The Big 5: Trump invites Buhari to Washington, Macron ‘convinced’ Trump to stay in Syria, and other top stories

These are the top five Nigerian stories you should be monitoring today.

Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki on Sunday announced a ban on grazing in some communities attacked by suspected herdsmen in the state.

The affected communities include Odighi and Odiguete, in the Ovia North-East Local Government Area of the state.

Obaseki also ordered the arrest of any erring herdsman during the period of the ban, which he said would last for 90 days to enable the government to identify those lawfully allowed to graze in the areas so as to prevent further attacks.


Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State has said that it is only the Almighty God that will determine the next governor of the state in 2020.

Dickson said that God would raise a leader with a heart for the people to pilot the affairs of the state and to build on the legacy of development established by his administration.

A statement by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media Relations, Mr. Fidelis Soriwei, quoted the governor to have made the statement on Sunday at the St. Andrews Anglican (Ijaw) Church, Apapa, Lagos.


President Muhammadu Buhari will be the guest of US President Donald Trump at the White House on April 30.

Trump is expected to discuss issues such as promoting economic growth and fighting terrorism with Buhari.

“The relationship of the United States with Nigeria is deep and strong, and Nigeria’s economic growth, security, and leadership in Africa will advance our mutual prosperity,” the White House said in a statement.


The All Progressives Congress (APC) has constituted a 68-member committee to oversee its upcoming national elective convention.

Osita Izunaso, the national organising secretary of the party, announced this in a statement on Sunday.

The statement was silent on when the convention will hold or when the committee will be inaugurated.

The committee is chaired by Badaru Abubakar, governor of Jigawa state, while its deputy chairman and secretary are Rotimi Akeredolu, governor of Ondo state; and Ben Uwajumogwu respectively.

Also included in the committee are ten other governors namely Rochas Okorocha (Imo), Kashim Shettima (Borno), Aminu Bello Masari (Katsina), Abiola Ajimobi (Oyo), and Ibrahim Gaidam (Yobe).

Others are Nasir el-Rufai (Kaduna), Simon Lalong (Plateau), Bindo Jibrilla (Adamawa), Yahaya Bello (Kogi) and Godwin Ibaseki (Edo).


Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State has expressed confidence in the ability of President Muhammadu Buhari to come out victorious in 2019, saying that the real voters are behind him.

Bello, who stated this in a statement through his Director General on Media and Publicity, Kingsley Fanwo, said Buhari remained the most popular political figure among the masses of Nigeria.

“Two classes determine the electoral success of any candidate in Nigeria – the powerful elite and the masses. In 2015, the masses took over by trooping to the polling units massively to elect Africa’s most popular and most trusted political figure, President Buhari.

“Many of us who supported him actually supported his incorruptible and disciplined personality. I founded the Kogi Youth Arise Group with like minds to ensure the victory of the president in Kogi State. President Buhari is a phenomenal leader who truly loves Nigeria,” the statement read.

And now, stories from around the world…

Former FBI Director James Comey warned that if President Donald Trump ever tries to fire special counsel Robert Mueller, then it would be the President’s “most serious attack yet on the rule of law,” and said that “it’s possible” the Russians could have information on Trump that could be used to compromise him.

Comey also said Trump is “morally unfit to be president” and claimed there is “certainly some evidence of obstruction of justice” by Trump.

The comments came during a wide-ranging, exclusive interview with ABC News chief anchor George Stephanopoulos. The media appearance is the first time Comey has sat for a televised interview since Trump fired him last year. It also kicks off a promotional tour that the former FBI director is embarking on to promote the release of his new book, “A Higher Loyalty.”


French President Emmanuel Macron said Sunday he “convinced” President Donald Trump to stay in Syria before the United States, United Kingdom and France launched strikes against targets at three sites Friday night.

“Ten days ago, President Trump said the USA’s will is to disengage from Syria. We convinced him that it was necessary to stay,” Macron said, during a two-hour televised interview with several French media outlets.

On Friday, the United States, France and the United Kingdom launched a series of strikes on a research laboratory and two storage facilities associated with Syria’s chemical weapons program.


Former FBI director James Comey says his belief that Hillary Clinton would win the 2016 presidential election played a role in the way he handled the investigation into her use of a private email sever as secretary of state.

The former FBI director, who was abruptly fired by Trump last year, announced in July 2016 that he would not recommend charges in the investigation of Clinton’s email practices. But in a controversial move, Comey told Congress just days before the election that the FBI was reviewing additional emails in relation to the investigation. In early November, Comey then informed lawmakers that those emails did not warrant any further action.

In a clip released Saturday by ABC News, George Stephanopoulos asks Comey about his motivations in revealing that information to Congress.


Chinese authorities have released details of a man who threatened airline crew with a fountain pen, leading to the diversion of an Air China flight on Sunday.

Police said a man, identified only as Mr Xu, 41, was taken into custody and had a history of mental illness.

Air China flight CA1350 was heading to Beijing from Changsha but had to make an emergency landing in Henan province.

No passengers or crew were harmed during the incident.


Coffee chain Starbucks has apologised after two black men were arrested while waiting for a friend at one of their shops in the US city of Philadelphia.

Amateur video shows police placing the pair, who were accused by shop staff of trespassing, in handcuffs.

The footage has been widely shared since it was posted on Twitter and has led to accusations of racial profiling.

Starbucks chief executive Kevin Johnson said the video was “hard to watch” and that the actions taken were “wrong”.

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