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Nigeria’s President, Muhammadu buhari has reacted to the killing of a female student of the Shehu Shagari College of Education, Sokoto, Deborah Samuel over alleged Blasphemy.

The President strongly condemned the resort to self-help by a mob in sokoto, resulting in violence, destruction and killing of Samuel who reportedly blasphemed Muhammad (SAW), the Prophet of Islam.

In a statement sent to POLITICS NIGERIA on Friday, President Buhari said the news of the killing of the young lady by fellow students was a matter of concern and demanded an impartial, extensive probe into all that happened before and during the incident.

He admonished Muslims all over the world demand respect for the Holy Prophets, including Isah (Alaihissalaam, Jesus Christ) and Muhammad (SAW) but where transgressions occur, as alleged to be the case in this instance, the law does not allow anyone to take matters into their hands.

Moreover, religious leaders preach that it is not for the believer to judge the actions of another person. The constituted authority must be allowed to deal with such matters when they arise.

“No person has the right to take the law in his or her own hands in this country. Violence has and never will solve any problem,” said the President.

President Buhari also directed the Ministries of Information and Culture, Police Affairs and that of Communications and Digital Economy to work with GSM providers and Tech companies to help contain the spread of false and inflammatory information through social media.

The President extended the nation’s condolences to the family of the deceased student and wished all those injured a quick recovery.

He commended the immediate response to the incident by the Sokoto State Government and urged religious and community leaders to call citizens’ attention to the need to exercise the right to freedom of speech responsibly.

    President Buhari called for tampered comments by the media and calm among the general population while investigation is ongoing to find out the remote and immediate causes of the incident.

Manchester City's Kevin de Bruyne and Liverpool's Mohamed Salah are among eight nominees for the Premier League player of the season award. Midfielder De Bruyne and forward Salah are both former winners of the award.

City and Liverpool have two players nominated, with Joao Cancelo and Trent Alexander-Arnold also included. West Ham winger Jarrod Bowen, Arsenal forward Bukayo Saka, Tottenham forward Son Heung-min and Southampton captain James Ward-Prowse complete the list.

City are top of the Premier League, leading title rivals Liverpool by three points with two games remaining. Egypt's Salah is leading the Golden Boot race with 22 goals, while De Bruyne has 15 goals and seven assists this season. Both players were on the shortlist last season, with City defender Ruben Dias winning the award.

The winner is decided by votes from the public on the Premier League website, combined with those of the 20 Premier League club captains and a panel of football experts.

President Muhammadu Buhari has met with ministers who are seeking elective offices in 2023 and thanked them for their services to the nation. The President said this in a valedictory session at the Council Chamber in Abuja on Friday. He thanked them for their cooperation as he admonished other members of the cabinet to be more diligent and committed to the success of the administration.

On whether former President Goodluck Jonathan has joined the All Progressives Congress (APC), he stated that the party is in the best position to know. In a briefing after the meeting with the outgoing ministers, the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, disclosed that ten ministers are leaving. According to him, some of the ministers have tendered their resignation while the others are in the process of doing so.

Those who were at the meeting include the Minister of State for Mines and Steel Uche Ogar; Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva; Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige; Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi; Minister of Women Affairs Pauline Tallen.

Others are the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Goodwill Akpabio; Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami and the Minister of Science, Technology, and Innovation, Ogbonnaya Onu. Nine were physically present while the former Minister of State for Education, Emeka Nwajiuba, who is the tenth, was absent with reason.

The meeting follows the President’s recent directive to all ministers and political appointees contesting for various elective positions to resign from their appointments on or before Monday, May 16, 2022.

The Department of State Services (DSS) has debunked the rumored tenure elongation earlier reported by Sahara Reporters, an online media platform that the 2023 general election may not hold. This is contained in a statement signed by the Public Relations Officer, Dr Peter Afunanya in Abuja.  DSS described the report titled “Nigeria’s Secret Police, DSS Tests the Water on Tenure Elongation for Buhari, Tells Journalists, CSOs 2023 Elections May not hold” as misleading and mischievous.

In the said report, the Service was accused of informing participants at its April 6th brainstorming session with CSOs/NGOs that the 2023 general elections might not hold due to insecurity. It further stated that the session was a ruse to sell tenure elongation to the public. The service said “It is curious that the session which was applauded and described as innovative by participants including credible civil society groups would be misrepresented by SaharaReporters that was neither invited to nor participated in the exercise.

“The Online paper, in its characteristic gutter journalism, had initially claimed that participants at the session were harassed. When the fake news did not garner the expected attention, it resorted to another gimmick aimed at dragging the Service into an unnecessary term elongation debate. However, the presidency its definite stance to hand over power to a new president on 29th May 2023, has vindicated the Service and countered the deliberate effort by SaharaReporters to create confusion.

“While the Service, in the circumstance, aligns with the Presidency urges the public to disregard the lies of SaharaReporters and its promoter whose activities are usually antithetical to a decorous environment. "It is common knowledge that SaharaReporters is mischievously desperate and takes delight in promoting negative narratives against Government and its officials". The paper has not only remained biased and sensational in its reportage, it has sustained seditious attacks against security institutions and particularly the Service which may not hesitate to seek legal redress in the face of continued misrepresentation

The service further advised politicians and highly placed to desist from making unguarded statements capable of derailing efforts to deepen the country’s democracy as well as mobilise citizens for national unity and stability.

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta said "a beautiful game was destroyed" as his side suffered a damaging blow in their top-four hopes with a north London derby defeat at Tottenham. Spurs won 3-0 to move within a point of their rivals with two games remaining.

Tottenham's opener came from the penalty spot before Arsenal had Rob Holding sent off. "If I say what I think I am suspended for six months," said Arteta when asked about the officiating. "I don't know how to lie so I prefer not to say what I think. I cannot say what I think. "I am not unhappy with my players. I am proud of my players. I want the referee to come in front of the camera and explain his decisions. It's a shame because such a beautiful game was destroyed.

"The decision was made. We can't change it. The referee has to make a decision in football."Tottenham manager Antonio Conte declined to add his opinion on the decisions but did not hold back on his opposite number. "He complains a lot," the Italian said of Arteta. "He has to focus more on his team. He has to focus more on his work.

"He has to continue to work because he's a very good [coach]. To hear someone complain all the time is not so good.

Former President Goodluck Jonathan has not resigned as a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). This is according to the National Publicity Secretary of the main opposition party, Debo Ologunagba, who spoke during an interview on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily monitored by Core TV News.

“As far as today, I am not aware of his resignation from the membership of the party [PDP]” he said on Friday amid speculations that the former Nigerian leader is joining the All Progressives Congress (APC) to vie for the presidential seat in next year’s poll. “I would assume it is safe to say that he is a member of the party,” the PDP spokesman maintained. “If events follow thereafter, we can speak to that.”

According to him, the party would not respond to rumours about Jonathan’s defection, saying there are no facts to prove such. Ologunagba said questions about the former president’s defection speculations should be channeled to him and his ward in Bayelsa State.

“Membership of the party is personal. Membership of the party is at the ward level,” he added.