TOBI'S DESK

Aboard the Papal Plane Pope Francis said Sunday that Christians owe apologies to gays and others who have been offended or exploited by the church, remarks that some Catholics hailed as a breakthrough in the church's tone toward homosexuality. "I repeat what the Catechism of the Catholic Church says: that they must not be discriminated against, that they must be respected and accompanied pastorally," Francis said at a press conference aboard the papal plane returning from Armenia. "The Church must ask forgiveness for not behaving many times -- when I say the Church, I mean Christians! The Church is holy, we are sinners!" As he often does during unscripted moments -- particularly papal news conferences -- the Pope spoke expansively, saying the church should seek forgiveness for a number of historical slights committed in its name. "I believe that the church not only should apologize to the person who is gay whom it has offended," he added, &q

Former Nigeria captain Joseph Yobo, who has played for Fenerbahce and Everton is set to play in the Nigeria Professional Football league for the remaining matches of the season, in what will be a major coup for the Nigeria league. Joseph Yobo will see out his playing career in the Nigerian Professional Football League, League organisers, League Management Company (LMC) announced in a tweet on Tuesday. In a new welcome arrangement set up by the LMC , retiring Nigerian internationals who have played abroad can come back to the Nigerian League and play for any club who meets up with their terms while the NPFL will also partly fund the player's wages. This move by the NFF, will in turn attract investors and fans to stadiums, as they want to catch a glimpse of their heores in action for their local clubs. Former Nigeria midfielder Sani Kaita was the first high profile player to take part in the scheme. LMC Chairman Shehu Dikko told ESPN that Yobo's experience will be

In a circular released yesterday, Minister of Health, Isaac Adewole, ordered the replacement of all striking resident doctors in the various government teaching hospitals. According to the minister, the striking doctors failed to attend their training programs despite ongoing negotiations and so their vacancies should be filled up with other doctors that have before now sent in their applications. However, after a meeting between resident doctors and other health sector stakeholders, organised by the Speaker, House of Representatives, Mr Yakubu Dogara in Abuja on Tuesday, the leadership of the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) agreed to suspend the strike. The Association’s leadership appealed to members to suspend the strike until they reconvene at their next meeting scheduled for July 14

Factional leader of PDP, Ali Modu Sheriff, has described as illegal and unconstitutional the Monday June 20th Edo state gubernatorial primaries that saw the emergence of Osagie Ize-Iyamu as the party's flagbearer for the Edo state governorship election slated for September 10th. In a letter he signed and sent to the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC, yesterday June 21st, Sheriff said the primaries that was carried out by the Ahmed Makarfi led caretaker committee in Edo state should be disregarded by the electoral body. According to him, himself and members of his National Working Committee have slated another party congress for the state where the gubernatorial primary election will be held. He said the congress will hold from June 23rd to June 29th. The Markafi-led caretaker committee of the party had on 

The battle is raging hot as regards the claims by Governor Fayose alleging that the nation’s First Lady Hajia Aisha Buhari was involved in a bribery scandal involving a US Congressman. Fayose relived the controversy on Monday, June 20, stressing the role played by Buhari’s wife, in the messy bribery scandal involving Williams Jefferson. Aisha Buhari has been accused of being involved in a bribery scandal. The Ekiti state governor’s reaction comes bare hours after the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) froze his account, claiming that the antigraft agency is investigating suspicious movements of money into the governor’s account. Nigerians have taken to social media to air their views for and against the claims made by Governor Fayose, some saying that it was high time such secrets are exposed; while others believe that Fayose should just dance to the music he has been playing. Taiwo Adegbuyi Omoniyi said: “Who is investigating Jagaban, Fashola, Ameachi, Oshiomol

The All Progressives Congress (APC) held its governorship primaries on Saturday, June 18 at the Samuel Ogbemudia stadium in Benin City, the Edo state capital – In a fallout to that election, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is holding its own primary election to elect its governorship candidate for the September, 2016 Edo state governorship election – At least 740 delegates are involved in the exercise which kicked off in the morning of Monday, June 20 – Based on the result from the primaries, Osagie Ize-Iyamu has been declared winner of the election this afternoon Reports coming in from Channels have it that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has declared Osagie Ize-Iyamu winner of its just concluded Edo State governorship primary election. Osagie Ize-Iyamu won the election by a total of 584 votes to emerge winner, beating his closest rival, Matthew Iduoriyekemwen, who scored 91 votes, to come a distant second. The other candidate, Mr Solomon Edebiri polled 38 votes to

