•    1966 May 24: Nigeria ceases to be a Federal Republic by a decree signed by the Supreme Commander, Major-General J.T.U. Aguiyi-Ironsi . Regions are abolished giving way to Groups of Provinces; all the existing political parties are dissolved: formations of new political parties are prohibited and all tribal unions are banned. The National Military Government only had power to legislate for all Nigeria. Public services become unified under a National Public Service Commission. A time limit of 3 years is set for the army rule and return power to civilians.

•    On this day in 2013, Governor of Rivers State at the time, Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, CON, was re-elected as the chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, NGF.
Amaechi, whose re-election was fiercely opposed by both President Goodluck Jonathan and the leadership of the ruling People’s Democratic Party, PDP, got 19 votes to beat his challenger, Jonah Jang of Plateau State who got 16 votes.

•    Also on this day in 2013, communities in the downstream of the Taylor creek traversing Bayelsa communities in Yenagoa local government area were hit by oil spill from a Shell Petroleum Development Company, (SPDC) facility.

•    1738 John Wesley is converted, launching the Methodist movement; celebrated annually by Methodists as Aldersgate Day or Wesley Day

•    1844 Samuel Morse taps out "What hath God wrought" in the world's first telegraph message

•    1941 German battleship Bismarck sinks the British battle cruiser HMS Hood; 1,416 die, 3 survive

•    2001 23 die in the Jerusalem wedding hall disaster
Hundreds of wedding guests fell two stories deep when a portion of the third floor collapsed. The tragedy was Israel's worst civil disaster.

•    1970 Engineers begin drilling the world's deepest hole
The Kola Superdeep Borehole had reached the unsurpassed depth of 12,262 meters (40,230 feet) before the project was abandoned due to a lack of funding.
•    1956 The first Eurovision Song Contest is held
Lys Assia won the first edition for Switzerland. The ESC is a major song contest in Europe and one of the world's longest-running TV programs. It is held in a different country each year.
•    1930 Amy Johnson flies solo from England to Australia
The English aviatrix was the first woman to achieve this feat. Her 18,000 km (11,000 mi) flight aboard a de Havilland Gypsy Moth aircraft took her from Croydon, U.K. to Darwin, Australia in 19 days.
•    1830 Mary had a little lamb is published
Sarah Josepha Hale's poem is one of the best-known English language nursery rhymes.
•    1595 Nomenclator of Leiden University Library appears, the first printed catalog of an institutional library

•    1988 Section 28 passed as law by Parliament in the United Kingdom prohibiting the promotion of homosexuality. Repealed 2001/2004
Births On This Day – 24 May
•    1963 Michael Chabon
American author
•    1945 Priscilla Presley
American actress, businesswoman
•    1941 Bob Dylan
American singer-songwriter, guitarist, producer
•    1819 Queen Victoria
of the United Kingdom
•    1671 Gian Gastone de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany

Film Premier
•    1989 "Indiana Jones & Last Crusade", directed by Stephen Spielberg, and produced by George Lucas premieres

•    1979 32nd Cannes Film Festival: "Apocalypse Now" directed by Francis Ford Coppola and "Die Biechtrommel" directed by Volker Schlondorff jointly awarded the Palme d'Or

•    1988 Porntip Nakhirunkanok, 19, of Thailand, crowned 37th Miss Universe

•    1997 Actor Tim Allen arrested for drunk driving in Michigan

•    1998 51st Cannes Film Festival: "Mia aioniotita kai mia mera / Eternity and a Day" by Theo Angelopoulos wins the Palme d'Or

•    2009 62nd Cannes Film Festival: "The White Ribbon" directed by Michael Haneke wins the Palme d'Or

•    2015 68th Cannes Film Festival: "Dheepan" directed by Jacques Audiard wins the Palme d'Or

Famous Deaths
•    1144 Petronella, wife of earl Floris II the Vette of Holland/regent, dies

•    1153 David I, King of Scots (1124-53), dies at about 68
•    1351 Abu al-Hasan 'Ali, Sultan of Morocco (b. circa 1297)

•    1408 Taejo of Joseon [Yi Seong-gye], King of Joseon (1392-98), dies at 72

•    1425 Murdoch Stewart, 2nd Duke of Albany, Scottish politician (b. 1362)