

“In governance, corruption was always so outrageous that it made the majority poor and development almost impossible. Law and order was always a problem, usually no consequence for wrong-doing.

‘’Doing business and even our daily existence have always been difficult, no power, no fuel. Getting anything done in government establishments, a nightmare of delay and extortion.

“So as a conscious decision, I joined various pressure groups. From human rights groups to good governance advocacy groups. In 1995, I co- founded an organization called Integrity, an anti-corruption organization. I joined various think tanks and professional groups, including the Concerned Professionals.”

The Vice President then recalled a situation of harassment and intimidation his group suffered under the Abacha regime.

“Under the Abacha regime we Concerned Professionals, one day gathered at Yaba Bus-stop and some were thoroughly beaten by Police and the Army. From that day on, people disappeared and did not show up again.

“I served as a two-term Attorney- General in Lagos State and pushed reforms in governance and the justice sector, I believed and continued to believe that the Nigerian people deserve better lives.”

‘’In December 2014, the unexpected happened; I was nominated as Vice Presidential candidate to then General Muhammadu Buhari.”

He then recalled that   he was still young,   27years old when Buhari became head of State “after a corrupt and somewhat disappointing civilian regime.”

The Vice President said:   “As a young university lecturer, then I was impressed by his, President Buhari’s single-minded fight against corruption and indiscipline. There was a serious war against indiscipline. For the first time, government held corrupt officers accountable.

“30 years later, providence brought us together. A retired general now and a Professor of Law.”

Osinbajo said the President and himself knew and agreed on what had to happen to bring change to the nation.

“We both believed that our country needed to change. We argued about how and what needed to be done. We reached consensus on many of the major issues.

‘’Certainly our country need a different set of values; a new way of doing business; an economy that is able to give opportunity to young people to work in their chosen professions and to build strong and profitable businesses.   We knew that we had to provide social protection for the poorest and the most vulnerable.

“We recognised that innovation and change will be key, and that we must implement and not just talk about diversification of our economy.  So we led our party’s campaign on that single, simple, but profound word, CHANGE!

“Nearly a year on- there are many problems and many have asked where is the change? Is this the change we voted for? Even some fifth columnists in our midst have suggested bring back corruption!

“But let me just say here for the records that the government of Muhammadu Buhari is completely and irrevocably committed to change.

“We believe that though it may not be easy, though the early signs may be confusing and sometimes discouraging, there has never been a better opportunity than now to turn the country in the direction of success.

“ Today we have the best opportunity in decades for profound change. It is an opportunity in a generation. A revolution whose time has come! Everything around us tells us that the moment is now! Can this change happen, yes indeed, it can!

‘’What do you have in your hands to make it happen? We have a country that is tired of corruption, tired of leadership without values, tired of an economy that is neither designed to accommodate enterprise, nor to create opportunity and wealth for the majority.

“But we have a leadership and we have a leader that is prepared to challenge the rotten status quo, one who has said that he is prepared to kill corruption rather than let it kill us,” he said.

Faulty breast implant company founder faces jail in France

A French appeals court on Monday upheld a four-year prison sentence for the founder of PIP, the manufacturer of defective breast implants that caused a health scare across Europe and South America.

 

The court in the southern city of Aix-en-Provence confirmed the fraud convictions against Poly Implant Prothese (PIP) founder Jean-Claude Mas, 76.

The court also upheld the 2013 trial’s order that Mas pay 75,000 euros ($86,000) and be banned for life from working in medical services or running a company.

Mas also faces two other pending legal cases, one for involuntary manslaughter — the implants were suspected in several deaths from systemic toxicity — and another linked to the financial implications of the scandal.

The court also upheld guilty verdicts against four other PIP executives. One, the firm’s former finance director Claude Couty, will serve a one-year prison sentence.

The scandal first emerged in 2010 after doctors noticed abnormally high rupture rates in women with PIP implants.

It gathered steam worldwide in 2011, with some 300,000 women in 65 countries believed to have received the faulty implants.

In France alone, 18,000 women had PIP implants removed because of a risk of rupture or because they had become highly uncomfortable.

In the appeal, which was held at a congress centre to accommodate all the plaintiffs, Mas denied that the implants made by his company from industrial-grade silicon gel carried any health risk and insisted that they had been subjected to comprehensive tests.

– Seven times cheaper –

The prosecution said Mas “was not a scientist at all — his only concern was financial”. The gel that PIP produced was seven times cheaper than a substance that it could have bought.

“The PIP gel was the best,” Mas insisted. When the chief judge Eric Cibiel asked whether it was also the cheapest, Mas said: “Well yes, and all the better for it.”

