The All Progressives Congress (APC) has described Atiku Abubakar’s meeting with Igbo leaders from the southeast region as proof that he has ‘lost any sense of shame’ alongside his party, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). Atiku, a former vice president, met with Igbo leaders in Enugu State on Wednesday, November 14, as part of his campaign as the PDP’s presidential candidate for the 2019 presidential election. During the meeting, Atiku expressed his displeasure with the state of infrastructure in the southeast region and promised that restructuring would solve many of the regions complaints about marginalisation. “My commitment is to fix…
Author: David Folami
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Uche Secondus has accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of planning to rig the 2019 elections in favour of the All Progressives Congress (APC). According to Vanguard, Secondus said the electoral body has prepared special card readers and result sheets for APC. The PDP chairman said this while speaking with the election team of the Economic Community of West Africa states (ECOWAS). Secondus also warned the chairman of INEC, Professor Mahmood Yakubu against the manipulation of the 2019 elections. The PDP chairman said that it will be a ‘recipe for crisis’, and Yakubu will…
Muhammadu Buhari says his administration will continue to implement policies that attract investment and spark competition in critical sectors of the economy for employment creation and economic growth. The president gave the assurance when he received the Chairman and Management of the LADOL Integrated Logistics Enterprise, who visited him at the State House, Abuja on Thursday. Buhari commended the company for taking full advantage of the pro-business policies put in place by his administration and aimed at bringing domestic and direct foreign investment, which were yielding prosperity to the people of the country. He said: “Your competitive and aggressive activity…
The Federal Government and Academic Staff Union of Universities(ASUU) have agreed to resume talks next week to resolve the ongoing strike by university teachers. Dr Chris Ngige, the Minister of Labour and Employment, told newsmen at the end of a closed-door meeting with the union in Abuja on Thursday that the talks had been fruitful. Thursday’s meeting was called at the instance of the minister. “We will resume discussions by next week,’’ Ngige said. Prof. Biodun Ogunyemi, ASUU President, also confirmed that the meeting would continue next week. “We have just started the discussion, we have really not gone too…
Olusegun Obasanjo has cautioned Nigerian and African politicians against using youths as political thugs while they shield their own children from danger. While speaking at the Inauguration of King’s College London Global Leaders Engagement Series in London on Wednesday, November 14, 2018, the former president said politicians should more meaningfully engage youths in politics. He said, “Enough of using other people’s children as experimental subjects and keeping ours in safe havens; enough of using other people’s children as political thugs and ballot box snuffers, while we send ours to Ivy League schools; enough of thinking we know what is right…
The Department of State Services (DSS) has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to probe the national chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomhole, for allegedly receiving over $55 million in bribes. The former Edo State governor had initially been detained by the agency on November 4, 2018 and interrogated for nine hours on allegations made by certain governors that he received bribes to manipulate the APC’s primary elections conducted across the country over a month ago. The agency was also revealed to have compelled Oshiomhole to resign as the APC chairman, but he refused, noting that he still…
The Director-General of the President Muhammadu Buhari Campaign Organisation, Rotimi Amaechi, has played down the significance of a presidential debate ahead of the 2019 presidential election. The president took part in presidential debates in the run up to the 2007 and 2011 presidential elections which he lost, but he failed to debate ahead of the 2015 election which he won. With early signs from the presidency indicating that he might not show up for any presidential debates again ahead of next year’s polls, many contestants have called on him to debate them. While speaking during an interview on Arise News…
Rotimi Amaechi has vowed to never return to the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) for whatever reason. The former Rivers State governor dumped the PDP in November 2013 after months of a power tussle between him and the party’s leadership. He defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) with four other state governors to boost the chances of the then-opposition party for the 2015 general elections. During an interview on Arise News Television on Thursday, November 15, 2018, Amaechi said he’ll never return to his former party. “I’m no longer in PDP. People should leave me alone now, I don’t…
The former Ondo State Commissioner for Works, Mr Gboye Adegbenro has dropped his senatorial ambition to allow his former boss, Dr Olusegun Mimiko to replace him. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) on Thursday in Abuja, announced that it has officially withdrawn from the presidential race and its candidate, Mimiko would now be fielded for Senate. Adegbenro, who is the Ondo Central senatorial candidate of the ZLP, said in Akure on Thursday that he has withdrawn for Mimiko. It became imperative that I bring to a close, my aspiration to represent Ondo Central…
Adams Oshiomole has threatened to sue Senate President Dr. Bukola Saraki over an allegation linking him with bribery. In a report by Punch News, Oshiomole is accused of collecting money from party members to help boost their ambition. He denies this in a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Simon Ebegbulem. “It is sad that Saraki, who just woke up from slumber occasioned by his crushing defeat at the Port Harcourt presidential primary of his party, could degenerate to such a low level. “It is equally sad, but not unexpected, that Saraki, who is politically drowning, would make such…
