The 2018 diary: June

June 1, Oyegun steps down from APC chairmanship race. The National Chairman of the rulling All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, ruled out the possibility of seeking a second term in office at the partyís national conventions scheduled to hold on June 23, 2018.June 2, Ekiti shooting: APC blames security lapses, suspends campaigns. Ekiti state chapter of All Progressive Congress (APC) blamed the shooting of five of its members including Mr. Opeyemi Bamidele, on security lapses. The incident occurred at a rally organized for its governorship candidate, Dr Kayode Fayemi.

June 3 Buhari, Ahmed, others mourn pioneer ICPC Chairman, Mustapha Akanbi. Pioneer chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offensces Commission (ICPC) and first Wakilin of Ilorin, Justice Mustapha Adebayo Muhammed Akanbi, passed on aged 86.

**Police summon Saraki over Offa bank robbery. The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) invited Senate President Bukola Saraki to answer allegations surrounding his allegations link with persons behind the deadly robbery of some Banks in Offa in April, 2018.June 4 Gowon restrained us from killing Igbo during civil war, Buhari reveals. President Muhammadu Buhari disclosed how the then Head of States, General Yakubu Gowon restrained the Federal troops from killing Igbo during the civil war of 1967 to 1970.

June 5 NíAssembly plots President Buhariís impeachment. The National Assembly discussed commencing impeachment processes against President Muhammadu Buhari. This followed a joint session of both arms of the legislature held behind closed doors and presided over by Senate President Bukola Saraki.
June 6. June 12 is Democracy Day, President Buhari declares. President Muhammadu Buhari declared that the late Chief Moshood Kashimawo Abiola
won the 1993 presidential elections, but was denied the office by the then Head of State, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida. Buhari announced that the anniversary would thenceforth be observed on June 12 in honour of the late businessman and philantrophist.

June 7 President Buhariís June 12 stance face legal hurdles. President Muhammadu Buhariís position on June 12, 1993, presidential election could be hit by questions of legality. There was uproar that lasted for 20 minutes on the legal hurdles. Speaker Yakubu Dogara restored order and forwarded the motion on the Committee on Justice, and Rules and Business, mandating them to look into the matter and made recommendations before the House arrived at a decision.June 9. Buhari commences two-day working visit to Morocco. President Muhammadu Buhari embarked on a two-day working visit to the kingdom of Morocco. The visit was at the invitation of His Royal Majesty King Mohammed VI.

** Chinok Girl Dorcas Yakubu marks 20th birthday in captivity. The youngest Chibok girl abducted by Boko Haram, Maeda Dorcas Yakubu, turned 20 in captivity. She was 15 years old at the time of her abduction on April 14, 2014 . There was no negotiated release of Chibok girls by the Government for over a year. The Christian School girl, Leah Sharibu, the sole remaining hostage of the 2018 Dapchi School mass abduction, in May, 2018, marked her 15th birthday in Boko Haram captivity.

June 10. King Mohammed VI receives Buhari at Rabat-Sale Airport. President Muhammadu Buhari arrived in Morroco for an official visit at the invitation of King Mohammed VI. king Mohammed who was accompanied by two Crown princes welcomed Buhari upon his arrival at the Rabat-sale airport.
June 11. Nigeria, Morocco sign gas supply pact. President Muhammadu Buhari and King Mohammed VI of Morocco signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to facilitate the establishment of a gas pipeline to supply the product from Nigeria to Morroco and the West African sub-region.

** Ekiti State House of Assembly suspends Chief Whip for sleeping at plenary sessions. The Ekiti state House of Assembly suspended its Chief Whip, Mr Sunday Akinniyi, representing Ikere Constituency 2, for allegedly sleeping at plenary sessions.June 15. Ramadan fast over, I am healthier to face challenges, says Buhari. President Muhammadu Buhari said that with the Ramadan fast over, he was healthier and more stimulated to face the daunting challenges of steering the ship of State, especially as the 2019 election drew near. He spoke when he received a delegation of residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) led by the Minister Mohammed Bello and other well-wishers on the occasion of the Eid-el-Fitri celebration at the President Val Villa, Abuja.

