Gist Arena

T he President of the United States of America has doubled down on his ‘beef’ with LaVar Ball, the father of one of the college students arrested in China for shoplifting. Trump initially had said the often mouthy Ball did not thank him for freeing the younger LiAngelo from a long jail sentence in China. The father, in turn, said he has nothing to personally thank the President for. Trump took to Twitter to express his feelings on the matter- and his thoughts about LaVar Ball as an individual. It wasn’t the White House, it wasn’t the State Department, it wasn’t father LaVar’s so-called people on the ground in China that got his son out of a long term prison sentence - IT WAS ME. Too bad! LaVar is just a poor man’s version of Don King, but without the hair. Just think.. — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 22, 2017 LiAngelo Ball and his two other teammates have been suspended from the UCLA basketball team after the incident, which his father wants to move ...

B ola Tinubu, the national leader of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), has said that the party would not issue an automatic ticket for President Muhammadu Buhari ahead of the 2019 presidential election. He said the party would follow the rules and regulations guiding its constitution in choosing the candidate ahead of the general elections. Mr. Tinubu spoke on Wednesday during a private visit to Pa Reuben Fasoranti in Akure, the Ondo State capital. Mr. Fasoranti, the foremost national leader of the pan-Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere, had parted ways with Mr. Tinubu in 2013. Our correspondent reported that Mr. Tinubu was accompanied during the visit by Bisi Akande, the erstwhile Interim National Chairman of the APC. The APC national leader was received by Ondo State Governor Rotimi Akeredolu and his deputy, Agboola Ajayi, at the tarmac of the Akure local airport. Speaking, Mr. Tinubu said the opinion of one particular individual would no...

B ritish Prime Minister Theresa May said Robert Mugabe’s resignation on Tuesday gave Zimbabwe “an opportunity to forge a new path free of the oppression that characterised his rule,” and declared Britain stood ready to help. “In recent days we have seen the desire of the Zimbabwean people for free and fair elections and the opportunity to rebuild the country’s economy under a legitimate government,” she said in a statement. “As Zimbabwe’s oldest friend we will do all we can to support this, working with our international and regional partners to help the country achieve the brighter future it so deserves.” Mugabe, who had led Zimbabwe since independence from Britain in 1980, resigned as president on Tuesday as parliament began impeachment proceedings after a military takeover. Welcoming his decision, British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson added to May’s call for free and fair elections. “I will not pretend to regret Mugabe’s downfall: but this can now be a ...

O by Ezekwesili took to her twitter handle to test the economic knowledge of her twitter followers. She asked questions like 1. How many Trillion Naira of Capital Investment do YOU think Nigeria needs for Infrastructure?2. How many Trillion is FG providing? 3. How do YOU think the Gap will be bridged? See below some of the response she got

T hanks to Toyin_Ibitoye for sending my very own custom-made NG Super Eagles jersey!!

Z imbabwe’s former vice president Emmerson Mnangagwa will be sworn in as president on Friday following the resignation of Robert Mugabe, state broadcaster ZBC reported on Wednesday. Mnangagwa, who fled for his safety after Mugabe sacked him two weeks ago, will land back in Zimbabwe at 6 p.m. (1600 GMT) at Manyame Airbase in Harare, ZBC said. Mugabe resigned as Zimbabwe’s president on Tuesday, a week after the army and his former political allies moved to end four decades of rule by a man once feted as an independence hero who became feared as a despot. Mnangagwa, whose sacking this month prompted the military takeover that forced Mugabe out, was expected to land in Zimbabwe at 1130 GMT, Larry Mavhima, an ally of the former vice president, told Reuters. Mnangagwa, 75, who fled from Zimbabwe in fear of his safety after being sacked this month, could be sworn in as president later on Wednesday or on Thursday and is likely to lead ZANU-PF into elections in 2018. ...

A picture of Biodun Fatoyinbo, founder Commonwealth of Zion Assembly (COZA), Abuja, rocking $1280 (N465, 920) Gucci Hoodie, is creating controversy on social media. Fatoyinbo, who has taken his swag on the altar to another level, rocked the designer item last Sunday. While his supporters found nothing wrong with the outfit, critics have been lampooning the flamboyant pastor. The famed pastor, known for wearing high-end labels has also been spotted with the luxury leather bag, Gucci Web Animalia GG Supreme Tote, which goes for about $2,490. Fatoyinbo Fatoyinbo is known for his exceptional taste both personally and even in the way he runs his church. The Abuja-based pastor first came to limelight in 2013, when he was allegedly entangled in an allegation of infidelity with a former member of his church which snowballed into a huge sex scandal. However, Fatoyinbo has since denied the allegation. Source: TheCable

T he Senate was on Wednesday thrown into a rowdy session when a lawmaker, Biodun Olujimi, accused President Muhammadu Buhari of losing authority on his administration. Mrs. Olujimi, PDP-Ekiti, was responding to a motion on the face-off between Nigeria’s security agencies raised by Dino Melaye, Kogi-APC. Officials of the State Security Services, SSS, and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, were involved in a showdown on Tuesday when EFCC operatives attempted to arrest the immediate past Director-General of the SSS, Ekpenyong Ita. A similar scenario also played out when SSS operatives prevented the anti-graft agency from arresting the former Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency, Ayo Oke. Presenting the motion, Mr. Melaye called on the Senate to take an urgent action on the incidents he described as “recipe for national disaster”. “Mr. President, the media and the social media, print and electronics have been awash with a disa...

As he consolidates on his solo career, Mr P (the artiste formerly known as Peter from Psquare), has announced the identity of his new manager. In an Instagram post, he published a photo of him with Emem Ema and simply captioned it, ‘Formal introduction! Meet my manager @vzhun Welcome to the PClassic team’ Ema has nearly a decade of artiste management experience, after her stint as a member of gospel group KUSH that comprised she, TY Bello, Lara George and Dapo Torimiro. After bagging a law degree from the University of Lagos, she started her talent management firm, One Management. Mr P’s move away from his brother who has managed him and Paul since their career took off comes after the public messy breakup of the group. He already has two Source: NETng

W elcome to a new Legislative Day in the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Senate President Bukola Saraki took the official Prayer and led the Chambers into today’s proceedings at 10.58am. Senator Suleiman Hunkuyi moved for the approval of votes and proceedings of Tuesday, 21st November, 2017, Senator Jonah David Jang seconded. PETITIONS Senator Magnus Abe raised a petition from the investment and credit society of Eleme Petrochemicals Company Limited on the complaint of non payment of their shares. Senator Dino Melaye raised a Petition on behalf of eight (8) ex-Colonel and three (3) ex -Captains on unlawful dismissal from the Nigerian Army. Senate President, Bukola Saraki referred the petitions raised to the Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions to report back in 2 weeks. POINT OF ORDER Senator Dino Melaye cited orders 42 and 52 and spoke on the clash between the operatives of the Economic Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the ...

T he Senate is to probe the standoff between the Directorate of States Service (DSS), National Intelligence Agency (NIA) and Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) operatives in Abuja. The Upper Chamber set up an Ad-hoc Committee to investigate the matter. The Senate’s action follows a Point of Order from Senator Dino Melaye, calling the attention of lawmakers to the standoff between the security agencies, describing it as a calamity and a recipe for national disaster. However Deputy Minority Whip, Senator Biodun Olujimi is displeased at what she describes as President Buhari’s inability to take control of the activities of the three security agencies which report to him. But Senate Leader, Ahmed Lawan is defending the President, arguing that President Buhari is in full control of the government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. It will be recalled that the EFCC agents on Wednesday, November 21st, clashed with DSS and NIA operatives when security o...