Kingsley Coman has said the age of Bayern Munich’s squad is a factor in their recent poor form and called for new signings. Bayern started the 3-2 defeat to Bundesliga leaders Borussia Dortmund on Saturday with eight of the starting XI from the 2013 Champions League final against the same opposition. That defeat saw Dortmund open a seven-point gap on Bayern, who fell to fifth in the table. Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Coman, 22, said that Bayern need fresh blood, at least in the 2019-20 season. “We have a very good team, but it’s true: It’s ageing a bit,”…
Premier League clubs have agreed in principle to introduce video assistant referees (VAR) from the start of next season. The Bundesliga, La Liga and Serie A are already using VAR, which allows disputed incidents to be reviewed with the use of video replays, and the technology was used at the World Cup in Russia this year. English clubs were provided with an update on this season’s VAR trials, with key examples of its use in the FA Cup and League Cup discussed in detail. “The League will now formally make a request to the International Football Association Board and FIFA…
The president of Uruguay has said the country is “working hard” on a bid to co-host the 2030 World Cup with Argentina and Paraguay. The tournament will take place on the 100th anniversary of the first World Cup in Uruguay in 1930, but the bidding process has not yet begun and is expected to start in 2020. Asked whether hosting this month’s Under-17 Women’s World Cup in Montevideo this month was a first step towards 2030, president Tabare Vazquez told reporters it was “a very important time for Uruguayan sport.” “We are working on that [a joint bid for 2030],”…
Ed Woodward has said the club are fully behind manager Jose Mourinho despite the “mixed” start to the Premier League. United are eighth in the Premier League after 12 games following Sunday’s 3-1 defeat against Manchester City, and sit seven points off a top-four spot. “On the pitch we remain well positioned in the Champions League and although we have had a mixed start to our domestic campaign, the squad and the manager are fully united in their determination to regain our momentum in the Premier League,” Woodward said while announcing first quarter revenues of £135 million. Woodward also said…
When Victor Moses announced his international retirement from Super Eagles duty in August, the decision shocked the Nigerian football community to its roots, few of whom had seen the decision coming. Moses had appeared primed to play a key role as an experienced head in this young Nigeria side as the Eagles looked to return to the Africa Cup of Nations and make a big impact in Cameroon. Moses cited family and club commitments as major reasons for calling time on his six-year international career, but Nigeria coach Gernot Rohr had revealed to KweséESPN days after the announcement he hoped…
Marco Reus wants to succeed Mesut Ozil in Germany’s No. 10 position after a strong start to the season with Borussia Dortmund. Reus, 29, is yet to win a Bundesliga title or a trophy with Germany but is considered one of the best players of his generation. Named club captain and playing in the No. 10 position, Reus has thrived under new Dortmund head coach Lucien Favre, scoring 11 goals and assisting a further eight in 17 matches across all competitions this campaign, something he hopes can lead to him taking on a central role for Germany. “A modern attacker…
Franck Ribery has apologised to a TV pundit after an altercation between the pair following Saturday’s 3-2 defeat at Borussia Dortmund. Bayern did not comment on a possible punishment for Ribery, while the German FA has said it will not open proceedings against him because the incident was “a private altercation between the player and a journalist he knows.” “It was wrong what I did,” Ribery said in a statement. “My emotions were flying high after the match, and I also told Patrick yesterday I was sorry for what I did to him and his family. I hope all of…
Barcelona general manager Pep Segura has admitted that Ousmane Dembele is struggling to settle but insists the club will stick by the France forward. Dembele, 21, was left out of Barca’s squad for last weekend’s loss to Real Betis after failing to turn up for training because he had a stomach bug. Sources said that the club have grown concerned over some of his bad habits and France coach Didier Deschamps said this week that he often has problems with punctuality. Teammate Gerard Pique has also said Dembele must learn how to be more professional, but pledged to help him…
Taylor Richards could be the next Manchester City youngster to break into Pep Guardiola’s first team — thanks to a little help from Paul Pogba. Insiders have told ESPN FC that there is plenty of excitement around the 17-year-old midfielder, who has already been the subject of a bid from Ligue 1 side Monaco, according to reports in France. The Londoner is a powerful goalscoring midfielder with quick feet and great vision, which has already seen him make the step up to train with the first team under the watchful eye of Guardiola. But it’s across the city at rivals…
Olivier Giroud believes that it is “impossible to be openly homosexual in football” and that the idea that the sport is a long way from accepting openly gay players is an “understatement.” Speaking with Le Figaro in French, the 32-year-old recalled the “emotional” time when former Germany international Thomas Hitzlsperger came out back in early 2014 — still the highest-profile former footballer to date. The Chelsea forward also pointed to his various gestures with former clubs Arsenal and Montpellier in support of the gay community. “When I saw Thomas Hitzlsperger come out back in 2014 [post-retirement], it was very emotional,”…