June 16. Croatia leads group D, bears Nigeria 2-0. The Super Eagles opened their campaign at the 2018 FIFA World cup on a losing note, as they were beaten 2-0 by Croatia in their first game. The defeat at the Kaliningrad Stadium effectively dimmed Eaglesí hopes of qualification from Group D.
June 17. Fathersí Day: Children eulogise fathers for sacrifices, demand education. As the world marked the 2018 World Fathersí Day, Nigerian children eulogized their fathers for the huge sacrifices they were making daily for their upkeeps.
June 18. Doctor dies, others slump over non-payments of salaries in Kogi hospitals. The death of Head, Department of Internal medicine, Dr Chukwudib

Rosemary, occurred at the Kogi State Specialist Hospital (KSSH) in Lokoja. Another doctor Idris Nuhu, three nurses and an attendant in the maternity ward, slumped on hearing about Rosemaryís death.June 19, CAN warms govt against execution of five Christians. The Christians Association of Nigeria (CAN) asked the Federal Government to caution the Adamawa State government against a hasty implementation of the death sentence handed to five Christian youths for allegedly killing a Fulani herdsman. Justice Abdul-Azeez Warri of the Stateís High Court sentenced Alex Amos, Alheri Phaneul, Holy Boniface, Jerry Gidion and Jari Sabagi to death for culpable homicide.

150,000 Nigeria children born with sickle cell disease annually. Prof Aliyu Babadoko, consultant Hematologist, with the Ahmadu Bello Univeristy Teaching Hospital (ABUTH), Zaria said in a paper during the World Sickle Day celebration at Kaduna State University.June 20 Buhari raises concern over 2018 Budget irregularities. President Muhammadu Buhari raised concern over the National Assemblyís injection of strange projects and sundry irregulations into the 2018 Budget. He signed the Appropriationn Bill on =N=9.12 trillion into law, after seven months of delay.

**Corps member wins $2,500 paintings competition. Julius Agbaje a 26 year-old 2018 Batch B National Youths Service Corps Member, won the 2018 Painting competition in Lagos. Agbaje who was serving with Silverbird ArtGallaries, went home with a cheque of $2,500 the star prize.

**OAU sacks Professor over sex-for-marks scandal. The Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) sacked Professor Richard Akindele for demanding sex to upgrade the marks of a female student. The charges were levelled against him by Monica Osagie, a post-graduate student at the institution.June 21. Body of Benchers okays use of hijab for law activities such as when fresh law graduates were being called to the Bar.

June 23. Protest as APC holds national convention. The All Progressives Congress (APC) held its convention, amid protest by delegates and a plea by President Muhammadu Buhari that members ì keep faithî with the ruling party. The aggrieved, mainly from Zamfra state, were barred from accessing the Eagle square venue of the event, a move that infuriated them.

June 24, Firms, CEOs, ohers receive The Guardian oil, gas awards. Prominent and successful oil firms, banks and individuals were among those honoured at the maiden edition of The Guardian Oil and Gas Awards, for their remarkable contributions to the growth and development of the industry and the nationís economy.

June 25. Calls for nationís restructuring parochial, says President Buhari. President Muhammadu Buhari described calls for restructuring of the country as parochial and laced with interest, hence discussions and arguments on the matter failed to capture his attention.
June 26. How Jonathan stalled Lagos-Ibadan Expressway project, by Babalakin. Chairman of Bi-Courtney Construction Company, Dr Wale Babalaking (SAN) alleged that the interference of the Goodluck Jonathan administration in the Lagos-Ibadan road project was responsible for its unending completion.

The road would have been completed on or before 2014.June 27. Court orders interim forfeiture of Diezaniís =N= 325 million Lekki land to Federal Government. The Federal High Court, Lagos, presided by justice Babs Kuewumi ordered temporary forfeiture of a landed property, valued N325 million, allegedly belonging to former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke, to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
June 28. Amnesty indicts govt for killings. Amnesty International blamed the wanton killings across the country on the failure by the Federal Government to ìhold murderers to accountî. By so doing, ìNigerian authorities were encouraging impunity that was fuelling rising insecurity across the countryî.

Many Feared dead in Lagos petrol tanker fire. Ten people were feared killed when a petrol-laden tanker burst into flames at the Otedola Bridge area of Ojodu-Berger, Lagos. Dozens of cars were destroyed in the blaze; Police source said the tanker, Heading to Ibadan Expressway, fell on the bridge, with the ensuing fiery spill engulfing cars and people on its path.June 29. 10 inured in another accident on Otedola Bridge. Barely 22 hours after a tanker exploded and killed no fewer than 10 persons at Otedola

Bridge area of Ojodu-Berger, Lagos, another accident occurred in the same vicinity between two commercial vehicles. No fewer than 10 persons sustained varying degree of injuries.June 30, Immunization: Lagos, Kano target 4.8 million children Lagos and Kano states said they planned to immunize 4.8 million and 3 million children respectively.