Mas denied that he had committed fraud, telling the court: “I fail to see who has been defrauded.”

Yet tests showed that PIP implants ruptured more easily than other implants.

One victim told the appeal that PIP had ruined thousands of lives. Around 7,000 women have sued for damages.

“They made laboratory rats of 7,000 of us,” one woman said. The faulty implants had caused a “health time bomb”.

PIP employees testified that Mas ruled the company with an iron fist and refused to accept any criticism, especially of “his” gel.

He claimed he had been ruined by the scandal and had to survive on his monthly pension of 1,850 euros ($2,125).

The scandal had ramifications around the world.

It is thought that around 47,000 British women received PIP implants, with the vast majority fitted by private clinics, mostly for breast reconstruction after cancer treatment.

More than half of PIP implants were exported to South America.

Applicants for Police job hit 843,008

The Police Service Commission (PSC) said it received 843,008 applications as at 1.00p.m May 2 from applicants seeking enlistment into the Nigeria Police Force. This is contained in an update issued by Mr Ikechukwu Ani, Head, Press and Public Relations of the commission in Abuja on Monday.
He said that 243,327 applications were received for Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) cadre.
Ani added that 197,990 and 401,691 applicants applied for the Inspector and Police Constable (PC) cadres respectively.

The commission recently said in a statement that it would recruit 500 Cadet ASP, 500 Cadet Inspectors, 1,500 Specialist Officers and 7, 500 Constables in the recruitment of 10,000 policemen.
NAN reports that President Muhammadu Buhari approved the recruitment of 10,000 policemen into the nation’s Police Force to reinforce the police for better service. The exercise would close on May 13.

Kano rerun: APC accuses INEC of sabotage

The Kano chapter of All Progressive Congress ( APC) Monday accused Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) of deliberately truncating it’s victory by suspending weekend state House of Assembly rerun at Minjibir.

The party in first reaction through the state party chairman, Alhaji Abdullahi Abbas said that the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Alhaji Abdullahi Mohammed Kaugama was overstretching his powers as guaranteed by constitution.

The Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mr Abdullahi Mohammed Kaugama had last Saturday cancelled the rerun by midday following reported cases of ballot boxes snatches and other vital election materials by hoodlums.

Kaugama who was sent to Kano from Kaduna State to conduct the bye election told reporters that the Commission took the decision in order to avoid further spread of violence in the area.

But Alhaji Abdullahi Abbas said that “the decision to put on hold a peaceful exercise at a point APC was coasting home for victory was a clear case of sabotage by a man we suspected was a PDP card carrying member”

Abbas stated “we as a party had expected consultation with relevant stakeholders especially the police that deployed over 1800 officers and men on ground”

He said that Minjibir has 156 polling units most it are located outside the town, adding that “it was high handedness for a Resident Electoral Commissioner to single handedly suspend a process that was largely peaceful except in just 4 polling units.

Alhaji Abbas argued that “in the worst case scenario, we expected the electoral umpire to apply appropriate measures where violence occured by simply suspending the exercise in the affected polling units”

Abbas explained that “security reports suggested that the entire election was not under threat that could warrant possible cancellation against the backdrop that we had 1800 police on ground”

The chairman further said “to best of my knowledge you can not achieve 100 percent violent free election, but what usually justify such cancellation was general breakdown of law at the constituency.”

Sequel to this development therefore, Alhaji Abbas disclosed that a protest letter had been lodged with INEC, while copies were made available to the Presidency and relevant security organs for action.

Oil prices start week on a low after recent rally

Oil prices dipped Monday after enjoying another strong rally last week, with news of a jump in Iraqi exports bringing supply glut fears back to the fore.

The commodity has surged for four weeks thanks to a weaker dollar, small indications that the global economy — particularly China — is showing signs of a mild recovery and various disruptions to output including a strike in Kuwait.

However, analysts warned that the gains would be limited owing to still weak demand, the long-running glut and the temporary nature of the disruptions.

On Monday US benchmark West Texas Intermediate (WTI) slipped 42 cents, or 0.91 percent, to $45.50, while Brent sank 55 cents, or 1.16 percent, to $46.82.

WTI rose 5.0 percent and Brent 6.7 percent last week, pushing the month’s gains to around 20 percent for both contracts. It is also well up from the near 13-year lows below $30 seen in February when world markets were in turmoil.

But Iraq — the second largest producer in the OPEC cartel — said it Sunday exported 3.36 million barrels a day last month, according to Bloomberg News, close to the record 3.365 million seen in November.

“Lower output was one of the biggest bullish factors we had back in the first quarter, but as this is something we can’t sustain, the upward momentum in oil prices will slow,” Hong Sung Ki, a commodities analyst at Samsung Futures, said in Seoul.

