Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday met behind closed doors with Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu, four Southeast governors and Deputy Governor of Anambra at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Southeast governors, who were led by the Deputy Senate President, arrived the State House at about 4.20p.m. The affected governors included Dave Umahi (Ebonyi); Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia); Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu) and deputy governor of Anambra Mr Nkem Okeke while Rochas Okorocha was yet to arrive the venue of the meeting as of the time of filing this report. The Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr…
Author: David Folami
Fela Durotoye has announced Khadijah Abdullahi-Iya as his vice presidential running mate for the 2019 presidential election. Durotoye, a leadership expert, took to his Twitter account (@feladurotoye) early on Wednesday, November 21, 2018 to announce his choice of the law graduate as his running mate. Abdullahi-Iya has an LLB Law degree from the University of Abuja and Masters in Law and Diplomacy from the University of Jos. According to Durotoye, she founded a variety of social enterprises and businesses and also sits on the board of a few SMEs. She also possesses over 10 years experience in humanitarian and community…
Oby Ezekwesili has promised to end the onslaught by Boko Haram. Ezekwesili made this known in an interview with CNN’s Christiane Amanpour on Wednesday, November 21, 2018. The ACPN presidential candidate vowed to also continue her advocacy till all the Chibok girls are released. According to Daily Post, she said “A research we had at the World Bank showed that those communities where this menace thrive need to be engaged. “We will provide jobs so that people will be busy and get paid. “Second, my government will completely overhaul the security system. We need fresh hands and people who will…
Joyce Banda has backed the presidential candidate of the Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN), Dr Oby Ezekwesili, to win the 2019 presidential election. In her endorsement of the former Minister of Education on Wednesday, November 21, 2018, Banda noted that Nigeria needs a leader like her with international exposure and accountable skills that would help the nation’s growth. Banda, who was Malawian president between April 2012 and May 2014, explained how Ezekwesili had saved her from corruption allegations and said such skills can be used to move Nigeria forward. While fighting corruption during my presidency in 2013, Oby Ezekwesili…
Olusegun Obasanjo has warned Nigerians against allowing thieves to get into power as it is detrimental to the country’s democracy. He said this while speaking at the book launch of another former president, Goodluck Jonathan, titled “My Transition Hours”, in Abuja on Tuesday, November 20, 2018. He said political power can be dangerous in the hands of thieves who he described as ‘hooligans’. He said, “It unifies rather than divide if democracy is found as an instrument in the hands of democrats. If it is in the hands of those, I call thieves, hooligans in politics, it can be a…
The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the 2019 election, Atiku Abubakar, said if elected, 70 per cent of his appointments would go to youths and women. Abubakar said this on Wednesday in Yola while addressing a group of youths who organised a solidarity rally to endorse his candidature. Abubakar said 40 percent of appointments would go to youths, while 30 percent would go to women. “The remaining 30 percent will be managed by the elderly,” he said. While pleading with the youths to vote for PDP for better life, the former vice president noted that their…
Babatunde Raji Fashola, says ‘change’ as promised by the All Progressives Congress (APC) before the 2015 elections, is a gradual process and the governing party did not really promise to fix Nigeria in a single term of four years. Fashola was in Lagos on Tuesday, November 20, 2018, for the inauguration of 5,000 foot soldiers tasked with mobilising votes for the Buhari/Osinbajo ticket. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports Fashola as saying that even though the APC promised change in 2014, the party did not promise to effect it in four years. “The APC has done more in three…
Atiku Abubakar has called on Nigerians to ensure that the nation remains united. The former vice president took to his Twitter account (@atiku) on Wednesday, November 21, 2018, to urge Nigerians to refuse to be divided along ethnic and religious lines. “I am 100% for 100% of Nigerians 100% of the time. Nigerians should never be divided by ethnic or religious lines. We must be united. We are ONE Nigeria,” he posted. In the policy document that he released on Monday, November 19, Atiku said his government would ensure Nigeria’s unity by promoting the spirit of co-operation and consensus. “Nigeria…
Timi Frank has called on President Buhari to prepare his hand-over note. He said “Nigerians will not forget the role Buhari played after the 2011 general elections which he lost. His undemocratic tendencies engineered the crisis that later claimed several lives, including some Corps members innocently serving their fatherland. “I, therefore urge the incumbent to prepare his hand-over note, learn a shock-absorber tactics from former President Jonathan should he lose the election in 2019.” Frank also told the President to ready to concede defeat like former President Goodluck Jonathan did in 2015. Jonathan reportedly called to congratulate Buhari when he…
Goodluck Jonathan says the narrative that he was a “clueless” and “inept” Nigerian leader from 2010 to 2015, is a completely flawed one. The tag “clueless”, stuck to Jonathan like a second skin throughout his reign. Now, the former president is pushing back on that sobriquet. Jonathan has been telling his story in a book he launched on Tuesday, November 20, 2018. “No one can factually say we were ‘clueless’ or inept. The evidence of performance is simply overwhelming. We gave Nigeria an impressive and steady GDP growth rate at 6.7 per annum”, Jonathan wrote. The governing All Progressives Congress…