A Briton who tried to grab a police officer's gun at a Donald Trump rally in Las Vegas said he wanted to shoot the US candidate, court papers say. Michael Steven Sandford, 20, did not enter a plea when he appeared before a judge in Nevada and was remanded in custody until a hearing on 5 July. He is charged with an act of violence "on restricted grounds". He had reportedly tried to seize the gun after saying he was seeking Mr Trump's autograph at Saturday's rally. He said he had been planning to try and shoot Mr Trump for about a year but had decided to act now because he finally felt confident enough to do so, court papers say. A federal judge found Mr Sandford, who reportedly appeared in court in shackles, to be a danger and risk of non-appearance, and he was ordered detained pending his preliminary hearing. When asked about the arrest of Michael Sandford, a Foreign Office spokesman said: "We are providing assistance following an arrest of

The Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation in a statement released on June 20, said that the suspension has immediate effect. It reads in part: “ The directive was contained in a circular to all Ministries, Departments and Agencies signed by the Head of Civil Service of the Federation , Mrs Winifred Oyo-Ita. “The circular which conveyed the president’s directive on the suspension said the suspension is with immediate effect and all concerned to comply accordingly.” The decision became the first after President Buhari returned from his medical trip to London. The president who suffered from ear infection spent more then ten days in Britain receiving treatment. He resumed his duties on June 20, saying that he is glad to return to work. REFERENCE : NAIJ.COM

The first Miss Nigeria contest was won by Grace Atinuke in 1957. Since then a lot has changed about the beauty contest. When the 26 year old won the maiden award, it didn’t have the fun fare that has characterised today’s beauty pageants. According to her, it was more of a photo contest organised by the Daily Times in Lagos. Atinuke who was born in 1931 said it was her younger brother who sent her photo while she was away to Kaduna from Kano. She was later selected to travel to Lagos where she was eventually crowned as the winner of the country first Miss Nigeria’s contest. The tide of the contest, and all beauty pageants in the country, has changed. According to the Atinuke, the contest was more about judging what might be considered the natural beauty of the contestants especially the face rather than the body. There was no cat walk, there was no bikini, there was no make-up nor was there the pool session which would later be scrapped by the Miss Nigerian contest. The jud

A total number of 104 Christians have allegedly converted to Islam in Delta state. According to Saleem Abdulqadir who shared the information with pictures on Twitter , the switch in religion happened June 15.

A rope hanging horizontally over two skinny, wooden goalposts; the absence of a net or pitch markings; a heavy leather ball; long trousers tucked into knee-high socks; and the players haphazardly chasing the ball in their droves like kids on a school playground… welcome to international football in its infancy! This illustration is of a March 1875 encounter between England and Scotland at The Oval in London. The sides had played out a goalless draw in the world’s first official international 27 months earlier in Glasgow, and although this, their fourth meeting, also ended in parity, the 2,000-odd in attendance were treated to four goals. Solicitor Charles Wollaston, 25, and 32-year-old journalist Charlie Alcock, who was accustomed to starring at the venue as a cricketer, scored for the hosts, while Henry McNeil and Peter Andrews replied for the visitors. The contest also threw up something for the trivia buffs among you to remember: Herbert and William Rawson became

While waiting for a human heart transplant, Stan Larkin lived 555 days without the organ at all. To passers-by, the 25-year-old Ypsilanti, Michigan, resident appeared to be a typical young adult. He enjoyed taking his three toddlers to the park and hanging out with his younger brother, Dominique. What wasn't obvious was that a gray backpack Larkin carried was what kept him alive. Inside that bag was the power source for an artificial heart pumping in his chest. Larkin's real heart was removed from his body in November 2014. It was replaced with a device that allowed Larkin to stay home instead of in a hospital while waiting to receive a transplant. It finally arrived this year, in May. Now, Larkin is recovering from his procedure at the University of Michigan Frankel Cardiovascular Center. He is scheduled to return home as early as next week. "Most people would be scared to go so long with [an artificial heart], but I just want to tell them that you have to g

When I first started breaking out from acne when I was 10 years old, my parents bought me all sorts of cosmetic products that promised to clear them away. Of course, nothing I used worked and by the time I became a teenager, I felt hopeless. I was made to believe that this was a natural part of growing up and that they would go away once my hormones balanced out. Only one part of that was actually true — once I stabilized my hormones, my skin would stop breaking out. However, it wasn’t going to do it on its own. I have family members who are in their late 20s and 30s who are still suffering from horrible acne breakouts, which disproves the idea that they will go away on their own. There are more people today suffering from pre-teen and adult acne than ever before and I can tell you right now that it isn’t natural which is why i will like to share what actually worked for me through the 5 easy step to how you can have that perfect clear skin that you have always wanted like i did min

Story highlightsPortugal captain's earnings put at $88 millionReal Madrid star tops list for the first time everLionel Messi in second spot with $81.4m He's just won the Champions League with Real Madrid -- and now Cristiano Ronaldo can celebrate being the world's highest-paid athlete, too. Forbes estimates that Portugal captain Ronaldo, who will be one of the biggest stars at Euro 2016 in France, earned a staggering $88 million (£60.4m) last year. That puts him clear at the top of the American business magazine'sannual compilation of the world's 100 highest-paid athletes -- and it means he is again ahead of Barcelona rival Lionel Messi, with the pair having finished third and fourth last year. Argentina's Messi earned $81.4m this year as soccer's two biggest stars rung the changes at the pinnacle of the list. It is the first time since 2000 that either golfer Tiger Woods -- who drops to 12th after a wretched run of poor form and injury proble