“If we see more signs of easing production disruptions, this can have a strong downward pressure.”

Brazil impeachment: Rousseff begins her long goodbye

Dilma Rousseff greets the Olympic flame in Brazil on Tuesday, but the pomp and ceremony will seem empty to a president likely to be suspended from office just a week later.

The arrival of the flame in Brasilia from an ancient Greek temple via Switzerland will trigger a three-month countdown to the Rio de Janeiro Olympics and Brazil’s big chance to shine on the global stage.

But the supposedly joyful occasion coincides with the Latin American giant’s plunge into a political furnace, with Rousseff facing impeachment — and claiming to be the victim of a coup d’etat.

That means the choreographed events for the torch in the capital could be one of the 68-year-old leftist leader’s last major public appearances.

On May 11 or 12 the Senate is expected to vote to open an impeachment trial on charges that Rousseff illegally manipulated government accounts.

She would be automatically suspended and replaced by Vice President Michel Temer, the head of Brazil’s main center-right party and once a coalition ally of Rousseff before — in her words — turning “traitor.”

A definitive Senate vote on Rousseff’s fate could take months more, but unless she was cleared, she would never come back and her nemesis would stay in power until the next scheduled elections in 2018.

– Sinking ship –

On Sunday, Rousseff railed against “the coup” and told union supporters of her Workers’ Party that she would “fight to the end.”

However, with the Senate vote to suspend her looking near certain, she appears resigned — at the very minimum — to the humiliating prospect of having to abandon her executive offices, called the Palacio do Planalto, in just over a week.

“She has ordered the drawers to be cleaned out,” Folha daily said Sunday.

And it isn’t just filing cabinets that will be looking for a new home. Her Workers’ Party ministers and what Folha calls “a sea” of government employees are likely soon to be sending out job resumes.

Ten days from the Senate vote on impeachment “nothing about the routine in the Palacio do Planalto resembles the resistance announced by social movements under the cry of ‘No to the coup!’,” Estadao daily commented Sunday.

“In offices at the seat of government, functionaries are already packing their things.”

– Wider battle –

Once suspended, Rousseff will hunker down at the presidential residence on half pay.

From there she will attempt to persuade senators that the accounting tricks she is accused of do not amount to an impeachable offense and that the whole procedure is a political, not legal assault — an argument rejected last month by the lower house of Congress.

The stakes for Brazilian politics could not be higher.

Rousseff, a one-time Marxist guerrilla who was tortured by the military dictatorship in the 1970s, is widely assumed to be nearing the end of the road. However, the Workers’ Party, which has dominated and transformed the country since 2003, is still fighting to prevent impeachment from turning into a historic shift to the right.

Rousseff’s mentor and presidential predecessor, Workers’ Party founder Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, hopes to take the baton back by running in 2018 — or even in special snap elections before. Polls show he would be a frontrunner, trouncing the stunningly unpopular Temer.

Certainly leftist groups are threatening to go down swinging, vowing to make the life of an acting president or eventually full president Temer miserable.

Gilmar Mauro from the group Landless Rural Workers’ Movement vowed “civil disobedience” against Temer’s government, which the vice president is busily forming ahead of the Senate suspension vote.

And Vagner Freitas, president of the Unified Workers’ Central or CUT, Brazil’s main labor federation, was even more blunt.

“We do not recognize a government that no one elected,” he said.

Oshiomhole wants Benin crowned prince to sustain Oba Erediauwa legacies

Gov. Adams Oshiomhole of Edo has condoled with the crowned Prince of Benin Kingdom, Eheneden Eradiauwa, on the demise of his father, Oba Erediauwa, Uku Akpolokpolo.

Oshiomhole, who condoled with the crowned prince during a visit at Uselu on Monday, urged him to sustain the legacies of his father.
He said the sad news of Oba’s transition came to him as a huge shock.

“Though a statement had already been issued by my office on the life and times of the Oba, we are consoled that the vacuum created will be filled by a true royal crowned prince.
“The crowned prince has sufficiently gone through the rigours of life and royalty.

“We believe that the late Oba has prepared him as he has what it takes to step into his shoes and face the challenges that may arise.
“The late Oba was not only a unifying factor to the people of the state, but to the nation in general. I therefore, appeal that the legacies and national respect he commands be sustained,’’ he said.

Responding, the Edaiken thanked the governor for the visit, and said that there was not much to say as his heart was heavy and grieving due to the demise of his father.
He explained that he was most pained because of the love and closeness he had with his late father which appeared to be the first in the history of the Kingdom.