The representatives of Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge have asked for more time to respond to his charges for misconduct in relation to alleged breaches of the English Football Association’s rules on betting, a source has said. The 29-year-old was charged by the FA last week and had until 6 p.m. local time on Nov. 20 to respond, although his camp are now seeking an extension. The source said the chairman of the FA’s judicial panel is currently considering how much additional time Sturridge will be given. Sources have also said that Sturridge is entirely free to play for Liverpool while…
Mauro Icardi said there is a better sense of “camaraderie and friendship” within the national team that hadn’t previously existed. The Inter Milan captain, who scored his first international goal in Argentina’s 2-0 win over Mexico on Tuesday night, said the side “feels very comfortable with each other. “I lived through the past and there wasn’t as much that before. Hopefully it can continue. [In the past cycle], I didn’t feel it. “Previously, with the experienced players, that wasn’t felt. Today we start from the bottom and we all want to do well for the coaching staff.” Despite the slight…
Pep Guardiola has been given a warning from the English Football Association over his recent comments about referee Anthony Taylor. A source said that Guardiola has been warned about talking about his officials ahead of matches in the future and could face a charge if he offends again. But it was decided not to charge him as this was his first indiscretion and that his views were noted to be neutral. Managers are not supposed to discuss referees in prematch news conferences, in either a derogatory or complimentary manner. “He is going to try to do the best job like…
Alex Sandro said he has a “desire” to play in Premier League — but added that he is happy in Turin for the moment. The Brazil international has been linked with moves to Chelsea and Manchester United in recent seasons but stayed with Juve despite battling Kwadwo Asamoah for a starting spot in Massimiliano Allegri’s defence in the previous campaign. It has been a different story in 2018-19 with Sandro playing in every match so far following Asamoah’s departure to Inter Milan. And, while has reiterated the fact he is enjoying life in Serie A, Sandro said that he would…
The inaugural UEFA Nations League is in danger of being adversely affected by UEFA’s decision to begin its first-ever finals just days after the Champions League final takes place. The Champions League showpiece will be held at the Wanda Metropolitano, home to Atletico Madrid, on June 1, with the first Nations League semifinal taking place four days later. Hosts Portugal are due to appear in that first semifinal on June 5, which is set to be played at the home of FC Porto, with the second semifinal being held 24 hours later in Guimaraes on June 6. It means the…
Pep Guardiola took time away from the pitch on Wednesday to give a guest lecture to the Department of Modern Languages and Cultures at the University of Liverpool. As well as talking about his joy at learning several languages after his spells touring the globe as a player and manager, Guardiola also spoke about immersing himself in various cultures, having lived in Spain, Italy, Mexico, Qatar, the United States, Germany and now England. Guardiola also spoke of his love for his home region of Catalonia and city of Barcelona and his views on the recent independence referendum. 1. Football is…
David De Gea is becoming increasingly frustrated at what he thinks is unfair criticism of his performances for Spain and believes he is being singled out because he does not play for Barcelona or Real Madrid, sources have said. De Gea’s place in the Spain team has been questioned after he was criticised for his role in Croatia’s late winner in a 3-2 UEFA Nations League defeat last Thursday. It follows criticism of his performances at the World Cup where he was responsible for a Cristiano Ronaldo goal in a 3-3 draw with Portugal. They eventually went out following a…
Trent Alexander-Arnold, Justin Kluivert, Matthijs de Ligt, Patrick Cutrone and Vinicius Junior are the names in contention for the 2018 Golden Boy award, with holder Kylian Mbappe out of the running. Roma’s Kluivert, Ajax’s De Ligt, Liverpool’s Alexander-Arnold, AC Milan’s Cutrone and Real Madrid’s Vinicius Junior will find out who wins on Dec. 17. The award, first won by Rafael van der Vaart in 2003, followed by Wayne Rooney and Lionel Messi, is organised by Italian newspaper Tuttosport and presented to the outstanding youngster over the course of the year. A different player has picked up the prize every time…
Rumors over his club future may continue to swirl, but midfielder Christian Pulisic remains the undoubted star for the United States. At 20 years and 63 days, he became the youngest player to captain the U.S. in the modern era (since 1990), bettering Landon Donovan’s 2004 mark of 22 years 220 days. And, despite the Americans falling to a 1-0 defeat to Italy on Tuesday, he said it was a night he will never forget. “It’s a huge honor,” he said. “For the coaches, the staff, the team to trust me to be captain of the team — it means…
Manchester United’s share price has suffered its biggest drop in over a year, with more than £300 million wiped off the club’s value on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) prior to the opening of trading on Wednesday. United, listed on the NYSE since August 2012, had been valued by Forbes.com as the most valuable team in world sport at $4.8 billion (£3.75bn) in August this year. But the club’s share price dropped 8.68 percent in trading on Tuesday, falling from an opening price of $19.92 a share to $18.19 at the end of the day. The fall has taken…