It was only a few weeks ago that the Labour bodies under the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) reached a compromise with the federal government regarding the removal of fuel subsidy – The National Association of Resident Doctors of Nigeria (NARD) is also warming up for a nationwide strike – The body of resident doctors vowed that the strike which will begin tomorrow, Thursday, June 9 will be indefinite Dr Muhammad Askira, president of the body of resident doctors made this known to journalists on Tuesday, June 7. The president of NARD stated that the decision to embark on a nationwide strike, was taken at the ordinary general meeting of the national executive council of the association, which was held between May 30 and June 5, at Jos, the capital of Plateau state, North-central Nigeria. Association of Resident Doctors carrying placards while holding a peaceful protest over non-payement of their salaries for several months         Credit: NAN

Statement shared via their official Twitter handle.. The NYSC Management wishes to inform all prospective Corps members that President Buhari has approved and released funds to the Scheme to hold its planned Orientation course. Consequently, Management of the Scheme has scheduled the 2016 Batch A Stream II Orientation course to commence from Monday 13th June to Wednesday 29th June 2016Nationwide. Prospective Corps members are expected to log on to d NYSC Portal to commence printing of their Call-up letters from TUESDAY (7/6/16) by 12noon as the Call-up letters printed earlier are now invalid.

Muhammad Ali was born Cassius Marcellus Clay in Louisville, Kentucky on 17 January 1942. He took up boxing at the age of 12 and went on to win light-heavyweight gold at the 1960 Olympics in Rome. Clay turned professional in October 1960 aged 18 and won 18 straight fights before travelling to London in June 1963 for his first paid bout overseas, where he predicted a fifth-round knockout of local hero Henry Cooper. Cooper floored Clay in round four with 'Enery's 'Ammer' only for the brash American visitor to deliver on his word and force a stoppage in his chosen round in front of more than 55,000 people at Wembley Stadium. Clay's first shot at a world title came in February 1964, when he took on formidable world champion Sonny Liston. The brooding Liston predicted: "I think I'm gonna have to hurt that boy bad." Dismissed by most boxing experts before the fight, Clay put in an exhilarating performance in Miami, forcing Liston to quit on

Jamie Vardy leaving Leicester to join Arsenal "could be catastrophic" for the Premier League champions, says former Foxes defender Gerry Taggart. Leicester striker Vardy, 29, is deciding over a reported £120,000-a-week offer from Arsenal. Vardy, who is part of England's Euro 2016 squad in France, only signed a new three-year deal worth a reported£60,000-a-week in February. The Gunners triggered Vardy's release clause with a £20m bid on Friday. Leicester are reported to have made an improved counter-offer in a bid to keep Vardy, who scored 24 goals to help Claudio Ranieri's side claim an historic first top-flight title. Vardy had been expected to make a decision on Monday before flying to France with England, but he arrived at the team's base in Chantilly with no update on his future. "If Jamie goes then one or two others might want to leave as well," ex-Northern Ireland international Taggart told BBC Radio 5 live. "The whole Lei

A team of experts has begun restoring the ancient tomb in Jerusalem where Christians believe Jesus was buried in the first such works for 200 years. The renovation in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre aims to reinforce and conserve the structure. Rivalry between the three denominations that run the church has delayed work. But clerics from the Greek Orthodox, Roman Catholic and Armenian churches have put aside their differences, recognising the need to begin repairs. The work will focus on the Edicule, the ancient chamber housing Jesus's tomb which Christians say stands above the spot where Jesus's body was anointed, wrapped in cloth and buried. The last restoration work to take place there was in 1810 after a fire. The Greek Orthodox, Roman Catholic and Armenian authorities are responsible for running different parts of the church but share responsibility for the shrine. 'Equally decided' Relations between them can be tense - in 2008, an argument be

Pope Francis has approved measures to sack bishops who mishandle child sexual abuse cases, a papal decree says. Bishops who are "negligent" in dealing with priests committing abuse will be removed under the new legal procedures. The decree comes in response to long-running demands by abuse victims and their supporters to hold bishops accountable if they fail to protect their flocks from paedophiles. Existing laws relating to abuse cases would be tightened, the Pope said. He acknowledged that canon law already allows for a bishop to be removed for negligence but says he wants a more precise definition of the "grave reasons" that could lead to dismissal. Image captionThe Pope wants bishops to be more diligent in confronting abuse cases "I intend to specify that among these so-called 'serious reasons' is the negligence of bishops in the exercise of their functions, especially in cases of sexual abuse of minors or vulnerable adults," Pop