The crowned prince appreciated the governor’s assistance and contributions to the palace as well as the development achieved so far in the state.
He also commended the governor for providing the enabling environment for investors to invest in the state, and expressed the hope that more investors would come to the state.

The crowned prince further commended the media for their commitment, dedication and objective in reporting of events in the palace.
He assured the people and the governor that he would do his best to justify the confidence reposed in him to lift the Kingdom to an enviable height.

Edo State Government had on April 29 issued a statement announcing the death of the Oba of Benin.

Leicester striker Vardy gets top award

Leicester City forward Jamie Vardy has been voted the 2016 Footballer of the Year by the Football Writers’ Association (FWA), it was announced Monday.

The 29-year-old striker took the award as a clear winner ahead of team-mates Riyad Mahrez, who had already taken the Player of the Year award voted on by his fellow professionals, and N’Golo Kante.

Vardy has scored 24 goals for club and country so far this season as the Foxes close in on what would be a remarkable Premier League title triumph.

They will be crowned champions should closest rivals Tottenham Hotspur fail to beat Chelsea on Monday.

In total seven Leicester players received votes in the FWA poll, with Danny Drinkwater, goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel, captain Wes Morgan and Danny Simpson also receiving votes.

Vardy will be honoured with the prestigious FWA accolade, which has been running since 1948, at a gala dinner in London on May 12.

FWA chairman Andy Dunn, of the Sunday Mirror, said: “It is testament to their all-round excellence that so many Leicester players polled votes from our members. The Jamie Vardy story, though, clearly captured the imagination of so many writers.

“His record-breaking feat of scoring in 11 consecutive matches is the jewel in what will surely be Leicester’s Premier League crown.

“And the Footballer of the Year award is not just a reflection of his fantastic season, but recognition of a remarkable journey from non-league to the international stage.”

Other players to receive votes from FWA members were Tottenham striker Harry Kane, West Ham playmaker Dimitri Payet, Manchester City duo Sergio Aguero and Kevin de Bruyne as well as Spurs midfielder Dele Alli.

Vardy said: “It’s a great honour to win such a prestigious award and to have my name added to a list of previous winners that includes some unbelievable players.”

The England striker added: “We’re all totally focused on getting over the line in the final two weeks of the season and turning a great season into one we’ll never forget.

“Hopefully I can contribute to that and, if selected, carry some good form into the Euros (European Championships) this summer.”

Boat mishap averted in Lagos over fuel shortage

No fewer than 22 passengers were, yesterday, stranded on water when fuel was exhausted from a commercial engine boat which conveyed them from Oke-Ira to Bayeku, in the Ikorodu area of Lagos State.

The incident occurred few minutes after the boat took off from Oke-Ira jetty at about 3pm.

 

As soon as the incident occurred, some of the passengers made phone calls to their relatives to explain the situation and this drew sympathisers to the jetty.

According to eye witnesses, the boat started spinning and sailing to an unknown destination for about 40 minutes before the passengers were rescued.

An eye witness Mr Suraj Edun said before their take off at Oke-Ira, an operator drew the attention of his colleagues to the fact that the available fuel was not sufficient for a 10 minutes journey to Bayeku but this was discarded and the operator zoomed off only to leave the 22 passengers stranded mid way.

Another eye witness who pleaded anonymity said the boat was on high speed when it’s engine suddenly stopped a situation which instilled fear in the passengers who thought there was a mishap until they saw themselves being tossed to and fro on waters.

He said, “initially, we thought there was a mishap and some of us bombarded the operator with questions to know what transpired,”

He said contrary to the passengers’ view, the operator gently explained that there was no fuel in the engine and the passengers cried louder, “many of us made phone calls to our relatives but this did not yield any result until 40 minutes after.”

He said the operator stayed with them throughout the period and continued to make calls to his colleagues before one of them came to their rescue at about 4.20pm.

Contacted, Chairman of the jetty, Alhaji Ganiyu Lukmon said he responded to the incident as soon as he got a distress call.

The Chairman Lagos State Emergency Management Authority LASEMA, Michael Akindele could not be reached on phone, at the time of filing this report, but the South West Information Officer for National Emergency Management Agency NEMA, Ibrahim Farinloye said necessary arrangement was made to rescue all the passengers.

‎The passengers claimed they paid as much as N300 for the journey.

Yaw Returns With Eighth Edition Of “Yaw Live On stage”

Featuring AY, Phyno, Burna Boy, Korede Bello, Others

The eighth edition of “Yaw Live On Stage”, the flagship platform of media personality and comedian Steve “Yaw” Onu featuring the talents of several musicians and comedians including AY, Phyno, Burna Boy, Korede Bello and Solidstar is set to hold on Sunday May 29, 2016 at the Eko Hotel Convention Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos.

The centerpiece of the show is a humorous new stage play written and directed by Femi Branch titled “Shalanga”, which features the acting talents of Yaw and AY in a satirical take on the past and present of Nigeria in the last one year.

Other performances at the show include sets from Phyno, Korede Bello, Reekado Banks, Naomi Mac, Koker, SolidStar, Burna Boy, Lil Kesh, Adekunle Gold, CDQ, Splash, Immaculate, Tjan, Vintage Band, Reminisce, Ycee, comedians of the federal republic, amongst others.

The show, which kicks off at 6pm on the day will be preceded by the red carpet which begins at 4pm. Tickets to the event can be obtained at yawnaija.tv & ariiyatickets.com.

Commenting on the upcoming event, Yaw remarked,

“A lot of people do not know that I come from a Theatre Arts background and as such, I have a very keen interest in the complete spectrum of entertainment. This is what I have tried to achieve over the past 7 editions of Yaw Live On stage, and I believe this year’s event is set to be the best ever, incorporating a hilarious stage play, music, dance and comedy into a 360-degree entertainment experience for the audience. I want everyone to come out and have fun with me on the 29th. It is going to be spectacular.”

Ranieri backs Chelsea to bring Leicester title

All eyes will be on Stamford Bridge as the Premier League title race moves to the home of Chelsea on Monday — except those of Leicester City manager Claudio Ranieri.

Leicester, who drew 1-1 at Manchester United on Sunday, will complete their historic quest for the title if second-place Tottenham Hotspur cannot end a 26-year wait for a victory at Chelsea.

Ranieri, however, will be flying back from Italy, where he said he is due to meet his 96-year-old mother for lunch, and he is not sure if his players will be huddled around a television either.

Asked if the Leicester squad would be assembling to watch the game, Ranieri replied: “I don’t know. I didn’t ask. They are free. They have a day off.”

Should Spurs succeed in defeating Chelsea, last season’s champions, Leicester can secure the title in front of their own fans by beating Everton at the King Power Stadium on Saturday.

But even though Ranieri was sacked by Chelsea in 2004, becoming the first managerial casualty of Russian owner Roman Abramovich’s tenure, he is hoping that his former employers do Leicester’s job for them.

“I want to win. It’s not important when, believe me,” chuckled the 64-year-old Italian.

“If I have a chance to win tomorrow, for us it is important to win. Juventus won (the title) on Monday in Italy (after Napoli lost to Roma). Why not?

“In my mind Tottenham will win all three matches. I am now focused on the Everton match. When I was Chelsea manager, the true derby was againstTottenham. It’s a derby.”

Chelsea preventing Spurs from winning would allow Ranieri to return to Stamford Bridge in triumph for Leicester’s final game of the season, but he is keeping his mind firmly on the here and now.

“I don’t want to speak about so long (ago),” he said.

“I want to speak about the next match (against) Everton. I know all the city is blue, but we must continue to stay concentrated without special fireworks.

“We have to stay there, on the pitch, and think there will be another tough match.”

– ‘Sex masochism’ –

Whatever happens in west London, Leicester will be without Danny Drinkwater against Everton after the midfielder was sent off for two bookings on his return to his former club.


“I am very sad because he will (miss) the next game at home,” Ranieri said. “I hope I don’t miss him.”

It was an unwelcome novelty for United to be involved in a potential title-decider that did not directly concern them, but their manager Louis van Gaal did his best to steal Leicester’s limelight after the match.

Seeking to defend Marouane Fellaini, who is likely to face retrospective action for elbowing Robert Huth, Van Gaal went to great lengths to assert that Huth was to blame for pulling Fellaini’s hair.

To illustrate his point, the Dutchman grabbed a handful of a television reporter’s hair and in a subsequent interview he said that hair-pulling could only be permitted during what he termed “sex masochism”.

Anthony Martial rewarded United’s impressive start by giving the hosts an eighth-minute lead from Antonio Valencia’s cross, but Leicester equalised nine minutes later when Drinkwater crossed for Wes Morgan to head home.

The result left United four points off the Champions League berths, but with fourth-place Manchester City, on whom United have a game in hand, losing 4-2 at Southampton on Sunday ahead of their home game with third-place Arsenal this weekend, hope is not yet lost.

Speaking before City’s game at St Mary’s had finished, Van Gaal said: “I have said you have to win every game that we have to play, so now already we are not closing the gap.

“It is dependable on City, because Arsenal have won (against Norwich City), so that’s a big gap for three matches. Mathematically you can do it, but it shall be very difficult.”